George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, and its screen adaptation Game of Thrones, might feature dragons, magic, and undead armies, but the foundation of Westeros lies firmly in real history. The politics, conflicts, and cultural details that shape the Seven Kingdoms owe much to the brutal realities of medieval Europe. This article explores the most significant historical parallels behind Martin’s world.
The Wars of the Roses
The clearest historical influence on Westeros is England’s Wars of the Roses, a dynastic conflict fought between the houses of York and Lancaster in the 15th century. Their fictional counterparts are the Starks and the Lannisters, although Martin has stressed that no house is a direct copy.
The struggle for control of the Iron Throne mirrors the English throne’s contested succession. The Lancasters, represented in red, and the Yorks, in white, inspired Martin’s idea of a realm split by bloodlines and betrayal. Characters like Cersei Lannister share traits with Margaret of Anjou, the fierce queen consort of Henry VI, while Richard III’s controversial reputation echoes in figures like Stannis Baratheon or even Tyrion, depending on the lens.
Hadrian’s Wall and the Night’s Watch
The Wall that separates the Seven Kingdoms from the frozen wilderness to the north is inspired by Hadrian’s Wall in Northern England. Built by the Romans to keep out northern tribes, it fired Martin’s imagination after he visited the site. The Night’s Watch, with its bleak purpose and crumbling honour, reflects both the Roman frontier garrisons and the monastic military orders of the Middle Ages.
The Red Wedding and Medieval Treachery
Perhaps the most shocking event in the series, the Red Wedding, draws from two grim moments in Scottish history. The first is the Black Dinner of 1440, where the teenage Earl of Douglas was executed after being invited to dine with the young King James II. The second is the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe, where members of Clan MacDonald were slaughtered by government troops they had hosted under the rules of hospitality.
These betrayals, both carried out under a pretence of peace, deeply influenced Martin’s depiction of the Freys’ treachery.
Targaryen Conquest and the Norman Invasion
Aegon the Conqueror’s subjugation of Westeros bears similarities to William the Conqueror’s Norman invasion of England in 1066. Both leaders arrived from across the sea, imposed a new ruling elite, and reshaped the political landscape of the land they conquered.
The Targaryens, with their Valyrian roots and dragonlords’ mystique, also carry echoes of various historical empires, blending aspects of Rome, Byzantium, and even the Mongol khanates.
Medieval Politics and Power
Westeros is a world where allegiances shift, and loyalty is often a matter of pragmatism. This closely resembles the complex feudal structures of medieval Europe, where kings relied on the loyalty of powerful lords, and where rebellion was a constant threat.
The council scenes, succession crises, and court intrigue throughout the series reflect the tangled web of Plantagenet politics and the endless dance of favour and betrayal that shaped real medieval courts.
Religion and the Faith of the Seven
The Faith of the Seven has obvious roots in Western Christianity, particularly Catholicism. The High Sparrow’s rise recalls the role of reformist clergy and theocratic movements, such as the real-life influence of figures like Girolamo Savonarola in Renaissance Florence. The tension between the crown and the Faith echoes centuries of conflict between kings and popes.
Braavos and the Venetian Republic
Braavos, with its canals, seafaring power, and secretive banking, closely resembles Venice. Its Iron Bank is a clear nod to the wealth and influence of medieval banking families, such as the Medici, who could make or break kings. The city’s political independence and culture of faceless assassins also draw on Renaissance Italian city-states, where intrigue and power games were as lethal as any battlefield.
Essos and the Ancient World
While Westeros draws mainly from medieval Europe, Essos borrows freely from the classical world and beyond. Valyria resembles a lost Rome, or perhaps a blend of Rome and Atlantis. The Dothraki are not a perfect match for any real people, but they bear clear influences from the Mongols, Scythians, and Huns. Their nomadic lifestyle, horse-based culture, and martial hierarchy are drawn from history’s great steppe empires.
The Seven Swords takeaway
Westeros is not a direct mirror of the past, but it is deeply shaped by it. George R. R. Martin took the real brutality, complexity, and unpredictability of medieval and early modern history and added just enough fantasy to make it feel both ancient and timeless. The world he created endures in part because it is grounded in the harsh lessons of our own.
