How Game of Thrones Paralleled Wars of the Roses
By: Swati Suman
Tags: Film, Series, War, Movies, History

The War Of Roses —

As per our knowledge, we know that Medieval England was never invaded by ice zombies or threatened by dragons. Instead, the feud between two eminent noble families for the thirst for power led to its invasion. The turmoil continued for long-spanning generations, characterized by complex desires and selfish motives.

In the late 15th century, troubles started brewing between two eminent families who fought to rise in power to the throne. The dispute originated around the social and financial problems following the Hundred Years Wars. It unfolded the issues related to feudalism combined with mental affliction and weak rule of King Henry VI, that revived interest in Richard of York to rise to the kingship.

Many sporadic episodes in the War of Roses highlight the violent protests, unruly monarchs, murders, rivalry for the throne, shifting loyalties, and complex desires to rise to the mighty throne.

The Reason For The Emergence of War —

King Edward III died in 1377, and his death sowed the seeds for the war. King Edwards III’s oldest son died earlier than him, but his ten-year-old grandson, Richard II, rose to the throne ahead of Edward’s three surviving sons.

The skipping of the generations for kingship infuriated the family, and dissatisfaction rested among their various offsprings, particularly the unrest aggravated in the hearts of The Lancasters who descended from Edwards third son and the Yorks, the descendants from his fourth son.

The symbols associated with the two rival families were Lancaster’s red rose and York’s white rose. The countries of Lancashire and Yorkshire relate to the roses even today.

The Lancaster family rose to power when in 1399, Richard II was dethroned by his cousin Henry IV. Despite oppositions and sporadic conflicts, their reign of power remained secured until 1422. King Henry V’s death in a military campaign left an infant Henry VI as the new King. Characterized by weak willpower and guided mostly by the advisors, Henry VI lacked the ability to make efficient decisions.

In one of the suggestions, the advisors asked him to marry Margaret of Anjou to gain French support. The woman was beautiful, ambitious, and ruthless in case any force tried to threaten her power. In the drama series Game of Thrones, Margaret of Anjou represents Cersei Lannister (portrayed by Lena Kathren Headey).

The Ordeal Continues —

Margaret of Anjou persecuted people who tried to threaten her position as Queen. Among all, she highly distrusted Richard of York. The character of Richard of York in the dramatic series resembles that of Ned Stark (portrayed by Sean Bean).

In the pages of history, Richard of York was King Henry VI’s closest advisor, loyal General, and his trusted confidant. It displeased Margaret. At all cost, she prevented him from being the King’s closest aid and made every possible attempt to withheld his promotion. And instead, she promoted her favourite supporters like the Earls of Suffolk and Somerset.

The York protested against the unfair treatment by the Lancasters and started a hurl of fights with them. The opposition, disputes, and rebellion resulted in the banishment of Richard of York to Ireland. Meanwhile, the corrupt rule by Margaret and her allies caused widespread discontentment among the people.

Amidst the ongoing chaos, Richard Of York returned to England and became the Protector of the Realm after King Henry VI suffered a mental breakdown. However, within less than a year, the King recovered. Sadly for Richard of York, this felt like sad news because it threatened his powerful position.

Soon after the King’s recovery, the Queen convinced him to remove York from his position and reverse the reforms he made. Once again, Richard of York with his army men revolted against the unruly treatment. Eventually, he managed to reinstate himself to the Protector’s position and had himself and his heirs designated to succeed following King Henry’s death. Shortly after, he got killed in the battle held by the loyal army men of Queen Margaret.

Later the youngest son of York succeeded the throne as Edward IV (who in GoT inspired the fictional character of Robb Stark, portrayed by Richard Madden). He successfully enjoyed significant military accomplishments against the Lancasters.

The groups of Edward IV captured King Henry, and Queen Margaret was sent to exile with his cruel son, Edward of Westminster, who influenced the fictional character Joffrey Baratheon (portrayed by Jack Gleeson).

The Fight for Power —

Everything was running smoothly in Edward IV’s reign until one political mistake that he committed which undermined his power.

In one of the false moves, he backed out of an arranged marriage with a French Princess and instead secretly married the widow of a minor Noble. It instigated the feeling of estrangement and angst in the all-powerful ally of his, the Earl of Warwick. Stepping into the dark fantasy GoT series, the historical figure of Earl of Warwick laid a foundation of the fictional character Lord Roose Bolton (portrayed by Michael McElhatton).

In the historical frame, Warwick allied with Lancasters and manipulated many people against King Edward, and even briefly restored Henry as the King. But the power didn’t last long. Soon after, Edward IV reinstated his throne back. He further got the Lancaster Prince killed in a battle, and later, King Henry succumbed to death in captivity, where he was kept as the prisoner. After silencing them to death, the rest of Edward IV’s reign lasted peacefully. However upon his death in 1483, the bloodshed battle in the territorial regime resumed.

Edward left behind a 12-year-old son of his, the next immediate heir to the throne. Sadly, he couldn’t succeed because Edward’s younger brother Richard III claimed that his nephew is born out of his father’s illegal and secretive marriage. After making the claims, Richard III himself rose to the mighty throne and imprisoned Edward’s children. After a while, the Prince’s managed to disappear, and Richard’s powerful reign was affirmed with security.

The GoT series caricatures the character of Richard III in the fictional form as Stannis Baratheon (portrayed by Stephen Dillane).

The Roses Got United —

Two years later, Richards III’s reign of power was threatened. A person challenged him from across the narrow sea of the English channel.

Henry Tudor, an immediate descendant of the first Duke of Lancaster, was raised in exile after his father’s death during a rebellion.

Richard III’s reign of power caused a split in the York faction. It marked the way for Henry Tudor to win over the York forces and gain their trusts that eventually made him win support for his royal claim. He raised an army in France, crossed the English Channel in 1485, and soon defeated Richard’s forces. Shortly after, he married the Elizabeth of York, the elder sister of the Prince’s who disappeared and secured the mighty throne as King Henry VII.

The dramatic series of GoT also had a character, an immediate descendant from royalty who was raised in exile after the father’s death. This fictional character is Daenerys Targaryen (portrayed by Emilia Clarke).