Game Of Thrones: Power Ranking Every Major House
8. House Martell
Status: Virtually Extinct
Remaining Family Members: The Sand Snakes
Family Members Lost: Oberyn, Doran, Trystane
While House Martell had been mentioned in previous seasons, it is not until Season 4 that fans are introduced to their first Dornish prince.
In town to attend the wedding of King Joffrey and Margery Tyrell, Prince Oberyn (brother of the Lord of Sunspear) makes a surprising entrance by arriving before Tyrion can greet him in the capital. Confident and brash, Prince Oberyn threatens every Lannister in King’s Landing while attempting to take revenge for the murder of his sister and her children by Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane.
Unfortunately for fans, Oberyn’s desire for revenge leads to his downfall. Instead of finishing off Gregor Clegane in his trial by combat (representing Tyrion), he taunts The Mountain before having his head crushed like a walnut. Much to the dismay of his companion Ellaria, Prince Doran takes no action against the Lannisters or King’s Landing for the death of his brother.
Deciding to take matters into her own hands, Ellaria swears that no weak Martell man will again rule Dorne as she kills Doran. She then instructs her Sand Snakes (the bastard daughters of Oberyn that are a trained fighting force) to kill Doran’s son Trystane, clearing the way for Ellaria to rule Dorne.
Prospects For The Future:
In the Sixth Season, the remaining male Martells were assassinated by the Sand Snakes. The only people remaining with Martell blood in them appear to be these deadly assassins. Sand is the surname of illegitimate children in Dorne (as Snow is the name in the North). Their leader Ellaria is currently on the throne in Sunspear and was last seen plotting against Cersei with Olenna Tyrell and Varys. With the army of Dorne and a violent team of assassins on her side, Ellaria could possibly be in position to take Dorne to new heights.