Khal Drogo Based On Attila The Hun?

George R.R. Martin has mentioned that the Dothraki are inspired by a blend of the Mongols, Huns, Alans, Turks, and Native American tribes. Khal Drogo, the leader of the Dothraki tribe, can be compared to Attila the Hun, who was the leader of the ancient nomadic people known as the Huns. The Huns roamed Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central Europe. Every city or village The Huns passed, they would raid these regions. Similarly, the Dothraki people roamed the continent of Essos to the Dothraki Sea. They also raided villages and cities which they passed through within the continent of Essos.

Additionally, Both Attila the Hun and Khal Drogo exploited their military strength to demand tributes in the form of gold, trade, and residences from their neighbors. In 439 AD Attila and his brother Bleda negotiated a treaty with the Romans, known as the Treaty of Margus. In this treaty, the Rome was to pay money or tribute in the form of gold to prevent Attila and the Huns from invading their territories. Similarly, Khal Drogo and the Magisters of Pentos negotiated an agreement in which the Magisters of Pentos offered Khal Drogo a nine-towered manse, which was situated in the bay of Pentos, as a tribute that served to distract him from the thoughts of invading Pentos.

Another factor that Attila the Hun and Khal Drogo had in common was their fear of water. When Attila was raiding the Roman Empire, many people fled to swampy areas and islands to seek refuge from Attila’s scourge and ruthlessness, which ultimately led to the development of settlements around water, such as Venice. Attila and his men never followed the fleeing people in areas near water. Similarly, Khal Drogo and his men feared the sea. The Dothraki refer to the ocean as the poison water, they mistrust, dislike, and fear it. The Dothraki believe that water a horse cannot drink is not good and the ocean fills them with superstition. They also do not like the fact that a horse cannot cross the ocean on its own legs. This is why it was hard for Viserys Targaryen to raise an army of the Dothraki to help him reclaim the Iron Throne. Khal Drogo also resisted the idea of going to Westeros simply because it was located across the sea. However, he only reconsidered the idea when an assassin attempted to kill Daenerys Targaryen.

The Dothraki culture is very similar to that of the Huns. The very first instance we are introduced to the Dothraki is through the perception of Viserys who continually calls the Dothraki people savages and barbarians. This view of foreign cultures as barbaric savages is a typical perspective that is encountered when discussing the Huns. Also, the Dothraki do not establish any permanent empire like the Huns. The only permanent settlement is Vaes Dothrak for the Dothraki people. For the Huns, they were constantly moving people who did not establish kingdoms, empires or open trade routes. For both the Dothraki and the Huns there was a lack of desire to settle and build long-lasting empires and cities.

-Rija Soofi