Based on George R.R. Martin’s own admissions, the brutal and bloody world of *Game of Thrones* was not purely a fantasy creation but was heavily inspired by real, grisly events from history. The article highlights several historical figures whose deaths or fates directly mirror the shocking violence of the series. From the infamous Red Wedding, which is based on two separate historical Scottish and English events, to specific character inspirations, Martin wove actual historical atrocities into the fabric of Westeros. The real-life examples provided are often just as, if not more, horrifying than anything depicted on screen.
The text details a series of truly appalling royal deaths. For instance, King Alboin of the Lombards forced his wife, Rosamund, to drink wine from a cup made from her own father’s skull. In Kievan Rus’, the greed of Grand Prince Igor led to him being torn in half by bent birch trees. His wife, Olga, then enacted a famously cruel revenge involving burying and burning messengers alive before slaughtering an entire court. Other examples include King William II of England, who was suspiciously shot with an arrow during a hunting trip, paving the way for his brother’s swift coronation. King Edward II was allegedly murdered with a red-hot poker to punish him for his relationships with male lovers.
Further historical parallels with *Game of Thrones* include the Black Dinner in Scotland, where the young Earl of Douglas and his brother were invited to dine with the king only to be beheaded, a direct precursor to the Red Wedding. George, Duke of Clarence, who was executed for treason by being drowned in a barrel of wine, and King Charles I, who was beheaded after being found guilty of treason against his own people, are also cited. The article concludes that Martin did not invent his stories of ruthless power struggles; he found them ready-made in the annals of history, turning historical grisliness into legendary fiction.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/game-of-thrones/royal-deaths-game-of-thrones-episode.