Game of Thrones‘ real-life inspirations are broken down by a medieval expert in a new video. Based on the beloved book series by George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones premiered on HBO in 2011, following the lords and ladies of Westeros as they battle for control of the coveted Iron Throne. The series features a handful of shocking moments and memorable characters throughout its 8-season run, many of which resemble events and figures from real history.

In a new video for Wired, Professor of English and Medieval Literature Dr. Dorsey Armstrong breaks down the real-life inspirations that Martin drew from when writing Game of Thrones.

Dr. Armstrong reveals that there are real-life parallels to events like the Red Wedding, as well as to characters like Cersei Lannister and Robert Baratheon. Check out Dr. Armstrong’s comments below:

“It’s well known that George R. R. Martin borrowed liberally from medieval history. The Red Wedding itself is based on Scottish history. In 1440, the young King of Scotland invited the young leaders of the Douglas clan to dine with him. When you’re invited into the feast hall, you dine with the king. The code of hospitality should maintain that no ill can come to you, and instead they were betrayed and beheaded.

“Like in Game of Thrones, much of the contest over the throne has to do with rival factions that maybe to some degree or another are related to one another. George R. R. Martin took as his template for this the late medieval conflict known as the Wars of the Roses. You have the Lancaster cousins against the York cousins, and in the show, the Lannisters have a name that sounds very much like Lancaster, and the Starks, with their one-syllable name, that name chimes nicely with York.

“As far as characters go, the mad Targaryen king would seem to be a pretty clear analog to King Henry VI, who suffered bouts of madness. Cersei Lannister very much resembles Margaret of Anjou, Henry VI’s queen.

“Her son was probably not the son of Henry VI. Henry VI himself commented that he could not remember when the conception had happened and that it must have been a miracle. This, of course, seems to be very much like the situation with Cersei, whose children are not those of Robert Baratheon, but are indeed the children of herself and her twin brother, Jamie Lannister.”

Martin Drawing From History Helps Make Game of Thrones Feel Real

What Sets The Westeros Tale Apart From Other Fantasy Stories

Game of Thrones, like the acclaimed House of the Dragon spinoff show, take place in the fantasy world of Westeros. The world itself is, in many ways, a character in the show, featuring not only variety in terms of geography and biomes, but also different peoples and creatures, as well as a healthy dose of magic. It’s the dragons and the dark magic that help make Game of Thrones a fantasy instead of a medieval drama, but much of the show feels real, in a sense.

Part of the reason why Game of Thrones was so popular and beloved is due to its character drama. The show pulls no punches in terms of characters betraying one another and the immense human cost that can come with different political maneuvers or double-crosses. The fantasy elements of the show, then, are really add-ons to what could otherwise be a retelling of a real period in human history. Part of the reason why the Game of Thrones ending was so divisive is because it surpasses Martin’s source material and loses this distinct storytelling sensibility.

Even if viewers aren’t initially aware of Game of Thrones‘ real-life inspirations, Martin drawing from medieval history gives the show a sheen of verisimilitude. The same can be said for his Fire & Blood novel, which essentially recounts the history of the Targaryen family during an earlier period in Westeros. While knowing Game of Thrones‘ real-life inspirations isn’t crucial to understanding or appreciating the show, they clearly helped set the series apart from other fantasy stories.

Source: Wired