Doran Martell

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Doran Martell
House Martell.PNG
Doran Martell TheMico.jpg

Title Prince of Dorne
Allegiance House Nymeros Martell
Culture Dornish
Born 248 AL
Spouse Mellario of Norvos
Books

Doran Nymeros Martell is the Prince of Dorne and Lord of Sunspear. He is a cautious, pensive man who does not wear his emotions on his sleeve. He has a bad case of gout and has trouble walking. He attempts to appear neutral in the War of the Five Kings, but has shown a desire to avenge his murdered sister Elia Martell. He is rarely seen in public because of the gout, as he does not want to appear weak to his enemies.

History

Doran was born in 248 AL. The names of his father and mother are not mentioned in the books. He was the first son and was heir of his mother who ruled Dorne in her own right.

His siblings are:

Because of the early deaths of Olyvar and Mors and the difference in age with his surviving siblings, Doran was raised alone. This may have stimulated his tendency of not speaking out his thoughts. He squired at Salt Shore.[1]

He met his wife Mellario of Norvos while traveling in the Free Cities. They fell in love and were married. During their betrothal, Doran's siblings Elia and Oberyn traveled through the south on a quest to find suitable matches, while Doran stayed behind as castellan of Sunspear.[2] Although Mellario was high born enough to become his wife, most marriages between nobles in Westeros are political marriages and a love match is very uncommon. The couple had three children.

Although they married out of love, the marriage was not very happy. Mellario could not get used to Dornish customs. Shortly after the birth of Trystane, Quentyn was sent to be fostered as the ward and squire of Lord Anders Yronwood. This was done to make peace with the Yronwoods after the previous Lord Ormond Yronwood had died of his wounds taken in a duel with Oberyn. Mellario did not approve and went back to Norvos.

In his fifties, Doran became badly afflicted with gout, losing much of his ability to walk, and so is usually confined to a wheelchair. He spends a great deal of time at the Water Gardens, the summer home of the Martells, watching children play. He avoids the commoners and only sees his trusted courtiers and advisors to hide his weakness from his enemies.

Doran's mother died during or shortly after Robert's Rebellion and Doran succeeded her. The Martells had ties with the Targaryens and had supported them during the war.

Because of the murder of Elia, Oberyn wanted Dorne to rally for Viserys, the surviving Targaryen heir, after the Sack of King's Landing, but Doran decided otherwise. In negotiations with Jon Arryn, the matter was put to rest, although people suspected that the Martells (including Doran) still harbored hate for the Lannisters.

Doran and his brother Oberyn worked in secret for years, planning on bringing an end to the reign of Robert Baratheon and destroying House Lannister. Oberyn travelled to Braavos where Viserys Targaryen and Daenerys Targaryen were being kept by Ser Willem Darry and signed a secret pact, which the Sealord of Braavos witnessed, promising Viserys the hand of Arianne Martell in return for Dorne's help in claiming the Iron Throne.

Recent Events

Prince Doran - by Jacqui Davis ©

A Clash of Kings

Doran originally refused to swear allegiance to Joffrey I and considered supporting Renly Baratheon. However, Tyrion Lannister was able to gain his allegiance by sending him Myrcella Baratheon and betrothing her to his son Trystane, offering justice for his murdered sister Elia, and giving him a seat on the King's small council.[3] Once Myrcella was safely in Dorne, Doran would send his armies to the high passes, giving the Marcher Lords something to worry about.[4]

A Storm of Swords

Not being fit enough to journey to King's Landing, he sent his brother Oberyn to claim both the seat and justice.[5]

A Feast for Crows

When Oberyn died in King's Landing,[6] Doran refused all suggestion of going to war for vengeance. He returned to Sunspear to show his people that he still held power, and had Oberyn's warlike, bastard daughters, the "Sand Snakes", imprisoned to maintain the peace.[7] After his daughter's foiled attempt to crown Myrcella,[8][9] Doran revealed to her that he had been working secretly for the fifteen years since Elia's death to rob Lord Tywin Lannister of all he held dear, and that he planned to ally House Martell with Daenerys Targaryen.[10]

A Dance with Dragons

When Ser Balon Swann arrives at Sunspear, a feast is held in his honour. His daughter Arianne, now fully aware of his plans, sits to his right. Oberyn's daughters Obara, Tyene and Nymeria are also present, as well as Ellaria Sand, Areo Hotah and half the nobility of Dorne. Doran is presented with the skull of the The Mountain.

Ser Balon states that Cersei Lannister wishes him to bring Myrcella back to King's Landing to visit her brother. Prince Doran or a retainer is invited to fill the vacant Dornish seat on the small council, while Prince Trystane is invited to see the city. Doran states that traveling by ship may be easier, but this unnerves Ser Balon, who states that a voyage by sea would be too dangerous. Doran agrees he is probably right.

In a private chamber, Doran Martell reveals to Tyene, Obara, Nymeria, Areo Hotah and his daughter that the party would be ambushed by brigands shouting "halfman" during the journey to King's Landing, Trystane would be killed in the attack, and Ser Balon will falsely claim that he saw Tyrion Lannister. This plan was orchestrated by Cersei Lannister and shocks those present. Prince Doran says he was informed of this plot by a "friend" in Kingslanding (possibly Varys) and was dubious himself until Ser Balon confirmed his suspicions by trying to persuade him to avoid a voyage by ship (which would have disrupted all of Cersei's arrangements). The Sand Snakes are enraged, but Doran will not allow them to harm Ser Balon as he was under the protection of the guest right.

To stop this scheme from coming to fruition, Doran had Ser Balon brought to Myrcella and finds out about her injuries by Gerold Dayne. Myrcella lies (under Arianne's direction) and claims that Ser Gerold also killed Arys Oakheart. Myrcella then begged Ser Balon to bring Dayne to justice. Doran had Obara escort Ser Balon to High Hermitage, and he is currently hunting for Darkstar.[11] Doran then sent Nymeria to Kingslanding to claim the vacant seat on the small council, and Tyene to the great sept of Baelor to befriend the New High Septon.[12]

While Doran waits for word from his son, Quentyn, he hears that a fleet of ships are sailing to Westeros and readies the armies of Dorne to strike.

The Winds of WInter

Doran sends his daughter to the Stormlands to met the alleged Aegon Targaryen.[13]

Quotes by Prince Doran

"I have worked at the downfall of Tywin Lannister since the day they told me of Elia and her children" [10]


"words are like arrows, once loosened you cannot call them back" [10]


"I am not blind, nor deaf. I know you all believe me weak, frightened, feeble. Your father knew me better. Oberyn was ever the viper. Deadly, dangerous, unpredictable. No man dared tread on him. I was the grass. Pleasant, complaisant, sweet-smelling, swaying with every breeze. Who fears to walk upon the grass? But it is the grass that hides the viper from his enemies and shelters him until he strikes. " [12]

- Doran to the Sand Snakes.

Quotes about Prince Doran

[Doran] is cautious man, a reasoned man, subtle, deliberate, even indolent to a degree. He is a man who weighs the consequences of every word and every action. [14]

Tywin Lannister

Family tree

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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

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.
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