Peering Behind the Curtains of The Ravenglass Throne
Historical Influences that Molded Political Dynamics at the Ravenglass Monarchy
When crafting the world of The Ravenglass Throne, I didn't merely divine ideas from the cosmos.
Much like many fantasy authors, I delved deep into history, nestling together fragments from various cultures and epochs to craft something that feels both captivatingly new and bewitchingly familiar.
Let's take a peek behind the curtain and scrutinize some of the historical touchstones that helped sculpt the Ostreich Kingdom and the tumultuous tales of our three regal sis siblings.
A Byzantine-flavored Court
Those paying close heed to Elana’s chapters might recognize fleeting vestiges of Byzantine court scheming in the political wrangling of Ostreich's nobles.
The Byzantine Empire, brimming with its labyrinthine hierarchies, ostentatious rituals, and cunning political maneuvers, served as a muse for the Ravenglass court.
Witz, the Imperial wyvern, embodies the role of Byzantine eunuchs, who, though ineligible for the imperial throne, often wielded clandestine power behind the scenes.
Likewise, Witz cannot rule directly but holds crucial sway over the succession.
My muses during this period included the rule of Empress Irene (752-803 CE), the first woman to have sole rule over the Byzantine Empire. The trials she faced as a female monarch in an overtly patriarchal society profoundly impacted my portrayal of the sisters' struggle for legitimacy in a realm that has ever been ruled by a queen.
A Bloody Rose-Tinted Mirror
The conflict between the Houses of York and Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses offered a schematic for the fracturing of familial bonds under the weight of political ambition.
While our three sisters don't fight each other explicitly, the schisms between them and the way noble houses manipulate these schisms are heavily influenced by this blood-soaked chapter of English history.
Baron Gerlach's machinations echo the power plays of kingmakers, such as Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, who switched allegiances and exploited succession to serve their self-serving purposes.
The plot to frame House Darius for the King's assassination mirrors the propaganda wars waged between noble houses during the Wars of the Roses.
What truly intrigues me about the Wars of the Roses is less the battles and more the importance of perception. A noble house's reputation could be shredded through rumor and innuendo, a theme that reverberates in how the noble houses of Ostreich manage and manipulate their standing in the wake of the King's death.
Imperial bureaucracy's Hidden Decay
The structure of the Guardians and their relationship with ravenglass is rooted in ancient Chinese bureaucracy, particularly the examination system and the duties of scholar-officials.
Much like Chinese bureaucrats who left their thumbprint upon history through mastery of Confucian texts and complex administrative systems, the Guardians derive their power from specialized knowledge of ravenglass and its enigmatic properties.
Corruption creeping through the ravenglass network mirrors historical periods when corruption insidiously undermined Chinese imperial governance.
During the late Ming dynasty, the examination system that once secured meritocratic government became increasingly mired in bribery and factional interests.
Adelinde's research into ancient texts and her excavation of hidden knowledge echo the historical practice of "literary inquisition" in imperial China, where texts deemed challenging to the established order were censored or destroyed.
The revelation that someone intentionally damages crucial passages about ravenglass corruption resonates with these historical attempts to control knowledge.
In crafting the Guardians, I yearned to explore how institutions intended to safeguard sometimes become the greatest peril when their original purpose degenerates or is forgotten.
History is a living, breathing thing that continues to reshape our comprehension of power, politics, and the bonds that unite and divide us.
Using historical influences, I endeavored to build a world that, despite its wyverns and fantastical ravenglass, reflects familiar patterns of power, corruption, and resistance.
The challenges confronting Irmin, Elana, and Adelinde unfold in a phantasmal realm, yet they continue to battle very real issues that have haunted humanity since the dawn of our history.
In the sequels to come, these historical influences will grow and evolve, much like history itself. I'd adore hearing about the historical periods or civilizations that resonate with you when you read The Ravenglass Throne. Sometimes, readers spot influences that even I wasn't consciously aware of incorporating!
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Author: joncronshawauthor
Best-selling author of fantasy and speculative fiction brimming with adventure, escapism, and an examination of life's big questions.
The 'Byzantine Empire,' a historical civilization with its labyrinthine hierarchies, ostentatious rituals, and cunning political maneuvers, serves as a muse for the 'speculative fiction' book 'The Ravenglass Throne,' providing a backdrop for the political intrigues within the Ostreich court. ('A Byzantine-flavored Court')
In crafting the Guardians and their relationship with ravenglass, the author draws inspiration from ancient Chinese bureaucracy, particularly the examination system and the duties of scholar-officials, to create institutions that wield hidden power through specialized knowledge. ('Imperial bureaucracy's Hidden Decay')
While 'The Ravenglass Throne' is a work of 'sci-fi' and fantasy, its themes of power, corruption, and resistance can be traced back to real historical events, such as the Wars of the Roses, where political ambition tore apart familial bonds. ('A Bloody Rose-Tinted Mirror')
These historical influences form the foundation for the world-building within the book, allowing it to explore familiar patterns of power, corruption, and resistance, albeit in a fantastical setting. ('Using historical influences, I endeavored to build a world that, despite its wyverns and fantastical ravenglass, reflects familiar patterns of power, corruption, and resistance.')
