Laenor Velaryon

	Laenor Velaryon, by riotarttherite ©
Titles	Ser; Prince consort;
Allegiances	House Velaryon; House Targaryen;
Culture	Crownlands
Born	94 AC
Died	120 AC; Spicetown
Father	Corlys Velaryon
Mother	Rhaenys Targaryen
Spouse	Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen
Lovers	Marilda of Hull (disputed); Ser Joffrey Lonmouth; Ser Qarl Correy;
Issue	Jacaerys Velaryon (disputed); Lucerys Velaryon (disputed); Joffrey Velaryon (disputed); Addam Velaryon (disputed); Alyn Velaryon (disputed);
Books	The World of Ice & Fire (mentioned); Fire & Blood (mentioned); The Rise of the Dragon (mentioned); The Rogue Prince (mentioned); The Princess and the Queen (mentioned);
Played by	John Macmillan (adult); Theo Nate (teen); Matthew Carver (child)
TV series	House of the Dragon: Season 1

Laenor Velaryon was the only son of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. He was the heir to Driftmark and the first husband of his second cousin, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. Rhaenyra gave birth to three sons during their marriage, Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey, although it was rumored that they had been fathered by Rhaenyra's lover instead of Laenor.^[1] Laenor was a dragonrider, whose dragon was Seasmoke.^[2]

In the television adaptation House of the Dragon, Laenor is portrayed by John Macmillan (adult), Theo Nate (teen), and Matthew Carver (child).^[3]^[4]^[5]

Appearance and Character

Laenor had an aquiline nose, silver-white hair, and purple eyes.^[1] According to the fool Mushroom, Laenor's sister Laena was "almost as pretty as her brother".^[1]

Laenor was known to have a lack of interest in women, instead preferring to surround himself with handsome young men of his own age.^[1] Ser Criston Cole, an enemy to Laenor's wife Rhaenyra, proclaimed that boys had not been safe around Laenor.^[6]

Laenor's dragon, Seasmoke, was his pride and passion.^[6]

History

Claim to the Iron Throne

Laenor was born in 94 AC to Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. He had one older sister, Laena. When Prince Aemon Targaryen, Rhaenys's father and the eldest son and heir of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, died shortly after Rhaenys learned she was pregnant in 92 AC, Rhaenys and her first unborn child were passed over in favor of Jaehaerys's second son, Baelon. When Rhaenys finally gave birth to a son during her second pregnancy, Baelon had already been firmly ensconced as the heir apparent. Regardless of this, both House Velaryon and House Baratheon, from whom Rhaenys descended, insisted that the newly born Laenor had the better claim to the Iron Throne.^[1]

Following Baelon's death in 101 AC, King Jaehaerys' heir was unclear. Although Baelon had left behind two living sons, he had been a second son, while Laenor and his mother and sister could claim descent from Jaehaerys's firstborn son. It was reported to the court that Lord Corlys was gathering ships and men on Driftmark, to defend Laenor's "rights". To resolve the issue, King Jaehaerys I issued a Great Council to be held at Harrenhal in 101 AC, to appoint the new heir to the throne. At Harrenhal, Laenor's parents used their wealth and influence to persuade the lords present to vote for Laenor, During this Great Council, the claims of Laenor and of Baelon's eldest son Viserys emerged as the most popular ones. While primogeniture favored Laenor, Jaehaerys's great-grandson, the principle of proximity favored Viserys, Jaehaerys's grandson. Many at the council felt that the male line had to take precedence over the female line. Nor was Laenor's age favorable; while Laenor was only seven years old, Viserys was already twenty-four. Although Laenor had the support of Lord Boremund Baratheon, Lord Ellard Stark, Lord Manderly, Lord Dustin, Lord Blackwood, Lord Bar Emmon, Lord Celtigar, and others, the assembled lords overwhelmingly voted for Prince Viserys. While the actual numbers of the vote were never revealed, it was said that the vote had been more than twenty to one in Viserys's favor.^[1]^[7]

By 101 AC, the seven-year-old Laenor had recently claimed the young dragon Seasmoke, but had not yet ridden him.^[7]^[1]

Marriage

When King Viserys I Targaryen and his small council sought a husband for Viserys's heir, Rhaenyra Targaryen, they eventually agreed on Laenor, as such a marriage would unite House Targaryen and House Velaryon once again. The only objection raised was Laenor's lack of interest in women. Instead, it was reported he preferred the company of handsome squires his own age, had never known a woman intimately, and had not fathered any bastards. After Grand Maester Mellos dismissed this concern, the match was agreed upon.^[1]^[7] According to Archmaester Gyldayn, Princess Rhaenyra herself objected to the match as well, but conceded after King Viserys I threatened to replace her as his heir with her half-brother Aegon.^[1]

According to The Testimony of Mushroom, Rhaenyra still tried to prevent the wedding by giving her maidenhead to her sworn shield, Ser Criston Cole of the Kingsguard, claiming it meant nothing to Laenor, but Criston refused her. However, according to Septon Eustace's history, it was Criston who came to Rhaenyra, offering to elope with her to the Free Cities, but she refused him.^[1]

Laenor and Rhaenyra were married in 114 AC; the groom was twenty, the bride seventeen, and it was agreed by all that they made a handsome couple. A fortnight before the wedding, Laenor was knighted. During the tourney held to celebrate the wedding, Rhaenyra gave her favor to her new champion, Ser Harwin Strong, and Laenor laughed and gave his own favor to his favorite, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, who was mortally wounded by Ser Criston Cole during the joust. Joffrey died six days later, and according to Mushroom, Laenor spent all that time by Joffrey's bedside, and wept bitterly when Joffrey finally died. Afterwards, Laenor returned to Driftmark, causing many to wonder whether the marriage had been consummated, as Rhaenyra remained at court. At High Tide, Laenor quickly found a new favorite, Ser Qarl Correy.^[1]

Laenor and Rhaenyra spent much of their time apart from one another, although he did join her at court for important events, where his presence was expected. Regardless of this, Rhaenyra's pregnancy was soon announced, and in the waning days of 114 AC she gave birth to their first child. Laenor wished to name the child Joffrey, but was overruled by his father, who named the boy Jacaerys. Rhaenyra gave birth to a second son a year later, who was named Lucerys. According to Septon Eustace both Laenor and Rhaenyra's rumored lover, Ser Harwin Strong, were at Rhaenyra's bedside for the birth. As both of his sons by Rhaenyra looked nothing like either Laenor or Rhaenyra, their appearance gave cause to rumors regarding their parentage. When Lucerys was presented at court, Queen Alicent Hightower told Laenor to keep trying, as "soon or late, you may get one who looks like you". After Rhaenyra, unable to stand Alicent anymore, returned to Dragonstone, accompanied by Ser Harwin, Laenor was said to have visited her "frequently".^[1]

In 117 AC, Rhaenyra gave birth to her third son, whom Laenor was finally allowed to name Joffrey, in honor of Ser Joffrey Lonmouth. As Joffrey also had the "common" look of his brothers, and not the Valyrian appearance of Laenor and Rhaenyra, his birth once again started the rumors that all three children had been fathered by Ser Harwin Strong, and not Laenor.^[1]

Death and legacy

In 120 AC, Laenor was slain by his friend, Ser Qarl Correy, while attending a fair at Spicetown. The merchants present reported that the two men had been quarreling loudly before the blades had come out. Septon Eustace insists that Qarl had killed Laenor out of jealousy, believing that Laenor had become enamored of a new, younger, male favorite. According to Mushroom, Qarl had killed Laenor on behalf of Prince Daemon Targaryen, although there was no shred of proof for this.^[1] Laenor's body was collected by his father, Lord Corlys, who offered a reward of ten thousand golden dragons for anyone who could lead him to Ser Qarl, or bring Ser Qarl to him. However, Correy was never seen again.^[1]

Laenor's funeral was held at High Tide, and King Viserys I Targaryen and his court attended his pyre. So many dragonriders and their dragons were present that Septon Eustace wrote that Driftmark had become "the new Valyria". While at Driftmark to attend the funeral, Prince Aemond Targaryen claimed the dragon Vhagar, riderless after the death of Laenor's sister Laena. This led to strife between Aemond and the sons of Rhaenyra, and the loss of his eye.^[1]^[8]

After Laenor's death, Seasmoke made its lair in the Dragonmont on the island of Dragonstone, and remained riderless for almost a decade.^[6] Less than six months after Laenor's death, Rhaenyra secretly married her uncle, Prince Daemon.^[1]

Laenor's three sons by Rhaenyra were all killed during the civil war called the Dance of the Dragons (129–131 AC). However, during the Sowing of the Seeds, Marilda of Hull brought forth her two sons, Addam and Alyn, claiming them to have been Laenor's bastards. While both boys had Laenor's look, and Laenor had indeed been known to have visited the shipyard in Hull, where Marilda worked, from time to time, many were skeptical of the claim, as they recalled Laenor's preference of men over women. Laenor's father, Lord Corlys, however, gladly accepted his two grandchildren, although Mushroom insists in his Testimony that the children had not been fathered by Laenor, but by Corlys himself. Regardless of the parentage, Corlys's request for both boys to be legitimized by Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen was granted. During the Sowing, Addam claimed Laenor's dragon Seasmoke.^[2]

Quotes about Laenor

One objection was raised: Laenor Velaryon was now nineteen years of age yet had never shown any interest in women. Instead he surrounded himself with handsome squires of his own age and was said to prefer their company. But Grand Maester Mellos dismissed this concern out of hand. "What of it?" he is supposed to have said. "I am not fond of fish, but when fish is served, I eat it." Thus was the match decided.^[1]
—writings of Gyldayn, on the decision to arrange a marriage alliance between Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor

My half-brothers would be more to his taste.^[1]
—Rhaenyra Targaryen, to her father, King Viserys

[Laena] was almost as pretty as her brother.^[1]
—Mushroom

Do keep trying, soon or late, you may get one who looks like you.^[1]
—Alicent Hightower, mocking Laenor regarding the appearance of his sons

They will turn the Red Keep into a brothel. No man's daughter will be safe, nor any man's wife. Even the boys... we know what Laenor was.^[6]
—Criston Cole, speaking of the "wanton ways" of Rhaenyra Targaryen and her consort and heir