The Women Who Ruled the Waves: Unveiling the Wife of the Lord of Driftmark
When one asks, “Who is the wife of the Lord of Driftmark?“, the most immediate and powerful answer is, without a doubt, Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. As the formidable wife of the legendary Sea Snake, Lord Corlys Velaryon, Rhaenys was a figure of immense significance, a dragonrider, a political force, and famously, “The Queen Who Never Was.” However, the story of the ladies of Driftmark is actually a bit more complex than a single name. The title of Lord of Driftmark passed through a tumultuous period, and the women connected to its holders were central to the greatest conflict of their age: the Dance of the Dragons. This article will delve deep into the lives of these remarkable women, exploring their power, their marriages, and the profound impact they had on the history of the Seven Kingdoms.
To truly understand the wife of the Lord of Driftmark, we must first look at the most prominent couple to hold the title: Lord Corlys Velaryon and his princess consort. Their union wasn’t merely a marriage; it was arguably the greatest power couple of their generation.
The Primary Answer: Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, “The Queen Who Never Was”
Princess Rhaenys Targaryen stands as the definitive answer for many. Her identity is intrinsically linked to House Velaryon through her celebrated and influential marriage. She was far more than just a lord’s wife; she was a princess of the blood, a dragonrider, and a woman who came tantalizingly close to sitting the Iron Throne herself.
A Union of Power and Ambition: The Marriage of Rhaenys and Corlys
The marriage between Rhaenys Targaryen and Corlys Velaryon was a masterful fusion of old Valyrian blood, Targaryen prestige, and Velaryon ambition. It was a partnership built on mutual respect and shared aspirations, a rarity in the often-brutal political landscape of Westeros.
- Princess Rhaenys Targaryen: The only child of Prince Aemon Targaryen (the eldest son of King Jaehaerys I), Rhaenys had a direct and powerful claim to the Iron Throne. She was a proud, capable, and fierce woman, known for her sharp intellect and her bond with her dragon, the magnificent Meleys, the “Red Queen.” Her Targaryen heritage made her one of the most high-born ladies in the realm.
- Lord Corlys Velaryon: Known as the “Sea Snake,” Corlys was the most accomplished mariner in the history of Westeros. Through his nine legendary voyages, he had amassed staggering wealth, making House Velaryon the richest house in the realm, even wealthier than the Lannisters. His naval power was unmatched, granting him immense influence.
Together, they were a force to be reckoned with. Corlys brought unprecedented wealth and the largest fleet in the world to the marriage, while Rhaenys brought her impeccable royal bloodline and a dragon. Their court at High Tide on Driftmark was said to rival the splendor of the Red Keep itself. Theirs was a relationship of equals, where Corlys’s adventurous spirit was matched by Rhaenys’s regal strength. It was this powerful foundation that emboldened them to press her claim to the throne.
The Great Council of 101 AC: A Defining Rejection
The question of Rhaenys’s destiny came to a head at the Great Council of 101 AC. After the death of her father, Aemon, and then the death of his younger brother Baelon, King Jaehaerys I sought to settle the succession once and for all. The two primary claimants were Rhaenys Targaryen (as the heir of the king’s firstborn son) and her cousin, Prince Viserys (the son of the king’s second-born son, Baelon).
The core of the debate was simple yet revolutionary: could the Iron Throne pass to a woman, or through a female line?
Let’s break down their claims:
- Rhaenys’s Claim: Based on traditional primogeniture, as the only child of the first son, her claim was arguably stronger. Had she been born a man, there would have been no question.
- Viserys’s Claim: Based on male-preference primogeniture, his claim was through an unbroken male line, which the lords of Westeros found more palatable.
Ultimately, the lords of Westeros voted overwhelmingly in favor of Viserys, establishing a powerful precedent that the Iron Throne could not pass to a woman if a viable male heir existed. This moment forever earned Rhaenys the sorrowful epithet, “The Queen Who Never Was.” This rejection did not break her, but it certainly shaped her outlook, making her a shrewd and sometimes cynical observer of the political games in King’s Landing.
The Lady of the Tides and Her Role in the Dance
As the wife of the Lord of Driftmark, Rhaenys embraced her role as the Lady of the Tides. She managed their vast household and was a key advisor to her husband. When the Dance of the Dragons loomed, the allegiance of House Velaryon was perhaps the most sought-after prize. Initially, Rhaenys was hesitant. She had seen firsthand how the realm rejected a female ruler, and she harbored deep-seated doubts about Rhaenyra’s chances of success and the catastrophic cost of war.
Her famous confrontation with Rhaenyra, where she questioned the legitimacy of her grandsons (Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey), highlighted her pragmatic nature. However, once war became inevitable, she declared for Queen Rhaenyra and the Blacks, honoring the betrothals of her granddaughters, Baela and Rhaena, to Rhaenyra’s sons. As a warrior, she was formidable. Patrolling the Gullet atop Meleys, she helped enforce the Velaryon blockade of King’s Landing. Her tragic end came at the Battle of Rook’s Rest, where she bravely faced two Targaryen princes, Aegon II and Aemond, and their dragons, Sunfyre and Vhagar. Though she and Meleys were slain, they managed to grievously wound Aegon II, an act that had major consequences for the remainder of the war. Her death was a devastating blow to the Blacks and a testament to her courage as the true queen of the sea and sky.
The Complexity of Succession: Other Wives and Marriages
The story doesn’t end with Rhaenys. The question of who would succeed Corlys as Lord of Driftmark led to another crucial marriage that was, in many ways, the direct cause of the Dance of the Dragons. This brings us to the next “wife” connected to the lordship of Driftmark.
A Political Pact: Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon
After Rhaenys and Corlys, the heir to Driftmark was their son, Ser Laenor Velaryon. To unite the two most powerful Valyrian houses and solidify her own position as heir to the Iron Throne, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen was wed to Laenor. In this context, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen was the wife of the heir to Driftmark, and for a brief time, the wife of the Lord of Driftmark himself.
This marriage, however, was purely a matter of statecraft. It was well-known, at least within courtly circles, that Laenor was homosexual. The marriage was a hollow political shell designed for one purpose: to produce heirs with the blood of both Targaryen and Velaryon. Rhaenyra and Laenor reached an understanding to “do their duty” to the realm while pursuing their own private affections.
The children born of this union—Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey—became the central point of contention in the realm. Officially, they were Laenor’s sons and heirs to both the Iron Throne and Driftmark. Unofficially, it was widely whispered that their true father was Ser Harwin “Breakbones” Strong, the commander of the City Watch and Rhaenyra’s personal protector. This scandalous rumor gave Rhaenyra’s rivals, namely Queen Alicent Hightower and her faction (the Greens), the ammunition they needed to challenge her claim and promote the rights of Alicent’s own sons.
The very legitimacy of the future Lord of Driftmark was called into question, fueling the fire that would soon engulf the Seven Kingdoms. In the show *House of the Dragon*, Laenor’s fate is depicted differently from the book *Fire & Blood*, where he is killed. In the show, he fakes his death with the help of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen, escaping to a new life in Essos. This act, while merciful, effectively dissolves the marriage and further complicates the line of succession, paving the way for Lucerys to be named heir to Driftmark.
A Table of Lords and Their Ladies During the Dance
To clarify the shifting roles and relationships during this turbulent era, here is a table outlining the Lords of Driftmark and their wives or consorts.
| Lord of Driftmark | Wife / Consort | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lord Corlys Velaryon (“The Sea Snake”) | Princess Rhaenys Targaryen | The defining power couple of their age. Their marriage combined immense wealth, naval supremacy, and Targaryen dragon blood. |
| Ser Laenor Velaryon (Heir, and briefly Lord upon Corlys’s incapacitation) |
Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen | A political marriage of convenience to unite claims. The parentage of their children became the central cause of the Dance of the Dragons. |
| Lucerys Velaryon (Named Heir to Driftmark) |
Betrothed to Rhaena Targaryen | Intended to inherit Driftmark, solidifying the Velaryon line. He died tragically before he could marry or inherit the title. |
| Lord Alyn Velaryon (“Oakenfist”) (Later Lord of Driftmark) |
Lady Baela Targaryen | A post-war union that reaffirmed the Velaryon-Targaryen bond. Baela, a dragonrider like her grandmother Rhaenys, was a powerful figure in her own right. |
The Legacy of the Ladies of Driftmark
The women connected to the lordship of Driftmark were not passive figures. They were active participants in the great game, shaping events through their marriages, their children, and, in some cases, their own power as dragonriders. Their legacy is a testament to the influence women could wield in a patriarchal world.
Beyond the Title: The Enduring Influence
The stories of Rhaenys and Rhaenyra are deeply intertwined with the identity of House Velaryon.
- Rhaenys Targaryen’s legacy is one of both strength and tragedy. She represents the heights a woman could achieve, commanding respect, power, and a dragon. Yet, she is also a symbol of the institutional barriers that prevented a capable woman from reaching her full potential. As the wife of the Lord of Driftmark, she elevated the house to near-royal status, and her death in battle cemented her place as a heroic figure in the annals of Westeros.
- Rhaenyra Targaryen’s connection to Driftmark, through her marriage to Laenor, directly set the stage for civil war. Her determination to secure her sons’ inheritance—both the Iron Throne and the Driftwood Throne—made House Velaryon the bedrock of her cause. The scandal surrounding her marriage was weaponized by her enemies, demonstrating how the private lives of royal women could have devastating public consequences.
The Unbroken Bond of Two Valyrian Houses
Ultimately, the saga of the wife of the Lord of Driftmark highlights the critical alliance between House Targaryen and House Velaryon. For generations, these two families of Old Valyria intermarried, sharing blood, dragons, and destiny. The women who bridged these houses—be it through a marriage of love and partnership like Rhaenys, or one of political necessity like Rhaenyra—were never merely consorts. They were queens, princesses, dragonriders, and power players whose decisions and very existence steered the course of history.
So, while the simple answer is Princess Rhaenys, the complete story reveals a more intricate tapestry. The women of Driftmark were as formidable and influential as the tides their husbands commanded, leaving a legacy that would long outlast the ships, the wealth, and the wars of their time.