A Song of Ice and Fire: Fantasy and History IV

George R. R. Martin doesn’t only take ideas from famous historical figures to shape his own characters. He also “steals” ideas from historical events to shape his plots. And because of this, today I will not be looking into any specific character and its historical influence. Instead, I am going to focus on the main historical events behind the shocking and bloody Red Wedding.

It goes without saying that THERE WILL BE SPOILERS for anyone who still hasn’t read “A Storm of Swords” (and there might be some spoiler for “A Dance with Dragons” too) or seen the third season. Read at your own risk.

The so-called Red Wedding is a shocking and horrifying event within the Game of Thrones universe. It’s the event that marks the end of Robb’s Rebellion; but instead of taking place on a battle (as we would expect) it happens during a wedding, shocking viewers and readers alike.

Robb Stark, the crowned King in the North, needs to win back the Lords of the Crossing after breaking his oath of marrying one of the Frey girl’s and marrying Jeyne Westerling (in the books) or Talisa Stark (in the TV show). And to do so, he offers his uncle; Lord Edmure Tully (the future Lord of Riverrun) to marry one of Walder Frey’s granddaughters. The pact is sealed and so, Robb marches north with his army to the Twins to attend to said wedding. All seems to be going great until the bride and groom are carried away from the main hall for their bedding. Then, a song starts to play. It’s “The Rains of Castamere”, the famous song that immortalizes the destruction of House Reyne by the Lannisters. And then the blood starts running. All the northern men that accompanied Robb are brutally killed. Robb is hit by arrows and stabbed by Roose Bolton whilst one of the Freys slits Catelyn’s throat. 

* And in the show they also kill Talisa and their unborn child. Which makes the event even more bloody.

So, where could have Martin got the idea for something as gruesome and gory as this. If it came only from his imagination, well, then he really is as psychopathic as we all feared. But the truth is that this event is heavily inspired by two gruesome events in Scottish history; the Black Dinner and the Massacre of Glencoe.

Let’s start by talking a bit about the Black Dinner. It is an infamous event in medieval Scottish history, and it took place in 1440. In the early fifteen century, the Douglas Clan became very powerful landlords in the Scottish Lowlands. Such was their power that they were seen as a threat to the stability of Scotland, especially by one of their rival clans; Clan Crichton. They thought that the Douglas’ Clan was just too strong and they were threatening to upset the  country’s delicate balance.

Before continuing, let me point out that the growing number of rival clans within medieval Scotland was the cause of the ever frail balance of power. Just as it happens in the North within the Game of Thrones universe. Martin states that is really difficult to unite all families of the North within a common cause and that there is always strife between them despite their similarities. This, in my opinion makes it obvious that the North is clearly inspired by medieval Scotland, the same way that King’s Landing is inspired by the old city old Constantinople.

But let’s go on with the issue at hand. In the year 1440, William, the chief of Clan Douglas was a man of only six-and-ten (only two years older than Robb Stark) and he had barely been involved in any serious politics. Nevertheless, for some, the Douglas’ Clan still represented a serious threat. Why? Because the Scottish king; James II was still a boy of ten years old, and was considered that someone as powerful as William Douglas could easily influence the King and take control of him and the council.

Because of this, Clan Crichton, with the help of Alexander Livingston of Callendar and other names lost to history,  made plans to break the power of Clan Douglas.

Sir William Crichton, castellan of Edinburgh Castle, invited William Douglas to a feast at the court of the young king. The Douglas’ Clan chief, presented himself to court accompanied by his younger brother, David and his advisor.

A banquet was held in  the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle, and it is reported that the young king was charmed by the Douglas’ brothers. Once the feast was coming to an end, a black bull’s head was brought into the hall by the servants. For that was an ancient Scottish symbol of death. Without any more warning, the brothers were seized and dragged out of the castle, where they were given a mock trial and were sentenced for high treason. Both were quickly beheaded.

Little had they know when they had entered the Hall. Obviously the presence of the King had made them feel safe. And of course, the laws of hospitality. In medieval society, the tradition of hospitality was sacred, and therefore, any guest was under the protection of their hosts.

The resemblance here with the Red Wedding is quite obvious. Both victims were put at ease by the safety that the laws of hospitality guaranteed them (since they are also sacred in Westeros, and it is specifically told that any men that breaks it is forever accursed), and their deaths were signaled by something symbolic; the bull head’s and the “Rains of Castamere”.

The death of the Douglas’ brothers, extinguished the main male line of the Douglas Chiefs. Because of this, their lands and titles fell into the hands of James the Gross, lord of Avondale (William’s great-uncle). He sought no revenge for the murders, which might indicate that he had been a conspirator along with Crichton. 

Just like in Game of Thrones. The Red Wedding leaves the northern rebellion without a King, and the Starks without an heir, which helps Roose Bolton (who had conspired with the Freys) land the charge of Warden of the North.

The other major event in the history of Scotland that may be behind the conception of the Red Wedding is the Massacre of Glencoe. This is slightly different, for this time it’s the guests who kill the hosts, but still, there are similarities.

In 1688, William, Prince of Orange accepted the invitation to take the English throne. The Scottish Parlament wasn’t happy and requested the return of James VII of Scotland (named II of England) who had been exiled to France. The response of James II wasn’t the one they expected: he persuaded them to accept William as their King. Disregarding it, John Graham led a force of Scottish Highlanders in a Jacobite Uprising to bring back James II, which failed.

On August 1691, King William offered all Highland clans a pardon for their part in the Jacobite Uprising. But they had to take an oath of allegiance before the 1st of January 1692 in front of a magistrate. The clans asked permission to James II to take the oath. The King’s answer, who was in France, came back in mid-December, a few weeks before the deadline. This, and the bad weather, caused Alisdair Maclain, 12th Chief of Glencoe to arrive late to taking the oath. But, as it was due to the weather, Sir Colin Campbell, sheriff of Argyll was forced to accept the oath as valid. But the failure to meet the deadline was enough of a pretense for the Campbell Clan to pursue their revenge against the perceived slights of the Maclain Clan.

And so, in the late January of 1692, they sent two companies of the Earl of Argyll under the command of Capitain Robert Campbell to Glencoe to quarter their troops. For two weeks, the soldiers were hosted by Alexander MacDonald (who was the son of Alisdair Maclain), Alisdair Maclain, and other members of the Clan.

On the morning of February 13, 1692, Capitan Campbell and his men were ordered to massacre the families who had sheltered them. And so, the bloodshed began. Alisdair Maclain was killed in his bed by Campbell’s soldiers. His sons and wife escaped, but 38 men of the clan were murdered in their homes or as they tried to flee.

And so, we can see the similarity between the Campbell Clan and the Freys, both of whom are capable of committing atrocious crimes to avenge what they perceive as slights to themselves.

But probably the biggest similarity between the two bloody events is the aftermath. In the case of the Massacre of Glencoe; it is actually remembered to this day, and all Glencoe inns and pubs bear signs that read: NO CAMPBELLS ALLOWED. This may only be for the tourist’s sake. But for hundreds of years, sings like that actually existed in Glencoe and weren’t for the tourists.

And perhaps, that is from where Martin took the Northmen’s motto: “The North Remembers”. Because after the Young Wolf’s murder, his Bannermen did surrender to King Joffrey, but they did not forget the Freys. Such is proven right in the chapter of “A Dance with Dragons” where Ser Davos sails to White Harbor to bring Lord Manderly to King Stannis’ side.

Lord Manderly tells Davos about the Red Wedding and complains about the Freys that he is forced to feast: “My son Wendel came to the the Twins a guest. He ate Lord Walder's bread and salt, and hung his sword upon the wall to feast with friends. And they murdered him. Murdered, I say, and may the Freys choke upon their fables. I drink with Jared, jape with Symond, promise Rhaegar the hand of my own beloved granddaughter ... but never think that means I have forgotten. The north remembers, Lord Davos. The north remembers, and the mummer’s farce is almost done. My son is home.” And true to his words, he has all the Freys that accompanied his son to White Harbor killed on the way to Winterfell to attend the Lord Ramsay’s Wedding.

And so, perhaps the North will remember just as Glencoe, after 300 years, still remembers.

A Song of Ice and Fire: Fantasy and History I

“A song of Ice and Fire” by George R. R. Martin is probably one of the best written pieces of fantasy of all time. And the great thing about it is that is not a copy of “The Lord of The Rings”.

The thing is that such was the influence and importance of Tolkien’s work in the fantasy landscape that ever since, almost every fantasy book that has come out has been trying too hard to be Lord of the Rings. And the result of that is a huge line of Tolkien’s rip offs that lack both the quality and imagination of the original. Therefore, a work like “A song of Ice and Fire” feels fresh and it’s really welcomed. The great thing about Martin’s work is that it creates its own world and dynamics and it takes from its own influences.

Whilst Lord of the Rings took a lot from the Nordic Mythology, A song of Ice and fire takes from European medieval history. And that is very noticeable.

There’s a great deal of things that could be said about this series of books, but I will keep this focused on the resemblances between real life history and the events and characters of this book. 

As there are thousands of these resemblances, I’ll devote one post to each of these. And the first post of this series will be dedicated to the resemblance between the figure of Isabella of France and Cersei Lannister.

First off, let’s briefly explain who Isabella was.

Isabella of France (1295- 1385) was the Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre. She was notable at the time for her beauty, diplomatic skills and intelligence. And has often been described as the She-wolf of France.

She was sent off to marry far away from home at the age of 12. Her husband, Edward the II, was notorious for the patronage he lavished on his favorite: Piers Gaveston, who was also his lover. This started a period of political turmoil that ended with an extended fight between the king and some of his nobles. The nobles would end up executing Gaveston, forcing the king into revenge. After his lover’s death, he turned to a new favorite, Hug Despenser the younger. His association which him resulted in the Despenser War and a period of internal repression across England.

Isabella, tired of her husband and Despenser, travelled to France under the guise of a diplomatic mission, where she began an affair with Roger Mortimer. Once there, he called for her son, and heir to the throne, to sign the peace treaty with the French. With her son by her side, she set sail towards England with a small army and took over Edward’s crown. She deposed him and became regent on behalf of her son: Edward III. A few years later, her husband died under strange circumstances, and it’s often believed that it was arranged by her.

Isabella landing in England with her son, the future Edward III in 1326

Seated as Queen next to her lover, Isabella led a lavish existence and ruled no better than her husband had.

When her son was seventeen, he deposed Mortimer and executed him, taking all power away from Isabella. She was exiled in an English castle until the end of her life whilst her son ruled.

She soon became a popular figure in plays and literature, usually portrayed as beautiful but cruel and often manipulative.

As you see, there is clearly some resemblance there.

Both were woman that were sold off to marry a rich and powerful king. Both Robert Baratheon and Edward II were handsome men, tall and fair. And both Isabella and Cersei found out during their wedding night’s that in their marriages there were three people, not two. In Isabella’s case was a real third person: Pierce Gaveston, her husband’s lover. And in Cersei’s case, was Lyanna Stark, Robert’s death fiancee. 

Another common aspect is that they both were regarded as very beautiful. At the time Isabella married, Geoffrey of Paris described her as “the beauty of beauties in the kingdom if not in all Europe”. And in Cersei’s case, it is often said that she is the most beautiful woman in Westeros.

And although far more far fetched there is even a small resemblance between the Isabella’s husband and Cersei’s. When the nobles executed Gaveston, the king, Edward II, went on a grieving rage and swore revenge. Which he actually got. Just as King Robert’s rage when he hear of the kidnapping and murder of his beloved Lyanna, which also ended in a bloody revenge.

Isabella was a fiercely protective mother, just like Cersei. Isabella took over her husband’s crown because he confiscated her lands and removed her children from her custody to be looked over at the Despenser’s household. Cersei is also a fiercely protective mother. And you could provable say that the only thing she truly cares are her children. Cersei actually takes the final step against her husband when Ned Stark threatens her and says he’ll tell her husband that the kids are the spawn of incest (which would mean death to them).

Both women actually though that they could be better rulers that their own husbands and decided to take over and rule themselves. Both planned the murder of their husbands so they could reign as regents for their sons. And in both cases, their sons ended up pushing them away from power. 

But, obviously, there are also differences between this strong willed women: for instance, Isabella’s son (Edward III) was not a psychopath and ended up being a pretty good king (at least for Middle Ages standards). Joffrey, instead, is basically crazy and a pretty bad king.

Isabella was a perfect match to her male contemporaries. Cersei, on the other hand, may not be as good as she thinks she is as a schemer. Her brother, Tyrion, is a thousand times better than her at the game of politics.

And Robert Baratheon had very little in common with Edward II. The latter was a soft man with no passion for hunting nor the usual kingly activities, whilst Robert was, first and foremost, a warrior. Robert also was a womanizer, instead, Edward was homosexual (or bisexual at least).

But whatever their differences are, Isabella and Cersei were raised to be no more than a pawn in a bigger game, but decided that they wanted to have a say at the game of thrones.

Cersei Lannister played by Lena Heady

Isabella of France played by Sophie Marceau in the
highly historically inaccurate "Braveheart"

In the next chapter of the “fantasy and history” series. I will compare Tywin Lannister to Edward I (the father of Isabella’s husband), also known as Hammer of the Scotts and Edward Longshanks. He ruled England with a hand of iron and destroyed the rebellion lead by William Wallace. Tywin, instead, squashed the rebellion lead by House Reyne of Castarmere in a very similar way.

But I’ll leave that to next year !

Happy New Year to all!!!