The pages of history are a bloody story of war, crimes, and revenge, other than being a vast document of how humanity ended up at its current threshold. Many individuals have emerged throughout history who later became significant figures in the modern world, inspiring popular culture and gaining mass followings millennia after their deaths.
Yet, some remain forgotten and foreshadowed, whose tales deserve to be brought forth. One of them is the regent-turned-Saint Olga of Kiev, whose bloody revenge for her husband’s death will even leave Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra Targaryen cowering in shame.
Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra Targaryen is Nothing Compared to This Real-Life Queen
Queen/Regent Olga of Kiev, a sovereign from the late 9th century and early 10th century, her act of vengeance for her husband’s death was so brutal that it would even make Westerosi battles look like a child’s play. Later turned a saint, Olga was married to Prince Igor I of Kiev. Back then, Igor was the heir of Rurik, the founder of the Rurik dynasty in present-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
Placed under the guardianship of Oleg, after his father’s death, Igor was sent to exact tribute from the neighboring Drevlian tribe. One misstep later, Igor was found brutally butchered, as per the History of Leo the Deacon by a Byzantine chronicler, Leo the Deacon. After his death, Olga was made the regent on behalf of her son, becoming the first woman to rule the territory.
However, the Drevlians were not done, and promptly set foot to have Olga marry their Prince Mal. Here, a bloody revenge took place which is nothing compared to the bloody and gory wars of House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones or other fictional movies and series.
Queen Olga’s Brutal Revenge Will Even Shock Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra Targaryen
When the Drevlians reached Kiev, as per The Russian Primary Chronicle: Laurentian Text, Olga accepted their proposals and asked them to wait till tomorrow so that she could honor their wishes. When the tribe returned the next day, they were carried by palanquins by the people of Kiev and were instead thrown into deep trenches dug on the order of Olga.
After burying them alive, Olga did not stop there but instead sent the tribe a message to send their best men to her. There they were all set to fire while bathing, and Olga then went on to their territory and carried out a bloody massacre there. But, this wasn’t enough, for she later besieged their city.
When the siege did not work, on the premise of ending the war, she asked each household to present her several birds. These birds then had burnt sulphur attached to them and were released at night to return to their respective households. This caused a roaring fire across the city, and those trying to escape were killed off.
Later having turned to Christianity and proclaimed a saint, Olga of Kiev’s ruthless revenge is enough to make Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra Targaryen look like a mere child playing with toys. Recently, the story of this absolute Queen of Vengence went viral on the internet and fans couldn’t help but exclaim that an HBO series based on her would turn out to be an absolute banger!
Whether we are getting an HBO series or not, it is certain that fictional characters like Rhaenyra Targaryen can never measure up to real-life queens like Olga of Kiev.
