Vaemond Velaryon

Younger brother of Lord Corlys, Ser Vaemond Velaryon was a warrior and admiral who had commanded Driftmark's fleets and never married — meaning the inheritance of the richest seat in Westeros passed, in his view, from his brother to himself rather than to Rhaenyra's dark-haired boys.

When Laenor disappeared in 129 AC and Corlys lay ill, Vaemond made his claim openly. He went to King's Landing to petition the court and, when the argument went against him, said aloud what half the court only muttered: that Jacaerys, Lucerys and Joffrey were bastards of Harwin Strong, and had no more right to Driftmark than he did.

The price of the sentence was his head. He lost it before the council's steps on the queen's order — the singers add that his tongue went first — and both factions made an example of him. His death settled the Driftmark question for a season, and gave the war one more martyr to argue over.