Daemon Velaryon (son of Aethan)

## Daemon Velaryon

Lord admiral

Master of ships

Hand of the King

Victor Velaryon (son)

At least four daughters

**Daemon Velaryon** was the Lord of the Tides, Master of Driftmark, and the head of House Velaryon during the reign of the kings Maegor I Targaryen and Jaehaerys I Targaryen. He served as master of ships and lord admiral for both kings, as well as Hand of the King for his nephew, King Jaehaerys I.

Daemon was the son of Lord Aethan Velaryon of Driftmark and brother to the Dowager Queen Alyssa Velaryon, wife of King Aenys I Targaryen. He had several sons and daughters.

## Character

Daemon Velaryon was a prideful man who enjoyed his family's position as the "second house" of the realm, on account of the Velaryons' close ties to House Targaryen.

Daemon served ably during his long tenure as master of ships and Hand of the King.

## History

### Early life

Daemon was the eldest son and heir of Lord Aethan Velaryon and Lady Alarra Massey. He had several brothers and a sister, Alyssa, who wed their cousin Prince Aenys Targaryen in 22 AC, and later became the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.

After King Aenys' death, his brother Maegor I Targaryen usurped the throne from Alyssa's eldest son Aegon. Fleeing to Driftmark, Alyssa named her son the rightful king, but a visit from Dowager Queen Visenya Targaryen and her dragon Vhagar convinced Daemon's family to return to court. In 42 AC, Daemon, Alyssa, and their brothers and cousins did homage to Maegor as the true king.

### Master of ships

Daemon served on Maegor's small council as the lord admiral of the royal fleet. When Maegor, in need of an heir, sought to find a new wife, Daemon advised him to wed his niece, Princess Rhaena, suggesting that such a union would unite the Targaryen claims, prevent any fresh rebellions from forming around her, and acquire a hostage against Dowager Queen Alyssa, his sister. Maegor eventually took three brides, and followed Daemon's counsel by making Rhaena as one of those brides. When his nephew Prince Jaehaerys began gathering forces at Storm's End in 48 AC, Daemon and Lord Rogar Baratheon were some of the first great lords to turn against Maegor, and the rest of the realm soon followed their example. As the Velaryons were the realm's traditional admirals, Daemon's decision ensured that the King no longer had the royal fleet at his disposal. When Jaehaerys ascended to the Iron Throne, Daemon was confirmed as lord admiral and master of ships once again.

When considering a queen for the king, Daemon suggested that Jaehaerys wed Queen Elinor Costayne, one of Maegor's widows. He argued that such a union would demonstrate that Maegor's supporters had been forgiven, and Elinor's proven fertility was another point in her favor. Daemon even suggested for the king to adopt her sons by Ser Theo Bolling. In defiance of the small council, Jaehaerys ultimately wed his younger sister Alysanne, whom Lord Rogar Baratheon had decided to wed to his brother, Ser Orryn.

Lord Rogar suspected that it had been Daemon who alerted his niece about the plot, in fear that the Baratheons were attempting to replace House Velaryon as the second house of the realm. Though Daemon served with the regents in King's Landing, Jaehaerys and Alysanne flew their dragons to Driftmark to tour Daemon's shipyards, accompanied by Daemon's sons. Rogar requested for Daemon to use the Velaryon fleet to prevent lords from visiting Dragonstone to curry the king's favor, but Daemon responded with a blunt "no", which Baratheon took as a slight. Daemon and the other councilors objected to Lord Rogar's plot to crown Princess Aerea in place of Jaehaerys, after which Alyssa ordered the resignation of Rogar, her own husband, as Hand of the King.

### Hand of the King

Daemon was raised to the office of Hand of the King by his sister, Queen Regent Alyssa Velaryon, to replace Rogar Baratheon. Alyssa retired from public life and Daemon ruled the realm as best he could together with the small council for the remainder of Jaehaerys's regency, "saying little and doing less" according to Grand Maester Benifer. When Jaehaerys reached the age of majority in 50 AC, he confirmed Daemon in his office as Hand, while Manfryd Redwyne, Lord of the Arbor, was summoned to fill the post of master of ships. This marked the first time that the office of master of ships had not gone to a man of House Velaryon.

Daemon served ably as Hand of the King. After the death of the High Lickspittle in 54 AC, Daemon advocated for a show of force, suggesting to use the royal fleet to prevent the elevation of Septon Mattheus to the office of High Septon, for Mattheus was a great opponent of the Targaryens. Later that year, when a mysterious ailment caused the death of all of Rhaena Targaryen's companions on Dragonstone, Jaehaerys ordered Daemon to send forth his galleys to ensure no one spread the disease beyond the island. Daemon did as commanded, while grieving for his own young niece Lianna, who had been one of Rhaena's companions.

Following the death of his sister Alyssa later that same year, Daemon resigned from the office of Hand of the King, claiming he wished to spend his remaining time with his family. Although most maesters and historians believe Daemon at his word, some say he had a rivalry with Lord Redwyne and wished to relinquish his post as a result of a bitter feud. Daemon was succeeded as Hand by Lord Myles Smallwood.

### Later life

In late 58 AC, Lord Daemon attended the tourney at King's Landing commemorating the tenth anniversary of the king's coronation. During the winter of 59 AC. when the Shivers spread to the crownlands, Daemon sickened on Driftmark and was at the point of death, but eventually recovered. However, his second son and three of his daughters perished. In 73 AC, Ser Lucamore Strong of the Kingsguard was disgraced for having broken his vows by fathering children and having families. The knight's second wife and her children were sent to Driftmark to be fostered with Daemon.

Daemon eventually passed away at the age of eighty-eight. As he had outlived his eldest son, Daemon was succeeded as Lord of the Tides by his grandson, Ser Corlys Velaryon.

## Family

Daemon Velaryon was the eldest son and heir of Lord Aethan Velaryon of Driftmark and Lady Alarra of House Massey. He had several brothers and a sister, Queen Alyssa Velaryon. Daemon had three sons, Corwyn, Jorgen, and Victor, as well as at least four daughters.

Lianna Velaryon was a niece of Lord Daemon. Lady Larissa Velaryon was either his niece or daughter, as she was a cousin of his niece Princess Rhaena Targaryen.