House of the Dragon’s stunt coordinator, Rowley Irlam provided insight into the upcoming season of the said HBO prequel (viaTHR). Irlam, who has previously worked on the original series, teased a sea battle and confirmed toTHRthat that’s whereHouse of the Dragonis headed. “It’s not a secret that in this story there’s a battle at sea,” he was quoted as saying. Irlam was, in fact, referring to the Battle of the Gullet which is counted among the bloodiest sea battles in all of history. It features the Blacks facing the Greens and its ally, the Triarchy in the Gullet in George R. R. Martin’sFire & Blood.
The Gullet is a stretch of water located in the Crownlands. Towards its North lie the volcanic island of Dragonstone and the seat of House Velaryon, Driftmark. The peninsula of Massey’s Hook lies to its South. During the civil war - the Dance of the Dragons - the Gullet was sealed by the Sea Snake, Lord Corlys Velaryon’s fleet to cut off all seaborne travel and trade to King’s Landing. The Greens, led byKing Aegon II Targaryen, and its ally responded to the blockade in a manner that ensued in an epic naval battle which is also known by the name - the Battle in the Gullet. Without expressly naming it, Irlam spoke ofHouse of the Dragon’s desire to expand its repertoire to a large sea battle. “You can do a sea battle in a car park, but it won’t necessarily feel the same,” he said.
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Due to its strategic position, the Gullet became the center of attention early on in the Dance of the Dragons. The head of House Velaryon, Lord of the Tides and the Master of Driftmark, Corlys Velaryon’s fleet paralyzed the Greens by sealing off access to Blackwater Bay. This move delved a sharp blow to the Greens who’d already suffered in the assault on Harrenhal led by Prince Daemon Targaryen (portrayed byMatt Smith inHouse of the Dragon). King Aegon II’s hand, and grandfather, Ser Otto Hightower sought to break Corlys Velaryon’s blockade by reaching out to the Triarchy to join forces with them.
Both Corlys (played by Steve Toussaint onHouse of the Dragon) and Daemon had previously fought multiple land and naval battles with the Triarchy for control of the Stepstones. Otto’s diplomatic efforts took time, and in the meantime, Aegon II grew impatient and replaced him as Hand with Ser Criston Cole. Otto’s plan came to fruition when the governing body of the Triarchy - the High Council accepted his offer of alliance. The Triarchy agreed to fight Rhaenyra’s faction in return for exclusive trading rightsat King’s Landingand the promise of the Stepstones. Thus, the alliance of the Greens and the Triarchy sought to challenge Sea Snake’s naval supremacy.
The response of the Triarchy came in the form of a fleet of ninety Myrish, Lysene, and Tyroshi warships, commanded by Admiral Sharako Lohar under the banners of the Three Daughters. In the meanwhile, after having lost Prince Lucerys Velaryon, Jacaerys (played by Harry Collett inHouse of the Dragon) wanted his half-brothers, Aegon and Viserys Targaryen out of Dragonstone until King’s Landing fell toQueen Rhaenyra Targaryen. Jacaerys decided that the princes would be raised with the Prince of Pentos until their mother, Rhaenyra sat the Iron Throne. Aegon and Viserys were shipped off on a Pentoshi cog named the Gay Abandon which was guarded by the Sea Snake’s seven escort warships. The beginnings of the Battle of the Gullet lay in Aegon and Viserys' departure to Pentos in 129 AC.
The Battle And Its Aftermath
The Gay Abandon, which was headed to Pentos encountered the ninety warships of the Triarchy that had sailed up the Gullet. The Gay Abandon was captured and its escort warships were either sunk or taken captive. Since Viseryswas only in possession of a dragon egg, he had no way of escaping. He was held captive, but his older brother, Aegon managed to escape on his severely wounded dragon, Stormcloud. He delivered the news to Dragonstone but lost Stormcloud. The Battle of the Gullet took place at sunrise on the fifth day of 130 AC. The Triarchy’s fleet entered the Gullet to the North and South of Dragonstone Island. House Velaryon’s fleet was caught unawares and Prince Jacaerys responded by flying on Vermax to face the Lysene galleys. While Jacaerys fought valiantly, their enemy, battle-hardened from the war for the Stepstones, attempted to assault him with spears and arrows. He was joined by his fellow dragonriders, Ulf the White mounted on Silverwing, Nettles on Sheepstealer, Addam Velaryon on Seasmoke, and Hugh Hammer on Vermithor. It is pertinent to mention that Daemon took stock of unclaimed dragons namely, Seasmoke, Vermithor, and Silverwing while arguing with Rhaenyra about the war inHouse of the Dragonseason 1, episode 10, “The Black Queen.”
Jacaerys' Vermax flew at lower altitude and was either injured by a crossbow or pulled down by a grapnel. Jacaerys, who was in line toinherit the Iron Throne, leaped and was killed by Myrish crossbowmen. Meanwhile, the Velaryon fleet fought the Triarchy in the North and the South of Dragonstone. This battle continued into the night and the Tyroshi squadron from the south side, bypassed Dragonstone to attack Driftmark instead. The Triarchy sacked Spicetown, set fire to it, and butchered its inhabitants. The nearby castle of High Tide (seen inHouse of the Dragonseason 1) and Corlys Velaryon’s treasures too were destroyed in the sack.
The Blacks lostPrince Jacaerys and Vermax, and nearly one-third of Corlys Velaryon’s fleet. Spicetown, a trade hotspot, was never rebuilt. Prince Viserys Targaryen’s fate remained unknown, and his family believed him to be dead. Prince Aegon was affected badly and endured the guilt of leaving behind his brother on the Gay Abandon. The Greens-Triarchy alliance suffered heavy losses too, as only twenty-eight of ninety Triarchy warships returned home. The human cost of the battle was alarming for both sides and ultimately, the Greens were unsuccessful in breaking the Velaryon fleet’s hold on the east coasts of Westeros. As of now, it remains to be seen how well HBO’sHouse of the Dragonadapts this key battle to the small screen.
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