Unleashing the Fury: The Epic Battle at The Gullet in House of The Dragon

Rowley Irlam, the stunt coordinator for House of the Dragon, recently shared some exciting news about the upcoming season. According to Irlam, the show will feature a thrilling battle at sea, specifically the historic Battle of the Gullet. This battle, which took place during the Dance of the Dragons, saw the Blacks facing off against the Greens and their ally the Triarchy in a bloody conflict. Irlam expressed House of the Dragon's desire to showcase this epic naval battle on screen, emphasizing that it simply can't be replicated in a car park.

The Lead-Up To The Battle

During the Dance of the Dragons, the Gullet's strategic location made it a crucial focal point. House Velaryon's fleet, led by Corlys Velaryon, effectively cut off the Greens' access to Blackwater Bay, dealing a significant blow to their efforts following the attack on Harrenhal led by Prince Daemon Targaryen. Despite Ser Otto Hightower's attempts to secure an alliance with the Triarchy, King Aegon II grew impatient and replaced him with Ser Criston Cole. However, Otto's plan eventually succeeded when the Triarchy agreed to fight for the Greens in exchange for exclusive trading rights and control of the Stepstones, challenging the naval supremacy of the Sea Snake.

The Triarchy retaliated with a fleet of ninety warships, consisting of Myrish, Lysene, and Tyroshi vessels, led by Admiral Sharako Lohar and flying the banners of the Three Daughters. Meanwhile, Jacaerys (played by Harry Collett in House of the Dragon), who had already lost Prince Lucerys Velaryon, deemed it necessary to send his half-brothers, Aegon and Viserys Targaryen, away from Dragonstone until Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen secured the Iron Throne. He arranged for the princes to be raised in Pentos under the care of its prince. The Gay Abandon, a Pentoshi cog, was chosen as their transport and was accompanied by seven escort warships under the command of the Sea Snake. This decision marked the beginning of the Battle of the Gullet in 129 AC.

The Battle And Its Aftermath

The Gay Abandon, en route to Pentos, was intercepted by the Triarchy's fleet of ninety warships in the Gullet. The vessel was captured, and the accompanying warships were either sunk or taken as prisoners. Viserys, who possessed only a dragon egg, was taken captive with no means of escape. On the other hand, his older brother Aegon, fled on his injured dragon, Stormcloud, and made it to Dragonstone to report the incident, though he lost his dragon in the process. The Battle of the Gullet happened on the fifth day of 130 AC, at sunrise. The Triarchy's fleet invaded the Gullet from the North and South of Dragonstone Island, catching House Velaryon's fleet off guard. Prince Jacaerys, riding on Vermax, fought bravely against the Lysene galleys, but the battle-hardened enemy from the war for the Stepstones threw spears and arrows at him. He was joined by other dragonriders, including Ulf the White on Silverwing, Nettles on Sheepstealer, Addam Velaryon on Seasmoke, and Hugh Hammer on Vermithor. Notably, in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 10, "The Black Queen," Daemon took stock of unclaimed dragons like Seasmoke, Vermithor, and Silverwing while arguing with Rhaenyra about the war.

Jacaerys, the heir to the Iron Throne, met his demise when his dragon Vermax was either shot by a crossbow or caught by a grapnel at a lower altitude. In an attempt to save himself, Jacaerys jumped off his dragon but was killed by Myrish crossbowmen. Meanwhile, the Velaryon fleet engaged in a fierce battle against the Triarchy both to the North and South of Dragonstone, which lasted through the night. However, the Tyroshi squadron from the South bypassed Dragonstone and attacked Driftmark instead. The Triarchy went on to sack Spicetown, leaving it in ruins and killing countless inhabitants. High Tide, along with Corlys Velaryon's treasures, was also destroyed in the attack.

The aftermath of the battle was devastating for both sides. The Blacks lost their prince and dragon, as well as a significant portion of Corlys Velaryon's fleet. Spicetown, once a bustling trade hub, was left in ruins and never rebuilt. Prince Viserys Targaryen's fate was unknown, leaving his family to believe he was dead. Prince Aegon was deeply affected by the loss of his brother and the guilt of leaving him behind on the Gay Abandon. The Greens-Triarchy alliance also suffered heavy losses, with only twenty-eight of their original ninety warships returning home. The human toll of the battle was alarming, and ultimately, the Greens were unsuccessful in breaking the Velaryon fleet's hold on the East coasts of Westeros. It remains to be seen how HBO's House of the Dragon will portray this critical battle on the small screen.