'The White Princess' first look: Starz's 'White Queen' sequel revisits the Wars of the Roses

You know a historical conflict had to be bloody to have inspired George R. R. Martin to write Game of Thrones.

The Wars of the Roses were a fascinating and violent period in English history, when warring factions from two royal houses fought for control of the crown -- a rivalry so twisted, Martin calls it "the single biggest influence" for his A Song of Ice and Fire series.

Starz explored the first half of the conflict between the House of York and the House of Lancaster in the 2013 miniseries The White Queen, based on the novel by Philippa Gregory. That iteration starred Rebecca Ferguson as Elizabeth Woodville, the titular heroine and wife of King Edward IV (Max Irons).

Its sequel series, The White Princess, picks up with her daughter, Elizabeth of York -- aka "Lizzie" (Jodie Comer) -- who must marry Henry Tudor (Jacob Collins-Levy) to unite their houses following Henry's defeat of King Richard III, Lizzie's uncle. Mashable has an exclusive sneak peek at the new Starz miniseries, which premieres on April 16.

While England may be united by the marriage, Lizzie and Henry's personal and political rift runs deep, and the divide between them threatens to tear the kingdom apart once again. Rumors circulate that Lizzie’s long-lost brother Prince Richard is alive and planning to take the throne – forcing Lizzie into an impossible choice between her new Tudor husband and the boy who could be her own blood and the rightful York King.

Lizzie's mother, Elizabeth Woodville, is still around, now in the guise of Essie Davis, while Henry's mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, is played by Game of Thrones alum Michelle Fairley -- and both women are just as calculating as they were in The White Queen.

In other words, count us in for another round of palace intrigue.