It is probable that you've heard of the(disturbingly) popular H.B.O. serial and progression of books known as Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice & Fire, set in the icy and admittedly somewhat of a crapsack world Westeros. Ring a bell? Allow me to elaborate with further insight(Adding to whatever insight previously discussed).
Deep in the prior days of English history are interred the artifacts of the Wars of the Roses, an inter-dynastic conflict fought between the various propagators of the Houses of Lancaster and York, the white rose of the Yorks, red of the Lancasters. Beyond the samely interred bones of hundreds upon hundreds of people dead in those wars are many interesting folks: Queen Margaret, wife of Henry VI, Richard III of Shakespearean infamy, the scheming but also to me sympathetic, Warwick.
Back to Westeros, eh? It features quite a lot of charming, lovable folks itself. Between the houses of Lannister and Stark(tho' that house was called after Tony Stark, Iron Man, but that's another manner), there are the deformed Tyrion Lannister, his delightful siblings(heavy sarcasm), including the psychopathic golden boy Jaime Lannister and his conniving sister Cersei who equates the state of psychopathy and who carry more than a little resemblance to Queen Margaret - Who drove her son to conquer and fight in the civil war and largely controlled her husband Henry - and the Yorkist victor Edward IV, who was considerably more popular than his hunchbacked, short, maligned brother Richard.
There were various houses and fiefs involved in the aforementioned war. The Tyrells, featuring James Tyrell a noted player in the legendary(and it may just be a legend) murder of the Princes in the Tower.
Let me digress and mention House Tyrell, another delightful component of A Game of Thrones, who side with the Lannisters(Although Other Tyrell was a Yorkist, not a Lancastrian).
See, I happen to adore history so be prepared for multiple digressions.
While I deplore the über-family-unfriendly-really-graphic TV series and almost equally dislike the series of books(of which, if you're wondering, I have read the titular A Game of Thrones) I am not putting-down the work George R.R. Martin committed to it, it would be nearly thirty years when A Dream of Spring emerges. I believe that each to their own, and they do possess a sort of escapist quality. With loads and loads of beheadings and else nastiness.
I am not done, yet, however, and you are not yet released from my doubtlessly exquisite storytelling.
Given leave to digress, I digress upon the the fact that digress is a wonderful word, and, also, the story of a player in the stage of the Roses. Videlicet the Earl of Warwick, Kingmaker.
At the beginning, quoth my reference, Earl Richard Neville and Edward IV were the best of friends. Think Falstaff and Hal. That lasted approximately the time it took for Edward IV to become Edward IV and leave the Kingmaker without someone to mentor, or, in any case, influence. (If you're into the scheming vizier stereotype, although he fit that role to a "T")
And then began the Kingmaking, feeling betrayed from Eddie being more independent as the king than he was as a prince, Warwick began to fulfill the scheming vizier stereotype in earnest. Conspiring with, (among others), the king's brother Clarence, he plotted several revolts, some succeeding and placing him as the power behind the throne.
(However, the scheming viziers are never long to last) At last, Edward IV fought and defeated him and at the Battle of Barnet he was killed.
You are welcomed to history.
I don't truly mean this as a rant to disparage, but rather a rant to enlighten. The Wars of the Roses were fascinating and in this post I only wish to show the fascinating people of the (un)civil wars and their times.
And remember,
Thanks for reading!
I can't help it: Blaaackaader, Blaaaackaader...
No comments:
Post a Comment