Game Of Thrones is a tantalising tale of scandal, deceit, treachery and medieval kings jostling for supreme power, storylines which have already played out in real life across the globe. Book readers may be lording it over the TV viewers with their knowledge extending beyond HBO's adaptation, though historians could possibly be laughing at everyone, with some people going as far to suggest George R.R. Martin has laced his books with direct clues from history as to who will ultimately win the war. Martin has done a remarkable job of painting the phenomenal world in which Thrones is set, and while a lot of the similarities with real-life history are more than likely coincidental, certain inspirations he has drawn from history have spiced up the entire story. He's entirely at ease with discussing the idea of using real history, saying: "There's really no one-for-one character-for-character correspondence. I like to use history to flavor my fantasy, to add texture and verisimilitude, but simply rewriting history with the names changed has no appeal for me. I prefer to re-imagine it all, and take it in new and unexpected directions." Martin hasn't directly 'stolen' entire plots or characters from history, though don't be fooled, he has most certainly drawn aspects from history. Let's take a look at 10 similarities between the real world and events that have taken place in the TV series.