This article contains Game of Thrones spoilers.

There is a scene midway through the sixth season of Game of Thrones that is still astonishing in its depiction of hypocrisy and gender dynamics in a medieval society several years later. A major power player’s strength appeared to be heightened in terrifying ways as the most religiously devout character on the series, Jonathan Pryce’s deliciously pious-evil High Sparrow, urged Queen Margaery to sleep with Tommen, further entrenching him for the time being in the political establishment. It remains a shock upon rewatch to see just how high this self-described birdlike septon can fly after Cersei allowed his flock to arm themselves in a militaristic fashion. Simply intended by the Queen Mother to be aimed at her younger counterpart, this cult-like group would use its power to peck at King’s Landing’s corruption. These undesirables included vice like alcohol and prostitution, as well as powerfully corrupt secular leaders, such as the men beaten or slaughtered (depending on sexual orientation) in Littlefinger’s brothel, and… Loras Tyrell.

For fans who were unsullied by book spoilers in 2015 and 2016, the extent of their wrath might have been a surprise, especially since they had the ability to turn the king away when he came to free his brother-in-law from the Sept of Baelor. Was it pure fantasy that a religious order would be that swift in its rise to power and strength over a crown? Well yes and no. The carving of the Seven’s symbol into their foreheads seems a little bit extreme, however in many respects Game of Thrones was at last wading into the most epic struggle of the actual Middles Ages and beyond. For it was in seasons 5 and 6 that we got a real taste of the Westerosi version of the medieval monarchy’s war on the Church.

read more – The Real History of Game of Thrones: The War