I. The Battle of the Blackwater seems to be based on the various sieges of Constantinople: The Golden Horn (Wikipedia) On a related note, wildfire is based off Greek Fire, a weapon often used to defend Constantinople. No one knows what exactly Greek Fire was, as the recipe was so well-guarded. Historians have theorized, however, that it was related to napalm. II. Gene Wolfe makes references to "dire wolves" in The Book of the New Sun, though they're never really described. We know that Martin read Wolfe, as he has a blurb on the back of the last part of The Book of the New Sun, The Citadel of the Autarch. Perhaps the name "direwolf" derives from The Book of the New Sun?
