After a long wait, House of the Dragon is finally here! It has everything Game of Thrones fans could want and is packed full of interesting and morally ambiguous characters. And many fans are curious about Laena Velaryon. That’s primarily because of the disturbing situation she finds herself in with King Viserys I Targaryen and their potential marriage. So, how old is Laena Velaryon in House of the Dragon?
Before we get into that, it’s important to explain the context of House of the Dragon within the wider Game of Thrones world.
House of the Dragon takes place almost 200 years before its predecessor. The new prequel series follows the heyday of the House Targaryen, back when they were the rulers of Westeros and sat on the Iron Throne at King’s Landing.
The House Targaryen is led by patriarch King Viserys I. The series begins with his ascension to the throne before skipping forward nine years into his reign. As the show explains, this is 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen.
In House of the Dragon, Viserys is shown as being desperate for a male heir. He already has a daughter, Rhaenyra, but he hopes for a son to succeed him to the Iron Throne.
In the first episode, Viserys I’s wife, Queen Aemma, tragically dies in child birth. Their new son passed shortly after, too. This led to Verserys declaring Rhaenyra as his heir and Princess of Dragonstone.
Despite this, members of Viserys’ council believe he still needs a male heir. In particular, Lord Corlys Velaryon – head of House Velaryon and Viserys’ Master of Ships – and Rhaenys Targaryen want the King to marry their daughter Laena Velaryon. This pairing will likely come as a surprise to viewers — and it left us asking “how old is Laena Velaryon?”
How old is Laena Velaryon in House of the Dragon?
As mentioned, Lady Laena Velaryon is the daughter of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen. Princess Rhaenys is the cousin of King Viserys I. In episode two, Rhaenys and Corlys try to persuade the King to marry their daughter due to the various political and familial advantages.
They arrange a meeting between the King and Laena, however viewers will undoubtedly have found the prospect of marriage between the two to be stomach-turning. That’s because Laena is far, far younger than Viceroys. She is clearly a child – and they are first cousins once removed.
During their brief meeting, the two make small talk about dragons. Viserys appears uncomfortable at the thought of marrying Laena. Laena eventually confesses to Viserys that Rhaenys – her mother – told her she wouldn’t have to “bed” the King until she turns 14 years old.
With that revelation, viewers will probably be wondering exactly how old she is.
How old is Laena Velaryon in House of the Dragon? Laena Velaryon is 12 years old. This is revealed by King Viserys I during a private meeting with Lord Lyonel Strong (Master of Laws) where they are discussing the potential marriage.
Later in episode two, the King decides against marrying Laena and reveals his intention to wed Lady Alicent Hightower. This angers Lena’s father Corlys Velaryon, prompting him to form an alliance with the King’s brother Daemon Targaryen.
What do you think will happen next in House of the Dragon? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other Film & TV articles…
