The Ironborn and the Vikings
One of the most obvious comparisons between the people of Westeros is the Ironborn and the Vikings. And the cultural and political disparities between the feudal system on the “green lands” and the strength-orientated militarism of Pyke and the Iron Islands are constantly highlighted in the show through Theon. As Ned Stark’s hostage, he’s exposed to a much different way of life at Winterfell, which softens him to the barbarity of his ancestors. But, unfortunately for him, his exposure to this culture alienates him from his own people, and he ultimately returns a stranger.
In Theon’s father, Balon Greyjoy, we see traces of the Viking King Ceolwulf. The Vikings installed him on the Mercian throne, replacing the old king Burgred of Mercia. But he was little more than a puppet; impotent of power and answerable to those he derived it from. Another problem Balon has is that there’s no heir apparent, opening up the possibility of a power struggle which, of course, comes along. It’s ultimately his younger brother, Euron Greyjoy, who exploits both this weakness and the fact that Balon has to cross a treacherous causeway on his way to and from work every day.
The extreme violence of their lifestyle goes right down to their bartering system. On several occasions, they refer to paying “the iron price” for something, which generally involves bloodily beating your enemies to death until—quite literally by process of elimination—that thing becomes yours. Euron Greyjoy is, for all intents an purposes, phenomenally talented at bludgeoning his enemies with his axe. And this choice of weapon does fit him within a Viking context as they were instrumental in developing the axe to break shield walls or fight cavalry.
There are, however, a number of important differences between the Ironborn and the Norsemen. While George R.R. Martin would have it that the Ironborn are an almost totalitarian warrior society, in reality, the Viking class system was a lot more stratified. Even among the Vikings, it could be roughly divided into those who fought, those who prayed and those who toiled. The Ironborn are also fiercely resistant to change, which was never a characteristic among successful civilizations like the Vikings who, in a pre-Darwinian sense, were forced either to adapt or die. With winter’s arrival, it remains to be seen whether the Ironborn will be able to do so, or whether they will be ultimately be counted among the Westerosi civilizations lost to time.
Sources For Further Reading:
Rolling Stone – ‘Game of Thrones’ Mixtape Recruits Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Anthrax
Ranker – History All of The Real Historical Parallels To ‘Game of Thrones’
Mental Floss – 7 Historical Parallels to Game of Thrones
ThoughtCo – The Legend of Lucretia in Roman History
Daily Art Magazine – ANCIENT ROMEA Woman with A Knife – The Story of Lucretia
Museum Facts – Lucretia- The Woman Who Ended the Roman Monarchy
Highland Titles – Glencoe Massacre: Truth or Spin?
Radio Times – What Will Game of Thrones’ Targaryen Spin-Off House of The Dragon Be About?
BBC News – Game of Thrones bid to boost Hadrian’s Wall visits
English Heritage – It May Be Spring, But Winter Is Coming to Hadrian’s Wall
The Verge – English Heritage Is Posting Watchers on Hadrian’s Wall Before Game Of Thrones Returns