The Real Events That Inspired the Greatest Show on Earth
I’ve added a new book list about the Wars of the Roses. (Sorry it has taken me so long to fix the broken menu link from the homepage.) The list is still very basic and rough. I’ve only jotted down a few books that came to mind – some for people who know nothing about the Wars of the Roses and some for buffs. If you know of any great books on the period, please add them to the comments…
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This post continues from Margaret of Anjou’s Influence on Cersei Lannister. Like Cersei after Robert’s death, Margaret had to unofficially function as the head of government. When Henry VI went “mad” and lapsed into an unresponsive state for nine months, Margaret tried to hold the various factions together to prevent other claimants from usurping Henry. In Cersei’s case, the Baratheon brothers and Robb Stark both threatened to oust the Lannisters from the throne. In Margaret’s case, the disaffected Richard of York…
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Cersei Lannister shares many personality traits (and some story lines or events) with Queen Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI—the “Mad King” defeated in the first phase of the Wars of the Roses. Both women were good-looking, commanding, indomitable, and fiercely devoted to their children, regardless of their flaws. Rumors of infidelity plagued the two queens. Their subjects despised them and they had few loyal followers. In addition, both women had a permissive attitude towards their reputedly monstrous sons….
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I just added a poll to the sidebar asking how much you know about the Wars of the Roses. If you could take a second to answer it, I’d really appreciate it! I never know how much to explain or what to explain when I write posts. My assumption is that most people reading this blog aren’t familiar with the Wars of the Roses, so I tend to explain the background on that basis. But, I don’t bore you, so…
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George RR Martin may draw inspiration for Cersei Lannister, Game of Thrones’ ruthless, cruel, vengeful, and manipulative queen, from two different queens in Wars of the Roses: Elizabeth Woodville and Margaret of Anjou. In Cersei Lannister: The Evil Queen We Love to Hate, I discussed the similarities between Cersei and Elizabeth Woodville. However, I’ve stubbornly resisted acknowledging any similarities between Cersei Lannister and Margaret of Anjou. However, I received quite a few great comments and emails on this topic—thank you very…
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With both Game of Thrones’ Walder Frey and his possible real-life counterpart Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, it always seems to come back around to marriages. Marriages define the men, could enrich them, and did lead them to betray the leader to whom they had sworn fealty and switch sides. Most of Frey’s energy is concentrated around marriages for his children and himself. When he chooses to betray Robb, he does so at a wedding. George RR Martin appears to…
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