When Rhaenys Targaryen flew to Dorne on Meraxes, she went to conquer but found only abandoned cities. When she finally came upon Princess Meria Martell she threatened to bring ”fire and blood.” Meria challenged her fury, telling her to return at her own peril, ending the invasion pic.twitter.com/6pcmZUOh1Z
— Thrones Facts | HOTD 🐉 (@Thrones_Facts) December 25, 2018
5. Meria Martell
The leader of House Martell — the overlords of Dorne — during the Conquest is Meria Martell, also known as the Yellow Toad of Dorne. An elderly woman, Meria is sitting on her throne when Rhaenys Targaryen enters her palace on the dragon Meraxes. Prior to meeting Meria, Rhaenys had led an invasion of Dorne, as it was the last kingdom yet to yield to Aegon. However, Rhaenys found each keep and castle full of only women and children; the men were out conducting guerilla raids on her army. When she flew to Sunspear, she found Meria and demanded her surrender. Meria said that Dorne would never surrender and the Targaryens left…for a time.
Aegon returned with a larger army a few years later and waged the first Dornish war. After finding all the castles abandoned including Sunspear, Aegon declared victory and set up castellans in every keep. When back in King’s Landing, the Targaryens learned that the Dornish had resurfaced and taken back their land. Lord Rosby, who was in charge of Sunspear, was apparently thrown from a window by Meria herself.
After several years of war, Meria died in 13 AC, unbowed, unbent and unbroken. Her son Prince Nymor succeeded her.
Meria will also be a major challenge for the Targaryens. I like to think of her as a Queen of Thorns type who will not tolerate nonsense and do anything for her people. The scene where Rhaenys enters her throne room will be especially important as it will establish the Dornish people as a serious threat to Aegon despite him having the power of dragons.
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