Elia Martell
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Elia Martell (257 AL - 281 AL was member of House Martell and the wife of prince Rhaegar Targaryen. She was murdered before the beginning of the series.
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[edit] Youth
Elia Martell was the fourth child and first daughter of the ruling Lady of Dorne. The name of her mother and father are not stated in the books. During her youth she was very close with her younger brother Oberyn Martell. When she became old enough to marry her mother arrainged a number of suitors to come to Dorne. Mostly due to the behavior of her brother, Oberyn, Elia rejected them all. Her mother who had been fast friends with Joanna Lannister then took Oberyn and Elia to Casterly Rock with the idea of marrying one or booth of them to the children of Tywin and Joanna Lannister. Unfortunately, Joanna had died just before giving birth to Tyrion Lannister and Tywin was very unreceptive to the proposal. He told them that Cersei was mend for Rhaegar Targaryen.
[edit] Mariage Rhaegar Targaryen
Elia's mother was able to arrange her marriage to the crown prince. According to Oberyn Tywin took this for a slight and was the motive for her murder.
Rhaegar and Elia had two children, Rhaenys and Aegon. The marriage seemed happy although Elia's health which had always been problematic remained fragile.
[edit] Death
At the Tourney at Harrenhal Elia's husband met Lyanna Stark and became infuated with her. He won the tournament and crowned her Queen of Love and beauty, passing over his wife. A year later Rhaegar abducted or run off with Lyana and this even sparked Robert's Rebellion. The war went against the Targaryens and Rhaegar was killed by Robert in the Battle of the Trident.
After the battle the war was decided and Tywin Lannister wanting to be on the winning site has his army sack Kingslanding. During the sack Elia was raped and killed by Gregor Clegane after her children had been put to the sword.
Tywin later said that he had instructed his captains to kill the royal (Elia's) children to secure to throne for Robert Baratheon but had forgotten about Elia herself and had not intended for her to die.
[edit] Results of the murder
The Martells were furious with the murder of Elia and her children. Oberyn wanted to continue the war and champion the cause of Viserys Targaryen, the only surviving Targaryen prince, but Doran Martell who had succeeded his mother as ruler of Dorne knew that they were not strong enough and made his peace. In A Feast for Crows it turns out that Doran is plotting secretly to restore the Targaryens and revenge himself on Tywin Lannister whom he and his brother hold responsible for the murders.
Oberyn saw another opportunity for revenge: when Tyrion Lannister stood on trial and his adversary in a trial by battle would be Gregor Clegane Oberyn championed Tyrion. He extracted a confession but Clegane, though mortally wounded by Oberyn, killed him.
