So I've been watching the BBC miniseries "The White Queen" and it finally dawned on me that the "War of Roses" is where George R.R. took his inspiration. History heads need not read this. I know you're
right now but, this is completely new to me and it's fascinating because it seems like Game of Thrones is following actual history
In the "War of Roses"....House Lancaster fought with House York over the English throne. Huge blood feud which lasted generations. Eventually King Henry (Lancaster) was killed and King Edward IV (York) took over. Then King Edward IV died of sickness and his younger brother Richard III became the next king. The Lancasters started a war against the York King Richard III. Henry Tudor...a Lancaster with a tiny claim to the throne...killed King Richard III in battle. Then he married the York daughter of the deceased King Edward IV. House Lancaster and House York united as one. Starting the Tudor dynasty. Becoming King Henry VII.
It's parallels in this sh*t, B
1) I think House Lannister and House Targaryen were inspired the real House Lancaster.
For one, both of their sigils are red...like House Lancaster and their red rose. With House Lannister, the connection is more about the sound of their name (Lannister/Lancaster) and that they hate House Stark like House Lancaster hated House York.
With House Targaryen, the connection is more about the history. The Targs are the displaced royal family who lost their throne. The Lancasters were the displaced royal family that lost their throne in real life.
2) I think House Stark was inspired by the real House York.
Their sigil is white....like House York and their white rose. House York is also written and sounds similar to House Stark.
3) Henry Tudor is the nobody that came out of nowhere and gained the crown. He spent his entire life in exile preparing for war.
He was a Lancaster that avenged his house/family. He married a York princess. Together Henry and Elizabeth started a new dynasty, the Tudors. And created the Tudor rose, a mix of both roses. That sounds a whole lot like Game of Thrones, B
A Song of Ice and Fire. Ice and Fire coming together. Martin just switched the genders. Daenerys Targaryen grew up in exile like Henry Tudor. She spent her years prepping for war like Henry Tudor. She wants to avenge her family and reclaim the throne like Henry Tudor. Jon Snow (a Stark) will unite with her like the York princess united with Henry Tudor. I think that's how the books will end