10 Things To Expect From Game Of Thrones: House Of The Dragon

The most prominent member of House Velaryon in the cast is Corlys Velaryon, nicknamed for his famous ship, the Sea Snake, on which he made his most famous voyages. The notorious nautical adventurer, portrayed by British actor Steve Toussaint, is legendary for his travels to exotic locations such as the Summer Isles, Yi Ti, Qarth, and Asshai. He gathered so many treasures that he became the wealthiest man in the Seven Kingdoms, surpassing the wealth of houses such as the Lannisters.

As chronicled in Fire and Blood, Corlys had a life full of twists, turns, and accomplishments. In addition to being the greatest seafarer in the history of Westeros, he was a trusted royal advisor serving as Master of Ships for Kings Jaehaerys and Aegon II and as the Hand of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. As the head of House Velaryon, he was also known as the Lord of the Tides and the Master of Driftmark and was the father of dragonriders Laena and Laenor Velaryon.

House of the Dragon will recount his long and tangled history with House Targaryen, a house that has spurned him and his kin many times - his wife Rhaenys Targaryen is known as the Queen that Never Was for being passed over for queen in favor of her cousin King Viserys, his son Laenor was passed over for the Iron Throne in favor of Viserys, and Viserys chose Alicent for a wife over his daughter Laena. Corlys Velaryon also has an intriguing history with Daemon Targaryen. Both men felt spurned by the decisions of King Viserys and allied together to conquer a chain of islands known as the stepstones.