‘House of the Dragon’ Inspired by Medieval Chaos

Students in my medieval history courses often ask if historical reality can be discerned from the medieval fantasy depicted in cinema.

I tell them that fantasy doesn’t aim for historical accuracy but can reflect the conflicts, values, and norms of the medieval period.

The first season of HBO’s House of the Dragon is a prime example. Its co-creator, George R. R. Martin, noted that the narrative was inspired by England’s Anarchy—a 12th-century civil war spurred by King Henry I’s bid to make his daughter, the Empress Matilda, a ruling queen. In Martin’s fictional Westeros, King Viserys attempts the same with his daughter, Rhaenyra. This storyline underscores the uncertainties of hereditary succession and the pervasive misogyny of the Middle Ages.

The new season explores a richer medieval landscape, dealing with themes of internecine strife, justice, and the power of the common folk, which resonate universally.

One standout conflict in Westeros is between the noble families Bracken and Blackwood. In Season One, during Princess Rhaenyra’s search for a husband, a Blackwood suitor kills a Bracken heckler, further escalating an age-old feud where the original dispute is long forgotten. This clash’s origins are lost to time, encapsulated by a character’s observation, “A sin begets a sin begets a sin.”

No offense is too small in this deep-seated hostility. At one point, Blackwoods accuse Brackens of moving a boundary stone, an issue dismissed by King Viserys as a local problem. In Season Two, confrontations in the contested pasture lead to a bloody skirmish, leaving numerous Bracken and Blackwood youths, including the Blackwood patriarch, dead.

The Blackwoods’ temporary defeat is not the end. They ally with Princess Rhaenyra’s husband, Daemon, seeking vengeance against the Brackens. Despite the threat of Daemon’s dragon, the Brackens remain defiant, prompting the Blackwoods to loot, destroy shrines, burn crops, seize livestock, and abduct innocents under Daemon’s urging.

This factional animosity mirrors the medieval experience, particularly early Germanic kingdoms lacking formal mechanisms to maintain order. In these realms, victims often imposed their justice on culprits, leading to retaliatory cycles. Yet, this potential for feud sometimes led to peaceful dispute settlements, often facilitated by local lords. Early Germanic laws aimed to curb such vigilantism by assigning monetary values to crimes, encouraging compensation over vengeance. In Æthelberht of Kent’s code, every injury had a price, with “wergild”—literally “man money”—assigned based on social status.

Medieval kingdoms gradually established more structured justice systems. The 12th century saw the rise of English common law with inquests, grand juries, sheriffs, and trial juries.

Despite these advances, medieval kings remained the ultimate authority. In the series, a shepherd pleading with King Aegon about royal tithes for dragons and a blacksmith seeking payment for dragon-slaying weapons receive dismissive responses. Such impositions reflect medieval taxation and the English king’s “right of purveyance,” which allowed royal commandeering of goods, ultimately leading to its regulation in the Magna Carta, establishing that even a king is not above the law.

But how did these elite machinations impact the common folk? Season Two of House of the Dragon significantly highlights the lives of everyday Westerosi. Mysaria—a former thief, prostitute, and informant—becomes Rhaenyra’s confidant. Aware of her common-born status, Mysaria understands how elite conflicts harm ordinary people lacking options. Rhaenyra’s naval blockade of King’s Landing starkly exposes these dynamics, leading to food scarcity, with the wealthy hoarding supplies. As hunger looms, conflicts over dwindling resources arise, and royal commands prevent escape, intensifying the suffering.

Mysaria predicts backlash from the commoners, advising Rhaenyra on the importance of maintaining their support. Their plan to let food enter the city under Rhaenyra’s banner shifts public opinion, portraying her as caring for the commoners while her rivals seem indifferent, igniting a riot against them.

This popular revolt has parallels in the 14th century’s urban and rural uprisings, most notably the English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. Rhaenyra grapples with leadership’s challenges after peace’s long memory fades, pondering if her duty as queen is to ensure stability or claim the throne at all costs. Her reflections echo concerns of both medieval rulers and contemporary politics, marked by aging leaders, political divides, inequality, and potential civil unrest.

Source: UPI, The Conversation