The Seven Kingdoms imprinted a powerful folk memory on the people and survive to this day as counties or regions of England. Towards the end of the period, the threat from the north would be every bit as real and menacing as that promised in A Game of Thrones – the first Viking raids in the 8 th century brought the ferocious assault of the Danes to English shores. The Heptarchy was never a stable collection of states but instead represented the waxing and waning of dynastic power and local allegiances. During the intervening three centuries, England would be divided with up to seven kingdoms vying for power and control. Lasting from roughly 500 to 800 CE, the Heptarchy covers the period of history lasting from the departure of the Roman legions to the union of England under the House of Wessex. A terrible threat lurks in the north, semi-mythical beings who are set to descend with savage ferocity on those who survive. Winter is coming, and with it bloody strife descends on the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Martin’s A Game of Thrones or seen the HBO TV adaptation will recognise the synopsis. Dragons plough the waves and the skies fill with terrible portents of doom.Īnyone who has read George R. The chronicles report the sack of monasteries and the massacre of their holy guardians. And as much as they fear each other, the kings fear one thing more than all else – something terrible is stirring in the north.
A single crown has been divided into seven kingdoms, locked into a spiral of fierce conflict and bitter intrigues. Once united and peaceful, the island is ripped apart by noble rivalries and divided allegiances. The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros find an historical analogy in the Heptarchy of England. One shadowy chapter of English history receives a prominent nod. Martin drew inspiration from many strands of history, from England’s War of the Roses to the Icelandic sagas and tales of Viking conquest. Millions have read his voluminous saga with many more gripped by the television adaptation. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire has left a powerful cultural imprint across the world.
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