The Names of the Great Houses of Westeros, Explored and Explained

House Martell

The name “Martell” has a very simple historical connection. It’s possible Martin simply knew of Karl Martell (known in French as Charles Martel), the grandfather of Charlemagne, and adopted the name for the most powerful house in Dorne. Karl Martell stopped the Umayyad invasion of France at the Battle of Tours, one of the most famous battles of the early Middle Ages. Occasionally, the victory is blown out of proportion and Martell is given credit for saving all of Christian Europe.

“Martell” (or, rather, martellus) means “hammer” or “the hammer” in Latin, which doesn’t quite fir the Westerosi Martells as we know them. Oh, well. Maybe Martin was just heavily into wrestling in the ’80s and early ’90s and was a big fan of Rick Martel? We leave no stone unturned.