Although long gone by the time House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones' stories begin, the Valyrian Freehold's shadow looms large over Essos and Westeros. The mighty empire was the most advanced and powerful civilization ever in the world of ice and fire, ruled by Dragonlords and overflowing with magic.
However, its mysterious origins and sudden collapse meant most of the knowledge about it got lost in time, leading to many misconceptions. Indeed, fans know some things about Valyria from the books and the shows, but the empire's practices, traditions, and beliefs are often misinterpreted.
Valyria Was An Empire In Name Only
Although most people refer to Old Valyria as an empire, it was one in name only. Valyria was a Freehold ruled by a council of 40 powerful Dragonrider families; the Targaryens were among them.
In theory, all freeborn landowners had a say in important matters within the Freehold. However, the final decisions ultimately came to the 40 families. Valyrian governance led to many disagreements between this council, and many theories blame the Doom on their inability to control the ever-growing Freehold.
Dragons Don't Come From Valyria
Dragons are crucial in the lore of Game of Thrones. The mighty beasts once reigned over Valyria, a city said to have thousands of dragons controlled by the powerful Dragonlords. Ancient tales claim the humble shepherds that would become the first Valyrians discovered dragons nesting in the Fourteen Flames, a ring of volcanoes.
However, it's far more likely that dragons originated in Asshai, the mysterious port city at the southeastern-most part of Essos. Asshai stories tell of vanished people from their lands who traveled to Valyria and taught the shepherds how to control the dragons using magic. It's impossible to know for certain, but the books' clues and the magic necessary to control them hint at dragons originating in Asshai by the shadow.
Valyrians Didn't Naturally Bond With Dragons
In Game of Thrones, the Targaryens are famous in Game of Thrones for bonding with dragons, leading many to believe all Valyrians had the same gift. However, only a few powerful families were Dragonriders in Valyria; even then, their abilities didn't come naturally.
It's almost certain that Valyrian Dragonriders learned to tame the creatures through magic, heavily altering their bloodlines to strengthen the bond. Blood magic was very common in Valyria, and many suggest it was among the main reasons for the Doom, as the sorcerer's experiments grew out of hand and "corrupted" the Freehold.
Polygamy Was Merely Tolerated In Valyria
Aegon the Conqueror famously married his two sisters, Rhaenys and Visenya, scandalizing the Lord of Westeros and the Faith of the Seven and leading many to believe polygamy was the norm in Valyria. However, polygamy was merely tolerated in the Freehold; many people practiced it, but it wasn't the norm.
Aegon's decision to marry both his sisters came from the need to strengthen the Targaryen legacy and avoid conflicts of succession. Visenya was the elder sister, and any son she had with anyone else could challenge Aegon's sons.
Valyria Had A Religious System
The Targaryens weren't religious and only accepted the Faith of the Seven to avoid further conflict. Many fans believe their atheism comes from Valyria, but the Freehold had a specific, if somewhat feeble religious system. They honored multiple gods, including Balerion, Meraxes, Vhagar, and Syrax. These names would later become the basis for the Targaryens' dragons.
Still, the Valyrians had a more cynical view of religion. The books imply that Dragonlords considered religion a tool to control the masses; thus, they allowed religious freedom in the Free Cities to prevent revolts and bloodshed.
Valyria Did Not Come Up With Slavery
Game of Thrones spends multiple episodes dealing with the horrors of slavery across the cities in Slaver's Bay. Daenerys is so shocked by what she witnesses that she takes it upon herself to end slavery across the continent.
Although many think slavery began in Old Valyria, the practice actually has its roots in the even more ancient Ghiscari Empire. Valyria adopted the custom following their victory over the Ghiscari, using slaves to mine gold and silver from the mines in the Fourteen Flames. However, slavery did become more prominent and brutal in the Freehold.
Dragonstone Is Not The Only Surviving Valyrian Monument
Dragonstone is one of the most iconic castles in Westeros and one of the last surviving examples of Valyrian architecture. It's unlike any other castle in the Seven Kingdoms, thanks to the Valyrians' gifts to bend and shape the stone using magic. The castle features motifs of dragons and several other creatures, like griffins, gargoyles, and basilisks, on the doors and walls.
However, Dragonstone isn't the only surviving Valyrian structure. The Long Bridge and Black Wall of Volantis stand as two of the Freehold's greatest architectural feats, a constant reminder of the Freehold's might. Valyrian roads, known as "dragon roads," survive across Essos. The Valyrians' knowledge of architecture disappeared with the Doom, meaning these structures are the last of their kind.
The Targaryens Left Valyria Long Before The Doom
Contrary to popular belief, the Targaryens didn't arrive at Westeros escaping the Doom. The family left Valyria 12 years before the Doom, after Daenys Targaryen, known by history as Daenys the Dreamer, had a prophetic dream about the upcoming cataclysm. Heeding her warnings, her father, Aenar, sold the family's holdings in the Freehold and took his family, along with five dragons, to Dragonstone.
Daenys' dream meant the Taragryens were the only Dragonrider family to survive the Doom. Five generations later, Aegon the Conqueror and his sisters were born, thus beginning the story of the Targaryen Conquest of Westeros.
The Targaryens Are NOT The Only Valyrians Left In Westeros
The Targaryens were the most politically powerful family in the Seven Kingdoms. They ruled over Westeros for nearly 300 years, marrying each other to preserve their Valyrian blood's purity. However, as House of the Dragon states, the Targaryens weren't the only Valyrian family in Westeros. The Velaryons were never Dragonriders, but they were among the closest allies of House Targaryens, even before the Conquest. According to their stories, the Velrayons arrived at Westeros before the Targaryens.
A third Valryan house inhabits Westeros, settling in Claw Isle. House Celtigar is small but proud, although they're not significant enough for the Targaryens to consider them anything other than close allies.
Valyrian Blood Is Very Common In The Free Cities
Some people believe every Valyrian in Essos perished in the Doom, but that's also untrue. The Freehold had many outposts and colonies, where the surviving Valyrians remained, intermarrying with other peoples. Remnants of the blood of Old Valyria remain all the way to the events of A Song of Ice and Fire, although considerably diluted throughout the centuries.
Volantis, in particular, is strong in Valyrian blood. As the oldest and proudest of the Free Cities, Volantis was the "First Daughter" of the Valyrian Freehold, carrying significant ties to Old Valyria in blood, architecture, and even customs.