Game of Thrones in history: Wars of the Roses
Longtime fans of A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones are probably aware that the series is heavily influenced by real historical events. For example, the infamous Red Wedding is actually a composite of two separate events in Scottish history, and the great ice Wall was inspired by Hadrian’s Wall in England. TED Ed now has a video detailing the parallels between the series and one of its primary inspirations, the century-long conflicts known as the Wars of the Roses.
The family names are the obvious point of similarity: Yorks = Starks, Lancasters = Lannisters. But the video also finds some surprises, like a real-world counterpart for exiled princess Daenerys Targaryen. (The inspirations seem mostly to lend towards character motives, though, so it’s unlikely you’ll find any significant hints about the series’ future in this video.) And if you thought Robb Stark’s decision to marry Talisa despite already being promised to a Frey daughter was a poor one, take heart: someone committed the same violation in real life, too.
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