Sex, violence and tragedy: What TV like Game of Thrones gets right – and very wrong – about medieval knights

Westeros, the world of Game of Thrones, doesn’t immediately seem based on real history – and that’s probably because of things like dragons!

If you set aside the plot for a moment and consider the world-building of Westeros, it’s clear that George R.R. Martin drew heavy inspiration from medieval Europe when creating his A Song of Ice and Fire series – the basis for shows like Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and likely future adaptations.

Westeros, the world of the show, draws inspiration from real history and life – everything from political struggles and competitions to everyday dangers like having a baby. However, like any adaptation of a story, the show also takes liberties with the source material, changing, exaggerating, or leaving things out.

Tournaments were not as violent as you’d think

Jousting tournaments are often shown as violent events, but that’s not entirely accurate.

Dr. Doherty explained that these battles weren’t supposed to be about killing. As I understand it, the whole point was to capture opponents or knock them off their horses – the rules of tournaments really focused on that throughout the 1300s. While they tried to avoid serious violence, things did go wrong sometimes, and there were even accusations of murder.

A well-known incident occurred in 1252 when a knight fatally wounded his opponent by piercing his throat with a lance. While knights had begun using dulled lances and swords – a practice that started in the late 1100s – this knight deliberately used a sharpened lance.

He killed someone with a sharp, deadly lance, leading people to suspect him of murder. This wasn’t unusual – knights and nobles sometimes used weapons like this to resolve disputes and take revenge.

However, the real violence in the show seems to come from the smaller fights and clashes. According to Dr. Asbridge, many compare it to historical periods like the 14th and 15th centuries, specifically the Wars of the Roses or parts of the Hundred Years’ War.

I’m particularly fascinated by the earlier period – the time when knighthood and the ideals of chivalry first appeared, and tournaments began to develop. These early tournaments were incredibly rough, violent, and risky. However, they weren’t focused on jousting. Jousting didn’t become widely popular until the mid-13th century and later, eventually becoming more prominent than tournaments themselves.

Early tournaments weren’t like modern competitions; they were more like practice battles. Instead of taking place in a small arena, they covered large areas – sometimes up to 30 miles across. Fighters didn’t duel individually, but battled as part of a group. They used real weapons with the aim of capturing opponents, and victory was determined by the number of captives taken. These captives would then be held for ransom, typically in exchange for money or valuable items.

This detail is also mentioned in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and it’s true that many people were killed or hurt. Even when jousting became more common, it was still risky, but they generally used safer, blunted lances to lessen the danger.

Dr. Doherty praised A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, saying it vividly captured the excitement of tournaments. He felt completely immersed, able to almost feel the horses’ hooves, and believes this level of realism is unprecedented.

But the politics were just as brutal as seen on screen

Dr. Doherty notes that when it comes to historical accuracy, Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms actually feel more authentically medieval than many other shows and movies set in the Middle Ages.

George R.R. Martin clearly has a deep understanding of medieval history. The scene of Ned Stark’s execution isn’t just about his death; it’s about the complete downfall of his family. Their home in King’s Landing is raided, and his family and supporters are killed, shamed, and robbed – it all feels incredibly authentic.

I was really impressed with how House of the Dragon portrayed the transition of power after the king’s death, especially the political maneuvering that followed. It perfectly captured how dangerous that moment is for any kingdom – a time when everyone is scrambling for control, and the usual rules don’t apply. They highlighted that instability exceptionally well.

Dr. Asbridge was particularly impressed by how the work showed the far-reaching effects of war – the harm it can inflict on communities. He also praised the depiction of political maneuvering, comparing it to the complex power struggles in ‘Game of Thrones’.

People were cleaner and less coarse than depicted

Dr. Doherty notes that while TV shows often highlight unpleasant details, the historical evidence actually points to a focus on politeness, charm, and good manners.

What always strikes me about historical dramas, particularly those set in the medieval period, is the jarring contrast within the culture itself. You have this brutal, almost casual violence – think of the constant warfare, like the Hundred Years’ War – existing side-by-side with incredible refinement. The same men who are literally hacking each other to pieces on the battlefield could then don elaborate costumes, maybe as mythical creatures, and spend the evening dancing and captivating everyone with their charm. It’s a fascinating paradox, and one that these stories often hint at, but rarely fully explore.

Game of Thrones understandably focuses on harshness and conflict, as it makes for compelling TV. However, it’s important to remember that historically, knights and noble society actually valued refinement and discouraged such behavior.

You know, as a movie buff who loves historical detail, I’ve always been surprised by this – the Middle Ages actually cared about being clean! It’s a common misconception that they were all filthy, but they really did value hygiene. They just didn’t have the same scientific understanding or the modern tools we have today – no power showers or antibiotics back then, obviously – but they definitely tried their best to stay clean.

And their sex lives may have been a bit different to what’s shown

It’s impossible to overlook the presence of sex in Game of Thrones. When comparing it to real life, Dr. Doherty notes that it’s a complicated topic, and we don’t have much solid research to draw on.

There are reports from church officials about inappropriate behavior at tournaments, specifically concerns about people taking advantage of the atmosphere for immoral purposes. This suggests that such behavior was, in fact, happening.

Historical accounts suggest that sexual activity among the upper classes, including same-sex relationships, was more common than widespread prostitution, though prostitutes certainly existed. Evidence for this includes documented complaints from religious figures and knights during the Crusades about the presence of prostitutes within the armies.

Prostitution was a common part of life in medieval towns and cities, so it likely existed in many different forms.

Knighthood was a ladder

Meanwhile, the idea using knighthood to rising through the ranks of society is pretty spot on.

According to Dr. Asbridge, a key strength of ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ is its portrayal of knighthood as a path to advancement.

Remember Petyr Baelish’s famous quote from Game of Thrones, “Chaos is a ladder”? Becoming a knight was similar – it was a way for people not born into nobility to climb the social ranks. Often, this meant gaining wealth and land, and sometimes it led to becoming incredibly powerful figures within their kingdom.

I think they’ve really nailed that aspect of the story. I’m not sure where Dunk’s character arc will lead, but it seems like it’s about him starting at his lowest point and that feels like a realistic portrayal of the challenges of knighthood.

But being a lordless knight was a “fragile existence”

Dr. Asbridge is also curious to see how much the story focuses on Dunk being a ‘hedge knight’ – essentially a knight who doesn’t serve a particular lord.

When we look at actual medieval knights, it’s clear that belonging to a close-knit group was the most important thing to them. Being part of a lord’s household – a tight community – provided them with security and protection.

People at the time often compared their leader to a tree – offering shelter and protection to those who supported him. It was a mutually beneficial relationship. He appeared noble, surrounded by a loyal group of knights who, in turn, were shielded from the dangers of the world. Without his protection, life was incredibly vulnerable.

Women had a more crucial role than shown on screen

As a huge fan of ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,’ one thing I’ve noticed – and it’s a valid point – is that there aren’t many significant female characters getting a lot of screen time. It feels like a missed opportunity, honestly, and something I hope they address going forward.

Dr. Doherty points out that women weren’t simply spectators at tournaments. Evidence suggests they were present as early as the 13th century, and likely even before. In the 14th century, they frequently accompanied knights as they entered the arena, presented awards, and even had gifts displayed on the knights’ banners – a practice that sometimes upset religious officials, as it was seen as a public declaration of loyalty to these women.

He explains that tournaments were similar to film festivals – you had the main event, like watching a movie, but also all the social gatherings surrounding it. Tournaments had the exciting matches on the field, but also lavish feasts, dancing, and lively conversations. Women played a significant role in these social aspects, contributing in many different ways.

It seems like many marriage arrangements were likely being negotiated during that time, and important political matters were being settled. A recent study examined a famous jousting tournament from 1390, where three knights competed for nearly a month – an incredible feat of endurance!

The knights issued a challenge to all of Europe, inviting anyone to come and fight them. Roughly 40 knights accepted, traveling from places like Poland, Spain, and especially England. Interestingly, while these battles were taking place near Calais, diplomats from England and France were simultaneously attempting to negotiate a peace agreement. This highlights a complex situation involving both warfare and high-level political maneuvering.

And some of the tragedy of Thrones is spot on

Dr. Doherty found one of the most powerful moments in the Game of Thrones universe in the first episode of House of the Dragon, when Queen Aemma Arryn (played by Sian Brooke) sadly passed away during childbirth.

“Childbirth for women, was the great killer of the Middle Ages,” he explains.

The childbirth scenes in the first season were incredibly realistic. They really highlighted how frightening and dangerous it was for women to give birth in the Middle Ages and before modern medicine.

It’s very tricky to nail the role of religion

Dr. Asbridge’s biggest frustration with medieval dramas on TV is figuring out how to realistically portray the central role of religion. It was fundamental to both the code of knights and the motivations behind much of the warfare of the time, and he hasn’t found a good way to show that on screen.

The truth is, most people genuinely believed in their actions. While it’s difficult for us to understand or accept, that was simply the way things were in medieval times.

It’s challenging to portray a deeply religious character set in the medieval period in fiction, and for modern audiences to fully grasp that faith. That’s because what being Christian meant back then was quite different from how we understand it today.

It’s tough to explain, but when I think about the Crusades, I believe most of the people who joined genuinely felt they were following God’s will, even though we’d find that horrifying now. Honestly, a lot of the ways we see those motivations portrayed just don’t feel real to me – it feels very forced and artificial.

And historians have plenty of questions for George RR Martin

As we wrapped up our conversation, Dr. Asbridge shared a question that’s really stuck with him ever since he started reading A Song of Ice and Fire. It’s something he’s been pondering for a while, and it felt like a perfect note to end on – a real testament to how deeply those books can grab you and make you think.

He notes a strange consistency throughout George R.R. Martin’s worlds. As pointed out in the first episode of ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,’ events like tournaments have been happening for thousands of years without any noticeable change.

Military technology, at least as far as humans are concerned, is constantly evolving. It’s a continuous cycle of developing defenses, then creating new weapons to overcome those defenses. This back-and-forth drives progress and leads to changes over time.

As a big fan of historical detail in fantasy, I’ve always found it interesting how warfare changed between, say, 1050 and 1300. It’s a really significant shift! But in ‘Game of Thrones,’ the way battles are fought feels…stuck. I keep wondering why the showrunners didn’t reflect that evolution, or if they had a reason for keeping the military technology and tactics so consistent. It just feels like a missed opportunity, and I’d be really curious to hear their explanation.

Over to you, George!

As a critic, I wanted to let you know that if you’re interested in watching A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, it’s available weekly on Sky and their streaming service, NOW. If you’re not already a subscriber, you’ll need to sign up for Sky TV to catch it.

Authors

Louise Griffin

Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, writing about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before joining TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.

Visit us on Twitter

2026-01-26 14:39