Rhaenyra Targaryen makes Corlys Velaryon her Hand of the Queen in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5, which sets up a huge arc for the two characters in the Targaryen civil war. Reeling the aftermath of Rhaenys Targaryen and Meleys’ deaths in episode 4, Lord Corlys Velaryon remains at Driftmark while the rest of Rhaenyra’s council plots their next moves against the Greens. However, Rhaenyra sees Corlys’ absence and knows the importance of his loyalty and advice, so she sends Baela on a mission to show how greatly he’s needed at their side.
After Rhaenyra and Baela share a heartwarming conversation about Rhaenys, the Queen sends her stepdaughter to Driftmark with a box to give Corlys. When Baela meets her grandfather, she presents him with the pin worn by the Hand, indicating Rhaenyra wishes for Corlys to be her Hand of the Queen. While Corlys initially responds with contempt, blaming Rhaenyra for Rhaenys’ death, Baela seems to convince him otherwise. Corlys’ answer isn’t explicitly given in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5’s ending, but he is seen closing his hand around the pin, implying he’ll take up the call as Hand.
Why Rhaenyra Names Corlys Velaryon As Hand Of The Queen
Corlys Is The Strongest Choice For Rhaenyra’s Hand Of The Queen
While Corlys and Rhaenys haven’t always been the biggest fans of Rhaenyra, they’ve come to greatly respect her, with Corlys having been quite fond of Lucerys prior to his death. In House of the Dragon season 1’s ending, Corlys becomes a champion of Rhaenyra’s cause and joins her council, with the strength of House Velaryon and Corlys’ fleet giving her a great advantage over the Greens. Not only is he closely tied to her family, but Corlys is also one of the most influential and powerful men in the Seven Kingdoms, making him the obvious choice for her Hand of the Queen.
Rhaenyra could easily risk losing Corlys after the death of Rhaenys, and although she knows it can’t make up for Rhaenys’ sacrifice, the Queen needs to prove how much she needs Corlys with action.
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Compared to the other men on Rhaenyra’s Black Council, Corlys is more inclined to listen to Rhaenyra, support her, and champion the inheritance of a woman to the Iron Throne, given Rhaenys was slighted during the Great Council. Rhaenyra could easily risk losing Corlys after the death of Rhaenys, and although she knows it can’t make up for Rhaenys’ sacrifice, the Queen needs to prove how much she needs Corlys with action. Making him Hand of the Queen gives him this reassurance, power, and influence. Plus, it gets Corlys as close as he’ll ever be to the Iron Throne.
What Corlys Velaryon Does As Hand Of The Queen
Corlys Velaryon Helps Rhaenyra Secure The Iron Throne
Corlys Velaryon proves to be a more effective Hand to Rhaenyra than Criston Cole is to Aegon in the Dance of the Dragons, further highlighting Aegon’s mistake in removing Otto Hightower as Hand. Upon becoming Hand of the Queen in Fire & Blood, Corlys is instrumental in the strategy behind Rhaenyra taking King’s Landing from Team Green and finally seating her on the Iron Throne. Part of this planning included working with Prince Jacaerys to recruit “dragonseeds” to master the unclaimed dragons on Dragonstone, which includes Corlys’ bastard son Addam of Hull claiming Seasmoke.
Boasting their power at sea, Corlys also leads a victory over the Triarchy (who support Team Green) following Team Black’s losses in the Battle of the Gullet, though they do burn many of Corlys’ treasures from his travels. With Rhaenyra at King’s Landing, Corlys also unsuccessfully advises her to pardon several lords from Team Green, send Alicent and Helaena to the Faith, make Jaehaera his ward, and allow Viserys’ sons to join the Night’s Watch. However, Corlys’ time as Hand in House of the Dragon effectively ends after he is jailed for secretly freeing Addam, who Rhaenyra becomes suspicious of when other dragonseeds betray her.