House Martell and Dorne

House Martell

Current Leader: Doran Martell

Their Title: Prince of Dorne (its a principality rather than a lord paramountcy)

House Seat: Sunspear

Current Family Members: Arianne Martell (daughter), Quentyn Martell (son), Trystane Martell (son), Oberyn "The Red Viper" Martell (brother), 8 bastard nieces known as the Sand Snakes (raised by The Red Viper, various mothers)
Family Traits: Olive Skin and dark hair

House Words: Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken
Region: Dorne
Bastard Surname: Sand
Geography: The southernmost part of Westeros that is mountainous, dry, hot and contains the only desert on the continent.
History/Notable Events:
-Queen Nymeria and her people fled to Dorne after the war with the Valyrians (from where the Targaryens come from), which led to the influx of a new culture/ethnicity to Westeros
-Nymeria married King Mors Martell and help establish the principality and equal primogeniture (meaning that the oldest child inherits)
-used guerilla warfare to fight against the Targaryens during the War of Conquest which lead to their house words.
-known for killing Queen Rhaenys and her Dragon Meraxes (a feat unheard of at the time)
-were finally brought into the realm through the marriage alliance of Daeron II and Myriah Martell (later the Prince of Dorne, Maron married Daeron's sister Daenerys)
-Doran's uncle Lewyn Martell served on the Kingsguard and was killed at the Battle of the Trident during Robert's Rebellion- he also kept a paramour despite the rules of the Kingsguard.
-was the region where the battle at the Tower of Joy was held between Ned Stark, his men and the 3 Kinsguard (most notable Ser Arthur Dayne)- also where Ned's beloved sister Lyanna died.

Notable People from Region:
Queen Nymeria of the Rhoyne-brought the Rhoynish people into Dorne and established the new House Nymeros Martell of Sunspear
Elia Martell- sister to Doran, wife of Rhaegar Targaryen. Was killed along with her two children (Rhaenys and Aegon) during the Sack of Kings Landing on the orders of Tywin Lannister
Arthur Dayne- Known as the Sword of the Morning (he was the owner of the familial greatsword Dawn). Was a Kingsguard and considered one of the greatest knights in Westeros.

My Thoughts: I think this is one of my favorite houses (other than the Starks) in the story. They are such a different culture than most of the rest of Westeros with their ideas of equal primogeniture and sexual freedom that it seems like such a different place. Despite being looked down upon by the rest of Westeros, they contribute much with their famed wine and other exotic foods that only come from desert-like regions. Dorne/House Martell has some very interesting players in the Game of Thrones, so we will see how they fit in with the narrative. I can't really say much about them since they haven't been seen yet, but I fully believe they are worth the wait.

What's Next: Don't count them out just because they haven't been introduced in the show yet. Despite being known for neutrality, they could change the Game as we all know it. Look for dynamic characters like The Red Viper and Arianne Martell (coming next season) make the story much more interesting.