The Historical Inspirations for Fire & Blood

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  • Опубликовано: 24 сен 2024

Комментарии • 59

  • @genesys7266
    @genesys7266 4 месяца назад +44

    I would say Maegor also takes inspiration from Henry VIII for the six wives (putting half to death) and his unpopularity with the main religion during his reign.

    • @thecriticalmaester9702
      @thecriticalmaester9702  4 месяца назад +4

      True. I definitely see some of that in there💯

    • @mansoorahmed1676
      @mansoorahmed1676 4 месяца назад +2

      Maegor is just so badass man. Henry VIII couldn’t hold a candle to him maegor was him

    • @genesys7266
      @genesys7266 4 месяца назад

      @@mansoorahmed1676 Maegor is unironically my favorite Targaryen

    • @franciszaldivar337
      @franciszaldivar337 4 месяца назад +1

      I'd say Aegon IV is a lot closer to Henry VIII than Maegor is

    • @YourLastGreatkNight
      @YourLastGreatkNight 4 месяца назад +1

      Aegon VI is far closer than Maegor. Maegor didn’t actually divorce his wives he just had a bunch all at once.

  • @vuyanindzamela7175
    @vuyanindzamela7175 4 месяца назад +24

    When you look at Justinian’s crown in 15:15 it has many-coloured jewels. It’s exactly how Jaehaerys’ crown is supposed to look like in the book. Very interesting. Nice video. 👍🏾💯

  • @Papaty25
    @Papaty25 4 месяца назад +6

    I've read F&B and recently watched HOTD and found out how incredibly biased it is. Like, they didn't show Daeron cuz people would start supporting greens cuz he's a pure soul. Also, the bond between Aegon II and Sunfyre was never shown.

  • @mutonfuton
    @mutonfuton 4 месяца назад +13

    Would love to know the historical inspirations for Essos, I feel George went a bit wilder on the lore there and it would be interesting to see what inspired stuff like Quarth and the House of the undying. Love your video btw!

  • @jessjess23brooks89
    @jessjess23brooks89 3 месяца назад +3

    I think the main reason I rooted for Rhaenyra when I first started reading The Dance is because I'm a big Matilda fan. And I wanted Matilda to win historically.
    But Rhaenyra and Matilda have huge differences. Rhaeynra spent her young adulthood locked away on a tiny island. Matilda was empress to nearly half of Europe and ruled in her husband's place many different times and sometimes for prolonged periods. She was entirely over-qualified for the job of governing a much smaller swath of land and her father king knew this. He had no other sons. Just Matilda.
    Steven of Blois was a cousin with a much shakier claim than Aegon had. Steven was afable and charming, but he was nothing without the powerful Henry. Steven had very little military prowess and many times his barons almost switched sides out of a lack of respect for him. Matilda damn near won because of this on multiple occasions.
    And while I wanted Matilda to win even to the bitter end, I did not feel that with Rhaenyra. Both sides did such disgusting, despicable things that I just wished diplomacy of any kind would be struck.

    • @thecriticalmaester9702
      @thecriticalmaester9702  3 месяца назад +1

      I agree that there are quite a few differences between Matilda and Rhaenyra, especially when it comes to the experiences they each have in governing their respective realms. Yes, Matilda was the empress of half of Europe, but you must also remember that the politics of the German courts at the time were very cutthroat and bloody. Therefore, Matilda was a woman who was probably very paranoid and hardened by that experience, and so, as a result, she probably felt like she needed to be very headstrong and intolerant of disobedience. I think that that's why it came across as being bitchy and "arrogant" to the English courtiers, because they just weren't used to that kind of personality, especially coming from a woman. 🤔
      But ultimately, Matilda was very competent, politically speaking. I think that the proof of that is in how well she advised her son, Henry II, when he came to the throne. She was very politically astute... unlike Stephen, who was by all accounts a blubbering fool. 🤦🏾‍♂ I wouldn't go as far as to say that he was an idiot, but he was very politically inept. He was not at all fit to be king, but he had powerful connections and he was very charming and handsome - the opposite of Matilda. 😅
      He was also very rich, so he was likely very generous to his allies and bought loyalty wherever he could. Therefore, I would wager that his "small council" preferred him to Matilda not just because of his charm and generosity, but also because they knew that they could *control* him better.
      This is exactly how it is, I think, with Aegon. Alicent (at least in the book) believed that she could rule the kingdoms through his claim, and _that's_ why she was so adamant about putting him on the throne. Alicent herself is almost like Lady Macbeth in a way, because she wants to wield power but she also knows that the only way to do so is by controlling her son (or husband in the case of Lady Macbeth) - a man who can wield power just because his a man, but who also doesn't really know what to do with it now that he has it. Therefore, Alicent (and by extension her Green Council) would much rather have Aegon on the Iron Throne than *the spoilt and haughty* Rhaenyra Targaryen. 🙄
      Rhaenyra is hard to root for in the books because she's clearly spoilt, entitled and very arrogant. 😩 George literally took the traits that Matilda was described to have but "turned them up to eleven" (a term he likes to use to explain how he embellishes certain historical details that inspire his work). Rhaenyra mothers bastards, kills her husband (there's no contention about the fact that Laenor was killed in the book - the even bury his body), kills Vaemond Velaryon, and she is just... yeah, she's hard to root for.
      The only reason why I was kinda rooting for her in the book was because I was sympathetic to the fact that she was a woman, and I felt like she was being robbed only because of that. But actually, when you look closer, the courtiers of King's Landing were right to be hesitant about handing her the power. She has a lot of red flags in the book... but of course, the show has whitewashed most of those and has presented her as the most capable claimant for the Iron Throne. 🤦🏾‍♂🙄
      In a way, it makes her character less interesting and dull, and maybe even boring. She's certainly less charismatic and determined than she was in the book. I didn't like her, of course, but she definitely had charisma in Fire and Blood. She was a lot more fascinating as a character, and I thought that the show as going to do something with that... but this is not the first times being disappointed by an adaptation, and I don't think it will be the last either. 😭💔

    • @jessjess23brooks89
      @jessjess23brooks89 3 месяца назад

      @@thecriticalmaester9702 They really removed Alicent and Rhaenyra's fangs and I thought we were over this as audiences, as show runners. We had Cersei on our screens for a decade ffs. It seems like they don't trust their audience enough to present the story as is: two groups of power hungry a-holes with nukes tear apart the realm over selfish desires. There are more stories like that in history than noble ones and I was excited to sink my teeth into some really dark stuff.
      I understand there has to be nuance and history is murky and some actions have to have meaning beyond: I want it. But they've murked the waters up so much, especially in regards to Alicent, that the root of their motivations and ambitions is all wonky.
      I hate the whole: choose a side spin. IMO, although there were heroic deeds, the whole affair was quite ruinous and pointless and terrible. And I wanted to see that. I don't want to root for anyone. I want to grit my teeth and be horrified and wish it would stop. That would be so incredibly powerful.
      I get that not every fan of the show is as obsessive and plugged in as the book fandom. But I thought most people unaware of the text just show up for the dragon battles and freaky incest. Like, can we just give them that and leave the meat of the story to the people who promote and explain your show and will carry on it's legacy, for either good or bad, for years to come?

  • @fireandblood8142
    @fireandblood8142 Месяц назад +1

    I don't know if you knew this but Martin has stated on several occasions that the main "historical novel series" that inspired him is The Accursed Kings by Maurice Druon, which tells the story of the fall of the Capetian dynasty in France and the succession crisis that followed, which eventually led to the famous Hundred Years' War... If you didn't know, I highly recommend doing some research on this series of novels and the historical period it covers, they are both fascinating and they might inspire you to make a video one day...

  • @BlackQback
    @BlackQback 2 месяца назад +1

    Back in GoT, the High Sparrow and his faith militant very much resemble the reign of Savonarola in Firenze (Florence). Turning on Lorenzo il Magnifico, who first gave him opportunity to study and preach. Then destroying luxuries around King's Landing (though lacking the actual Bonfire of Vanities), persecuting sodomites, using young men as his enforcers, and, finally dying in the fire. Sure, it's not 1 to 1 match, but there are enough similarities for historians and history buffs to take notice.
    On top of that, I strongly suspect that free cities on the other side of Narrow sea + Volantis "play" Italian city-states, though a bit mixed up and sprinkled around. Volantis has Ponte Vecchio, but Firenze didn't have slaves, and its banks are represented in Braavos... Braavos is ancient like Rome (with Colossus of Rhodes), but is more a port city, like Genova or uglier Venice. Etc.

  • @DoakFelix-qr8uw
    @DoakFelix-qr8uw 4 месяца назад +2

    Thank you for your effort and your time and making this video. You’ve done a good amount of research into Martin’s work and into both English and Byzantine history. My only criticism is that your pronunciation varies between British and American. Obviously, your upbringing reflects both, but the way you pronounce specific historical words (switching between British and American) is jarring. Other than that, keep up the good work.

  • @crusader2112
    @crusader2112 4 месяца назад +3

    Very interesting video. Great job. 👍🏻

  • @MangoMann072
    @MangoMann072 4 месяца назад +3

    Good video

  • @noelandrade2403
    @noelandrade2403 4 месяца назад +3

    nice video

  • @petebondurant58
    @petebondurant58 4 месяца назад +6

    Very interesting presentation!

  • @sit-insforsithis1568
    @sit-insforsithis1568 4 месяца назад +1

    Great video ! Maybe a video about the dunk and egg stories next ?? Just a thought

  • @franciszaldivar337
    @franciszaldivar337 4 месяца назад

    one thing I will say is that while Henry II did have some great reforms made to England, his reign wasn't exactly peaceful, as he accidentally had the archbishop of Canterbury murdered (infamously saying "will nobody rid me of this meddlesome priest?"), and his own sons rose up in revolt against him after he refused to consolidate his power
    Also while not here, I would say (and this is really stretching it) that Daeron I is kind of inspired by Richard I "the Lionheart", both were married but had no children and were succeeded by their younger brother (John I in the case of Richard, and Baelor I in the case of Daeron), they also died in battle, in the case of Daeron during the Dornish Campaign, and Richard during the Siege of Châlus-Chabrol, both were also known by a moniker (Richard the Lionheart, and Daeron the Young Dragon) (I am aware that GRRM claimed Daeron is somewhat inspired by Alexander the Great, but that doesn't quite match up in my opinion)

  • @kolotchelemanassanecouliba178
    @kolotchelemanassanecouliba178 4 месяца назад +1

    That is why the dnace for me seem problematic the anarchy was between the daughter and the nephew but in the dance it's between brother and sister and there was legal precedent against putting a daughter on the throne.

  • @lucyfaire1980
    @lucyfaire1980 4 месяца назад +3

    Finally people are getting it

    • @thecriticalmaester9702
      @thecriticalmaester9702  4 месяца назад +1

      I really love the historical parallels of the story, but I love it more that George twists the stories and embellishes certain details. Very fascinating.
      Anyway, thank you for watching the video. ❤

  • @nicholasmwangangi6257
    @nicholasmwangangi6257 4 месяца назад +1

    Awesome video. Viserys had 3 Hightower sons, not 2.

  • @M.V.T.H.
    @M.V.T.H. 24 дня назад

    Are you from sa ? I like your videos and I'm just curious cause it sounds familiar

  • @Not-Ap
    @Not-Ap 4 месяца назад +3

    I'm glad he didn't take too much inspiration from Justinian and Theodorah as both their rosy reputations are imo undeserved. Justinian was only able to do as much as he did no thanks to the work of his predecessor who imo lived a even more remarkable life. Theodorah on the otherhand was just a power hungry sex worker who encourged Justinian to use mafia\bouncer style tactics to deal with simple civil disorder. She encouraged as many as 30,000 people be killed using the military for simply rioting. That wasn't even the worse thing she did either.

  • @LMedici
    @LMedici 4 месяца назад +2

    Overall really good video, although one inaccuracy is that Aegon III didn't rule alongside Jaehaera, Jaehaera died as a child, either of suicide or assassinated but either way, the Greens hardly won the war when if she was assassinated, it was by The remaining greens, ultimately it was Rhaenyra's family to continue, similarly to how it was Matilda's family in the Plantagenets that continued.

    • @thecriticalmaester9702
      @thecriticalmaester9702  4 месяца назад +6

      In beginning, Jaehaera and Aegon III ruled alongside each other (though I wouldn't really call it 'ruling' per se (since they were both traumatized children who didn't really do anything), but yes, Jaehaera eventually died young from suicide/assassination. Aegon III did continue Rhaenyra's line, but the reason why it's so bittersweet is because of all the dragons that died in the end and the fact that the Blacks still ultimately lost in a way.
      If you're looking at it in terms of who got to sit on the throne, then yes, an argument can be made that the Blacks won. But why was the war fought about in the first place? To contest the right of women to inherit the Iron Throne, and in the end of the day the Greens won that argument. Not only was Aegon II the last man standing, but after he died, it was a male who inherited the Iron Throne (even if it was Rhaenyra's child). Therefore, the Greens also won in a way, that's why the ending is so bittersweet. 😭😭😭

  • @gerardjagroo
    @gerardjagroo 4 месяца назад +1

    16:14 _"She too was well loved by the people of Byzantine"_
    There is no such thing call Byzantine. I'd have thought you'd know this since you presume to talk about history.
    Its called the Byzantine Empire because the in old Greek and Roman times the capital city used to be called Byzantium but during their time it was called Constantinople so renamed by Emperor Constantine.
    Today its the capital of Turkey called Istanbul.

  • @jamesrella763
    @jamesrella763 4 месяца назад

    Great video! Viserys and Alicent have 3 sons Aegon Aemom and Daeron who is yet to show up in HOTD.

  • @TheDreadiSBlack
    @TheDreadiSBlack 4 месяца назад +1

    I always loved history and English literature arts class. It’s unfortunate that society puts so much stress on the common individual to go to college for something practical in order to get a job that actually pays a livable wage instead of aspiring to pursue a career in things you’re actually interested in 😒

  • @ilovemesomme
    @ilovemesomme 4 месяца назад +1

    The Anarchy = Dance of Dragons

  • @Leo_ofRedKeep
    @Leo_ofRedKeep 4 месяца назад

    All very pertinent. The one exception is that I cannot find much evidence that the Anarchy was caused by refusal to have a reigning queen, especially considering the continued support Matilda enjoyed for decades from the French side. To me it looks a lot more like rejection of the absolute rule that had been imposed by William the Conqueror and his line in favour of a more conciliating and Saxon-like stance offered by Stephen to the English barons. A conflict that had flamed up at every succession before and would again after Henry II, leading to the Magna Carta and Henry III's weaker rule.
    In GRRM's world, this Saxon resistance to the absolute invader is mirrored by that of the old aristocracy to the dragon riding Targaryens. Of course, the woke shits who write present American TV had to make it all about gender and "progressive" fantasies.

  • @wellrenownedcripple
    @wellrenownedcripple 4 месяца назад

    Daeron, forgotten once again

    • @thecriticalmaester9702
      @thecriticalmaester9702  4 месяца назад +2

      I made a note on the video saying that Alicent actually had 3 sons, "including Daeron". It's just a bit easier to forget since the show left him out. But he is one of Alicent's sons.😭

  • @nicknaylor9895
    @nicknaylor9895 4 месяца назад +1

    My guy you’re killing me, you gotta work on your pronunciation of Byzantine and Plantagenet. It’s “biz-an-teen” and “plan-tah-je-net” (tah like tattoo).

    • @thecriticalmaester9702
      @thecriticalmaester9702  4 месяца назад +1

      My bad. 😭Though I've been speaking english since primary school, it's still my second language. When I read English history, I realize that it's still a pretty tricky language. I don't know how to pronounce some of the words. I think I also butchered the word "Angevin" in the video. 😅

    • @nicknaylor9895
      @nicknaylor9895 4 месяца назад +1

      @@thecriticalmaester9702 it’s all good, the word Byzantine is just a pet peeve of mine. If it makes you feel better, I assumed you were British and a native speaker. It’s not at all noticeable that English is your second language.

    • @thecriticalmaester9702
      @thecriticalmaester9702  4 месяца назад +1

      @@nicknaylor9895 Thank you. 🙏

    • @jamesrella763
      @jamesrella763 4 месяца назад

      @@thecriticalmaester9702also you could call it the Eastern Roman Empire, Byzantium is what historians call it but that was the old name of Constantinople before it was changed after Constantine named it Constantinople

  • @denizinneed6384
    @denizinneed6384 4 месяца назад

    Bu huzursuzluk meyvesini vermeli artık