Editing House Martell (section)

==History==
===Founding===
[[File:House Martell (pre-Nymeria).svg|thumb|200px|left|The [[heraldry]] of House Martell prior to [[Nymeria]]]]
House Martell was founded by [[Morgan Martell]], an [[Andal]] adventurer who settled between the mouth of the [[Greenblood]] and the [[Broken Arm]] during the [[coming of the Andals]] to [[Dorne]]. Morgan led the defeat of the local [[First Men]], including Houses [[House Wade|Wade]] and [[House Shell (Dorne)|Shell]], establishing his rule over a strip of land fifty leagues long and ten leagues wide.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: The Andals Arrive}}

The Martells of old resided at the [[Sandship]].{{ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Sunspear}} They did not rule as kings, but were cautious vassals of kings from Houses [[House Jordayne|Jordayne]], [[House Allyrion|Allyrion]], and [[House Yronwood|Yronwood]], as well as of petty kings of the Greenblood.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: The Andals Arrive}}

===Rhoynar===
{{main|Nymeria's War}}
At the time of the [[Rhoynish Wars]], the Martells were one of the lesser ruling families of Dorne. At the time of the arrival of the warrior queen [[Nymeria]], around [[700 BC]], the lands of the Martells were dwarfed by those of [[House Yronwood]].<ref name=twow1>''[[The Winds of Winter]]'', [[Arianne I (The Winds of Winter)|Arianne I]]</ref> [[Mors Martell]], the [[Lord of the Sandship]], saw an opportunity in the arrival of the [[Rhoynar]], and took Nymeria to wife. Combining their strength, the two managed to unite all of Dorne, including the powerful Yronwoods, under their rule in [[Nymeria's War]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: Ten Thousand Ships}}{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: The Coming of the Rhoynar}}

The union of their peoples saw the Martells abandon many of their older [[Andal]] customs in favor of those of the Rhoynar. Nymeria named Mors [[Prince of Dorne]] instead of king, and their lands and title passed down to their eldest child, their daughter, regardless of Nymeria marrying again after Mors's death during the war and her giving birth to a male child. "Nymeros", indicating "of the line of of Nymeria", became part of the family name.<ref name=Nymeros/>

Towers in the Rhoynish fashion were built near the Sandship, and the expanded castle complex became known as [[Sunspear]]. The Spear Tower and the Tower of the Sun, both part of Sunspear's [[Old Palace]], are examples of Rhoynish architecture.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Sunspear}}

===Wars of Conquest===
{{main|Aegon's Conquest|First Dornish War}}
[[File:Meria Martell by Thomas Denmark for The Rise of the Dragon.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Meria Martell]], by Thomas Denmark for ''[[The Rise of the Dragon]]'']]
During [[Aegon's Conquest]], Queen [[Rhaenys Targaryen]] confronted the aged [[Prince of Dorne|Princess of Dorne]], [[Meria Martell]], at [[Sunspear]]. When Meria refused to submit to the [[House Targaryen|Targaryens]], Rhaenys departed Dorne.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Reign of the Dragons: The Conquest}}

The Targaryens returned in {{Date|4}}, starting the [[First Dornish War]]. When their forces arrived at Sunspear, Meria had vanished. King [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon I]] and Queen Rhaenys declared themselves victorious and left Lord [[Jon Rosby]] as [[Castellan]] of [[Sunspear]] and [[Warden of the Sands]] as they returned to King's Landing. However, the Dornishmen quickly came out of hiding, retaking Sunspear. Lord Rosby was captured, and thrown from a window atop the [[Spear Tower]] by Meria herself through the [[Defenestration of Sunspear]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons}}

In later phases of the war, the Targaryens burned every Dornish stronghold at least once, with the exception of Sunspear and its [[shadow city]]. According to the Dornishmen, the Targaryens were did not dare to attack Sunspear as they feared that Princess Meria might have purchased a device from [[Lys]] to slay their dragons. In his ''[[Conjectures]]'', Archmaester [[Timotty]] suggests that Aegon hoped to turn the Dornish against the Martells by leaving them the only ones unharmed, and letters have been discovered in which [[marcher lords]] claimed to the Dornish that the Martells had bought their safety. However, the tactics did not work.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons}}

The First Dornish War came to an end in {{Date|13}} after nine years of warfare. When the elderly Princess Meria died, her son [[Nymor Martell|Nymor]] assumed rule over Dorne. Desiring peace, he sent his daughter [[Deria Martell|Deria]] to [[King's Landing]] with an escort as an peace envoy. She brought with her the skull of Rhaenys's dragon, [[Meraxes]], and a letter from Prince Nymor. Although at first determined to refuse the peace offer, Aegon agreed to it after reading Nymor's letter.{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons}}

During the remainder of King Aegon I's reign, the Martells and Targaryens remained on good terms. In {{Date|23}}, King Aegon I and his son [[Aenys I Targaryen|Aenys]] visited Sunspear for a "feast of friendship" celebrating the tenth anniversary of the peace accord with Deria, now the [[Princess of Dorne]].{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}

===Further Warfare===
In {{Date|37}}, a [[Vulture King (Aenys I)|Vulture King]] troubled the lands surrounding the borderland between Dorne, the [[Reach]], and the [[stormlands]] in what became known as the [[Second Dornish War]]. Princess Deria insisted to King [[Aenys I Targaryen]] that she was doing what she could to end the rebellion, though many suspected that she was secretly giving the Vulture King her support.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aenys I}}{{Ref|FAB|The Sons of the Dragon}}

House Martell kept their forces out of the so-called [[Third Dornish War]] in {{date|61}}, during which King [[Jaehaerys I Targaryen]] fought against a [[Vulture King (Jaehaerys I)|new Vulture King]].{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

Prince [[Morion Martell]] led Dorne into the disastrous [[Fourth Dornish War]] in {{date|83}}. Spies informed Jaehaerys of Morion's plan to invade the stormlands, and House Targaryen subsequently burned the Dornish fleet as it crossed the [[Sea of Dorne]].{{Ref|FAB|The Long Reign - Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy, Progeny, and Pain}}

[[File:Alyn Velaryon Aliandra Martell by Martina Fackova (The Rise of the Dragon).jpg|thumb|350px|[[Alyn Velaryon]] and [[Aliandra Martell]], by Martina Fačková for ''[[The Rise of the Dragon]]'']]
In {{Date|110}} Prince [[Qoren Martell]] gave his support to the [[Kingdom of the Three Daughters|Triarchy]] in the war against Prince [[Daemon Targaryen]] and Lord [[Corlys Velaryon]] in the [[Stepstones]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons}}{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}} Daemon's brother, King [[Viserys I Targaryen]], spoke of wedding his daughter [[Rhaenyra Targaryen|Rhaenyra]] to the Prince of Dorne as a way of finally uniting the Seven Kingdoms, though ultimately this did not occur.{{Ref|FAB|Heirs of the Dragon - A Question of Succession}}

During the [[Dance of the Dragons]], Prince Qoren was contacted by Ser [[Otto Hightower]], [[Hand of the King]] for [[Aegon II Targaryen]], but refused the alliance, claiming he would "sooner sleep with [[scorpion]]s".{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Dorne Against the Dragons}} In {{Date|132}}, the [[small council]] of King [[Aegon III Targaryen]] considered a younger brother of Princess [[Aliandra Martell|Aliandra]] as a potential husband to Lady [[Baela Targaryen]], but ultimately decided on another match.{{Ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}

Aliandra befriended Lord [[Alyn Velaryon]] when the Oakenfist sailed west to confront Lord [[Dalton Greyjoy]], the Red Kraken, in {{date|133}}. When Alyn stopped at Sunspear during his return to the [[narrow sea]], Aliandra informed him of Dorne's participation in the [[Daughters' War]] and [[Drazenko Rogare]] told him about [[Viserys II Targaryen|Viserys Targaryen]]'s presence in [[Lys]].{{ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Voyage of Alyn Oakenfist}}

===Conquest of Dorne===
{{main|Conquest of Dorne}}
King [[Daeron I Targaryen]], the Young Dragon, led the [[conquest of Dorne]] in {{date|158}}, with the [[Prince of Dorne (father of Maron)|Prince of Dorne]] bending the knee in the [[Submission of Sunspear]]. The Dornish eventually rebelled, leading to further years of war.

Rebellion continued until Daeron's death in {{Date|161}}, when the Young Dragon was killed while meeting under a peace banner.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron I}} Daeron's younger brother, King [[Baelor I Targaryen]], travelled barefoot to Sunspear and agreed to a peace with House Martell. This included a betrothal between [[Myriah Martell]] and Baelor's young cousin, Prince [[Daeron II Targaryen|Daeron Targaryen]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Baelor I}} 

===Joining the Iron Throne===
[[Myriah Martell]]'s brother, [[Maron Martell|Maron]], was King [[Daeron II Targaryen]]'s most important supporter,{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV}} and upon Daeron's ascension, agreed to join Dorne under Targaryen rule. This became official in {{Date|187}}, when Maron married Daeron's sister, Princess [[Daenerys Targaryen (daughter of Aegon IV)|Daenerys Targaryen]].{{Ref|AGOT|Appendix}}<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Month/2008/04/ Targaryen History], April 20, 2008</ref> After Maron knelt to Daeron at the [[Red Keep]], they placed a golden wreath at the statue of Baelor the Blessed before the [[Great Sept of Baelor|Great Sept]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}}

The increased Dornish influence at court caused many of Daeron II's other lords to grow dissatisfied with the concessions Maron had won during the negotiations. These complaints, among others, were reasons causing several lords to oppose Daeron's rule during the [[First Blackfyre Rebellion]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II}} [[House Yronwood]] supported [[House Blackfyre]] against the Targaryens in three rebellions of the [[Blackfyre Pretenders]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|Dorne: Queer Customs of the South}}

The Martells closed their borders to prevent the spread of the [[Great Spring Sickness]].{{ref|TSS}}

===Elia and Oberyn===
[[File:Elia Martell by BellaBergolts.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Elia Martell]] by Bella Bergolts ©]]
In {{Date|273}}, the [[Princess of Dorne (mother of Doran)|Princess of Dorne]] took her younger children [[Oberyn Martell|Oberyn]] and [[Elia Martell|Elia]] to meet potential suitors. Their final destination was [[Casterly Rock]], and despite learning of Lady [[Joanna Lannister]]'s death while at [[Oldtown]], they continued their journey. Oberyn believes that his mother had planned with Joanna to marry either Elia or Oberyn to one of Joanna's twins, [[Jaime Lannister|Jaime]] and [[Cersei Lannister|Cersei]], since there was an empty cabin on their ship meant for someone of high birth. Lord [[Tywin Lannister]] ignored them for weeks. When the Princess of Dorne eventually broached the subject of marriage to him, both matches were brusquely refused. He claimed Cersei was meant to marry Prince [[Rhaegar Targaryen]], and suggested the new-born dwarf [[Tyrion Lannister|Tyrion]] for Elia instead, which was taken as an insult.{{Ref|ASOS|70}}{{Ref|ASOS|38}}{{Ref|ASOS|19}}

Shortly thereafter, at the age of sixteen, Oberyn was caught abed with Lord [[Edgar Yronwood]]'s [[paramour]]. To settle the situation, the two fought a duel in which both took wounds. Edgar's wounds festered and killed him, causing rumors Oberyn's blade in the duel had been [[poison]]ed.{{Ref|ASOS|38}} To make peace between the two houses, Oberyn was temporarily exiled.<ref name=twow1/>

===Robert's Rebellion===
:{{Main|Robert's Rebellion}}
In {{Date|279}}, Elia was betrothed to [[Rhaegar Targaryen]], [[Prince of Dragonstone]], whom she married the next year.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II}} When Rhaegar won the [[tourney at Harrenhal]] in {{Date|281}}, he passed over Elia to name [[Lyanna Stark]] the [[queen of love and beauty]].{{ref|AGOT|58}}

A year later, Rhaegar apparently abducted Lyanna, sparking [[Robert's Rebellion]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring}} Prince [[Doran Martell]], furious at Elia's mistreatment, was slow to lend aid to the Targaryens during the war, but eventually sent ten thousand men to fight for the throne at the [[Battle of the Trident]].{{Ref|ASOS|37}} One of the casualties at the battle was Prince [[Lewyn Martell]] of the [[Kingsguard]]. A fortnight later, Princess Elia and her two young children were murdered by two [[House Lannister|Lannister]] knights, Ser [[Gregor Clegane]] and Ser [[Amory Lorch]],{{Ref|ASOS|53}} during the [[Sack of King's Landing]].{{Ref|AGOT|3}}{{Ref|ASOS|70}}

===Recent History===
[[File:Tim Durning Martell banner.jpg|thumb|350px|House Martell banner, by Tim Durning © Fantasy Flight Games]]
In the year following the end of [[Robert's Rebellion]], Prince [[Oberyn Martell]] attempted to raise Dorne for the exiled Prince [[Viserys Targaryen]], but the diplomacy between [[Doran Martell]], [[Prince of Dorne]], and Lord [[Jon Arryn]], [[Hand of the King]] for [[Robert I Baratheon]], prevented further conflict.{{Ref|ASOS|38}}

In secret, however, Doran and Oberyn worked on bringing an end to the reign of King Robert and destroying [[House Lannister]].{{Ref|AFFC|40}} A [[secret marriage pact]] was signed in [[Braavos]], exchanging Dornish support for Viserys with a marriage between him and Doran's heir.{{Ref|ADWD|43}} However, Doran kept his plots a secret from his daughter and heir, Princess [[Arianne Martell]].{{Ref|AFFC|40}} 

The feud between the Martells and [[House Tyrell]] was revitalized when Oberyn accidentally crippled [[Willas Tyrell]], the heir of Lord [[Mace Tyrell]], in a [[tourney]].{{Ref|ASOS|38}}

Prince Doran eventually became afflicted with gout, and he moved from [[Sunspear]] to the [[Water Gardens]] in {{date|298}}. Two years later, Doran's gout has become far worse, and, no longer able to walk, he is usually confined to a wheelchair.{{Ref|AFFC|2}} Arianne's younger brother, Prince [[Quentyn Martell]], lives at [[Yronwood]], serving Lord [[Ormond Yronwood]] as a page and squire.{{Ref|AFFC|21}}