History NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed / ASongOfIceAndFire

** Lucretia, whose rape by the son of the last King of Rome prompted his deposition by her husband, just as Lynanna's abduction by the son of the king of Westeros prompts his deposition by her fiancee.
** It's possibly coincidental, but her skill as a horsewoman and RebelliousPrincess tendencies, and the widespread grief at her early death makes her somewhat reminiscent of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Charlotte_of_Wales Charlotte, Princess of Wales]] (daughter of George IV). If the common {{fanon}} that Lyanna rebelled against her ArrangedMarriage and married for love, only to die in childbirth not long after, this parallel is even closer.
** Lady Eleanor Talbot Butler: Lady Eleanor was a young widow who is believed the be the woman referenced in the document used by Richard III to nullify the marriage of his brother and Elizabeth Woodville and clear his way to the throne. Edward was thought to have married her, much in the way he did with Woodville, because she withheld sex from him until they were married. Some have speculated, without evidence, that she may have had a child by Edward and this child would have been heir to the throne. If anyone would have known about it, it would have been Edward's best friend Will Hastings, an inspiration for Ned Stark.

** Catelyn also resembles, Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, the matriarch of the York family and wife of Richard of York, one of the inspirations for Ned Stark. She was the mother of a large brood of children and was a devout woman fiercely devoted to the York cause and her husband and her family. She was incensed when her son Edward IV married for love and had much conflict with her daughter-in-law. Known as Proud Cis, her husband was killed at the battle of Wakefield and her son Edmund murdered via stabbing shortly thereafter, with the Lancasters desecrating their corpses. Cecily is also thought to have favored her son George, over Edward, with rumors circulating that Edward was illegitimate.

** To the young [[UsefulNotes/EdwardIV King Edward IV]], whose marriage to Elizabeth Woodville alienated his supporter Warwick the Kingmaker to betray him. In real life, Edward IV dodged that bullet but Robb Stark pays a steep price.
** His life as a YoungConqueror genius tactician from GrimUpNorth who [[spoiler:dies]] as the result of betrayal may also remind one of [[UsefulNotes/CarolusRex Charles XII of Sweden]].
** He leads a rebellion against the crown, trying to secede the Northern half of the kingdom, like William Wallace (''yes'', the one from Film/{{Braveheart}}). It helps that the North is a FantasyCounterpartCulture of Scotland and Northern England, while the Westerlands are one to Southern England. Also, we have Tywin Lannister sharing [[NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed many traits]] with [[UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst King Edward Longshanks]], while Robb shares his name with the first Scottish king Robert the Bruce. Not to mention that like Wallace [[spoiler:Robb his betrayed by an ally and killed, letting Tywin Lannister (just like Edward Longshanks) win the war.]]
** Edmund, the Earl of Rutland, was Edward IV's younger brother may have partially inspired the Red Wedding. After his father was killed in battle, seventeen-year-old Edmund was allegedly stabbed to death while an unarmed prisoner and, like his father, his body desecrated.

** Her being a RebelliousPrincess and tomboy, her family being (seemingly) massacred, her disappearance and deep confusion over whether or not she survived makes her more than a little reminiscent of Anastasia Romanova.
** UsefulNotes/MargaretOfYork, Duchess of Burgundy was the youngest daughter of Richard of York and Cecily Neville and sister to Edward IV and Richard III. By all accounts clever and tough, she spent most of her life on the continent advocating for her family, and after Richard's defeat at Bosworth Field, she spent the rest of her life ''relentlessly'' pursuing revenge against Henry Tudor. She may not have had the ability to personally kill those who harmed her father and brothers, but her history indicates had it been possible, she ''would'' have.

** She shares several similarities with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_of_York Elizabeth of York]]: both were red-headed, regarded to be extremely beautiful, whose two younger brothers went missing, and who become "the key" to holding their respective inheritances once their father and brothers are killed. They even share a love for tales of chivalry (it was revealed in Elizabeth's letters that she had interest in Arthurian stories). Elizabeth didn't suffer to the extent like Sansa does, however.
** She also has some commonalities with Anne Neville, the daughter of the Earl of Warwick, who was married to the son of Margaret of Anjou (Cersei), Edward of Lancaster (Joffery), when her father switched sides in the war. While it is unknown if Edward of Lancaster was as Joffery-like as the Yorkists liked to paint him after his death, the widowed Anne very quickly married her childhood friend, the future UsefulNotes/RichardIII, who was an inspiration for Tyrion Lannister. It's not know if this was a practical arrangement for Richard, who needed her money and Anne, who needed his protection, or if it was a love match, but all indications were that it was a happy union, despite Richard's disability.

** His [[spoiler:landing of the Golden Company on the Stormlands]] under the Dragon banner echoes the arrival of Henry Tudor/Henry VII in England (his banner was a Red Welsh Dragon) who likewise spent much of his reign on a continent separated by sea from his native homeland and most of his supporters were fellow exiles FightingForAHomeland. If he is actually [[spoiler:a female-line Blackfyre that makes him even more like Henry VII, considering that Henry's "claim" was through his mother being descended from John of Gaunt's legitimatized bastards.]]
** On the whole, he echoes many historical pretenders claiming to be missing and dead Princes who somehow survived massacres and purges. Examples include [[UsefulNotes/TsarTsarAutocrats Pseudo-Demetrius I]] of Russia, the [[UsefulNotes/ByzantineEmpire ninth-century Byzantine]] pretender Thomas the Slav, who justified his war against Emperor Michael II by claiming to be the long since deposed and deceased Constantine VI, and from the UsefulNotes/WarsOfTheRoses itself: Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck, both of whom claimed to be the lost and presumed dead "Princes in the Tower" challenging Henry Tudor's claim to the throne.

** UsefulNotes/HenryVIII of England, both were the sons of ruthless but pragmatic kings, both married six times and had great trouble producing an heir -- although Henry never married three women at once, and he did eventually succeed in his endeavors as Maegor never did. Both king's were known for [[LargeAndInCharge their stocky build]], [[TheBluebeard bluebeard tendencies]], their troubling tendency for [[BadBoss butchering their advisors, ministers and friends]], and a disturbingly large body count. Also, both had problems with the faith; as Henry VIII was busy founding the Church of England to remove the Pope's influence on the kingdom for good (and also for the [[UsefulNotes/AnneBoleyn selfish reasons we all know]]), while Maegor put down the Faith Militant rebellion with much bloodshed.
** His ShootTheBuilder tactics are derived from many legends revolving on Kings killing builders of famous monuments, such as Ivan the Terrible and the architect of the St Basil's Cathedral's.
** King William II of England was the son of William the Conqueror much like Maegor was the son of Aegon the Conqueror, and like Maegor, he was infamously HatedByAll, feuded with the clergy, and died under ambiguous circumstances without leaving any issue, possibly due to being sterile. (The other leading theory being that he was gay -- Unlike Maegor, William never married.)

** Also to King William III/II of England and Scotland. Both took over following highly controversial kings who directly conflicted with the dominant religion (Maegor the Cruel and the Catholic James VII/II), both were popular, effective monarchs who helped restore the reputation of the monarchy in the eyes of the faith and the people, and both ruled effectively as a RulingCouple with their wives, who they were closely related to and who also had strong claims to the throne in their own right. They also both experienced very notable depression and downturns in their health and general effectiveness following the deaths of their respective wives.
** He also has some parallels to UsefulNotes/QueenVictoria. Both acceded to the throne in their teens following the death of an uncle. Both lost their fathers at a very young age, and were raised by their mother. Both had a controlling father figure they had to boot from their court when he got too ambitious (For Jaehaerys, it was Lord Rogar Baratheon, his stepfather and Protector of the realm during his regency. For Victoria, it was John Conroy, her mother's comptroller and rumored lover). Both married young, out of love, to a relative (KissingCousins for Victoria, BrotherSisterIncest for Jaehaerys. Both had consorts who proved to be very politically active. Both had [[MassiveNumberedSiblings a truly absurd number of kids]], and both outlived several of them. Both ruled over periods of relative peace and prosperity, and ruled longer than any monarch before them. Both worked to reform the monarchy for the modern age after a series of unpopular kings, and as a result are remembered fondly.

** She also bears some resemblance to Queen Mary II of England and Scotland, being one-half of a popular RulingCouple with a King whom they were closely related to, taking the reins from a highly unpopular ruler who had clashed with the dominant religion, and helping to restore the monarchy in both popularity and effectiveness. Also like Mary II, she predeceased her husband, which directly contributed to his own decline in both health and effectiveness.

** King Henry I, who after the death of his son and heir (William Adelin died when his ship sank, while Baelon Targaryen died an infant) named his daughter and only surviving child his heir in defiance of a misogynistic society still firmly rooted in the HeirClubForMen. While both were regarded as fairly competent kings in their own time, the thing they're remembered most for looking back is the SuccessionCrisis this decision directly precipitated. Although Henry Beauclerc never muddied the issue by remarrying and having more sons; Matilda's usurper Stephen of Blois was the son of Henry's sister, who was backed by the nobles who would rather have any available male heir.

** Stephen of Blois, nephew of King Henry I of England, who vied over the English throne in the 12th century "[[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Anarchy Anarchy]]" against his cousin Empress Matilda, King Henry's daughter. Aegon was even persuaded to take the throne by his wife and mother, much as Stephen was. Both Stephen and Aegon suffered of PyrrhicVictory, as they eventually defeated their female rivals but in the long run they couldn't pass the crown to their sons, and the kingdom went respectively to Mathilda's and Rhaenyra's son, King Henry II the Plantagenet and King Aegon II the Younger.
* Queen Rhaenyra I "the Realm's Delight", "Maegor's Tits":
** Empress Matilda, who vied with her cousin Stephen of Blois for the English throne from 1135 to 1153. Matilda's father left the throne to her, her cousin overruled that claim with the support of several English barons, and Matilda's son Henry became king after Stephen's death (thus vindicating his mother's claim), as is the case with Rhaeneyra and Aegon III respectively. It must be noted, however, that Matilda died peacefully and at the height of her powers (ensuring that her son Henry II remains king), while Rhaenyra was defeated and truly wretched when she was executed.
** UsefulNotes/MaryOfScotland. Rhaenyra died in disgrace as a usurper but at least her son becoming king united two warring factions. Also like Mary's descendants, Rhaenyra's descendants were deposed and exiled.
** Lady Jane Grey given they were both the first officially crowned queen regnant of their countries and yet are usually not counted amongst lists of rulers in that country.

** Robert of Gloucester, Empress Matilda's illegitimate half-brother and chief military supporter during the Anarchy. Robert of Gloucester, due to his illegitimacy was spurned as a possible king, so he joined his half-sister's cause. Daemon Targaryen was spurned as his brother's heir because of his rivalry with the powerful Hightower family, who plotted first to have Princess Rhaenyra made heir to the throne despite her gender, and then arranged a marriage between Lord Hightower's daughter Alicent and producing King Aegon II...and the Dance of the Dragons.
** Geoffrey of Anjou, Matilda's second husband and other main supporter, father of future King Henry II and pretty much founder of UsefulNotes/TheHouseOfPlantagenet, and said to have given the Plantagenets their name from the broom-plant he wore on his chest, the Latin name of which was ''Planta Genista''. Like him, Prince Daemon was the father of the future King who would reunite the feuding branches of the dynasty, and despite having being spurned as a ruler in his own right, the current Targaryen dynasty descends directly from him.
** Charles of Valois, King Philip IV's boisterous brother. All his life went on in the pursuit of power and a throne, like his brief adventure of being Emperor of Constantinople or King of Aragon, but every chance of ruling in his name or his brother's heirs' name would eventually be spurned. Despite this, he was an excellent military leader, and after his brother's son all died without heirs' it is his son Philip of Valois who would inherit the throne. So like Daemon he was never a king, but his offspring eventually were. Also ''Literature/TheAccursedKings'' were a source for George Martin's characterization of many characters.

** UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat, according to WordOfGod, at least in terms of how many young Lords and Princes wanted to emulate his prodigious achievements. Like Alexander, he died at young age and his conquest dissolved shortly after his demise.
** UsefulNotes/JuliusCaesar, he also wrote [[Literature/CommentariesOnTheGallicWar a book about his conquests]] that is a favorite among Lords, and prized by commoners like the newly-literate Davos for its readability.
** UsefulNotes/RichardTheLionheart in that he waged a war in a desert region at great loss of life and money, yet remains popular as a warrior king while criticized as a reckless BloodKnight by historians and the less glory-minded characters such as Stannis.

* The Targaryens share similarities with the Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt, in particular the Ptolemic Dynasty, with Daenerys fulfilling the role of [[UsefulNotes/CleopatraVII Cleopatra]]. A female who was expected to, at best, be a consort for her brother [[spoiler:only for him to be killed]], whereupon she rises up to become one of the most powerful rulers the world has ever seen. Both are noted for their [[DudeMagnet attractiveness to men]][[note]]though Cleopatra has received a HistoricalBeautyUpgrade over the years[[/note]] and are skilled omniglots. Both are considered to be a [[LastOfHisKind Last Of Her Kind]] for their respective families, dynasties, and cultures (Old Valyria for Dany, Diadochi[[note]]Hellenistic kingdoms that formed after Alexander the Great's conquests[[/note]] for Cleopatra).

** He also resembles [[UsefulNotes/LetatCestMoi King Philip IV "le Bel"]], the French King famous for his ruthless purge of UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar. King Philip IV was famous for being icy and unsmiling, and for his relative celibacy for a French King. He took France to a position of great power in Europe [[spoiler:only to die before his time in an anti-climactic fashion]] and have his children (one of them, Queen Isabella of England, being a Cersei analogue) ruin all his gains and eventually spark UsefulNotes/TheHundredYearsWar. The books dealing with Philip IV and his descendants, ''Literature/TheAccursedKings'' was cited by WordOfGod as an influence for the whole series.

** Margaret of Anjou. A beautiful, ruthless and ambitious queen, whose fierce desire to rule the realm of England paved the way for disaster. She was wife to an ineffective king, her son was a cruel boy of questionable descent, and her tumultuous relationship with her husband's right hand man helped draw their FeudingFamilies into a bloody civil war (The War of the Five Kings/War of the Roses). She eventually becomes the leader of her respective faction, the Lancasters; although, Margaret actually commands her army and participates in battle at some point. [[spoiler: After the death of her son and a devastating defeat, she is held in captivity and effectively declawed; although, Cersei actually has a way out of this predicament.]]

** Alongside [[DecompositeCharacter Stannis, Ned Stark and Theon]] Tyrion is a version of UsefulNotes/RichardIII, with his DeadpanSnarker rhetoric and angst about his disability and flirtations with ThenLetMeBeEvil coming from Shakespeare's Theatre/RichardIII. In addition, there is a ShowWithinAShow play made of his exploits, called "The Bloody Hand" which submits Tyrion to a HistoricalVillainUpgrade analogous to the posthumous reputation of the Duke of Gloucester as a result of Shakepeare.

* The Targaryens share similarities with the Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt, in particular the Ptolemic Dynasty, with Daenerys fulfilling the role of [[UsefulNotes/CleopatraVII Cleopatra]]. A female who was expected to, at best, be a consort for her brother [[spoiler: only for him to be killed]], whereupon she rises up to become one of the most powerful rulers the world has ever seen. Both are noted for their [[DudeMagnet attractiveness to men]][[note]]though Cleopatra has received a HistoricalBeautyUpgrade over the years[[/note]] and are skilled omniglots. Both are considered to be a [[LastOfHisKind Last Of Her Kind]] for their respective families, dynasties, and cultures (Old Valyria for Dany, Diadochi[[note]]Hellenistic kingdoms that formed after Alexander the Great's conquests[[/note]] for Cleopatra).

** Her being a RebelliousPrincess and tomboy, her family being (seemingly) massacred, her disappearance and deep confusion over whether or not she survived makes her more than a little reminiscent of Annastasia Romanova.
** UsefulNotes/MargaretOfYork, Duchess of Burgundy was the youngest daughter of Richard of York and Cecily Neville and sister to Edward IV and Richard III. By all accounts clever and tough, she spent most of her life on the continent advocating for her family, and after Richard's defeat at Bosworth Field she spent the rest of her life ''relentlessly'' pursuing revenge against Henry Tudor. She may not have had the ability to personally kill those who harmed her father and brothers, but her history indicates had it been possible, she ''would'' have.