Difference between revisions of "Elia Martell"

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==Quotes about Elia==
 
==Quotes about Elia==
{{Quote|'''Dany:''' . . .that was [[Tourney at Harrenhal|the tourney]] when he crowned [[Lyanna Stark]] as [[Queen of Love and Beauty]]! Princess Elia was there, his wife, and yet my brother gave the crown to the Stark girl, and later stole her away from [[Robert Baratheon|her betrothed]]. How could he do that? Did the Dornish woman treat him so ill?  
+
{{Quote|'''Dany:''' . . .that was [[Tourney at Harrenhal|the tourney]] when he crowned [[Lyanna Stark]] as [[Queen of Love and Beauty]]! Princess Elia was there, his wife, and yet my brother gave the crown to the Stark girl, and later stole her away from [[Robert Baratheon|her betrothed]]. How could he do that? Did the Dornish woman treat him so ill?<br>'''Barristan Selmy:''' It is not for such as me to say what might have been in your brother’s heart, Your Grace. The Princess Elia was a good and gracious lady, though her health was ever delicate. {{ref|asos|51}}}} – [[Daenerys Targaryen]] and [[Barristan Selmy]]
  
'''Barristan Selmy:''' It is not for such as me to say what might have been in your brother’s heart, Your Grace. The Princess Elia was a good and gracious lady, though her health was ever delicate. {{ref|asos|51}}}}
 
– [[Daenerys Targaryen]] to [[Barristan Selmy]]
 
  
 +
{{Quote|I grant you, it was done too brutally. Elia need not have been harmed at all, that was sheer folly.{{Ref|ASoS|53}}}} – [[Tywin Lannister]], to [[Tyrion Lannister]]
  
{{Quote|I grant you, it was done too brutally. Elia need not have been harmed at all, that was sheer folly.{{Ref|ASoS|53}}}}
 
– [[Tywin Lannister]] to [[Tyrion Lannister]]
 
  
 +
{{Quote|Justice is in short supply [[King's Landing|this side of the mountains]]. There has been none for Elia, [[Aegon Targaryen|Aegon]] or [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]].{{Ref|aSoS|66}}}} – [[Oberyn Martell]]
  
{{Quote|Justice is in short supply [[King's Landing|this side of the mountains]]. There has been none for Elia, [[Aegon Targaryen|Aegon]] or [[Rhaenys Targaryen (daughter of Rhaegar)|Rhaenys]].{{Ref|aSoS|66}}}}
 
– Prince [[Oberyn Martell]]
 
  
 +
{{Quote|You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children.{{Ref|ASoS|70}}}} – [[Oberyn Martell]], to [[Gregor Clegane]]
  
{{Quote|You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children.{{Ref|ASoS|70}}}}
 
– Prince [[Oberyn Martell]] to Ser [[Gregor Clegane]]
 
  
 +
{{Quote|If you die before you say her name, ser, I will hunt you through all [[Faith_of_the_Seven#Practices|seven hells]].{{Ref|ASoS|70}}}} – [[Oberyn Martell]], to [[Gregor Clegane]]
  
{{Quote|If you die before you say her name, ser, I will hunt you through all [[Faith_of_the_Seven#Practices|seven hells]].{{Ref|ASoS|70}}}}
 
– Prince [[Oberyn Martell]] whilst fighting Ser [[Gregor Clegane]]
 
  
 
+
{{Quote|It must have been [[Targaryen madness|the madness]] that led [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys]] to refuse [[Tywin Lannister|Lord Tywin]]'s [[Cersei Lannister|daughter]] and take his [[Jaime Lannister|son]] instead, whilst marrying his own [[Rhaegar Targaryen|son]] to a feeble [[Dorne|Dornish]] princess with black eyes and a flat chest.{{Ref|aFfC|24}}}} – [[Cersei Lannister]]
{{Quote|It must have been [[Targaryen madness|the madness]] that led [[Aerys II Targaryen|Aerys]] to refuse [[Tywin Lannister|Lord Tywin]]'s [[Cersei Lannister|daughter]] and take his [[Jaime Lannister|son]] instead, whilst marrying his own [[Rhaegar Targaryen|son]] to a feeble [[Dorne|Dornish]] princess with black eyes and a flat chest.{{Ref|aFfC|24}}}}
 
– [[Cersei Lannister]]
 
  
 
==Family==
 
==Family==

Revision as of 03:58, 24 August 2014

House Martell.PNG
Elia Martell
House Targaryen crest.PNG
Elia martell by daenerys mod.jpg
Illustration by Elia Fernandez©

Alias Elia of Dorne
Title Princess
Allegiances
Born 256 AC or 257 AC[1]
Died 283 AC[1]
King's Landing
Spouse Rhaegar Targaryen
Books

Elia Martell was a princess of Dorne. She was married to the crown prince, Rhaegar Targaryen, and by him birthed Rhaenys and Aegon. Elia was murdered by Ser Gregor Clegane during the sack of King's Landing.

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Elia Martell

Elia Martell was said to be very fair, with the typical Martell features of dark hair, black eyes and olive skin.[2][3] But, as Ser Barristan states, her looks could never match those of her lady-in-waiting, Ashara Dayne, next to whom the Dornish princess was "a kitchen drab".[4] She was a gentle, good, and gracious lady, but frail due to her delicate health. According to Barristan Selmy, she was kind and clever, with a sweet wit.[5]

History

Early years

Elia Martell was the fourth child and first daughter born to the ruling Princess of Dorne, and the second child to live past infancy. The name of her mother and father are not stated in the books. During her youth she was very close to her younger brother, Oberyn Martell.

When Elia became old enough to marry, she and her brother Oberyn, together with their mother and her consort, travelled from Dorne to several potential suitors for both Elia and Oberyn. Amongst the places they visited were Starfall, the Arbor, Oldtown, the Shield Islands, Crakehall, and finally Casterly Rock. Mostly due to the behaviour of her brother Oberyn, Elia rejected all of her potential suitors, even Baelor Hightower, whom Elia liked most of all her suitors, until Baelor farted once in the presence of both her and Oberyn, and Oberyn named him "Baelor Breakwind". Elia couldn't look at him without laughing ever since.[6]

Elia's mother, who was good friends with Lady Joanna Lannister, then brought Oberyn and Elia to Casterly Rock with the idea of marrying one or both of them to Lady Joanna's twin children, Cersei and Jaime. Unfortunately, during the Martells' journey, Joanna died giving birth to Tyrion Lannister, and when the Martells arrived Lord Tywin Lannister was unreceptive to the proposal. He told them that Cersei was meant for Crown Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Then, when Elia's mother asked for Jaime, Tywin instead offered her Tyrion, which the Martells took as an insult.[6]

Marriage

Marriage to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen

Elia's mother was able to arrange her marriage to the crown prince, Rhaegar Targaryen. Rhaegar and Elia had two children, Rhaenys and Aegon. Their marriage—though not romantic—seemed happy, although Elia's health, which had always been problematic, remained fragile. Daenerys later says to Ser Barristan that he saw her brother Rhaegar wed; she asks him to tell her if Rhaegar wed for love or duty. Ser Barristan hesitates and says:

Princess Elia was a good woman, Your Grace. She was kind and clever, with a gentle heart and a sweet wit. I know the prince was very fond of her.

Dany thinks to herself that the word fond speaks volumes, but Ser Barristan compares their marriage positively with that of her own father and mother, who were not fond of each other when they wed. He says that the Seven Kingdoms in turn paid dearly for this lack of affection.[5]

Jon Connington once stated that Elia was bedridden for half a year after giving birth to Rhaenys and nearly died giving birth to Aegon, after which the maesters told Rhaegar she would be unable to have any more children.[7]

Death

Rhaegar and Elia's final goodbye - by Denkata5698 ©

At the tourney at Harrenhal Elia's husband, Rhaegar, met Lyanna Stark and apparently became infatuated with her. He won the tournament and crowned her Queen of Love and Beauty, passing over his wife.[8] Elia's reaction to the event remains unknown. A year later Rhaegar either abducted or ran off with Lyanna, and this event sparked Robert's Rebellion. According to Viserys Targaryen, Rhaegar was simply not happy with his marriage. If Rhaegar was happy with Elia, he would not have needed Lyanna. He once blamed their sister Daenerys Targaryen for being born too late to marry Rhaegar. A happily married Rhaegar would need neither Elia nor Lyanna. Daenerys countered that, by the same logic, it was the fault of Viserys that he was not a girl, because then he would be the sister destined for Rhaegar. Viserys beat her cruelly for her insolence.[8]

During the war Elia's husband Rhaegar was killed by Lord Robert Baratheon at the Battle of the Trident. Rhaegar's father, Mad King Aerys, due to his paranoia, believed that Elia's uncle, Prince Lewyn, must have betrayed Rhaegar on the Trident, so Aerys kept Elia and both of her children in King's Landing as hostages against possible Dornish betrayal.

Princess Elia's last moments - by Achen089 ©

Following the Battle of the Trident, the remnants of Rhaegar's army retreated toward King's Landing. Robert was wounded and unable to pursue them, but he entrusted Eddard Stark with the pursuit. Eddard expected to find the city gates closed, with Aerys II and several thousand Targaryen loyalists leading the defense. He reached the city just after the Sack of King's Landing by the forces of House Lannister. For most of the rebellion, the Lannisters had remained neutral, ignoring calls to arms by both the rebels and the loyalists. Then Tywin Lannister and 12,000 of his soldiers reached the capital. Aerys opened the gates to them, mistaking them for allied reinforcements. Instead they began to sack the city in the name of King Robert.[9] Tywin thought it necessary to prove the Lannister loyalty to the rebel cause after such neutrality, so he himself ordered the deaths of Rhaegar and Elia's children. Tywin later said that he had instructed his captains to kill the royal children to secure the throne for Robert Baratheon, but had forgotten about Elia herself and had not intended for her to die. Oberyn Martell, however, believes Tywin Lannister had Elia and her children killed to remove the supposed slight he suffered when Aerys II refused the marriage of his son and heir, Rhaegar, to his daughter, Cersei. Ser Jaime Lannister later recollected that as he himself was murdering Aerys to prevent the wildfire plot, Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch were scaling the walls of Maegor's Holdfast, while Eddard Stark was leading his own forces through the city gates. Elia's daughter, Rhaenys, was killed by Ser Amory after breaking the door down. He dragged the screaming toddler from under her father's bed and stabbed her (over fifty times) to death while Elia was raped and killed by Ser Gregor Clegane after Gregor murdered her son, Aegon, in front of her.[10]

Results of the murder

Elia's body, along with that of the two children, were wrapped in crimson Lannister cloaks and presented to Robert Baratheon as a token of fealty. Eddard Stark was disgusted with the act and was haunted afterwards with the memories of Elia and her children's bloody bodies. Robert Baratheon, however, was secretly pleased about their deaths and apathetic to the bodies of the young mother and her two children.

The Martells themselves were enraged 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.

Jaime Lannister has a nightmare involving Elia's husband Rhaegar. He stands between Jaime's deceased sword brothers of the Kingsguard and burns with a cold light, now white, now red, now dark. He tells Jaime:

I left my wife and children in your hands.

Jaime replies to Rhaegar that he never thought he would hurt them.

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

When Tyrion Lannister stands on trial for the murder of King Joffrey Baratheon and learns his adversary in a trial by battle will be Ser Gregor Clegane, Oberyn sees an opportunity for vengeance for Elia and champions Tyrion.[11] He extracts a confession from the Mountain after mortally wounding him, but Gregor takes advantage of Oberyn letting his guard down, and kills him.[6]

A Feast for Crows

It is revealed that Prince Doran Martell has been plotting secretly to restore the Targaryens and revenge himself on Tywin Lannister, whom he and his brother, Oberyn, held responsible for the murders of Elia and her children.[12]

Quotes about Elia

Dany: . . .that was the tourney when he crowned Lyanna Stark as Queen of Love and Beauty! Princess Elia was there, his wife, and yet my brother gave the crown to the Stark girl, and later stole her away from her betrothed. How could he do that? Did the Dornish woman treat him so ill?
Barristan Selmy: It is not for such as me to say what might have been in your brother’s heart, Your Grace. The Princess Elia was a good and gracious lady, though her health was ever delicate. [13]

Daenerys Targaryen and Barristan Selmy


I grant you, it was done too brutally. Elia need not have been harmed at all, that was sheer folly.[14]

Tywin Lannister, to Tyrion Lannister


Justice is in short supply this side of the mountains. There has been none for Elia, Aegon or Rhaenys.[11]

Oberyn Martell


You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children.[6]

Oberyn Martell, to Gregor Clegane


If you die before you say her name, ser, I will hunt you through all seven hells.[6]

Oberyn Martell, to Gregor Clegane


It must have been the madness that led Aerys to refuse Lord Tywin's daughter and take his son instead, whilst marrying his own son to a feeble Dornish princess with black eyes and a flat chest.[15]

Cersei Lannister

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
 


References and Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 See the Elia Martell calculation. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Calculation" defined multiple times with different content
  2. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 24, Bran II.
  3. A Number of Questions. August 26, 2000. So Spake Martin
  4. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 67, The Kingbreaker.
  5. 5.0 5.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 23, Daenerys IV.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 70, Tyrion X.
  7. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 61, The Griffin Reborn.
  8. 8.0 8.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 42, Daenerys IV.
  9. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 12, Eddard II.
  10. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 3, Daenerys I.
  11. 11.0 11.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 66, Tyrion IX.
  12. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 40, Princess In The Tower.
  13. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 51, Catelyn VII.
  14. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 53, Tyrion VI.
  15. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 24, Cersei V.