Volantis

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Volantis (佛诺斯)
Type	Free City and major Valyrian successor state
Alias(es)	Great Daughter of Valyria; Queen of the Rhoyne River; Mistress of the Summer Sea 304 312
Location	Southeastern Free Cities, at the mouth of the Rhoyne River; east of the Disputed Lands and the Free City closest to Valyria 304
Population	Nearly 1.2 million 345
Government	Formerly governed through the Great Council and three Magisters; reorganized under Ian Dare with two Magisters and seven Councilors 310 354
Affiliation	New Valyrian Empire under Ian Dare 354 373
Status	Submitted to Ian Dare, recognizing him as supreme ruler of Volantis and Valyrian Emperor 354

Geography & Landmarks

Volantis occupies both banks of the Rhoyne River near its mouth. Its vast harbor was once said to be capable of holding all of Braavos's hundred islands, though its activity later declined as ships departed for Slaver's Bay 309.

• Black Wall — The ancient inner wall dating to the Old Valyrian era, when Volantis was an imperial outpost. Only descendants of the old Valyrian nobility reside within it; foreigners require an invitation to enter 311.
• Long Bridge — A massive bridge joining the eastern and western districts across the Rhoyne. Its construction reportedly took forty years and millions of Glimmer Coins 312.
• North Port — A strategically vital dock district connected to supply routes from the northern towns; its seizure gave Ian's forces leverage over the city's food supply 345.
• Lower and middle city — Areas outside the Black Wall marked by abandoned districts, stagnant fountains, ruined infrastructure, and neglected farmland 312.
• Great Temple of the Red God — A major religious center whose supporters mobilized during Ian's takeover of the city 347 350.

History

After the Doom of Valyria, Volantis regarded itself as the natural successor to the Valyrian Freehold. Under the Tiger Party, it conquered Lys and occupied Myr, pursuing the restoration of the old empire 304 311.

Its expansion ended during its campaign against Tyrosh. Pentos, Braavos, the Storm King of Westeros, and Aegon I Targaryen—riding Balerion the Black Dread—opposed Volantis. The defeat cost it its army, enabled Lys and Myr to regain independence, and weakened the Tiger Party for centuries 304 311.

By Ian Dare's era, Volantis still retained enormous population, slave wealth, and maritime infrastructure, but its political divisions, decayed military structure, and abandoned territories had severely diminished its former influence 312 313 348.

Government & Society

Great Council and Magisters

Volantis was ruled by a Great Council and three Magisters. Its political elite consisted of citizens living within the Black Wall: nobles whose lineages traced back to Valyria and who possessed electoral rights 247 310.

Two major factions dominated the city:

• Tiger Party — Associated with military power and Volantis's old expansionist ambitions. Its radical wing, including Palachiro Valeros and Magister Malacho, supported reviving Volantis's former strength 312.
• Elephant Party — Held greater influence in the Great Council and was closely tied to commerce. Dofas Pennimien dealt in spices, gems, and silk, while House Visama depended heavily on the slave trade 310 312.

Slavery and Class

Volantis's economy and social order relied heavily on slavery. Slaves were highly visible throughout the city, including on the Long Bridge, while the Tiger Guard itself was a slave-soldier institution 312 340.

The divide between the Black Wall nobility and the wider population made the city difficult to govern after its conquest: most literate people outside slave teachers were nobles, leaving the old families with a monopoly on administrative knowledge 353.

Economy

• The surrounding countryside grew sugar beets, and Volantene food and wine were noted for their excessive sweetness 310.
• House Visama's commercial fortunes depended entirely on the slave trade, making it vulnerable to Ian's control of Slaver's Bay 310 312.
• Volantene ships frequently traveled to Slaver's Bay before the city's submission, though political divisions made a formal war difficult to authorize 309 313.
• The city lacked nearby iron ore, complicating Ian's plans to establish major military factories and smelters there 381.

Military

Tiger Guard

The Tiger Guard was Volantis's principal military force, though its apparent size overstated its actual effectiveness.

• Estimates placed the number of people holding Tiger Guard slave status between 500,000 and 800,000, but the standing army did not exceed 30,000 340.
• Approximately 6,000 Tiger Guards were stationed within Volantis, with another 4,000 in nearby camps and 15,000–20,000 dispersed across towns along the Rhoyne 340.
• Only an estimated 10,000–20,000 Tiger Guards were genuinely combat-effective; the remainder were closer to hastily recruited slave soldiers 376.
• The First Brigade, loyal to Magister Marajo Megaya, was equipped as heavy infantry and cavalry with Valantian heavy plate, maces, spiked maces, and large shields 340.

Fleet

Volantis retained a powerful fleet, but its ability to act was constrained by internal politics. A declaration of war required unanimous approval from all three Magisters, allowing dissenting factions to block military action 313.

Submission to Ian Dare

Event	Chapter	Notes
Ian's proposal to Manius Visama	311	Ian, acting as Duke Ghiscari/Koru, presented Ian Dare as the last Dragon King and offered Volantis restoration in exchange for submission.
The Volantis wager	312	Manius agreed to support Ian if Ian Dare defeated Khal Drogo, hoping to see Volantis restored to greatness.
North Port operation	345	Bericio Valerose's forces seized the North Port and threatened Volantis's supply routes, placing pressure on the Great Council.
Open seizure of the city	348	Ian revealed that his aim was to take Volantis itself, not merely coerce the council; the city's military and political order rapidly deteriorated.
Council army collapse	350	The Council army abandoned districts west of the Rhoyne and retreated toward the Long Bridge after internal fighting.
Black Wall negotiations	353	Ian exploited divisions among the Elephant Party leaders, offering surrendering families survival and influence while threatening the rest with destruction.
Formal submission	354	Dophus Pennimien, Nesisso Visama, Elios Chiheda, and Palachiro Valeros submitted on Volantis's behalf and recognized Ian Dare as Valyrian Emperor.
Golden Company alignment	368	Manius persuaded the Golden Company's leadership in Veronsus Town to abandon Jon Connington and Aegon, bringing the company into Ian's camp.

Imperial Administration

Following the formal surrender, Volantis was restructured under Ian Dare's authority.

• Palachiro Valeros became Chief Magistrate under the Emperor and leader of the Tiger Party 368.
• Dophus Pennimien received the second Magister position and leadership of the Elephant Party after surrendering peacefully 368.
• Bericio Valerose became commander of the Tiger Guard and the leading Volantene noble beneath the imperial family 353.
• Count Daron Grafson received control of the Volantis–Summer Isles fleet 353.
• Manius Visama replaced Nesisso as head of House Visama and entered Ian's Imperial Council after securing the Golden Company's submission 368.

Ian later spent nearly two months establishing a preliminary bureaucracy staffed by officials transferred from Slaver's Bay and loyal Volantene nobles. Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh sent envoys seeking assurances that he would not conquer their cities 377.