When creating his extremely elaborated fantasy globe , George R. R. Martin establish much ofGame of Throneson gothic European account . In particular , Martindrew heavilyfrom theWar of the Roses ; here are seven more potential historical connections .
( admonition : mollycoddler ahead ! )
1. Joffrey had some things in common with Edward of Lancaster.
As malefic as he was , King Joffrey ’s reprehensible personality seems to be rooted in history . Edward of Lancasterwas the boy of King Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou — and , like Joffrey , there were rumour around his lineage . Also like Joffrey , Edward had a soupcon of madness , and he shared Joffrey ’s phylogenetic relation for lopping off the heads of his enemies . The Ambassador of Milanonce wrote , " This boy , though only 13 years of age , already talks of nothing but of trend off heads or making warfare , as if he had everything in his hands or was the god of engagement or the peaceable occupier of that pot . " ( Though some have indicate that he was n’t really as violent as centuries of historiographer have nominate . )
2. Theon Greyjoy’s historical equivalent was George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence.
Theon ’s historical counterpart , George Plantagenet , was crony to Edward IV of York and , like Theon , began the War of the Roses as a staunch York shielder . Much like Theon , George Plantagenet turned on his brother during the War of the Roses and defected to the Lancastrians . Although the brother reconciled , George was drowned in a buttocks of wine for treason , which some might say is a kinder penalization than the many atrociousness that Theon suffer at the hands of Ramsay Bolton .
3. The Red Faith is Zoroastrianism.
In the show ( before his last at the hand of Brienne of Tarth ) , Stannis followed the advice of the “ Red Woman , ” Melisandre , who worships the lord of sluttish , R’hllor . The faith of the R’hllor seem to be ground on the ancient Persian religionZoroastrianism . In Zoroastrianism , fervour is consider a medium for religious cognisance and wiseness , with worshiper often pray in the presence of fervour or in fire temples . Like the following of The Lord of Light , Zoroastrianism also accent a expectant conflict and the duality between good and evil ( in the serial it is referred to as “ The Lord of Light ” and “ The Great Other ” ) . As of right now , there is no evidence to suggest thatdemon vestige babiesactually exist .
4. Jaime Lannister’s historical equivalent is Gottfried von Berlichingen.
InGame of Thrones ’s season four premiere , Jaime Lannister received ashiny new gold handto supplant the one that was hack off . The role has a niggling something in common with Gottfried von Berlichingen , or , as he was also known , " Gotz of the Iron Hand . " Like Jaime , Gotz was deport to a stately family before serving as an Imperial Knight . During battle , Gotz ’s hand was blown off by a cannon . Not easy deterred , Gotz project a prosthetic Fe hand and returned to combat . He ’s well known for his catchphrase , " er kann mich am Arsche lecken " ( " he can cream my arse " ) , which also makes him a precursor toFuturama ’s Bender .
5. Part of Lyanna Stark’s story may have been inspired by Lucretia.
Lyanna Stark was the sister of Eddard Stark and the one true love of Robert Baratheon . Her supposed snatch by Rhaegar Targaryen and the events that follow spark Robert ’s Rebellion , which land him on the Iron Throne . Of course , we now have intercourse that that version of events was a lie : Lyanna extend with Rhaegar willingly — eventually wed him and bear him a son , Aegon Targaryen , a.k.a . Jon Snow . But the interpretation of event that Robert believe has a good deal in vulgar withLucretia . She was a Roman shape who place suicide after being rape by the Etruscan queen ’s Logos , a disaster that spark the revolution to overthrow the monarchy and establish the Roman Republic .
6. The Battle of Blackwater Bay has similarities to The Second Arab Siege of Constantinople.
The Battle of Blackwater Bay — when Stannis Baratheon attempted to sieze the capital of King ’s Landing — was the focus of the penultimate episode of time of year two . Stannis was defeated after Tyrion attack his naval forces with wildfire , a chemical substance that burns even on water . Tyrion might have gotten this idea fromThe Second Arab Siege of Constantinople , where Greek Fire was used to repel invaders . Additionally , in the books , Tyrion employed a giant chain of mountains to cut through Stannis ’s navy , which is intelligibly inspired by theGreat Chain of Constantinople , also used in The Second Arab Siege .
7. The Red Wedding has historical parallels in the Kojiki.
Game of Thrones ’s " Red Wedding " was one of the most shocking second in TV chronicle . In one move , Tywin Lannister ( in collusion with Roose Bolton and Walder Frey ) kills Robb Stark and ends the northern insurrection . The Red Wedding is enounce to bebasedon two British massacres , but it also draws line of latitude to an ancient Japanese consequence that ’s detail in the Kojiki , a half - historic , half - mythological textbook that chronicle the acclivity of Japan ’s first swayer , Emperor Jimmu . Part of the Kojikidescribes how Jimmu consolidate his power : by murdering a group of his enemies at a spread . Like the Red Wedding , the start of the massacre was a song , this one sung by Jimmu himself .
This story was updated in 2019 .
