Alt Shift X shares a new theory on what might've caused the Doom of Valyria

Civilizations have existed since times unknown. They have risen from nothing, built a unique world rooted in their resources and climate, ran their distance, and then desolated back into nothing. The doom is inevitable. Be it Ancient Greece, Egypt or the Indus Valley, every great civilization has come to an end. The reasons are mostly unknown and mysterious. But there’s always speculation around the excavated ruins.

A Song of Ice and Fire has given us an awe-inspiring world, one that holds ancient mysteries and secrets, much like our own world. Westeros is the dominant force in Game of Thrones (Television Series). But far off in time, this world had a great civilization, Valyria. It’s located to the east of Westeros. The Valyrians were dragonlords who built their empire around the volcanic mountains called Fourteen Flames in the Valyrian peninsula.

Valyrians called themselves the Freehold, they had fought against the enslavers of the time, Ghiscari. All the Freeholders were believed to have a say in Valyria. Through dragons and sorcery, Valyrians built an empire around the world that would be the envy of any rival. Valyria was the capital city. But then, some four hundred years before the current scene of events in Game of Thrones, the doom took over Valyria. Everything around the Fourteen Flames exploded with huge volcanic eruptions. All the great knowledge, dragons, and skills of the Valyrians were lost.

Targaryens were one of the dragonlords of Valyria. Right now, Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen are the only surviving members of this House. This makes them the only ones with Valyrian heritage in Westeros. We get a glimpse into the ruins in Game of Thrones season 5 when Jorah Mormont and Tyrion Lannister cross Valyria on their way to Meereen.

But how and why did the doom occur? Alt Shift X recently came up with a video on what might have caused the Doom of Valyria.

The video travels through the history of Valyrian civilization. What were the powers and skills that they wielded to build such a magnificent empire? What were the conflicts among the great Houses of Valyria? Which of their activities were potentially responsible for the doom? The involvement of Lannister gold, the Faceless Men, and Targaryens.

The theory connects all the possible dots to build a conclusive evidence of what might have happened to the dragonlords. It presents that the Valyrians became enslavers themselves, taking over the people they conquered, employing them in hundreds and thousands to mine the gold and silver from the footholds of the mountains of Fourteen Flames.

They believed they had descended from the dragons and kept their bloodline pure by marrying into their own kin. Valyrians were advanced in their technology, using Dragonfire and magic to build great towers and colonies. They forged Valyrian steel to make swords, which were in great demand throughout the world. But gradually, conflicts arose among the Houses of Valyria.

Faceless Men are believed to originate among the slaves of Valyria. It’s said that the first gift of death was granted to one of the slaves, who wanted an end to their pain. Arya Stark‘s favorite cult of assassins gradually came for the masters as well.

Now, the Targaryens left Valyria before the doom and settled at Dragonstone. Daenys the Dreamer had foreseen Valyria’s destruction by fire, which was earlier prophesized. They were among the minor lords of Valyria and were called cowards for leaving their homeland.

The prophecy said that the gold of Casterly Rock would become the reason for the doom of Valyria. The Lannisters of Casterly Rock were rich even during the ancient times, and a payment in gold for the Valyrian sword, Brightroar triggered the chain of events. Possibly, amidst the conflicts and pride of the Valyrian Houses, a payment of this gold was made to Faceless Men, who assassinated the sorcerers of the Houses whose magic held the Fourteen Flames.

The theory calls this happening either coincidental and shortsighted, or deliberate and planned. The Targaryens, who have inherited the beliefs of racial superiority and incest from Valyria, were the only ones to survive. They then went on to rule Westeros. Is there a connection between their survival and the doom of their ancestors?

The doom still rules over Valyria, just like speculation and theories rule over us till Game of Thrones comes back for its conclusion in 2019. What are your thoughts on this video? Tell us in the comments.