Fantasy worlds frequently replicate feudal systems, often resembling the hierarchies of 14th-century Europe. In these stories, kings rule over divided kingdoms, lords protect their fiefs, and peasants toil in the fields. The clear social stratification, where power and privilege are inherited and maintained by force or divine right, offers a familiar and dramatic backdrop.

In fantasy fiction like Game of Thrones or The Witcher, these systems mirror the struggles of 14th-century Europe, where shifting alliances, war, and court intrigue determined the fate of kingdoms. Power was rarely stable, and rulers were often as vulnerable as they were authoritative — a fact that modern fantasy readily adopts to create tension and realism.

The Chivalric Ideal and the Knight

Knighthood and chivalry were central to the 14th-century imagination. Though knights in real history were often more brutal than noble, the romantic ideal of the knight — loyal, brave, and virtuous — gained popularity through literature like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Le Morte d’Arthur. These tales established the archetype of the noble warrior, driven by honor, love, or divine purpose.

Fantasy heavily borrows this image. Characters such as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings or Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones are modern incarnations of medieval knights. They blend martial prowess with personal codes of conduct, often navigating a world that challenges those very ideals.

Religion, Myth, and Magic

The 14th century was deeply religious. The Catholic Church wielded immense power, and daily life was filled with spiritual rituals, symbols, and fears of damnation or divine judgment. The supernatural was not separated from the real; visions, miracles, and omens were widely believed.

Fantasy adapts this worldview, transforming historical religion into rich, fictional pantheons. In many stories, gods walk among mortals, churches become magical institutions, and religious zealotry becomes a plot-driving force. George R. R. Martin’s Faith of the Seven and R'hllor religions, for example, echo medieval Christianity and heresies.

Additionally, the century’s fascination with saints, relics, and the battle between good and evil contributes to fantasy's use of magic. Wizards, necromancers, and enchanted objects all have precedents in medieval myth and superstition, often reimagined with creative license. shutdown123