Mellario

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Norvos.svg Lady
Mellario
House Martell.svg
Mellario by Rae Lavergne.jpg
A younger Mellario of Norvos, by Rae Lavergne ©

Alias Mellario of Norvos[1]
Titles
Allegiance House Martell
Culture Norvoshi[3]
Born or between 248 AC and 264 AC[4]
Norvos[3]
Spouse Prince Doran Martell[2]
Issue
Books

Lady Mellario is a noblewoman of the Free City of Norvos, and the estranged wife of Doran Martell, the Prince of Dorne. She had three children by him: Arianne, Quentyn, and Trystane.[2][5]

History

Mellario was born in Norvos.[3] Accompanied by her guardsman, Areo Hotah, she met Prince Doran Martell when he was visiting the city of her birth. Doran caught her eye during a festival, where the three bells of Norvos were ringing and the bears were dancing.[6] When Doran returned to Dorne, Mellario went with him, escorted by Areo Hotah.[7] By 273 AC, Doran and Mellario were betrothed.[1] They would marry not long after, as their first child, Princess Arianne was born in 276 AC.[8] Two more children would follow: Prince Quentyn, born in 281 AC,[9] and Prince Trystane, born in 287 AC.[10]

Despite the fact that Mellario and Doran had married for love, it was not a good marriage.[11] Half of their marriage, Mellario, and Doran spent arguing with each other.[3] The customs in Dorne were much different from those in Norvos, including the fostering away of children.[11] When Doran sent their eldest son, Quentyn, to be fostered by Lord Anders Yronwood, Mellario heavily protested. Norvoshi did not foster out their children, and Mellario believed her son to be much too young. Doran would send Quentyn away regardless, and Mellario never forgave him.[12] When Doran planned to send their daughter, Arianne, to Tyrosh, to serve as the Archon's cupbearer, Mellario threatened to harm herself, should Doran steal another one of her children. This time, Doran relented, and Arianne remained in Dorne.[6]

Despite this, however, the issues in their marriage were still unsolved. Since divorce in Westeros is uncommon,[11] Mellario eventually returned to Norvos.[3] There's some bitterness about this from Mellario, as Doran was the Prince of Dorne, which enabled his children to stay with him, while she had to leave them behind.[11]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

When Lord Tywin Lannister discusses potential marriage candidates for his daughter, Cersei Lannister, he considers Prince Doran Martell. However, as Doran is still married to Mellario, and as Mellario is younger than her husband, and likely to outlive him, Tywin decides against that option.[13]

A Feast for Crows

During her imprisonment, Princess Arianne Martell considers appealing to her mother Mellario for help. However, since Prince Doran has not listened to his wife in many years, and because Mellario is so far away, she is against trying to contact her.[6] As punishment for his part in Arianne's conspiracy to crown Princess Myrcella Baratheon, Ser Andrey Dalt is sent to serve Lady Mellario for three years in Norvos.[6]

A Dance with Dragons

When Prince Quentyn Martell is in Meereen, about to attempt stealing a dragon, he realises he wants to visit Norvos, to see where his mother came from, and to assure her that he has not forgotten her.[3]

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Princess
of Dorne
 
Prince
Consort
 
 
 
 
 
Lewyn
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Doran
 
Mellario
of Norvos
 
Mors
 
Olyvar
 
Elia
 
Rhaegar
Targaryen
 
 
 
 
Various
women
 
Oberyn
 
Ellaria
Sand
 
 
Manfrey
 
Unknown
wife
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arianne
 
Quentyn
 
Trystane
 
 
 
 
 
Rhaenys
Targaryen
 
Aegon
Targaryen
 
Obara
Sand
 
 
Tyene
Sand
 
 
Elia
Sand
 
 
Dorea
Sand
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nymeria
Sand
 
Sarella
Sand
 
Obella
Sand
 
Loreza
Sand
 


Quotes about Mellario

Mellario of Norvos, art by Magajaga ©

It wasn't a good marriage. They married because of an attraction to something new and exotic. Sometimes, attraction happens when you least expect it. He was a prince of a distant country, and she was a woman full of life, who was very appealing, who came from a very different culture.[11]

Sometimes the marriages of convenience in the Seven Kingdoms come out well and those that are for love don't. Sometimes a couple loves one another, and then at some point they don't. There are marriages that also develop out of nothing more than lust (laughs). There's no guarantee that things will go well and the consequence of this is that disappointments develop and you end up estranged, each person going their own way. There's some bitterness from Mellario about this, because as Prince of Dorne, Doran has been able to stay with his children and she has had to leave them.[11]

The bears danced and the bells rang, and the prince wore red and gold and orange. My lady asked me who it was who shone so bright.[6]

Areo Hotah about Mellario's first meeting with Doran Martell

I should have gone to Norvos to see my mother and the place that gave her birth, so she would know that I had not forgotten her.[3]

Quentyn Martell's regrets

Quotes by Mellario

He is your son. What sort of father uses his own flesh and blood to pay his debts?[12]

—Mellario to Doran Martell

References

Unknown
Last known title holder:
Daenerys Targaryen
Princess Consort of Dorne Vacant
Left Dorne following estrangement from Prince Doran