Richard III and Ned Stark

I probably won’t be able to resume my Today in History posts until the book is done since I will have to flee the country if I miss the deadline. But I couldn’t resist taking a brief break today to link history and Game of Thrones. Most know that the Martin series is loosely, very loosely, based on the Wars of the Roses. His readers have amused themselves over the years by speculating who his characters are supposed to be. Everyone thinks that Cersei and Robert are Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV, although I personally think Martin has maligned Edward if that is so. But after that, it is anyone’s guess. Is Danaerys a much more attractive stand-in for Henry Tudor? Is Ned Stark a version of Richard III or, as I’ve heard it suggested, his father, the Duke of York? Who in the world is Joffroi modeled after? Even George of Clarence would consider that character assassination. I’ve come across some very intriguing and imaginative theories from Martin readers, many of whom should clearly be writing their own books. I confess that at times I saw Richard III in Ned Stark. But they differed in some important aspects as today’s historical happening proves. On June 13, 1483, Richard sent Will Hastings to the block after an acrimonious council meeting at the Tower. And I think all Game of Thrones fans can agree on this—that the honorable Ned Stark would never have executed a man without benefit of trial. I am not saying honor did not matter to Richard, too, merely that he had more finely honed survival skills than Ned. Sadly, men who always put honor first did not thrive, either in the MA or the Martin universe.
Very nasty weather in the US. Good luck to all of us in the paths of these dangerous storms.