Game of Thrones known better than the Battle of Hastings by young adults

Only 15 per cent knew who Harold Godwinson was compared to 23 who could identify King Joffrey

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It turns out young people really don’t care for real world history. According to a poll, young adults are able to recognise characters from the fictional medieval tales told in Game of Thrones better than the real kings involved in the Battle of Hastings.

To mark the 950th anniversary of Edward the Confessor’s death, ICM Research carried out an online poll of over 2,000 people, the results of which have shocked historians across the country.

According to the pollsters, while 38 per cent of people knew Willian of Normandy - later the Conqueror - was in the Battle of Hastings, far fewer knew the other kings involved in the iconic battle.

Only 15 per cent of 24 to 35 year-olds recognised that it was Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, who fought and died against the Norman King. 17 per cent of young people knew it was Edward the Confessor’s death that eventually sparked the battle,

In comparison, 23 per cent were able to identify King Joffrey of Baratheon from the HBO show Game of Thrones, with 22 per cent recognising Queen Daenerys Targaryen.

Fortunately, older people did better in the pole, with 25 per cent knowing Harold Godwinson took part in the battle. The poll also found that 1066 was the most memorable date in British history.

In other Game of Thrones news (because there’s not going to be much news about 1066), author of the novels George RR Martin has apologised for not finishing the sixth book in the series on time.