Dornish Marches
The Dornish Marches is an area of the southwestern Stormlands bordering Dorne, the Reach,[1] and the Sea of Dorne.[2] Its landscape includes plains and the northern Red Mountains. A road runs south from the ruins of Summerhall in the northern marches[3] to Yronwood via the Boneway.[4]
Contents
History
For over a thousand years the marches were common battlegrounds between the Stormlands, the Reach and Dorne until the last century, when Dorne joined the Seven Kingdoms. Having been conquered by the Storm Kings, it serves as an effective buffer zone between the old enemies.
The marcher lords have a very strong martial tradition and have formidable castles, as they defended against Dornish incursions for thousands of years.[5] Marcher houses include House Caron of Nightsong,[6] House Dondarrion of Blackhaven,[7] House Selmy of Harvest Hall,[8][9] and House Swann of Stonehelm.[10][11] The eastern region of the marches around Stonehelm is known as the Red Watch.[12][13] Although the marches are now in the Stormlands, Lord Mace Tyrell of the Reach includes Defender of the Marches amongst his titles.[14]
Dornishmen with histories of fighting the marcher lords include House Wyl and House Blackmont.[15]
Recent Events
A Game of Thrones
Anguy, a commoner from the marches, wins the archery competition at the Tourney of the Hand.[16]
A Clash of Kings
The acting Hand of the King, Tyrion Lannister, sends Princess Myrcella Baratheon to Dorne. Once she arrives, Prince Doran Martell has pledged to mobilize Dornish hosts in the Prince's Pass and the Boneway to keep the marcher lords in their castles rather than aid Stannis Baratheon.[17] The Dornish refuse to invade after Stannis takes Storm's End, but Tyrion hopes the marcher lords will remain in their lands.[18]
A Storm of Swords
Tom of Sevenstreams tells Arya Stark that the only songs that Anguy knows are marcher ballads, every one of them a hundred verses long.[19] The new Lord of Nightsong, Philip Foote, also has the title Lord of the Marches.[20]
A Feast for Crows
Doran denies Obara Sand's request to allow her and Nymeria Sand to take the hosts from the Prince's Pass and the Boneway to attack the marcher lords and then Oldtown.[21]
A Dance with Dragons
Ser Barristan Selmy considers himself to be a man of the Dornish Marches.[9]
References and Notes
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Map of the South
- ↑ The Swanns of Stonehelm are marcher lords; The Lands of Ice and Fire
- ↑ So Spake Martin: Summerhall
- ↑ The Lands of Ice and Fire
- ↑ So Spake Martin: The Stormlands
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 34, Arya VI.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 63, Daenerys V.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 55, The Queensguard.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 49, Tyrion XI.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 8, Tyrion III.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 2, Sansa I.
- ↑ "Stonehelm" entry in A World of Ice and Fire
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
- ↑ A World of Ice and Fire
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 41, Tyrion IX.
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 44, Tyrion X.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 13, Arya II.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Appendix.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 2, The Captain Of Guards.