Summary
- Wealth determines power in House of the Dragon - Targaryens, Lannisters, Hightowers vie for dominance.
- New vassal Houses like Lefford, Strong, Royce rise in Season 2 of House of the Dragon.
- Lord Corlys Velaryon is the wealthiest in Westeros, self-made through trade and naval voyages.
HBO's House of the Dragon concerns itself mainly with the nobility of Westeros, more specifically with the ruling House Targaryen, its allies, and enemies. Councilors at the Red Keep talk about coffers, the cost of wars, and the need to secure shipping lanes. Simply put, wealth touches everything that happens in the lives of the nobles, and ensures the prosperity of the realm.
The Velaryons, led by Lord Corlys, proudly claim that he worked hard for a living and built his fortune. The Targaryens have wealth because they are the ruling House and the Lannisters sit on a mountain of gold. The Hightowers are also among the richest people in the Seven Kingdoms, but who are the realm's richest in House of the Dragon?
Updated August 4, 2024, by Bisma Fida: New vassal Houses have appeared on the scene with the release of an all-new season of House of the Dragon. Some of the new Houses are the allies of the richest in Westeros, but not all are wealthy. Houses have made their declarations and look forward to taking part in the war. As the Great Houses of Westeros challenge each other, they mobilize men, arms, and coin. Wars are a sinkhole, but the wealthy can afford to take sides. This list has been updated to make space for a new wealthy House that appeared in House of the Dragon Season 2.
7 House Lefford
Hosts Jason Lannister's Army At The Golden Tooth
Jason Lannister marches to House Lefford's seat of the Golden Tooth in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6 "Smallfolk." The Leffords, under Lord Humfrey, provide 500 armed men, all of them ready to join the Lannisters in battle.
House Lefford is the gatekeeper to the Westerlands, as it guards the entrance to the region from the east. It is an affluent House because of the Golden Tooth's strategic location. Since Humfrey allowed Jason's large host and two caged lions to garrison inside the Golden Tooth, he must have enough provisions to meet the demand.
6 House Strong
Responsible For The Upkeep Of The Enormous Harrenhal
Per the events of House of the Dragon, House Strong, a noble House in the Riverlands, has Harrenhal. The upkeep of the largest castle in Westeros is an enormous task, and Lord Lyonel Strong does so until tragedy strikes his House. Additionally, Lyonel sat on Viserys' small council as Master of Laws, and later, took over from Otto Hightower as Hand of the King. The position of Hand made him the second most powerful man in the kingdoms.
The writings of Archmaester Gyldayn state that House Strong at the beginning of the Dance had enough wealth to be considered among the richest Houses. After Lyonel and Ser Harwin's deaths, the culprit, Larys Strong, becomes the Lord of Harrenhal and is a member of Aegon II's small council. Simply put, House Strong possesses hard and soft power in the Dance of the Dragons.
5 House Royce
Has Port Control
That Viserys' younger brother, Daemon, was married to a Royce says a lot about the House's prestige, status, and honor. The Royces of Runestone are a Noble House sworn to House Arryn of the Eyrie. An old and powerful House, their seat is strategically situated on the coast of the Narrow Sea north of the port city of Gulltown. That said, House Royce controls several ports and isn't dependent on Gulltown for trade.
House Of The Dragon: Worst Decisions Made By Viserys
Viserys had several opportunities to do what was right, but he often chose not to. Here are some of his worst decisions in House of the Dragon.
Daemon, after killing his first wife, Rhea Royce, calls her death a "tragic accident" when Ser Gerold Royce confronts him at Rhaenyra's wedding to Laenor Velaryon. He demands the inheritance of Runestone, as he and Lady Rhea have no heirs. Daemon didn't consummate his first marriage and laid claim to all of Rhea's material possessions after killing her.
4 House Targaryen
The Ruling House
The Targaryens are the ruling family of Westeros, but they are certainly not as rich as the Lannisters and the Velaryons in House of the Dragon. The House is deposed at the beginning of Game of Thrones. That said, Queen Daenerys Targaryen amasses wealth before setting sail to Westeros. In the beginning of House of the Dragon, House Targaryen possesses ten adult dragons. The reigns of Kings - Aegon I and Jaehaerys I witnessed progress and prosperity. Later, Alicent Hightower declares:
Our coffers are great, but not infinite.
Westeros is a pre-industrial, resource-based economy with a strict feudal structure in place. In this political hierarchy, land and commodities are the primary sources of wealth. House Targaryen is rich because it is the ruling family, but it is certainly not the richest. Additionally, the split has put a strain on its finances. The Greens' coffers are decent, and Rhaenyra is doing okay for now.
3 House Hightower
An Old Money Family
House Hightower of Oldtown is just as rich as the Lannisters of Casterly Rock. Not only is the House a patron of the Faith of the Seven, but also the Citadel. Oldtown remains the epicenter of the Faith in lore, and the Starry Sept (built by a Hightower) used to be the official residence of the High Septon.
Aegon the Conqueror's final coronation took place in the Starry Sept and the ceremony was presided over by the High Septon. The Hightowers are committed to the Faith, and that explains why Alicent Hightower has Targaryen heraldry replaced with emblems of the Faith in the Red Keep. The mighty Hightowers are sworn to their overlords - House Tyrell - but they have a large army and can provide thrice the number of swords as other Tyrell bannermen.
The Hightowers' power explains why Otto is quick to send ravens to Oldtown whenever Viserys' rule brings about new developments. Though they prefer trade and commerce to wars, that's not the case in House of the Dragon. The Hightowers have wealth, lands, and privileges, making them the richest.
2 House Lannister
Rich Heritage Of Gold Mining
When the vain Jason Lannister proposes marriage to Viserys' heir, Rhaenyra, he offers her Lannisport's "finest honey wine" that he says she will ever taste. He goes on and on about Casterly Rock, and his prestige is highly associated with his family wealth.
The Rock is thrice the height of Hightower in Oldtown, taller still than the Wall in the North. It's been said that if one were to stand in a tower on a perfect day, one could see clear across the Sunset Sea.
Jason adds that he has the means to build a dragon pit - one that can act as a stable for Rhaenyra's Syrax. House Lannister is the crème de la crème of the wealthiest Houses in the realm, as its seat is directly on top of the most productive gold mines in the Westerlands. The only House that can beat it in terms of wealth is House Velaryon.
1 House Velaryon
Lord Corlys Has Accumulated Massive Wealth
Lord Corlys, more famously known as the Sea Snake, tells Daemon in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 2 "The Rogue Prince," that he is self-made. The House reaps huge profits from trading in the narrow sea and Blackwater Bay.
For centuries, my House had to scratch out an existence from the sea with grit and luck. When I ascended the Driftwood Throne, I knew what I wanted, s o I went out and seized it. Unlike every other lord of the realm, I can say that I built my house's high seat with the strength of mine own back.
The Nine Voyages across the seas of the Known World made Lord Corlys the richest man in the realm. He brought home gold, silk, and spices, and he ordered the construction of a fortification named High Tide to replace the crowded seat, Driftmark. When Viserys announces his decision to remarry into the Hightowers instead of the Velaryons, Corlys gives up his seat at the small council and proudly declares:
This is an absurdity. My house is Valyrian, the greatest power in the realm.
As seen in House of the Dragon, the Velaryons also have an edge over others, in that, the Targaryens marry into their House, resulting in their ownership of dragons. Lord Corlys' bastard son, Addam of Hull rides Seasmoke in House of the Dragon, while his granddaughter, Baela, has Moondancer.
House of the Dragon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- August 21, 2022
- Network
- HBO
