House of the Dragon: Why would a connection between the Velaryons and the Free Cities be so fatal to the Targaryens?

• In the fourth episode of “House of the Dragon” Lord Corlys Velaryon his daughter’s marriage to the son of the Sea Lord of Braavos.
• A marriage of the two houses would be fatal for the Targaryens, because the richest house in Westeros and the richest house in Essos would be united.
• King Viserys I tries to prevent this by marrying his daughter Rhaenyra with Leanor Velaryon.

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In the fourth episode of “House of the Dragon”, House Velaryon plots the marriage of Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell) to the son of a sea lord of Braavos. The Targaryens would like to prevent this alliance at all costs, because it would have fatal consequences for their house.

In the era of “House of the Dragon”, the Velaryon family is the wealthiest house in Westeros and the Targaryens’ closest ally. Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), the head of the house, has made a name for himself as the greatest seafarer in the seven kingdoms and thus has a significant say in the fortunes of the house.

For centuries, the Velaryons and Targaryens have shared a bloodline. For this reason, it is also possible for the Velaryons to ride dragons. But King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) breaks with this alliance when he turns down a possible marriage to Corly’s daughter Laena and marries Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey) instead.

Corlys then leaves King’s Landing and travels to the Stepping Stones to fight the Crab Feeder. Together with Daemon Targaryen and his dragon, they manage to free the stepping stones.

Despite her victory, Corlys has no plans to return to the King’s Small Council. Instead, he plots an alliance with the Free City of Braavos by marrying his daughter. These plans cause the king great concern, as they could cost Viserys the throne.

In Braavos is the Iron Bank, which helped the city to untold wealth. If House Velaryon intermarried into a powerful Braavos family, then the wealthiest houses of Westeros and Essos would be joined.

Wealth is power and could distress the crown of House Targaryen. Visery’s plan to marry Rhaenyra to Corly’s son, Laenor, is his attempt to thwart the alliance and improve the relationship between House Targaryen and Velaryon.

This alliance will become extremely important for the ongoing story, because not only Rhaenyra marries into the house of Velaryon, but also Daemon Targaryen.

However, Corlys is still playing the two sides of Braavos and Targaryen against each other to put itself in the best possible position.

We will find out how the marriage plans will continue next Monday in the new episode. “House of the Dragon” runs in Germany on Sky Atlantic or can be streamed on WOW.