House Martell
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| House Nymeros Martell of Sunspear | |
|---|---|
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| Coat of arms | Orange, a sun in splendour gules pierced bendwise by a spear or |
| Words | Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken |
| Seat | Sunspear |
| Current Lord | Prince Doran Martell |
| Region | Dorne |
| Title | Lord of Sunspear Prince of Dorne |
| Heir | Arianne Martell |
| Overlord | House Baratheon of King's Landing |
| Founder | Mors Martell & Nymeria of the Rhoynar |
| Founded | 1000 years ago |
House Nymeros Martell of Sunspear is one of the Great Houses of Westeros and the ruling house of Dorne. 'Nymeros' indicates "of the line of Nymeria," but generally it is simply called House Martell. The Martells of old used a spear as their emblem, while Nymeria and the Rhoynar used the sun as theirs. These were combined when Nymeria wed King Mors Martell into a gold spear piercing a red sun on an orange field. Their words are, "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken."[1] In appearance they are classic salty Dornishmen, with dark eyes, dark hair in ringlets, and olive skin.
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History
Background
House Martell's founding is unknown, except that they were one of the ruling families of Dorne which, since the Andal Invasion had been a collection of feuding petty kingdoms even as the other regions of Westeros began to consolidate into larger realms. When the warrior queen of the Rhoynar of the eastern continent, Nymeria, came with her people to Westeros, she took one of the strongest of the Dornishmen as her husband: King Mors Martell. Combining their strength, the two managed to unite all of Dorne under their rule; House Nymeros Martell has reigned since.
The union of their peoples saw the Martells abandon many of their older Andal customs in favor of those of the Rhoynar. Specifically, they began to call their rulers "princes" instead of kings, and their lands and title passed down to the eldest child regardless of gender.
As Aegon the Conqueror waged his Wars of Conquest, he eventually came to Dorne. Here his army was bled dry by guerrilla warfare in the desert, a situation in which his dragons were of little use. Deciding that conquering Dorne would be too costly, the Conqueror opted to leave the Martells as sovereign princes. House Martell kept Dorne independent from the Targaryens for two centuries, the only one of the Seven Kingdoms to manage such a feat. After repeated failed attempts at conquest (most notably under Daeron I), Dorne eventually joined the fold through marriage between the two houses. The alliance was a dual one, with the future King Daeron II marrying Princess Myriah Martell and Prince Maron Martell later marrying Daeron's sister Daenerys.[2] [3]
During Daeron II's reign, the Red Keep assumed a decidedly Dornish flavor due to the influence of his Martell wife. This was one reason that many nobles opted to rise against his rule. The Martells thus defended his claim against Daemon Blackfyre. After their victory, Maron and Daenerys fulfilled their betrothal, formally bringing Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms. Since then, the Martells have ruled Dorne in the name of the King on the Iron Throne, while keeping the title of Prince of Dorne.
Prior to Game of Thrones
Prince Doran is the ruler of Dorne, a thoughtful man who has terrible gout. He was nine years older than Elia and ten years older than Oberyn. Two other younger brothers died in infancy, Mors and Olyvar.
Oberyn is feisty, a father of many bastard daughters nicknamed the Sand Snakes. He has nurtured a deep hatred of the Lannisters since they were young, though Oberyn tells Tyrion that their mothers had been friends at court as girls. When Oberyn and Elia were 15 and 16, they travelled together from Dorne to Casterly Rock, meeting potential suitors and marriage alliances, culminating in a visit to Joanna Lannister to fulfill their mother's wishes that their children would marry. When they arrived, Joanna had just died giving birth to Tyrion and Lord Tywin slights them shamefully, ignoring them for a few weeks before offering Elia the dwarf baby Tyrion, a further slight. It is unclear whether they are told Cersei is meant for Rhaegar or if they happen onto the one thing that would make Tywin the most angry, but in another Martell-Targaryen marriage alliance, Princess Elia Martell was wed to Rhaegar Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone, a slight to Tywin who had hoped to marry Cersei to Rhaegar.
Childbirth is hard on Elia, their first two children leave her very weak. When Rhaegar won the Tourney at Harrenhal, he named Lyanna Stark the queen of love and beauty, not Elia. A year later he runs off with Lyanna, sparking Robert's Rebellion. The Martells were unhappy with Rhaegar's betrayal of Elia, still, they supported Aerys II's bid to retain the throne since the Mad King held Elia and her children hostage in the Red Keep, providing a quarter of the royal troops at the Battle of the Trident. The Martells lost many soldiers there, including Prince Lewyn Martell of the Kingsguard. When King's Landing fell, Princess Elia and her children were brutally murdered during the Sack of King's Landing by two Lannister knights, Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch. Prince Oberyn Martell made motions to continue the war in "King Viserys III's" name, but Prince Doran and Jon Arryn's diplomacy prevented further conflict. Though House Martell swore fealty to King Robert Baratheon after the war, they have harbored anger and resentment towards the Lannisters ever since (now even higher in power due to Cersei's queenhood) and have adopted a mostly isolationist policy ever since, not mixing with the other great houses unless totally necessary, preferring to deal with the Free Cities.
More Recent Events
On the outset of the War of the Five Kings, House Martell stayed neutral in the conflict. They grudgingly allied with the Lannisters when Tyrion, acting as Hand of the King in his father's stead, promised the betrothal of Prince Trystane Martell to Princess Myrcella, a Dornish seat on the small council, some castles in the marches, and the head of Ser Gregor Clegane, the one who raped and killed Prince Doran's sister Princess Elia. Prince Oberyn came to King's Landing to claim Doran's seat on the council and to press for Ser Gregor’s head, when it became clear that Lord Tywin Lannister, now Hand in his own right, meant to forego Tyrion's promise. When Cersei accuses Tyrion of poisioning Joffery, Oberyn sees a chance to kill Clegane, by championing Tyrion's cause when Cersei names Ser Gregor her champion. In the trial by combat against Clegane, Oberyn taunts Gregor, repeating the names of his family who died at his hands. he wounds Clegane with his poisoned speartip, but is killed himself in the process.
Meanwhile, Princess Arianne Martell, convinced that her father Prince Doran was a man of inaction, who wished to elevate her younger brother to rule Dorne, enacted a plot to crown Princess Myrcella as Queen of Westeros. This failed due to a traitor in her conspiracy. Myrcella is disfigured in the process. Doran confides that he hoped Quentyn would rule Dorne whilst Arianne would become Queen, she had secretly been promised to the now-dead Viserys Targaryen in an effort to undermine those who lead to Elia's death. His new plan is to have her brother Prince Quentyn travel across the Narrow Sea to meet Viserys's sister Daenerys and wed her instead. Doran reveals that Cersei was plotting with Balon to have Doran murdered and to frame the Imp, whilst en route to King's Landing with Trystane and Myrcella.
Meanwhile the Martells must deal with issues at home and in the capitol. Doran convinces Arianne to work with him, they enlist Oberyn's bastard daughters to help: Obara Sand guides the investigating Kingsguard Ser Balon Swann to hunt Gerold Dayne who was part of Arianne's party to crown Myrcella. Nymeria Sand takes up the Dornish seat on the small council, while Tyene Sand follows her to King's Landing disguised as a septa, with the hopes of befriending the High Sparrow. It seems likely that Sarella is in Oldtown, disguised as a boy training to become a maester of the citadel.
Members
House genealogy
The Martell House at the end of the third century
- Prince Doran Nymeros Martell, Prince of Dorne, Lord of Sunspear.
- Lady Mellario of Norvos, his estranged wife
- Princess Arianne Martell, his eldest daughter and heir.
- Prince {Quentyn Martell}, his eldest son, known among the Windblown as "Frog". Succumbed in Meereen to massive burn injuries inflicted by the dragon Rhaegal.
- Prince Trystane Martell, his second son.
- Lady Mellario of Norvos, his estranged wife
- Princess {Elia Martell}, his sister. Killed during the Sack of King's Landing by Ser Gregor Clegane.
- Prince {Oberyn Nymeros Martell}, his brother. Known as "the Red Viper". Killed in a trial by combat by Ser Gregor Clegane.
- Obara Sand, Oberyn's bastard daughter with an Oldtown whore.
- Nymeria Sand, Oberyn's bastard daughter with a Volantene noblewoman, known as "Lady Nym".
- Tyene Sand, Oberyn's bastard daughter with a septa.
- Sarella Sand, Oberyn's bastard daughter with a trader captain of the Summer Islands.
- Ellaria Sand, Oberyn's paramour. Bastard daughter of Lord Harmen Uller.
- Elia Sand, their bastard daughter, known as "Lady Lance".
- Obella Sand, their bastard daughter.
- Dorea Sand, their bastard daughter.
- Loreza Sand, their bastard daughter.
- Prince {Lewyn Martell}, uncle of Prince Doran. A knight of Aerys II's Kingsguard; slain at the Trident by Ser Lyn Corbray.
With unspecified familiar relationship to the main branch there is also:
- Ser Manfrey Martell, castellan of Sunspear. He is a cousin of Doran Martell.[4]; it is not stated of which degree.
Historic members
- Nymeria and Mors Martell. Founders of the House.
- Mariya Martell, called the "Yellow Toad of Dorne", Princess of Dorne during the War of Conquest.
- Myriah Martell. Wife of King Daeron II. Their marriage brought Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms.
- Maron Martell. He was Prince of Dorne. Daeron II gave him his sister in marriage although she was in love with Daemon Blackfyre.
Household
- Princess Myrcella Baratheon, Prince Doran's ward, bethroted to Prince Trystane and heir to the Iron Throne.
- Ser {Arys Oakheart}, of the Kingsguard, her sworn shield. Slain by Areo Hotah.
- Rosamund Lannister, of House Lannister of Lannisport, Princess Myrcella's bedmaid and companion.
- Septa Eglantine, Myrcella's tutor and confessor.
- Areo Hotah, of Norvos, captain of guards. With Obara Sand hunting down Gerold Dayne.
- Maester Caleotte, healer, counselor and tutor. With Prince Doran at the Water Gardens.
- Maester Myles, healer, counselor and tutor. At Sunspear.
- Ser Gascoyne of the Greenblood, Prince Trystane's sworn shield.
- Ser Manfrey Martell, castellan at Sunspear.
- His wife.
- Ricasso, a seneschal, old and blind.
- Alyse Ladybright, of House Ladybright, Lord Treasurer of Sunspear.
- Bors and Timoth, servingmen at Sunspear
- Belandra, Cedra, the sisters Morra and Mellei, servingwomen at Sunspear.
Princess Arianne's retinue
- Ser Daemon Sand, the Bastard of Godsgrace, Princess Arianne's sworn shield.
- Jayne Ladybright, accompanying Princess Arianne.
- Ser Joss Hood and Ser Garibald Shells, two young knights of Sunspear. Accompanying Princess Arianne.
Prince Quentyn's retinue
- Ser {Cletus Yronwood}. Slain by corsairs aboard the ship Meadowlark.
- Ser Archibald Yronwood, his cousin. Called "the Big Man" and known among the Windblown as "Greenguts".
- Ser Gerris Drinkwater. Called "Drink" and known among the Windblown as "Dornish Gerrold".
- Ser {Willam Wells}. Slain by corsairs aboard the ship Meadowlark.
- Maester {Kedry}. Slain by corsairs aboard the ship Meadowlark.
Houses sworn to House Martell
House Yronwood is accounted the most powerful of the bannerhouses sworn to House Martell. The Lord is titled Warden of Stone Way and The Bloodroyal.
- Allyrion of Godsgrace.
- Blackmont of Blackmont.
- Dalt of Lemonwood.
- Dayne of Starfall and it's cadet branch House Dayne of High Hermitage.
- Fowler of Skyreach.
- Gargalen of Salt Shore.
- Jordayne of the Tor.
- Manwoody of Kingsgrave.
- Qorgyle of Sandstone.
- Santagar of Spottswood.
- Toland of Ghost Hill.
- Uller of the Hellholt.
- Vaith of the Red Dunes.
- Wyl of Wyl.
- Yronwood of Yronwood.
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Allusions to terrestrial history
Charles Martel was leader of the Franks. His victory at the Battle of Tours in 732 halted the expansion of the Islamic Empire into Europe.[5].
References and Notes
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Appendix.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ So Spake Martin:Targaryen History (April 20, 2008)
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 13, The Soiled Knight.
- ↑ Asimov's Chronology of the World
This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at House Martell. The list of authors can be seen in the page history of House Martell. As with A Wiki of Ice and Fire, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
