Real-Life Inspiration Behind Battle of Blackwater Bay
Did You Know That The Battle of Blackwater Bay Was Based On The Siege of Constantinople?
Stannis Baratheon’s decision to lay siege on King’s Landing mirrors the Second Arab siege of Constantinople in 717 AD, which involved the Umayyad Caliphate's assault on the Byzantine Empire's capital. The Battle of Blackwater Bay and the Siege of Constantinople share remarkable similarities. For instance, in Constantinople, the attackers ultimately faced defeat because the Romans used Greek Fire, which was the Westerosi version of Wild Fire. As a result, Arab ships were incinerated before they could reach the city's shores, thereby securing victory for the defenders. Likewise, Stannis's naval fleet was decimated, paralleling the fate of Constantinople's assailants in the face of Greek Fire. In fact, The War of the Five Kings resembles the Roman Empire in the year 69 AD, when Vespasian defeated three other contenders to claim the throne.