Joanna Lannister

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House Lannister.png
Joanna Lannister
House Lannister.png
'Lady Joanna' by wolverrain©
'Lady Joanna' by wolverrain©

Title Lady of Casterly Rock
Allegiance House Lannister
Born Casterly Rock
Died +/- 274 AC
Spouse Tywin Lannister
Books

Lady Joanna Lannister was a Lady of Casterly Rock, the wife of Lord Tywin Lannister, and the mother of Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion.[1] She died giving birth to Tyrion before the beginning of the series.[2]

Life

See also: Images of Joanna Lannister

Joanna was born in to a cadet branch of House Lannister. She had at least one sibling, Stafford.[3] Later she married her cousin Tywin. Joanna was not significantly older than Tywin[4].On their wedding day Tywin smiled, a very rare occurrence.[5] Their marriage was a very happy one; Joanna became Tywin's trusted counselor and companion. Her influence on her husband was such that people would say Tywin ruled the Seven Kingdoms as Hand of the King[2] "but was ruled at home by his lady wife."[6]

While Joanna and Tywin were still betrothed, Joanna's brother Stafford Lannister was captured by Lady Tarbeck together with two other Lannisters, in response to Lord Tytos imprisoning Lord Tarbeck[7].

Her servant once caught Jaime and Cersei as children in flagrante delicto. When Joanna learned of this, she sent the maid away, moved Jaime's chamber to the other side of the castle, and put a guard outside of Cersei's chamber. Joanna then warned her twins that they must never do such a thing again, or else she would be forced to tell their father. Joanna died birthing Tyrion not long after this event. [8][9]

Joanna was a friend of the then-ruling Princess of Dorne, whom she knew from her time at court when they were companions to Princess Rhaella Targaryen.[6] Her friend had two children, Oberyn and Elia Martell, who were not yet promised in marriage, so they planned to have their children wed each other. Before this could happen, Joanna died giving birth to her third child, Tyrion, and the marriages did not take place.

Recollections about Joanna

Tywin seldom spoke of his wife but was much saddened by her death. He never remarried. According to his brother, Gerion Lannister, "the best part of Tywin died with her."[2] Another brother, Kevan, later took over Joanna's role as Tywin's most trusted counselor.[10]

According to Ser Barristan Selmy, King Aerys II lusted for Joanna Lannister, something that caused further friction between the King and his Hand. At the wedding of Tywin to Joanna, Aerys drunkenly japed about how it was a pity the first night tradition was banned, and he took certain liberties in the bedding ritual when the men at the feast had to disrobe the bride.[11]

Years later in Meereen, when Aerys's daughter Daenerys asks Ser Barristan about her father and whether there was a woman he loved better than his queen, Ser Barristan replies,

“Not loved. Mayhaps wanted is a better word, but ... it was only kitchen gossip, the whispers of washerwomen and stableboys ..."

Ser Barristan, choosing his words with care, goes on to tell Dany of her father's behaviour during the wedding feast of Tywin and Joanna and during the bedding.

During the Siege of Riverrun Jaime dreams and sees a woman he barely recognizes. At first, he believes her to be Cersei. She asks if he will forget his father like he has forgotten her. She talks about the future Tywin wanted for his children: his son a knight and his daughter a queen. She cries when Jaime replies that they have indeed become that.[12]

Quotes

Prince Aerys . . . as a youth, he was taken with a certain lady of Casterly Rock, a cousin of Tywin Lannister.

Family

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tytos
 
Jeyne
Marbrand
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tywin
 
Joanna
Lannister
 
Kevan
 
Dorna
Swyft
 
Emmon
Frey
 
Genna
 
Tygett
 
Darlessa
Marbrand
 
Gerion
 
Briony
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Robert
Baratheon
 
Cersei
 
Jaime
 
Tyrion
 
Sansa
Stark
 
 
 
 
 
 
Issue
 
 
 
 
 
Tyrek
 
Ermesande
Hayford
 
Joy
Hill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Joffrey
Baratheon
 
Myrcella
Baratheon
 
Tommen
Baratheon
 
Amerei
Frey
 
Lancel
 
Willem
 
Martyn
 
Janei
 
 
 


References and Notes