Valyrian Civilization: Where and why did it fail?
Valyrian Freehold was one of the most powerful civilizations in all the known worlds centuries ago.Dragonlords controlled huge lands and created a new empire from scratch. However, all it took was one single devastating incident to destroy the Valyrian civilization, which ended in an event called “The Doom of Valyria.”
The Valyrian Freehold – A Power that was Lost
Centuries ago, this civilization dominated the known world, especially its southern parts. Valyrian culture became the best in the world because of the powerful families of dragons, large armies of these fire-breathing reptiles, as well as highly advanced science and technology.
Dragons and the center of this empire – Valyria
The dragons were the true source of Valyrian power because those who rode them could easily conquer most of the land that this civilization inhabited.
The empire was also famous because of its marvelous architecture, complex roads and huge, opulent cities, such as the Capital of Valyria.
These cities were also pioneers of Magic, blacksmithing and Metallurgy.
The Doom of Valyria
The Doom of Valyria “On that day”, wrote ancient chroniclers. “The Valyrian peninsula and the land from 30 miles around the island of Slaver’s Bay was engulfed by colossal earthquakes and volcanic eruptions . . . Mount Maegor, was set aflame and it collapsed into a bloody stream of fire.”
Valyria and its people
It all happened around 400 years before the onset of “The War of the Five Kings”, according to legends.
“On that day, mountains appeared where there were none before. The lands cracked apart.
Whole cities turned to fire.”
The Fourteen Flames
The Fourteen Flames are giant volcanoes that surround theValyrian peninsula. These volcanic forces of nature are part of legends and also the main causes of the catastrophic events. On that Day of Doom, Fourteen Flames united and shattered Valyrian civilization into pieces.
The Rise and fall of Dragons on Valyria
For Valyrians, dragons were very significant.
These noble beasts assisted them in controlling their vast empire . However on the fateful Day of Doom these beautiful creatures perished, leaving only a handful of them. Most of the ancient families of dragonlords died on this day , so did a number of their dragons.
Who survived Valyrian civilization?
Not everyone was killed in that catastrophic event.
Some families, in fact, fled the continent even before The Doom. The most significant surviving family of Valyrian blood wasHouse Targaryen, which had resettled on the Dragonstone Island a couple of years before its end. It is unclear how they managed to flee in time.
The mystery surrounding thedoom of Valyria
To be honest, up until now, it remained a Mystery to the Valyrian continent and people what caused the fall. Even after centuries of historical research, nobody knows the exact cause of doom or the extent to which it has been affected by dragons. Nevertheless, the most accepted explanation from Valyrian lore is that “The Fourteenth Flames’ eruption may have also triggered a series of other massive seismic events”, though such ideas haven't been proven yet.
Its Influence is still everywhere – The Valyrian free hold
The influence of Valyrian free hold did not end even after its catastrophic fall.
Valyrian steel, as well as the dragons themselves, have greatly impacted the present’s course. Valyrian language, culture, traditions and bloodlines continued to shape the future throughout history. Valyrian architecture can also be seen all around the known world which represents an empire of strength but also destroyed ones . The tale of Valyrians’ rise to power and its sudden demise continue to fascinate people even to this day, particularly in the genre of fantasy fiction where this civilisation still makes for an excellent lost city.
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