yuuuuuup. the amount of times I saw these fancasts for Elia …. Oof.

You know Dorne Royalty is better than the Iron Throne cause they have dual Thrones that represent different but equally important things

You must mean from this post .

Nowhere did I sat that dorne is inspired from India I said :

• I don’t think dorne is entirely based on Europe, personally for me I picture the martells as indian and Spanish and maybe sometimes turkish.
• I think saying it dorne is entirely southern European is also incorrect because grrm also said he took inspiration from Spain, Wales and Palestine.
• And I feel dorne is also similar to India in tems of clothing and diversity of people.

Now let’s see did anywhere in my post did I say that the dornish were indian , I personally picture the martells as indian, spanish and sometimes turkish .

I even said that he took inspiration from Spain 🇪🇸, Wales, and Palestine nowhere did I say dorne is based on india .

The only time I said it was when I said that I personally feel that dorne is similar to india in terms of clothes and diversity of people .

Stop putting words in my mouth 😤

I really like headcanoning elia and dorne just generally being inspired by South Asia and desi culture in full but also that MY headcanon aka not canon just an interpretation of it. Idk why its so hard for other people to not just be happy with their headcanons but rather just force it on others for no reason. Yes South Asia might have been inspiration for dorne BUT as stated by grrm its is heavily based on MENA, welish and Mediterranean culture. Pretending otherwise to suite your own agenda is Orientalism and extremely weird.

Even if personally for me a South Asian woman is whom I imagine as elia doesnt mean I am gonna disrespect anyone who doesn’t and want to rightfully cast her north African, and especially someone of Palestinian heritage or Spanish or whatever else they want to in general. Your personal preference doesn’t overtake the canon neither does it overtake anyone else’s. Stay in your lane. If you dont like something scroll, mute the tag or block them. Being hateful and delusional about forcing your own shit on others says more about you than anyone else.

Do the Dornish practice circumcision? It’d make sense. Andals are originally from a warmer climate maybe the brought it over as part of the Faith. Are the North and Iron Islands the only places with uncut men?

Jennelyn Fowler

Nymeria Sand was abed with Jennelyn and her sister Jeyne when news of Prince Oberyn Martell’s death reached them. Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, feels Nymeria is too close to the Fowler twins.

Jeyne Fowler

Jeyne is a tall woman with wispy yellow hair.

House Fowler “Let me Soar”

“You know the Fowler words? Let Me Soar! That is all I ask of you. Let me soar, Uncle.”

Jeyne

Jennelyn

I don’t think done is entirely based on Europe, personally for me I picture the martells as indian and Spanish and maybe sometimes turkish , and for house Dayne as Turkish . I think saying it dorne is entirely southern European is also incorrect because grrm also said he took inspiration from Spain, Wales and Palestine.

And I feel dorne is also similar to India in tems of clothing and diversity of people

I also don’t think the deeply catholic/Muslim medieval people of Spain would be wearing promiscuous clothing or be allowing of sexual freedom ( for both man and women ) .

This being said I don’t think dorne is based off Europe entirely.

Honestly got an idea about the letter Aegon I received that made him abandon the idea to conquer Dorne. I usually don’t like it but it’s making sense with the situation - so it involves the prophecy (my version - the prophecy is originally Daenys’ but Aegon had a Rhaegar moment and went through the Dragonstone library with a fine-toothed comb…).

Like it sure isn’t as dramatic as a poisoned letter or a letter revealing Rhaenys is under their control but well…a letter where they don’t bow or apologize in any way, but present the situation in Dorne and how Aegon is literally destroying the country and killing everyone in it. They won’t bow, but they’re sort of trying to appeal to his moral conscience.

And it works, in part because of what they ignore, the prophecy. Aegon realizes he’s lost his way, that his goal was to try to unite Westeros to prepare it for the Long Night. That he no longer deserves to pursue the conquest of Dorne because he’s done unspeakable things there, more in the name of vengeance than unity. That he’ll have to do with what he already has conquered. He has to bite back his pride and his grief and move on.

And it’s a big source of disagreement between him and Visenya till the end of his days.

“Half the Ullers are half-mad, and the other half are worse.”

It was Baelor I who arranged his marriage to Myriah, not Viserys II. Yes, Daeron didn’t have any much of a say in his marriage–like most high-classed heirs–but for all intents and purposes, he was canonically very happy in his marriage (for those fo us who care). It’s said as much in AWoIaF, that he was happy. And it’s not just or uniquely Targaryens who were unhappy or “neutral” in their marriages, that’s a commone thing in the aristocratic parts of society (or well-to-do enough) where arranged marriages were done for ambition, security, strategy. We just hear more from the Targs bc, quite frankly, they were the rulers, interesting in their position as pseudo-foreigners who could ride dragons – the “stars” of the show so to speak.

But to really answer the question, he’s known for this bc he didn’t just leave it at his marriage but he allowed some Dornish/Martell people to hold office in KL/under his authority, showed much favor towards them, and conceded to allow the Dornish to retain their critical customs pertaining women, inheritance, marriage, etc. to begin consolidating a true merge of Dorne and the rest of the realm. He also had Summerhal built “in the Dornish Marches, near to where the boundaries of the Reach, the stormlands, and Dorne met. Calling it Summerhall to mark the peace he had created, it was more palace than castle and lightly fortified at best--” (AWoIaF).

So he had ALOT of say and performed much critical action himself to solder those bonds and assure the Dornish paid fealty bonds (oaths, which is part of why Dorne still paid fealty after Elia, the other reason being as Doran said that Dorne was too vulnerable for open war) to the Iron throne/became part of the real officially.

Dornish Picture Gallery?

I have no idea if anybody’s still in this fandom or not…but here’s a few resource photos if you also need some inspiration for Dorne.

For Dorne worldbuilding I want to include some of the ecology of the North American Southwest so far it’s just been the roadrunner and some cacti but I think I want to add cochineal too and in the Westerlands a tradition of using madder because they’ve got hard water.
Because he concept of a luxury dye source that cannot be replicated north of the Red Mountains and the region that uses the most red in Westeros cannot, even if they get the dried pigment imported, really use it locally amuses me.

Tourmaline, Onyx, Topaz

After identifying Pearl and Jade Emperors, it is time to talk about Tourmaline, Onyx, and Topaz Emperors and try to find out who they were 🤔

Tourmaline

is a crystalline silicate mineral group in which boron is compunded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium,  lithium, or potassium. This gemstone comes in a wide variety of colors.

The name is derived from the Sinhelese tōramalli which refers to the  carnelian  gemstones.

Tourmaline was sometimes called the “Ceylonese Magnet” because it could attract and then repel hot ashes due to its pyroelectric properties.

Tourmalines were used by chemists in the 19th century to polarize light by shining rays onto a cut and polished surface of the gem.

I don’t know how true my interpretation is but Tourmaline feels like the reign of Urrigon, and Peremore’s interest for knowledge and alchemy, so tourmaline symbolises foundation of the Citadel for me.

In asoiaf main series Tourmaline makes its appearence in Qarth, as one of the three fractions that rule the city, Tourmaline Brotherhood gives Daenerys her crown, the semi precious stone is also mentioned when Daenerys dreams of gemstone emperors, Xaro gifts Daenerys thousand knights of of jade and beryl and onyx and tourmaline, of amber and opal and amethyst, and lastly among Illyrio’s rings “onyx and opal, tiger’s eye and tourmaline, ruby, amethyst, sapphire, emerald, jet and jade, a black diamond, and a green pearl”

But we also have to look at Carnelian as well, which is a stone mentioned once in asoiaf in Arys Oakheart chapter.

Carnelian

Although now the more common term, “carnelian” is a 16th-century corruption of the 14th-century word “cornelian”. Cornelian, cognate with similar words in several Romance languages, comes from the Mediaeval Latin corneolus, itself derived from the Latin word cornum, the cornel cherry, whose translucent red fruits resemble the stone. The Oxford English Dictionary calls “carnelian” a perversion of “cornelian,” by subsequent analogy with the Latin word caro, carnis (“flesh”). Similar to Carnelian is the gemstone sard which comes from Persian and means yellowish red, but another derivation is from the Greek σάρξ (sarx, “flesh”); compare the surer etymology of onyx, which comes from Greek ὄνυξ (onyx, “claw, fingernail”).

And you know what’s more exciting? Topaz is thought to be related to the Sanskrit word तपस् “tapas”, meaning “heat” or “fire”.

Flesh, claw, fire - they are like a three headed dragon 👀

Onyx

Onyx is a typically black-and-white banded variety of agate, a silicate mineral. The bands can also be monochromatic with alternating light and dark bands. Sardonyx is a variety with red to brown bands alternated with black or white bands. The name “onyx” is also frequently used for level-banded (parallel-banded) agates, but in proper usage it refers to color pattern not band structure. Onyx, as a descriptive term, has also been incorrectly applied to parallel-banded varieties of alabaster, marble, calcite, obsidian, and opal.

Onyx in main series have many connections, eyes of Khal Drogo, Alleras the Sphinx, and Ser Alliser Thorne are described as onyx, dragon bones are described as black as onyx, Daenerys’ crown has dragons made from ivory, jade, and onyx, the Seven have altars inlaid with mother-of-pearl and onyx and lapis lazuli, and eyes of malachite, onyx, and yellow jade , the Pureborns have thrones studded with amber, onyx, lapis, and jade, the scarab used during Daenerys’ assassination attempt in Qarth a scarab is described as carved from emerald and onyx, the box is inlaid mother of pearl with chalcedony, jasper, and lastly the wedding chalice gifted by Mace Tyrell have the sigils of the great houses: ruby lion, emerald rose, onyx stag, silver trout, blue jade falcon, opal sun, and pearl direwolf on the seven faces.

Through Joffrey says the Pearl direwolf should be replaced by a squid, which is funny because Pearl Emperor is related to Ironborn.

I think onyx is related to Dorne but I don’t have an exact house or character in mind.

Topaz

Topaz is a silicate mineral made of aluminum and fluorine with the chemical formula Al2SiO4(F, OH)2. It is used as a gemstone in jewelry and other adornments. Common topaz in its natural state is colorless, though trace element impurities can make it pale blue or golden-brown to yellow-orange. Topaz is often treated with heat or radiation to make it a deep blue, reddish-orange, pale green, pink, or purple.

The word “topaz” is usually believed to be derived (via Old French: Topace and Latin: Topazius) from the Gerek  Τοπάζιος  (Topázios) or Τοπάζιον (Topázion), from Τοπαζος. This is the ancient name of St. John’s Island in the Red Sea which was difficult to find and from which a yellow stone (now believed to be chrysolite: yellowish olivine) was mined in ancient times. The name topaz was first applied to the mineral now known by that name in 1737. Ancient Sri Lanka (Tamraparni) exported topazes to Greece and ancient Egypt, which led to the etymologically related names of the island by Alexander Polyhistor (Topazius) and the early Egyptians (Topapwene) – “land of the Topaz”. Pliny said that Topazos is a legendary island in the Red Sea and the mineral “topaz” was first mined there. Alternatively, the word topaz may be related to the Sanskrit word तपस् “tapas”, meaning “heat” or “fire”.

Though the word topaz was used to refer chrysoberyl and peridot in old times, both of these stones are greenish in colour, chrysoberyl was thought to enhance life, and beauty, while peridot could etymologically refer to a type of Opal, which is the successor of Topaz Emperor.

Topaz is mentioned once in main books, Stannis has a belt of yellow topaz and garnet. With the fire and legendary island connection, topaz could be related to faith of R'llhor in some way.

I will admit that those three gemstones are hardest to identify, and I might be wrong about my opinions.

If westeros ever goes into the industrial age my headcanon is theres fuck you amounts of oil and natural gas under the sea near the iron islands so they somehow end up becoming the richest kingdom

Aka they just become norway

I would say the same for dorne but i dont want my dear dornish to mutate into khaleejis

On the significance of Dorne in thr Blackfyre Rebellion through Solaria Martell ( and beyond )

So my House Martell HCs are also inspired by the Trastamarra dynasty and Al Andalus history

My HCs of House Martell changed since I clocked in those parallels with the Trastamarras

So the Martells did intermarry with the Valyrian, Free Cities and even some Stormlands royals

I read that the Houses of the Dornish marches ( the region between The Reach, Dorne and Stormlands ) often intermarry between Stormlands, The Reach and Dornish houses as a way to maintain leverage between the 3 regions

Huh

Makes a lot of sense why Nymeros VII would marry Mylenda Caron

I mean, they do love and care for each other, but there’s definitely political reasons for the match ( its a part arranged, part love match )

Now lets look at the context of how Nymeros VII and Mylenda’s marriage paved way for Lyonel/Solaria

Lyonel is not stupid. Rowdy? Yes. Stupid? Far from it

He sensed the Blackfyre rebellion brewing, and he knew Dorne ( which often does trade between Westeros and Free Cities ) would be in a crossfire

When he first seen Princess Solaria in person in a KL Mixer event, he already loves her at first sight. And he calculated the odds of what the union will bring….and realized that the Baratheon shield can protect the Martells in the crossfire at that time

So Lyonel is bold and daring enough to fight Daeron and Aerion II ( who wanted a match with Solaria to also secure an important leverage between the brewing Blackfyre Rebellion )

Solaria chose neither side and eventually chose Lyonel instead

Solaria wants NOTHING to do with the Blackfyre Rebellion and thought it was “ an utterly moronic battle of incestuous royals ’ ( that made EVERYONE in Dorne and Stormlands laugh at that and Lyonel guffawed and reminded everyone why he chose Solaria as his Queen )

Nymeros VIII Martell ( father of Doran, Oberyn and Elia! ) is the eldest son of Nymeros VII Martell and Mylenda Caron

Okay wait edit:

Solaria’s older brother is Elios V Martell

Her FATHER is named Nymeros VII Martell

Oh WAIT

SORRY

MY MISTAKE

So Ormund is the grandfather of Robert and the father of Steffon

Nymeros VII is the GRANDFATHER of Nymeros VIII

ARGH I GOTTA GET THE GENEALOGY RIIGHT

Nymeros VII Martell and Mylenda Caron have several children together, including their eldest son Tariq II Martell being the grandfather of Doran, Oberyn and Elia ( and the father of Nymeros VIII Martell! )

Sunspear☀️ - art by Tomasz Jedruszek

Sitting at the southeastern tip of Westeros on the Broken Arm,  Sunspear is the ancient, sun-drenched seat of House Martell and the capital of Dorne. The fortress is characterized by its three massive Winding Walls, which encircle a labyrinthine “shadow city” of narrow alleys and bustling bazaars. Rising above the sand-colored battlements are two iconic towers: the slender, 150-foot Spear Tower topped with a gilded steel spike, and the great, domed Tower of the Sun, where the Prince or Princess of Dorne rules from twin thrones representing the union of the Martells and the Rhoynar. At its core lies the Sandship, a dun-colored, dromond-shaped keep that serves as a reminder of the castle’s humble beginnings before the arrival of Princess Nymeria.

Princess Nymeria of Ny Sar was the legendary warrior-queen of the Rhoynar who led her people on a perilous exodus from Essos to Westeros approximately 1,000 years before the events of A Song of Ice and Fire. After the Valyrian Freehold decimated the Rhoynish armies with dragons during the Second Spice War, Nymeria gathered the survivors—primarily women and children—and fled in a massive fleet famously known as the ten thousand ships. 

Following years of wandering through Sothoryos and the Summer Isles, she finally landed in Dorne, where she formed a strategic alliance with Lord Mors Martell of the Sandship. To signal that their flight was over, Nymeria burned her fleet upon arrival. Together, she and Mors conquered and unified the disparate petty kingdoms of the region, establishing House Nymeros Martell as the sovereign rulers of a united Dorne. Her legacy profoundly shaped Dornish culture, introducing Rhoynish customs such as equal primogeniture, which allows the eldest child to inherit regardless of gender.

art by JK Drummond

idk id be pretty disappointed if trystane ended up as prince of Dorne honestly , as much as im into the arianne has ariadne energy i don’t think she’s going to randomly drown, she’s most likely to reverse the myth of her being abandoned on an island same as sansa has persephone vibes but refuses to be tempted, nor do i think Doran’s plans are killing dorne in its entirety if anything he’s trying to cause minimal damage after seeing how robb’s turned out like i do think he’s making mistakes but he’s not gonna sit there and do nothing you gotta keep the plot going somehow.

And i don’t see dany having any grudges against the martells? why woould she? its most likely a misunderstanding is to happen unless someone clears the air and i dont see any of those houses as doomed lol