⋆˚࿔ 𝘈𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘴𝘢 𝘝𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯 ¹ 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

Since the Conquest, the crownlands houses have historically been a strong source of support for House Targaryen, with Crackclaw Point being particularly fierce supporters. The Conqueror's councilors included several crownlands men, including Crispian Celtigar, Daemon Velaryon, and Tristan Massey. Nobles from the region such as Qarlton Chelsted, a Hayford lord, and several Targaryens have served as Hand of the King, and even smallfolk of the region are close enough to catch the royal eye for such service, such as Rossart and presumably Septons Barth and Murmison. Nobles and smallfolk alike also provide much of the manpower for the City Watch of King's Landing. The Kingsguard has also included many men of the crownlands, such as Duncan the Tall, Donnel of Duskendale, the Cargyll twins, Ser Rickard Thorne, at least six men of Crackclaw Point, and seven Darklyn knights.

It was at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, the later site of King's Landing, where Aegon Targaryen and his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys, landed with their initial army. At that time the petty lords of the region had been subjugated by Harren the Black. Rosby and Stokeworth surrendered to Visenya and Rhaenys without fighting, while Aegon and his half-brother Orys Baratheon defeated the Darklyns and Mootons.[6] Massey's Hook and the southern shore of the Blackwater Rush were controlled by the Storm Kings of House Durrandon, but the Bar Emmons and Masseys allied with Aegon the Conqueror against King Argilac the Arrogant.[6]

In the Age of Heroes, the petty kings of House Darklyn ruled much of the future crownlands, from Duskendale to Crackclaw Point. Although neighboring realms forced them to swear ugliness and their lands changed hands many times over the years, the Darklyns remained one of the most influential houses of the region. In the days of the Hundred Kingdoms, the mouth of the Blackwater was claimed by the Darklyns, the Masseys of Stonedance, and the river kings of Houses Mudd, Fisher, Bracken, Blackwood, and Hook.[6]

Two centuries before the Doom of Valyria, Valyrians settled Dragonstone and built a citadel as the westernmost outpost of the Valyrian Freehold, becoming another power in the region.[22] In time, the middle of the narrow sea came to be controlled by the dragons of House Targaryen of Dragonstone, as well as the ships of House Velaryon of Driftmark and House Celtigar of Claw Isle.[6]

The crownlands is also home to the royal fleet, which is one of the main three forces at sea in Westeros.[18] The exact number of ships of the royal fleet are unknown.

The mainland lords of the crownlands can raise ten to fifteen thousand men.[14] At the time of Aegon's Conquest, Houses Darklyn and Mooton combined were able to raise an army of three thousand men,[6] while Prince Aemond Targaryen managed to raise an army from the crownlands of four thousand men within a fortnight.[15]

King's Landing's main defense is the City Watch. In 298 BC, they number two thousand.[16]

Dragonstone, the island east of Blackwater Bay, can field its own military strength, but compared to the regions in Westeros, can field the least amount of soldiers.[17] Its garrison is made up out of thirty knights, a hundred crossbowmen, and three hundred men-at-arms.[15]

The metropolis of King's Landing is the driving force of the region, with the largest population and harbor in the realm. Trade and taxes flow into the capital from every corner of the realm recognizing the Iron Throne, and many foreign vessels ply their wares as well. Virtually every craft and trade is practiced here, from metalsmithing and shipbuilding to alchemy. Elsewhere, fishing and farming are the norm, with a smattering of the common professions.

Along the kingsroad north of the capital, a traveler goes "past woods and orchards and neatly tended fields, through small villages, crowded market towns, and stout holdfasts."[13]

Islands within Blackwater Bay include Dragonstone (another seat of House Baratheon), Driftmark (seat of House Velaryon), and Claw Isle (seat of House Celtigar). Also sworn to the Baratheons of Dragonstone is Sweetport Sound (seat of House Sunglass). Massey's Hook is separated from Driftmark by the Gullet. East of Blackwater Bay is the narrow sea.[8]

The kingsroad connects King's Landing with Storm's End to the south and the crossroads to the north, while the capital is connected to Lannisport by the goldroad and to Highgarden by the roseroad.[8] The Rosby road runs from King's Landing toward Duskendale,[11] and the Duskendale road heads north to Maidenpool in the riverlands.[10]

Snow is uncommon at King's Landing.[12]

The crownlands are based around Blackwater Bay, with the capital of King's Landing built where the Blackwater Rush meets the bay. King's Landing, the largest city in Westeros, contains the Great Sept of Baelor and the Red Keep, the home of House Baratheon of King's Landing. Settlements north of King's Landing include Antlers (seat of House Buckwell), Rosby (seat of House Rosby), Stokeworth (seat of House Stokeworth), and Duskendale (seat of House Rykker), the region's secondary port. Near Duskendale are the ruins of the Hollard castle. Farther north are Rook's Rest (seat of House Staunton) and Crackclaw Point, a rugged peninsula of insular folk whose castles include the Dyre Den (seat of House Brune), Brownhollow (another seat of House Brune), and the Whispers (formerly of House Crabb). North of Crackclaw Point are the Bay of Crabs and the Vale of Arryn.[8]

The crownlands are bordered to the northwest and west by the riverlands. A stream forms part of the boundary between the two regions, with the hills of House Wode in the riverlands and the lands of House Hogg in the crownlands.[9] An unnamed river flows south from the Gods Eye into the Blackwater Rush in the western crownlands. Southwest of King's Landing are hills around Tumbleton in the Reach.[8] North of Duskendale are hills, fields, and woods.[10]

South of King's Landing is the kingswood, the royal hunting forest, and the stormlands. The Wendwater flows through the kingswood into the bay. East of the kingswood is Massey's Hook, another peninsula that with Crackclaw Point forms the inlet of Blackwater Bay. Castles on Massey's Hook include Stonedance (seat of House Massey) and Sharp Point (seat of House Bar Emmon).[8]

The crownlands[1][2] are one of the nine constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. It was never a sovereign kingdom, instead being contested by river kings, Storm Kings, and local petty kings until Aegon the Conqueror seized control of the area during his Wars of Conquest and made it his primary foothold on the continent. Since then, the crownlands have been sworn directly to the Iron Throne,[3] held first by House Targaryen and then, after Robert's Rebellion, by House Baratheon.

Some notable houses of the crownlands include Bar Emmon, Celtigar, Massey, Rosby, Rykker, Stokeworth, Sunglass, and Velaryon.[4][5][3][6] "Waters" is a common surname given to bastards of noble origin in the vicinity of Blackwater Bay.[7]

A common racial characteristic among Valyrians appears to have been purple eyes and hair of silver-gold or platinum white. Valyria is said to still hold many treasures from before the Doom, such as Valyrian steel blades and items of magical power. It is said that the glass candles of Oldtown were brought there from Valyria a thousand years before the Doom.

Valyria, also called Old Valyria, is a ruined city in Essos. It is a long-dead city of wonder, and was once the capital of a great empire called the Valyrian Freehold. It was destroyed by a cataclysmic event known as the Doom of Valyria a century before Aegon's Landing. It is the ancestral home of House Targaryen, House Celtigar, and House Velaryon.

The shores of Blackwater Bay were historically disputed by river kings,[11] Storm Kings,[12] Kings of the Isles and the Rivers,[5] and kings from House Darklyn of Duskendale and House Massey of Stonedance.[5]

Prior to Aegon's Conquest, House Targaryen of Dragonstone and House Velaryon of Driftmark prospered from their control of the Gullet, which divided the bay from the narrow sea.[13]

King's Landing, the new capital of the Seven Kingdoms, quickly developed at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush along Blackwater Bay.[14]

A mock sea battle was held in Blackwater Bay during the Golden Wedding, and Princess Alysanne Targaryen sailed on the bay with visiting noblewomen.[15]

Blackwater Bay is an inlet of the narrow sea, separated from it by the Gullet, held between the arms of Crackclaw Point to the north and Massey's Hook to the south, with the island of Dragonstone guarding the entrance to the bay. Massey's Hook shields against the rougher narrow sea, so Blackwater Bay has calmer waters.[3] Ships of the royal fleet patrol the bay and ensure it is kept free from piracy.

Aside from King's Landing and Dragonstone, the largest port on the bay is Duskendale, which serves as a secondary port for King's Landing when the main port is overwhelmed with traffic. Rook's Rest is located on the northern shore of the bay and Sharp Point is to the east at the tip of Massey's Hook. The kingswood extends along the southern shore of Blackwater Bay, with the Wendwater flowing into the bay.[4]

The largest island is Driftmark, on which Hull is located. House Velaryon, the Masters of Driftmark, are a historical naval power who style themselves the Lords of the Tides.[5]

A unique geological feature called the spears of the merling king sits within the bay. Within the spears, the currents are strong and treacherous.[6] Waterfowl are abundant in marshes along Blackwater Bay,[7] and the body of water also contains codfish.[8][9] The bay's waters are brackish at best and salty at worst.[10]

Blackwater Bay is a large body of water along the crownlands in eastern Westeros. King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, sits where the Blackwater Rush pours into the bay.[1] "Waters" is a common bastard name around Blackwater Bay.[2]

Alyssa Velaryon became queen at the coronation of her husband, King Aenys I Targaryen. When Aenys died in 42 AC, his younger brother claimed the Iron Throne as King Maegor I Targaryen over Aenys's sons by Alyssa, who became Maegor's prisoner on Dragonstone. In 44 AC Alyssa fled in the confusion that followed the death of Dowager Queen Visenya Targaryen, and Alyssa's last surviving son by Aenys, Jaehaerys, put forward her claim for the throne. Lord Daemon Velaryon, Maegor's admiral of the fleet, who had previously supported Maegor, turned against the cruel king, and many of the great houses of Westeros joined with him.[14]

Alyssa's son Jaehaerys became king at the age of fourteen, and Alyssa ruled as his regent, aided by Lord Rogar Baratheon.[1] After Jaehaerys reached the age of majority, the regency ended, and Alyssa married Rogar,[15] giving birth to two more children: Boremund and Jocelyn Baratheon.[16] The Velaryons of the Old King's reign were a house even more influential than House Lannister.[17]

For the first century after the Conquest, the position of master of ships was seen as almost hereditary within House Velaryon since so many from the family were named to the office.[10] The Velaryon fleet also came to make up the bulk of the royal fleet.[10]

In 10 AC Ser Corlys Velaryon became the first Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.[12] His elder brother, Lord Aethan Velaryon became master of ships for King Aegon I Targaryen.[13] Lord Aethan thus succeeded his father as lord admiral, and in turn was succeeded by his own son, Lord Daemon Velaryon.[8] Lord Aethan fought against Sargoso Saan, a pirate-lord, in the Stepstones.[8]

Aethan's daughter, Alyssa, was married to Aegon's elder son, Prince Aenys Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne, in 22 AC, with whom she had six children (Rhaena, Aegon, Viserys, Jaehaerys, Alysanne, and Vaella).[13]

The close relations between Houses Velaryon and Targaryen resulted in multiple marriages between the families, both before and after the Wars of Conquest. From one such marriage was born Valaena Velaryon.[11] She married Aerion Targaryen, the Lord of Dragonstone, with whom she had three children: Visenya, Lord Aegon, and Rhaenys.[11]

House Velaryon allied with the Targaryens at the start of Aegon's Conquest, and the Velaryon fleet transported Aegon the Conqueror's men across Blackwater Bay for Aegon's Landing.[10] Lord Daemon Velaryon was made master of ships by Aegon after the mouth of the Blackwater Rush had been secured. Daemon died fighting for Aegon in the battle in the waters off Gulltown, however.[11]

House Velaryon is an ancient and proud family, with the blood of old Valyria in their veins.[4][7] According to their family histories, the Velaryons have a storied Valyrian lineage and came to Westeros before House Targaryen, settling on the island of Driftmark in the Gullet.[10] The castle of Driftmark housed their ancient high seat, the Driftwood Throne, which according to legend had been given to them by the Merling King to conclude a pact.[1]

Their close proximity to the Gullet enabled the Velaryons to fill their coffers from trade in the narrow sea and Blackwater Bay. They allied with House Targaryen of Dragonstone and House Celtigar of Claw Isle, both houses of Valyrian descent; while the Velaryons and Celtigars dominated the middle reaches of the narrow sea with their ships, the Targaryens were dragonriders who ruled the skies with their dragons.[11] The Velaryons were the oldest and closest allies of the Targaryens for centuries.[10]

Traits House Velaryon is of Valyrian descent, and its members often have Valyrian features, such as silver-gold or silver hair and purple eyes.[7][8] Some Velaryons have blue[9] or grey-green[7] eyes.

Customs A traditional name of the Velaryons is Jacaerys.[10]

It is traditional for the sons of House Velaryon to be given a taste of a seafarer's life when young. The positions of master of ships and lord admiral are often filled by a member of House Velaryon, as the family provides most of the royal fleet.[10]

High Tide is built from pale stone, the same material used in the Eyrie. Its slender towers are crowned with roofs of beaten silver which shine in the sun. When the waters of Blackwater Bay are at high tide, the castle is connected to the island of Driftmark by only a causeway.[1]

Castle Driftmark is located on the south side of the island,[2] with the port town of Hull located beneath its walls.[3] Driftmark is a grim-looking castle, often damp and flooded. It has dark, salt-stained walls.[3]

History Shortly after the death of her husband, King Aenys I Targaryen, Queen Alyssa Velaryon brought her children to the castle of Driftmark.[4]

Castle Driftmark High Tide

A silver seahorse on sea green (Aquamarine, a seahorse argent)

House Velaryon of Driftmark rules the island of Driftmark, the largest island of Blackwater Bay in the crownlands. Their castles include Driftmark and High Tide.[1] The head of House Velaryon is titled Lord of the Tides and Master of Driftmark.[2] The Velaryons are sworn to Dragonstone.[3] Their arms depict a silver seahorse on sea green.[4][5][N 1] Their words do not appear in the books, but according to semi-canon sources they are "The Old, the True, the Brave".

Alyssa took her children into hiding, and it was thought that they had crossed the narrow sea, possibly to Tyrosh or Volantis. Alyssa's escape led to the death of her eldest living son, Viserys, who was tortured by Queen Tyanna for nine days until he died. His body was left in the courtyard of the Red Keep, as Maegor hoped Alyssa would return to claim it. She did not return, however, and Viserys was eventually cremated.[11][4] In 47 AC, Ser Theo Bolling, a landed knight who had fought for King Maegor, was arrested by the Kingsguard. He was charged with conspiring with Alyssa to murder Maegor and place her son Jaehaerys on the throne.[4][11]

By 48 AC, Alyssa and her children had arrived at Storm's End, where Lord Rogar Baratheon, the first to give his support to the prince, proclaimed Jaehaerys to be the true and lawful king of the Seven Kingdoms.[6][11][4] Alyssa stood beside her son as he vowed to end Maegor's reign. Nine days after Maegor's death, Jaehaerys returned with his siblings to King's Landing to claim the throne; Alyssa arrived a fortnight later with Lord Rogar and a large host.[4]

Alyssa left Dragonstone within hours of the funeral, fleeing to her father on Driftmark. She brought her three youngest children, Viserys, Jaehaerys, and Alysanne with her. There, she proclaimed her eldest son, Aegon, the true king of Westeros while Maegor, who had claimed the Iron Throne and been crowned king, laid in a coma in King's Landing.[4] Dowager Queen Visenya eventually traveled to Driftmark and convinced Alyssa to return to court with her children. She was present for Maegor's wedding to Tyanna of the Tower in 42 AC, and even took part in the bedding ceremony. However, her presence started the rumors that she had abandoned Aegon's cause. Regardless of the rumors, in the latter part of 43 AC, Queen Tyanna warned King Maegor that Alyssa had secretly been communicating with Storm's End, the Eyrie, Winterfell, and Casterly Rock in an attempt to convince them to declare for Aegon.[4]

By 44 AC, Alyssa had become a prisoner in all but name to Dowager Queen Visenya on Dragonstone, together with her son Jaehaerys and daughter Alysanne, while her son Viserys was summoned to court to serve as Maegor's squire. When Visenya died in 44 AC, the chaos that followed gave her the opportunity to escape with Jaehaerys and Alysanne. She also stole Dark Sister, Visenya's Valyrian steel sword, from the dead Dowager Queen's chambers.[11][4]

Alyssa was born in 7 AC to Lord Aethan Velaryon, King Aegon I Targaryen's master of ships,[4] and Lady Alarra Massey.[7] She had several brothers and cousins ​​in House Velaryon.[4]

Alyssa married her cousin, Prince Aenys Targaryen, in 22 AC.[9][4] The marriage was a political match.[10] She gave birth to six children during this marriage: Rhaena (23 AC), Aegon (26 AC), Viserys (29 AC), Jaehaerys (34 AC), Alysanne (36 AC), and Vaella Targaryen (39 AC, died in the cradle).[3][4]

When Queen Visenya Targaryen suggested a betrothal between her own son Maegor and Alyssa's firstborn Rhaena in 24 AC, Alyssa and her husband were opposed the idea. King Aegon I Targaryen eventually agreed to wed Maegor to another. In the later years of Aegon I's reign, when Maegor refused half a dozen dragon hatchlings, Alyssa teased him, asking him whether he was afraid of dragons.[4] Following King Aegon I's sixtieth nameday in 33 AC, Aenys and Alyssa took over the royal progresses, traveling across the realm half of every year.[4] Upon the coronation of her husband Aenys in 37 AC, Alyssa became queen. It has been suggested that the birth of Alyssa's sixth child, Vaella, in 39 AC is what drove Prince Maegor to take a second wife that same year. Aenys and Alyssa lived in a manse on Visenya's Hill during his reign, as the Red Keep was still not yet complete. In 41 AC, following the first rebellious actions of the Warrior's Sons and Poor Fellows, King Aenys I decided that the manse was not safe for his family, and decided to relocate to Dragonstone. Aenys died the following year on Dragonstone.[4][9] At his funeral, Alyssa sang a dirge for him.[4]

Alyssa had the silvery hair and purple eyes of the Valyrians.[4][7]

During her wedding to Lord Rogar Baratheon, Alyssa wore a great cloak with both the Velaryon seahorse and the Targaryen dragon facing each other.[7]

Alyssa had charm, wit, and kindness.[7] According to Septon Barth, above all else Alyssa desired to be loved, admired, and praised.[8]

Alyssa Velaryon was a member of House Velaryon during the first century after Aegon's Conquest. She was the wife and queen of King Aenys I Targaryen, and they had six children together.[3][4] Some years after Aenys's death, Alyssa served as Queen Regent for her youngest son, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.[5]

Aethan Velaryon (Father) Alarra Massey (Mother) Aenys I Targaryen (Husband) Rhaena Targaryen (Older daughter) Aegon Targaryen (Older son) Viserys Targaryen (Son) Jaehaerys Targaryen (Son) Alysanne Targaryen (Daughter) Vaella Targaryen (Daughter, deceased)

Crownlands

Human, Valyrian

House Velaryon House Targaryen

Lady Queen Dowager Queen Queen Regent

30 (Thirty years)

7 BC

Female

Alyssa Velaryon