The actor from House of the Dragon, Steve Toussaint, revealed Corlys Velaryon’s stance, but the show might still adapt George R. R. Martin’s novel.
Lord Corlys Velaryon becomes Rhaenyra Targaryen’s ally at the conclusion of House of the Dragon Season 1, but their alliance may not continue.
In Fire & Blood, Corlys’s faith in Rhaenyra was shaken by his own aspirations and a tragic loss, which caused him to change loyalties.
The best thing for Rhaenyra, if House of the Dragon follows Fire & Blood, might be Corlys betraying her.
In House of the Dragon Season 2, the Dance of the Dragons begins, dividing the realm of Westeros between the Blacks and the Greens. However, in George R. R. Martin’s power-hungry and dangerous land, followers of one side frequently find themselves smuggling over to the other, as is the case with any conflict. Corlys Velaryon is one such lord, and Team Black is unlikely to have much faith in him given his history of switching sides during the Targaryen civil war.
The House of the Dragon cast discussed the allegiances of their characters and the people they would be rooting for in Season 2 at CCXP 2024. When it came to Corlys’ backing, actor Steven Toussaint didn’t hold back, announcing that he is formally a member of Team Black for specific reasons. That’s all well and well in the here and now, especially since the sole legitimate heir to the Iron Throne is Rhaenyra Targaryen, but Corlys may feel otherwise later on. Corlys won’t always have Rhaenyra’s back if deadly book events make it to the big screen in Season 2 and beyond.
Why in Fire & Blood Does Corlys Velaryon Switch to the Greens?
Giving support is something Corlys Velaryon does not take lightly. Having spent his early years traversing the world in search of new experiences, he prioritizes his own goals over just causes. By putting his daughter Laena up for marriage to King Viserys I, fighting the Triarchy to reclaim his claim to the sea, and supporting his son’s claim to the throne, Corlys is putting the Velaryon name in the annals of history. It is possible to argue that Corlys’s support for Rhaenyra in the novel was motivated by the knowledge that her son, Jacaerys Velaryon, would one day rule Westeros. But in order to guarantee the Velaryons a prosperous future following the death of his bride, Rhaenys Targaryen, in the Dance of the Dragons, Corlys adopted extreme measures.
At first, Corlys was upset with Rhaenyra, accusing her of not standing up for herself during the Battle of Rook’s Rest and of not sending her boys to support Rhaenys. The title of Hand of the Queen was the only thing preventing him from withdrawing his support, but even that was a slippery slope. Large chunks of Corlys were broken by each small loss Rhaenyra suffered. It didn’t help that there was conjecture that he was the father of Addam and Alyn, bastard dragonseeds. Rhaenyra’s suspicion that Addam had deceived her and tarnished the Velaryon name made the situation worse. Corlys, who was also arrested for informing Addam of his detention, was gravely insulted by it.
Once an arrest is made in Westeros, there’s no turning back. Corlys had just about had enough of attempting to reach Rhaenyra, who was obsessed with the idea that everyone around her was a traitor. After the Greens granted his demands—the release of his granddaughter Baela, the pardoning of those who fought for Rhaenyra, which included the majority of his men—he swore allegiance to Aegon II Targaryen and betrayed Aegon the Younger and Princess Jaehaera. The survival of the Velaryon house was assured once more.
The Death of Rhaenys Targaryen Will Shatter Corlys’s Fragile Allegiance
For the first time, Toussaint’s description of Corlys’s support of the Blacks suggests that this lord is prepared to jump ship at any time of tragedy. He states that Corlys’ wife Rhaenys persuaded him that supporting Rhaenyra was the appropriate thing to do, which is the primary reason he gave his loyalty to her: “To be honest, this is the first time that I don’t think House Velaryon will benefit much from it. Throughout the entire first season, Corlys made a valiant effort to establish a legacy for the family and produce something that would enhance their heritage. However, at the end of Season 1, he was prepared to simply walk away and forget everything. However, his spouse persuaded him that endorsing this cause was the correct thing to do. He is doing accordingly, not for any other reason other than that it is the correct thing to do.”
In difficult situations, the female characters in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are frequently the voice of reason. The ladies have good heads on their shoulders when the males are fighting a war for petty and unreasonable reasons. Corlys knows this in a position when he’s lost almost everything, including his family. He knows in his heart that Rhaenys would have made a just and decent queen, which is why she serves as his moral compass. What transpires, though, when Rhaenys abruptly stops speaking and Corlys is forced to think for himself?
Since Corlys is a perceptive and intelligent man, he is not necessarily a lost soul at sea in Rhaenys’ absence. He is, nonetheless, motivated by legacy and power, just like a great deal of people in Westeros. Being the leader of House Velaryon, one of the final Houses descended from Valyria, he dedicates most of Season 1 to his obsession with leaving a legacy. In order to counterbalance this fixation, Rhaenys keeps him grounded and demonstrates the importance of family and morality. He followed her lead because she begged him to stand behind Rhaenyra and do the right thing. However, as readers of Fire & Blood are aware, at the Battle at Rook’s Rest, Rhaenys loses his life defending Rhaenyra’s claim.
With so many losses under his belt over the years—including his brother, his grandson, and both of his children—Corlys has always been a fragile ally. For Corlys, Rhaenys’ passing will be the final straw. Unless he receives something significant in return that satisfies his yearning for a legacy once more, Corlys has nothing to lose at this point. Jacaerys Velaryon bestows upon him the title of Hand of the Queen precisely for that reason. It’s the second most powerful role in Westeros, or the most powerful role if he plays his cards well. Corlys could only ever completely commit to the Greens if they provide him with something more worthwhile. Being the leader of the greatest fleet in Westeros and one of Rhaenyra’s most dependable allies, chances are good the Greens would stop at nothing to get his backing.
Rhaenyra Will See Corlys’ Changing Alliance as a Double-edged sword
Regretfully, Rhaenyra’s chances of winning this conflict are slim. For no other reason than their gender, women in Westeros are being disregarded for the Iron Throne at this moment. Aegon II is perceived as protecting his claim when he declares war. Rhaenyra is perceived as irrational and sentimental when she launches war. There are those, like Cregan Stark, who will fight for her because it’s the right thing to do, but they’re not many. Westerosi lords say the Greens will triumph just because they’re the simplest team to cheer for. The conventional and secure choice is for a man to govern over them.
Although Rhaenyra was bound to lose this war, Corlys ensures that she does not go down without a fight. Corlys switches sides, and Rhaenyra is on the losing side. Even if Corlys’ support for her son keeps her line going all the way to Daenerys Targaryen, she is denied of her personal claim to the throne. Gaining the Greens’ trust enables Corlys to hatch a plan to bring down Aegon II. But if Corlys’ conflict of interest is resolved in the second season of House of the Dragon, he will undoubtedly emerge as the real mastermind behind the Dance of the Dragons.
HBO will debut Season 2 of House of the Dragon on June 16, 2024.