While the craze of Game of Thrones, which swept the world, continued to increase, it once again made a name for itself with its first episode released on April 14 last week. Considering that more than 17 million people watch this part of the series in the USA alone, the dimensions of the madness can be understood more easily.
The biggest weapon of HBO, the series, although it is a fantastic genre, is a production that has kept its popularity at high levels for years in terms of being based on real events.
In addition to being the author of the work, George R.R Martin, who also produced the series, has spoken many times about the historical events on which the GoT legend is based. “I have always loved history,” Martin said in a statement he made to the British Guardian newspaper last year, pointing to his source of inspiration, and the contents of these historical events have already begun to be published in our country. Here are 5 historical events that inspired some of the spoken scenes of the Game of Thrones series, which we once again brought to our agenda with the compilation of our website.
1. War of the Roses
The years of this war were 1455-1485. The white rose on the coat of arms of the York Dynasty fighting each other and the red rose on the coat of arms of the Lancaster Dynasty gave its name to this civil war that shed blood for nearly 30 years.
These two dynasties were two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty, which ruled England for more than 300 years, and they were known to be disturbed by each other.
These wars were described in the four-volume Plantagenet book written in the 1950s by historian Thomas B. Costain.
Martin has often expressed interest in Costain’s books. The main battle in Game of Thrones is also reminiscent of the War of the Roses.
2. Trial by Combat
In the first season of Game of Thrones, character Tyrion Lannister, played by American actor Peter Dinklage, is accused of killing aristocratic Lord Jon Arryn. However, he escapes punishment by requesting a trial with a fight.
Lannister’s bodyguard, Bronn, fights and gains the freedom of his master.
The bottom line is, this incident is not fanciful either.
In medieval Europe, this was a legal method for resolving disputes. The defendants hired fighters to fight on their side. However, contrary to what we saw in Game of Thrones, these disputes did not usually end in blood. Often it would end with the losing side surrendering.
Another form of judgment by combat is the method called the Seven Judgment, and this concept refers to the lineage known as the Andal Traditions and the Faith of the Seven.
3. Red Wedding or Black Evening Event
One of the most unexpected moments of Game of Thrones occurred in season three: All three of the main characters died in one episode.
Robb Stark, her mother Catelyn and pregnant bride Talisa were killed during a feast.
Once again, Martin drew inspiration from real events for this scene known as the ‘Red Wedding’. This was a reference to the event known as ‘Black Evening’.
It was the name given to the events in Scotland in the 1440s: Count Douglas and his brother, two members of one of the strongest families in the country, who accepted a party invitation from 10-year-old King James II, were beheaded after dinner.
“Historical records show that a black boar head was placed on the table,” Martin told EW magazine. Memento mori. “The count and his brother were taken to a tower, then beheaded despite James’ pleading.”
4. The Real Wall
In Game of Thrones, the icy ‘Wall’ runs along the 500-kilometer border on the northern border of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The purpose of this 200-meter-high Wall is to protect the kingdoms from invasion.
The Wall is defended by the sworn brothers of the Night Watch, of which one of the most important characters, Jon Snow, is also a member.
Its real-life counterpart is shorter, but not less important: Hadrian’s Wall.
It was built in the 2nd century to protect England under the Roman Empire from the Britons in the north. This famous wall was named after the Roman Emperor Hadrian, and it became one of the most iconic landmarks of Ancient Rome.
The remains of this once magnificent wall, which stretches for 117 kilometers, can still be seen. These remains are from George R.R. It has been visited by millions of people over the centuries, including Martin.
“I was visiting friends in England and someone took me to see Hadrian’s Wall,” Martin told Rolling Stones magazine, who visited the Hadrian’s Wall in the 1980s, and adds:
“I kept thinking about what life was like for a mercenary who spends his days watching the horizon from these hills.”
5. Golden Crown
At the end of the first season, the king of Westeros, Viserys Targaryen, demands the army he promised him in exchange for marrying his sister Daenerys from warlord Khal Drogo.
In doing so, he holds a sword against his pregnant sister’s belly, and Drogo promises Viserys “a golden crown that people will tremble when they see it.” But later it turns out that the reward promise is actually a trap.
After Viserys releases his sword, he is captured by the guards, while Drogo melts a belt of gold medallions in a bowl, pouring it off Viserys’ head, ‘crowning’ him and killing him.
A similar event happened to the Roman Emperor Valerian in 260 BC.
Roman historian Flavius Eutropius writes that in the 4th century, Valerian was forced to swallow a melted precious locket after he was captured by Persian soldiers.
This event is just one of the stories told about Valerian’s death, but it still inspired Martin to create the “television mine.”