Generations before Westeros became the center of power inGame of Thrones, the Valyrian Freehold used its dragons to conquer its neighbors. The entire continent could have fallen to the might of a few hundred dragon riders. Old Valyria led constant conflicts across Essos, but many of their enemies enjoyed unique fates. As powerful as they were, they couldn’t stamp out all who opposed them before their sudden demise. The Rhoynish Wars are a story of Old Valyria shaping history through the people they missed.
One of the best parts of Westeros is its widespread variety. Eachculture is wildly distinctfrom the last. While most of the Seven Kingdoms trace their lineage to the Andal people who invaded Westeros, many have older origins. The people of the North claim ties to the First Men. Dorne is the last culture that proudly boasts connections to the Rhoynar.
How did the Rhoynish Wars begin?
The Rhoynar ofEssos lived in severalgreat city-states along the banks of a river called the Rhoyne. Rhoynish civilization was considerably older than Old Valyria, a humble society of shepherds until they stumbled onto dragons. Valyria expanded quickly, using their mastery of the mighty creatures to consume much of Essos. The Rhoynar initially welcomed their advance, but the Valyrian settlement of Volon Therys threatened Rhoynish control of the river. Valyria felt the strength of the Rhoynish city-states could buffer them. Though conflict became inevitable, Valyria attacked the Andals in the west before moving northwest. Finally, Volon Therys declared war on Sar Mell, the Rhoynish city across the river. This encounter sparked atleast ten subsequent warsover the next 250 years. Though these battles took up two-and-a-half-centuries, each war was short-lived and decisive.
Who won the Rhoynish Wars?
Most Rhoynish Wars go unreported inA Song of Ice and Fire. The lore only unpacks two, but they tell a conclusive story. The first conflict between Volon Therys and Sar Mell, the First Turtle War, was a swift and decisive victory for the Rhoynar. The battles began when Valyrian soldiers killed a giant turtle, a rare creature held sacred by the Rhoynar. The warriors of Volon Therys sacked Sar Mell, raiding and burning the long-lived community. Though they believed they’d claimed victory, the mighty Rhoynish water wizards raised theRhoyne with their magicand instantly washed half of Volon Therys away. The First Turtle War lasted less than a month.
Though the Rhoynar dominated Valyria in their first fight, the Rhoynish Wars favored the dragon riders over the years. The Second Spice War was the final conflict in the Rhoynish Wars. It beganwhen three dragonlordsrazed the Rhoynish port of Sarhoy. The historically distant Rhoynar city-states finally united in the face of this attack, gathering under Prince Garin the Great of Chroyane. With an army of over 250,000 men and countless water wizards, the Rhoynar destroyed three Valyrian dragons while conquering three of their colonies. Valyria responded by sending 300 dragons and at least 100,000 soldiers to erase the Rhoynish city-states. In one fell swoop, they slaughtered the united Rhoynish army, burned Sar Mell, and captured Garin. They kept Garin in a cage and dragged him to Chroyane to force him to watch the death of his home. Garinprayed to his goddess, Mother Rhoyne, and laid a curse upon the invaders. The Valyrians laughed, but the Rhoyne flash flooded out of season that night. Thick fog consumed the ruins as Greyscale, a deadly plague, turned the Valyrians to stone. The Rhoynar lost, but they would not leave their home without vengeance.
How did Rhoynish culture survive?
As the city-states fell to Old Valyria, a savior emerged to keep the Rhoynar alive. Nymeria, Princess of Ny Sar, advised against Garin’s war. She knew her people couldn’t defeat Old Valyria.When the dragons came, she took all who survived, most women, children, and those too old to fight, and loaded every ship she could find. Nymeria led her fleet, often called her Ten Thousand Ships, down the Rhoyne and into the Summer Sea. They struggled for years, fighting local governments, suffering from disease, and sailing to avoid slavery. Though Nymeria lost many, they eventually found their home in Dorne.
Nymeria reached Dorne during a period of constant conflict. Most warring leaders discounted Nymeria, but one offered
her his hand.Lord Mors Martell fellmadly in love with the beautiful, clever, mighty woman who washed up on his shore. They were soon married. Mors married hundreds of his men off to the Rhoynish widows, connecting his people with hers. With their combined power and resources, House Nymeros Martell took Dorne. They held it against every petty king that would rise to defeat them. Even after Mors died in battle, Nymeria slayed his killer and kept Dorne. House Martell rules Dorne some thousand years later. Lord Oberyn Martell summed up his ancestor’s story like this:
Thousands of years ago, the warrior queen Nymeria crossed into Dorne from Essos, fleeing the dragonlords of Valyria. After she landed, she burned her ships, all 10,000 of them, so no cowards could slink home. What a woman. Dornish in spirit before she ever was in flesh.
The Rhoynar are fascinating people, unique in many ways in Westeros. Their journey to Dorne came under duress, but it led to one of the mightiest leaders on the continent.Dorne stood strong againstthe descendants of their Valyrian enemies, maintaining their independence and entering the Seven Kingdoms by marriage. Nymeria proves that even a withering defeat can keep a people alive. Long live the Rhoynar, one of few cultures to survive the dragons twice.
