Before the rise of House Targaryen in Westeros, Valyria stood as one of the most formidable civilisations in the known world. Situated on a peninsula in the far east of Essos, the Valyrian Freehold was a fusion of advanced magic, military power, and cultural dominance, driven by its unmatched control over dragons. Its legacy shaped much of the world that followed, yet much of its true nature was lost in fire and ruin.
Origins and Expansion
Valyria began as a modest collection of shepherds until they discovered dragons lairing in the volcanic mountains of their peninsula. Through a still poorly understood mix of sorcery and skill, they mastered these beasts and forged the foundation of their dominance. With dragons under their control, the Valyrians expanded rapidly, conquering rival cities and forming a sprawling empire known as the Valyrian Freehold.
Their power rested not on a single monarch, but on a council of noble families known as the Dragonlords. These families, including the ancestors of House Targaryen, held dominion over both their beasts and their people. The Freehold became a crucible of knowledge, engineering, and magic. Valyrian roads and towers still stand in distant lands centuries after their civilisation’s end.
Dragonlords and Bloodlines
The Dragonlords were not merely aristocrats. They practised blood magic, bound their families to dragons, and maintained strict traditions to preserve their lineage. Incestuous marriages were common among them, believed to keep their magical affinity intact. This tradition would carry through to the Targaryens, long after their exile.
Valyrian steel, a product of magic and craftsmanship, symbolised their superiority. Weapons forged from it were prized above all others. Few living smiths ever came close to replicating its quality, and none with complete success. Such steel, combined with dragons, made Valyrian armies nearly unstoppable.
Society and Magic
Valyria was not merely a military state. Its cities brimmed with scholars, artisans, and magicians. The Valyrians documented their knowledge in High Valyrian, a language that retained its prestige long after their fall. Magical practices were not just tolerated but institutionalised. From controlling dragons to creating enchanted architecture, magic was at the heart of Valyrian life.
Their capital, often called the Freehold or simply Valyria, was said to be a marvel of artistry and engineering, carved from stone and fire. Descriptions speak of towers that glowed with heat, bridges of fused stone, and palaces open to the sky.
The Doom
Roughly four hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, Valyria was annihilated in a cataclysm known only as the Doom. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and magical fires tore the peninsula apart. The capital and its people were destroyed within hours. The precise cause remains unknown. Some believe the Dragonlords’ sorcery turned against them. Others speak of divine punishment or a magical experiment gone awry.
Only a few survived. Among them was House Targaryen, which had already relocated to Dragonstone, an outpost on the coast of Westeros. When the Freehold fell, they became the last known dragonriders in the world.
Legacy and Mystery
The Valyrian Freehold’s influence endured long after its destruction. The Targaryens rose to conquer Westeros with the very weapons Valyria had forged. Ruins of Valyrian cities still litter Essos, many of them uninhabitable due to lingering sorcery. Sailors avoid the Smoking Sea, where Valyria once stood, fearing curses and madness.
Despite their fall, Valyria remains a symbol of what mankind might achieve when power and knowledge are pursued without restraint. It also serves as a cautionary tale. The same force that lifted Valyria to greatness eventually consumed it.
In the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, Valyria is not just a ruined empire. It is a shadow that looms behind the Targaryens, a foundation of magic and ambition that shaped the fate of Westeros and continues to echo through its stories.
Watch: The rise and fall of Valyria explained
