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The Real History Behind Game of Thrones
With the new Game of Thrones series premiering Sunday, let’s look at the events and people that inspired the books and show.
On August 21, HBO will release the first Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon. Fans of both the books and the series are eager to see how the new series will hold up to the original show. As problematic as the final season was, it is still one of the best television shows.
Many fans know that George R.R. Martin took inspiration from real-world events when creating the world of Westeros. Let’s look at some real people and events that inspired the original series and the prequel.
The War of the Roses
The overarching conflict of The Song of Ice and Fire is the struggle between rival claimants and the Seven Kingdoms’ throne. After the death of Robert Baratheon, five kings rose to either lay claim to the Iron Throne or declare their independence. We also have Danerys Targaryen, the long-lost heir to the former ruling dynasty.