House Martell
Houses of Westeros - Great Houses
Friday, 18 July 2008 23:41
Tags:House Martell-Sunspear-Starfall-Doran Martell-Oberyn Martell-Red Viper-Arianne Martell-Ellaria Sand-Nymeria Sand-Obara Sand
Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken
Separated from the rest of the realm by history, culture, and geography, Dorne is unique among the regions on the mainland. The Martells style themselves princes rather than lords or kings, and foreign Rhoynar blood runs in their veins. A millennia ago, the Rhoynar followed the warrior-queen Nymeria across the narrow sea. Much of the distinct appearances, tastes, and attitudes of the Dornish can be attributed to their Rhoynish descent. Despite their reputation for quick tempers, however, Dorne has been silent while the rest of the realm has been thrown into turmoil. The spears of Dorne are a fearful thing to face. In this time of trouble, no one can know at whose heart they might be aimed.
History
More than a thousand years ago, Dorne was a patchwork of petty squabbling lords. The Red Mountains kept the Dornishmen safe from invaders until the warrior queen Nymeria and her people came in their 10,000 ships. Nymeria married one of the petty lords, Mors Martell, and together they brought Dorne to heel. The Rhoynar brought their own traditions and customs. As the peoples mingled over generations, however, the ancient beliefs faded.
In the centuries that followed the unification of Dorne, the Princes fought many wars against their neighbouring sovereigns in the Reach and the Stormlands, leading to a rivalry that is long in dying. There were border wars beyond measure, and raids over the mountains even during the periods of peace.
When the Targaryens later landed on Westeros and made their bid to rule all Seven Kingdoms, the Martells were as defiant as their neighbours in resisting the dragons. Unlike the other old kings, however, Dorne remained independent despite Aegon’s vast armies. The Dornishmen kept their troops scattered to escape the dragon’s fire; they never massed in the field nor in castles, but fled whenever the dragons appeared, only to regroup to strike at the Targaryens’ flanks. Though Daeron I briefly conquered Dorne, he lost 20,000 men in the inevitable rebellion. It was his namesake, Daeron II, who brought Dorne into the realm by wedding a Dornish princess, Myriah, and giving his sister’s hand to the ruling Prince of Dorne.
For the next 150 years, the Martells cleaved to the Targaryens, in time wedding Princess Elia to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. When Rhaegar absconded with Lyanna Stark, however, the Martells grew furious and withdrew all but nominal support from the Targaryens until the very end of the War of the Usurper. Prince Lewyn Martell of the Kingsguard, Doran’s uncle, led Dornish spears at the Trident, but that battle was lost almost as soon as it was begun; Lewyn died as Rhaegar did.
Shortly thereafter, Tywin Lannister’s forces sacked King’s Landing, brutally murdering Princess Elia and her children. Dorne cried for vengeance, and Prince Oberyn tried to raise Dorne’s spears for Prince Viserys Targaryen. Jon Arryn, Robert’s Hand, was sent to Sunspear to prevent a rebellion. Arryn returned Prince Lewyn’s bones and quieted the drums of war through talks with Prince Doran. Since that time, Dorne has kept primarily to itself, and Robert has been content to leave them so, never visiting the region.
Houses of Westeros - Great Houses
Friday, 18 July 2008 23:41
Tags:House Martell-Sunspear-Starfall-Doran Martell-Oberyn Martell-Red Viper-Arianne Martell-Ellaria Sand-Nymeria Sand-Obara Sand
Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken
Separated from the rest of the realm by history, culture, and geography, Dorne is unique among the regions on the mainland. The Martells style themselves princes rather than lords or kings, and foreign Rhoynar blood runs in their veins. A millennia ago, the Rhoynar followed the warrior-queen Nymeria across the narrow sea. Much of the distinct appearances, tastes, and attitudes of the Dornish can be attributed to their Rhoynish descent. Despite their reputation for quick tempers, however, Dorne has been silent while the rest of the realm has been thrown into turmoil. The spears of Dorne are a fearful thing to face. In this time of trouble, no one can know at whose heart they might be aimed.
History
More than a thousand years ago, Dorne was a patchwork of petty squabbling lords. The Red Mountains kept the Dornishmen safe from invaders until the warrior queen Nymeria and her people came in their 10,000 ships. Nymeria married one of the petty lords, Mors Martell, and together they brought Dorne to heel. The Rhoynar brought their own traditions and customs. As the peoples mingled over generations, however, the ancient beliefs faded.
In the centuries that followed the unification of Dorne, the Princes fought many wars against their neighbouring sovereigns in the Reach and the Stormlands, leading to a rivalry that is long in dying. There were border wars beyond measure, and raids over the mountains even during the periods of peace.
When the Targaryens later landed on Westeros and made their bid to rule all Seven Kingdoms, the Martells were as defiant as their neighbours in resisting the dragons. Unlike the other old kings, however, Dorne remained independent despite Aegon’s vast armies. The Dornishmen kept their troops scattered to escape the dragon’s fire; they never massed in the field nor in castles, but fled whenever the dragons appeared, only to regroup to strike at the Targaryens’ flanks. Though Daeron I briefly conquered Dorne, he lost 20,000 men in the inevitable rebellion. It was his namesake, Daeron II, who brought Dorne into the realm by wedding a Dornish princess, Myriah, and giving his sister’s hand to the ruling Prince of Dorne.
For the next 150 years, the Martells cleaved to the Targaryens, in time wedding Princess Elia to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. When Rhaegar absconded with Lyanna Stark, however, the Martells grew furious and withdrew all but nominal support from the Targaryens until the very end of the War of the Usurper. Prince Lewyn Martell of the Kingsguard, Doran’s uncle, led Dornish spears at the Trident, but that battle was lost almost as soon as it was begun; Lewyn died as Rhaegar did.
Shortly thereafter, Tywin Lannister’s forces sacked King’s Landing, brutally murdering Princess Elia and her children. Dorne cried for vengeance, and Prince Oberyn tried to raise Dorne’s spears for Prince Viserys Targaryen. Jon Arryn, Robert’s Hand, was sent to Sunspear to prevent a rebellion. Arryn returned Prince Lewyn’s bones and quieted the drums of war through talks with Prince Doran. Since that time, Dorne has kept primarily to itself, and Robert has been content to leave them so, never visiting the region.
