What would an Abyssinian Game of Thrones look like?

The epic fantasy series Game of Thrones has captivated audiences worldwide with its intricate political intrigue, complex characters, and richly detailed fictional world. While the show is a work of fiction, it draws inspiration from historical events and cultures of Europe and the Mediterranean region. What interests us are the intriguing parallels between the realms of Westeros and Abyssinia in what are very similar time periods. Westeros seems to be based on the late stage of the dark ages judging by the lack of inventions beyond arrows and trebuchets alone. 

If a series were to be made based on the same time between the mid-1200s and the early 1500s for Abyssinia, what would it look like and who would be the key players? Let’s explore these striking similarities and shed light on the real-life realm that mirrors the blockbuster fiction of Westeros, while having some fun formulating a Game of Thrones-esque rendition of Abyssinia’s history.

Game of Thrones has captivated audiences worldwide with its intricate plotlines, political scheming, and fantastical elements as well as a great ensemble of characters developed well of course. One could hardly imagine a place in the world or epoque in history in which this could have been the case, as it is a difficult feat to manage all aspects of a great story though there are some good stories in this species. 

Let’s take for example the story of the blitzing Mongol expansion. It has a great ensemble of characters from Genghis Khan himself to the struggling egomaniacs of Persia whom he conquers, but also some decent political scheming. The Greco-Roman world is most famed for great stories and so is the Levant region. However, it takes something special to tick all the boxes and make a blockbuster like Game of Thrones. This must include Fantastical elements, spells and natural disasters, kind of like the post-Axum sagas of Abyssinia.

We are talking prophecies, natural disasters, miracles, high treason, paradoxes and great battles all wrapped into one enigmatic country. What if, then, we were to reimagine a captivating narrative within the historical context of Abyssinia from the late dark ages? For example there are clear parallels between the main houses of Westeros (Stark, Lannister, Baratheon and Greyjoy) and how they each represent a different region of the British Isles vis-a-vis the various Abyssinian regions that emerged post-Axum (Tigray, Amhara, Ifat, Sidamo).

1. Gathering Storms: Feudal Power Struggles and Dynastic Conflicts

Game of Thrones is characterized by its relentless power struggles among noble families vying for control of the Iron Throne. Similarly, Abyssinian history during the same period was marked by dynastic rivalries and conflicts over the title King of Kings. In both cases, shifting alliances, betrayals, and marriages were used as tools to secure power and expand influence.One notable parallel is the Bet Amhara’s rise in Abyssinia, akin to the House Stark's ascension in Westeros. 

Both the Amhara and Stark emerged as dominant powers in their respective regions, fostering loyalty through a strong connection with the people they ruled. This is in direct opposition to the House of Lannister for instance, in which the rulers enjoyed little popular support and rather presided over tightly regulated governance and shrewd stewardship of the kingdom’s economy. The Tigrayan rulers who presided over intricate trade ties across the pond with various global powers and shrewdly navigated the politics of their southern provinces is a good parallel to the House of Lannister.

In Game of Thrones the Seven Kingdoms are home to various cultures and languages, reflecting the diversity of the fictional world. Similarly, Abyssinia has a highly diverse collection of cultures and languages due to its historical interactions with neighbouring peoples and regions. Overarching themes, such as the introduction of Christianity to the realm and technology imports from overseas can also shape the narrative parallel to the Sorcery theme that was highly prevalent in Game of Thrones.

2. Winds of Change: Cultural Diversity and Unity

The Amhara and Tigray cultures, akin to those of the Stark and Lannister families, played crucial roles in shaping Abyssinian identity. Both in Westeros and Abyssinia, the challenge of maintaining unity within diverse territories was ever-present. Efforts were made to ensure that local customs and traditions were respected while forging a sense of national identity among local rulers.

The shifting of the centre of power south to King Lalibela further saw the incorporation and increase of diversity coupled with the challenge of uniting an ever increasingly diverse realm, reminiscent of House Stark’s endeavours to unite the ‘north’. Amid shifting alliances, the bigger enemy unbeknownst to all the houses of Abyssinia would be either the local equivalent to “Winter is Coming”. 

This could be a natural disaster like the perennial locust invasions and droughts that happen in the region to this day, the European invaders from the frosty regions of the global north, the pillage and plunder by hoards of barbarian tribes invading from the south or the marauding principalities from the east trying their luck at conquering the kingdom. A decision which I would imagine will be subject of heated debates in the writer’s room.

This should be followed by the abrupt rise to power of Queen Yodit (Gudit) as a reactionary concerned with emerging threats in the wider region, much like Daenerys Targaryen’s rise to power across the Narrow Sea coincided with increasing instability in the region. Abyssinia’s struggle against various invasions and colonisation serves as an almost perfect parallel to the struggle for control over the Iron Throne in Westeros. 

Not all aspects will parallel perfectly in this comparison, of course, as King Baratheon of House Targaryen does not strictly resemble King Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty for example. What is interesting, however, is how the same way the identity of Robert Baratheon was subject of speculation before it was revealed that he was a Targaryen is the same way King Lalibela’s identity has been disputed.

3. The King’s Seal: Religious Influence and Authority

Religion holds significant sway in both Game of Thrones and Abyssinian history. In Westeros, the Faith of the Seven and the Old Gods shape characters' beliefs and actions. In Abyssinia, the introduction of Christianity played a pivotal role in uniting diverse regions under a common faith. The Solomonic dynasty in Abyssinia, often associated with the biblical King Solomon, echoes the religious legitimacy sought by various houses in Westeros.

Just as the Iron Throne's claim to power is to be influenced by divine right or at least acceptance of the Faith of the Seven. Abyssinian rulers sought legitimacy through their connection to ancient biblical figures. This ought to be a season in which the full extent of political intrigue and shifting allegiances among rival dynasties is fully explored, after the laying out and setting of the mise-en-scene of the past two seasons.

For example, in a similar fashion to the Red Wedding (Season 3, Episode 9) of House Stark and House Frey in Westeros, Abyssinia’s leaders employ cunning and strategy to secure their positions by way of high profile assassination, marriage of interest and everything in between. A case in point is Yohannes the IV role in the British Expedition to Abyssinia and facilitating passage to General Napier’s forces. A betrayal that costed the life of Tewodros II, one of Abyssinia’s greatest leaders.

Westeros and historical Abyssinia both have had to ascertain their authority and existence faced with external threats like colonial ambitions of both religious and economic nature, even from extremely far away places from their shores. For a power like the Ottomans, whose power base was the balkans to have a remote interest in Abyssinia, can be compared to Canada having an interest in Cambodia by today’s travel standards. This is exactly the sort of misadventure that creates legendary figures and folklore.

5. The North Remembers: Legendary Figures and Folklore

The Battle of Adwa is another epicentre of such folklore, a pivotal moment in Abyssinian history akin to the The Battle of Winterfell, which was actually the final battle of the epic (Season 8, Episode 3). In an episode entitled “The Long Night” the battle between the Night King and his army of the dead, who had by now gathered all their forces launched their attacks on the wall. The sheer scale, darkness and high stakes made it an intense and visually stunning battle.

Similarly, the Italians began their attack on the borderlands of Ethiopia after coming across the town of Adwa (the beginning of the Abyssinian highlands being the parallel to the northern wall of Westeros where the Night King began his attack). Emperor Menelik II, as John Snow, however, had gathered help from all the African forces he could muster and was waiting close by. 

As has been widely documented, the scale of this battle and the high stakes involved make it a perfect mirror to the Battle of Winterfell. It would be particularly stunning visually showcasing the colours of the different attires worn by the various tribes that participated in the Battle of Adwa with their various weaponry. The common themes of advancements in religion and technology can be compared to the role of mastering the dragons that was a background theme of sorts in the Battle of Winterfell.

To make such a story more palatable to audiences little familiar with the history of Abyssinia, it is possible to skip to Emperor Haile Selassie’s ordeal with Fascist Italy instead. His saga alone has plenty of content with the pains of transformation into a more centralised state while grappling with a myriad external pressures, without mentioning his legendary status among Rastafaris. The efforts of the realm to keep up with the fast advancing world around them mirroring the Iron Throne’s efforts to stabilise Westeros. 

6. Legacy and Modern Relevance

The legacy of both Game of Thrones and this Abyssinian story is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. The show's popularity highlights the universal appeal of political intrigue, power struggles, and human drama. Similarly, the Abyssinian story has been told down the generations with relatively little written material which is why some aspects of it are considered ‘mythical’. 

Despite that it continues to shape the region's cultural identity and plays a key role in contemporary Ethiopian society as youth come out in the thousands in both in celebration of their culture and to protest interference in their traditions. It is therefore fitting that the series would end ambiguously as Abyssinia prepares to confront challenges of the 20th century head on, with all its ills, friends and norms alike. 

Like the climactic Battle of Winterfell spelt the end of the major threat posed by the army of the dead as the living unite, the Battle of Adwa can be made to be the last major threat Abyssinia faces as they wipe out invading forces. What would follow, just like in the final season of Game of Thrones, is the slow resolution of the character arcs such as Jon Snow’s dilemma of loyalty to Daenerys versus protecting the realm she has seemingly grown to hate. 

Similar events haven taken place in the aftermath of Adwa just before the second Italian invasion with famed patriots such as Belay Zeleke whose story can be compared to that of Jon. The return of Haile Selassie from exile can be compared to Bran the Broken’s ascension to the throne of Westeros after his long exile living with the crows in the wilderness of Westeros and his unique ability of foresight and connection to the realm. 

Haile Selassie’s foresight and prophet-like commentary on world events can be similarly portrayed in the painting of these two great characters with all the sacrifices they paid for their realms. Arya’s role as a witty and brave young woman and her decision in the end to embark on a journey of her own to discover what lay wet of Westeros, can be taken by a female heir of the Solomonic dynasty wanting to discover what lay in east of Abyssinia. 

This would be a great way to set the historical series up for a more fictional and even Afro-futuristic sequel into the future of the Afronation. Paving the way to make history relevant for the current and future generations, the parallels between the fictional world of Game of Thrones and Abyssinian history are a testament to the shared human experience that transcends time and culture. 

While the specifics may differ, the themes of pursuit of power in tandem with unity, betrayal and attempts to prevent betrayal, as well as the gamble of conquer vis-a-vis risk of extinction remain constant. As we delve into the tales of Westeros and Abyssinia, we are reminded that history and fantasy, though distinct, often intersect to reveal deeper truths about the human condition.