Dorne (Histories & Lore)

"Dorne" is part of the Histories & Lore, a special feature in the Blu-ray of Season 5 of Game of Thrones. It is narrated by Indira Varma as Ellaria Sand.

Synopsis
Ellaria Sand describes the proud history of Dorne and its conflict with the rest of the Seven Kingdoms.

Summary
Ellaria Sand informs that before the Seven Kingdoms and the Iron Throne, there was Dorne. Twelve thousand years ago, the First Men crossed the land bridge from Essos to Dorne. She comments that they were men, so of course they soon broke it. Then while their cousins to the north built kingdoms, the Dornish squabbled over land, water and wives for centuries.

Until Nymeria. A warrior princess in Essos, she lead a fleet of ten thousand ships across the Narrow Sea to Dorne. Almost all of the petty lords made it clear that she was not welcome. All but one: Mors of House Martell. He saw in her a strength to match any man, including his rivals. After she accepted his marriage offer, she set fire to her ships. For fifty leagues, the coast was bright as day, and in the burning night Princess Nymeria named Mors Martell the Prince of Dorne, in the style of her people. Dorne would be her home, or her grave.

For many years, Nymeria and Mors waged war against all rivals. The Jordaynes, Blackmonts, Qorgyles and even the might House Yronwood. They sent no fewer than six self-styled "kings" to The Wall in golden chains. After Mors fell in battle, Nymeria too command of his armies and united Dorne in two years. She ruled for twenty-seven more, and though she married again, those husbands were little more than councillors and consorts; Dorne was Nymeria and Nymeria was Dorne. She survived a dozen attempts on her life, put down two rebellions and threw back two invasions, and when at last she died her eldest child succeeded her; her daughter, not her son, and Dorne followed her because Nymeria had proven that women were equal to men, if not better.

Centuries later, Aegon I Targaryen sought to unite Westeros as Nymeria had Dorne. The other six kingdoms fell quickly before his dragons and ambition. When his sister-wife Rhaenys flew her dragon south and demanded Dorne's surrender as well, Princess Meria Martell warned "I will not fight you, nor will I kneel to you. Dorne has no king. Tell your brother that." Rhaenys threatened that the next time the Targaryens would come with fire and blood. Meria replied "You may burn us, my lady, but you will not bend us, break us or make us bow. This is Dorne, you are not wanted here. Return at your peril!" Rhaenys did, and she died. Her dragon died. All her soldiers died. Eventually her brother, the Conqueror, conceded that what Nymeria had done, he could not undo.

Generations later, another foolish Targaryen invaded Dorne. He died as well. Eventually, the Dornish did join the Seven Kingdoms, but when they wanted and on their terms. If dragons could not conquer them, why should they fear lions? Unbowed, unbent, unbroken. The words of House Martell. The words of Dorne. Men may forget, but women always remember. When they were divided, Nymeria united them. When the were invaded, Meria defended them. Now Dorne has been humiliated, its prince murdered. Who will rise to avenge them?

Characters

 * Princess Nymeria
 * Prince Mors Martell
 * Ser Davos Dayne (unnamed)
 * King Aegon I Targaryen (mentioned)
 * Queen Rhaenys Targaryen
 * Meraxes
 * King Daeron I Targaryen (indirectly mentioned)
 * Obara Sand (unnamed)
 * Nymeria Sand (unnamed)
 * Tyene Sand (unnamed)
 * Prince Oberyn Martell (indirectly mentioned)

Noble Houses

 * House Martell
 * House Jordayne (mentioned)
 * House Blackmont (mentioned)
 * House Qorgyle (mentioned and sigil)
 * House Yronwood (mentioned)
 * House Targaryen

Locations

 * Dorne
 * Sunspear
 * Water Gardens
 * Essos (mentioned)
 * Arm of Dorne (mentioned)
 * Narrow Sea
 * The Wall

Events

 * Nymeria's War
 * War of Conquest
 * Conquest of Dorne
 * Second Trial by Combat of Tyrion Lannister (indirectly mentioned)

Titles

 * Prince of Dorne

Races

 * First Men (mentioned)

Miscellaneous

 * Dragons