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   High Valyrian

   High Valyrian originated in the Valyrian Freehold, an ancient civilization on the eastern continent of Essos known for its powerful dragonlords.

   • Origin: High Valyrian was the native language of the Valyrian Freehold and its ruling dragonlord families.
   • Spread: As Valyria expanded its empire, the language spread throughout much of Essos and was adopted by many of the peoples under Valyrian rule.
   • The Doom: After the Doom of Valyria destroyed the Freehold, High Valyrian gradually ceased to be an everyday native language.
   • Legacy: High Valyrian survived as a prestigious language associated with nobility, scholarship, history, and the descendants of Old Valyria, somewhat comparable to Latin in medieval Europe.
   • Valyrian Descendants: Over time, different forms of Low or Bastard Valyrian developed throughout the former Valyrian territories, particularly in the Free Cities.
   • House Targaryen: As one of the surviving Valyrian dragonlord families, House Targaryen preserved knowledge of High Valyrian after settling on Dragonstone and later conquering Westeros.

   Common High Valyrian Phrases & Everyday Expressions

   • Rytsas — “Hello.”
   • Kessa — “Yes.”
   • Daor — “No.”
   • Avy jorrāelan — “I love you.”
   • Tubī daor — “Not today.” Literally, “today, no.”
   • Sȳz bantis — “Good evening.”

   Avy jorrāelan

   Meaning: “I love you.”

   Usage: A personal and affectionate expression used to communicate love or deep emotional attachment.

   High Valyrian — Titles & Expressions

   • Jentys — “King.”

     • Usage: Refers to a male ruler or king.

   • Āeksio — “Lord.”

     • Usage: A title or form of address for a lord or person of high rank.

   • Dāria — “Queen.”

     • Usage: Refers to a female ruler or queen.

   • Nyke iksan — “I am.”

     • Usage: Used when identifying or describing oneself.
     • Example: Nyke iksan dāria — “I am a queen.”

   • Ñuhor līr gūrēnna — “I will take what is mine.”

     • Usage: A forceful declaration of intention or claim, suitable for contexts involving power, inheritance, or asserting one's right to something.

   Valyrians

   The Valyrians, also known as the Blood of the Dragon or Blood of Old Valyria, were a people and culture native to the Valyrian Peninsula in Essos. For thousands of years, their civilization, the Valyrian Freehold, grew into one of the most powerful empires in the known world.

   Information

   Status: Scattered Origin: Valyrian Peninsula, Essos Homeland: Old Valyria Civilization: Valyrian Freehold Society: Oligarchy ruled by powerful noble and dragonlord families Language: High Valyrian Religion: Old Gods of Valyria

   Distinctive Features

   Valyrians, particularly those descended from the noble families of Old Valyria, were often recognized by distinctive features:

   • Silver, silver-gold, or pale blond hair
   • Violet, purple, lilac, or deep blue eyes
   • Pale complexions were common among those of Valyrian descent
   • These traits became strongly associated with the bloodlines of the ancient Valyrian dragonlords.

   Valyrian Dragonlords

   Valyria became powerful largely through its mastery of dragons. The great dragonlord families bonded with and rode dragons, using them alongside armies and Valyrian steel weapons to conquer surrounding territories.

   Over centuries, Valyrian expansion transformed the Freehold into the dominant power across much of Essos.

   The Doom of Valyria

   The Valyrian Freehold was destroyed by a mysterious cataclysm known as the Doom of Valyria. The disaster devastated the Valyrian Peninsula, destroyed the heart of the Freehold, and killed most of its dragonlords and dragons.

   After the Doom, surviving Valyrians and their descendants became scattered throughout the known world.

   House Targaryen

   House Targaryen was one of the dragonlord families to survive the Doom because the family had already relocated from Valyria to Dragonstone.

   Their survival allowed them to preserve several traditions of Old Valyria, including dragonriding, High Valyrian, Valyrian marriage customs, and the belief in the importance of maintaining the blood of the dragon.

   Rise of Valyria

   The Valyrians rose to prominence after discovering dragons within the Fourteen Flames, a chain of volcanoes on the Valyrian Peninsula. After learning to tame and ride the creatures, they established Valyria and developed into a civilization renowned for its mastery of dragonriding, magic, and metallurgy.

   Their knowledge allowed them to forge Valyrian steel, an exceptionally strong, light, and sharp material whose original method of creation was eventually lost.

   Expansion of the Valyrian Freehold

   With dragons and superior weapons at their disposal, the Valyrians began expanding beyond their homeland and eventually established the Valyrian Freehold.

   Their expansion brought them into conflict with several powerful civilizations, particularly the Ghiscari Empire and the Rhoynar.

   • The Ghiscari fought a series of wars against Valyria but were ultimately defeated. Old Ghis was destroyed and many of its people were enslaved.
   • The Rhoynar also resisted Valyrian expansion. Their cities were devastated, many were enslaved, and surviving Rhoynar eventually scattered from their homeland.
   • Valyrian colonies and settlements spread throughout Essos, forming the foundations of many regions that would later become independent after Valyria's destruction.

   For thousands of years, the Valyrian Freehold remained the dominant power across much of Essos.

   The Doom of Valyria

   Valyrian supremacy ended with the mysterious catastrophe known as the Doom of Valyria.

   The disaster devastated Valyria and the surrounding peninsula, killing most of the dragonlords and their dragons. Enormous amounts of Valyrian knowledge were also lost, including magical practices, historical records, and secrets of craftsmanship such as the forging of Valyrian steel.

   The exact cause of the Doom remains unknown. Possible explanations include catastrophic eruptions of the Fourteen Flames or a disaster connected to the Valyrians' extensive use of magic.

   Whatever its cause, the Doom effectively destroyed the Valyrian Freehold.

   Century of Blood

   Without Valyria's dragonlords maintaining control, its colonies and conquered territories began declaring their independence.

   The resulting political vacuum led to a prolonged period of warfare and instability throughout Essos known as the Century of Blood.

   Aftermath & Valyrian Legacy

   Although the Freehold was destroyed, Valyrian culture did not disappear completely.

   High Valyrian survived as a prestigious language, while regional forms developed throughout former Valyrian territories. These eventually became the various Low or Bastard Valyrian dialects spoken throughout parts of Essos, particularly the Free Cities.

   Valyrian ancestry also survived among populations of the former Freehold. Some noble families continued to display features traditionally associated with the blood of Old Valyria, particularly silver or pale blond hair and distinctive violet, purple, blue, or lilac eyes.

   Valyrians in Westeros

   Several Valyrian noble houses escaped the destruction of their homeland because they were already established around Dragonstone, the westernmost major Valyrian outpost.

   The most prominent surviving houses included:

   • House Targaryen — A dragonlord family that settled on Dragonstone before the Doom and possessed the surviving dragons.
   • House Velaryon — An ancient Valyrian house associated primarily with seafaring and naval power.
   • House Celtigar — Another Valyrian-descended house established near Dragonstone.

   House Targaryen became the most powerful surviving remnant of Old Valyria. Unlike most surviving Valyrian populations in Essos, the Targaryens deliberately preserved many of their ancestral traditions, including High Valyrian, dragonriding, Valyrian naming customs, and marriage between close relatives to preserve their bloodline.

   These surviving houses ensured that elements of Old Valyria's culture, appearance, language, and traditions continued long after the Freehold itself had disappeared.

   Valyrian Appearance & Customs

   The Valyrians were renowned for their striking beauty and distinctive physical features, particularly among the noble and dragonlord families of Old Valyria.

   Physical Appearance

   Valyrian features traditionally included:

   • Silver, silver-gold, or platinum-blond hair
   • Violet, purple, lilac, or deep blue eyes
   • Pale complexions
   • Fine or striking facial features
   • An appearance often considered unusually beautiful by the peoples of Westeros and Essos

   These traits became closely associated with having the “blood of Old Valyria.” However, not every person of Valyrian descent possessed every traditional feature, and eye and hair colors could vary between individuals and generations.

   Bloodline & Marriage Customs

   Valyrian noble families placed great importance on maintaining the perceived purity of their bloodlines, particularly among the dragonlord houses.

   Close-kin marriages could include:

   • Brother and sister
   • Cousins
   • Uncle and niece
   • Aunt and nephew
   • Other close relatives within the same bloodline

   House Targaryen continued this practice after the Doom, believing that maintaining their Valyrian blood helped preserve their identity and connection to their dragonlord ancestry.

   Polygamy

   Polygamous marriage also existed among some Valyrian dragonlords, although it was not necessarily the standard practice.

   The most famous Targaryen example is Aegon the Conqueror, who was simultaneously married to both of his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys Targaryen.

   Religion of Old Valyria

   Relatively little is known about the religious practices of the Valyrian Freehold. The Valyrians were polytheistic and worshipped numerous deities collectively remembered as the Old Gods of Valyria.

   Several Targaryen dragons were named after gods of Old Valyria, preserving the names of otherwise largely forgotten Valyrian deities.

   Known or associated names include:

   • Balerion
   • Vhagar
   • Meraxes
   • Syrax

   Much of Valyria's religious knowledge, rituals, and traditions disappeared during the Doom of Valyria, leaving the true nature of its gods and religious practices largely mysterious.

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