Spoiler Warning: House of the Dragon Season One
In the Game of Thrones universe, having control of various Westerosi waterways can often be the deciding factor in military conflicts. For example, fans of the franchise remember Daenerys Targaryen having difficulty convincing the Dothraki army to cross the narrow sea into Westeros. Additionally, when Euron Greyjoy took command of the Iron Fleet and joined the cause of Queen Cersei at King’s Landing, he quickly became one of the most powerful players in the massive conflict, at one point using a ship-mounted crossbow to become the only individual (aside from the supernatural Night King) to kill one of Daenerys’ dragons.
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Though House of the Dragon is named for the series’ numerous high-flying reptiles, considerable time has been spent focusing on the sea. The first large-scale conflict occurs in the Stepstones, a chain of islands off the coast of Westeros. This campaign is carried out by the most powerful force currently sailing the Westerosi seas, Lord Corlys’s navy. This distinguished head of House Velaryon has had a storied naval career, which earned him the terrifying moniker “The Sea Snake.”
Though Corlys has long had ambitions to take the Iron Throne for himself, recent circumstances forced him to ally himself with Queen Rhaenyra and the Blacks. Lord Corlys and his fleet will surely play a major part in the impending civil war.
Lord Corlys’s Hard-Fought Victories in the Stepstones
Early in House of the Dragon, a mysterious villain known as the Crabfeeder attempts to claim the Stepstones for the triarchy. After a prolonged campaign, the Crabfeeder is defeated, resulting in Westeros once again controlling the region.
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The battle in the Stepstones, more than anything, proves how effective Lord Coryls is in campaigns that take place over a considerable period of time. The war for the Stepstones takes years. Clearly, he has considerable knowledge regarding sustaining an army; for starters, feeding a legion of ravenous seafaring soldiers for years is no small task. If the decades-long period that has already been covered in House of the Dragon is any indication, the civil war will likely take place over a prolonged period, requiring exactly this type of expertise.
House Velaryon’s Reluctant Allegiance to the Blacks
Many years later, trouble again arises in the Stepstones, and Lord Corlys sustains a life-threatening wound. He ultimately survives, though he is considerably weakened. He arrives at Dragonstone just as news of King Aegon’s illegitimate ascension reaches Rhaenyra and the Blacks. Corlys initially suggests that he and his wife, Princess Rhaenys, return to Driftmark and remain neutral in the conflict, but Rhaenys convinces him otherwise.
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He mistrusts Queen Rhaenyra, which stems from his suspicion that he was involved in the supposed death of his son Laenor, her former husband. Nevertheless, Lord Corlys seems committed to the cause of the Blacks. He dedicates his fleet to the war effort. He immediately reveals his clever plans for taking control of Westerosi waterways, which involve setting up ships at strategic chokepoints and establishing trade blockades to areas controlled by Houses allied with the Greens.
The Undeniable Importance of Naval Power in Westerosi Conflicts
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Having a powerful navy is essential to maintaining one’s power in the face of internal and external enemies in Westeros. Dragons aside, traveling by boat is undeniably the fastest means one can utilize to travel the country. Due to Lord Corlys’ efforts in the Stepstones, he currently controls the Narrow Sea, the strip of water that separates Westeros from its neighboring nation Essos, which is an essential body of water for both travel and trade in the region.
Any large number of Green forces will need to contend with The Sea Snake’s navy if they want to mount an offensive. It will be near impossible for them to access certain corners of Westeros. Perhaps more importantly, Lord Corlys’ clever strategy of setting up trade blockades could result in widespread starvation in areas like King’s Landing, which relies heavily on goods from different regions of the country.
Though controversial to some in the more unsavory corners of the Game of Thrones fandom, Lord Corlys is undeniably one of the most fascinating characters in House of the Dragon. With the support of Lord Corlys and his fleet, the Blacks have secured a major advantage in the impending civil war, which they will undoubtedly need, given the uncertainty surrounding which Houses will rally to support Queen Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne.
Fans of the franchise have already seen just how effective a naval presence can be in a Westerosi conflict, and no one in the House of the Dragon universe knows how to navigate the high seas better than Lord Corlys.
