Difference between revisions of "Kevan Lannister"

From A Wiki of Ice and Fire
Jump to: navigation, search
(Quotes by Kevan: Minor change)
Line 10: Line 10:
 
| Spouse        = [[Dorna Swyft]]
 
| Spouse        = [[Dorna Swyft]]
 
| Place_of_Birth =
 
| Place_of_Birth =
| Date_of_Birth  = {{Date|245}}
+
| Date_of_Birth  = {{Date|244}} or {{Date|245}}<ref>''See the [[Years after Aegon's Conquest/Calculations Ages (Continued2)#Kevan Lannister|Kevan Lannister]] calculation.''</ref>
 
| Place_of_Death = [[King's Landing]]
 
| Place_of_Death = [[King's Landing]]
 
| Date_of_Death  = {{Date|300}}
 
| Date_of_Death  = {{Date|300}}

Revision as of 20:27, 27 July 2014

House Lannister.png
Kevan Lannister
House Lannister.png
Kevan Lannister.jpg
Portrait by Amok©

Titles
Allegiance House Lannister
Born 244 AC or 245 AC[1]
Died 300 AC
King's Landing
Spouse Dorna Swyft
Books

Played by Ian Gelder
TV series Season 1 | Season 2

Ser Kevan Lannister is a knight from House Lannister and is the younger brother of Lord Tywin Lannister. In the television adaptation Game of Thrones he is played by Ian Gelder.[2]

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Kevan Lannister

Ser Kevan is described as being a thick-waisted man of fifty five years, with green eyes, rounded shoulders and fair skin.[3] He is portly, balding, with short blond hair. He has a close-cropped, yellow beard that follows the line of his massive jaw.[4][5] He is remembered by his nephew, Ser Jaime as being a stout man with a sword in his youth.[6]

While it is said that Kevan never had a thought that Tywin did not have first, he is by no means stupid; he simply recognized the superiority of his brother at an early age. Kevan is comfortable doing his duty to realize his brother's wishes, though this means perpetually living in his shadow. Unlike his younger brothers, Tygett and Gerion, Kevan followed Tywin willingly and without frustration for being subservient.

Kevan is recognised by his niece, Cersei Lannister for being tireless, prudent and unfailingly obedient to her father, and one of the few men Tywin relied on.[7] Tyrion thinks of him as solid and steady.[8]

History

In 274 AC, Kevan attended to the entertainment of the Princess of Dorne and her children, Oberyn Martell and Elia Martell during their visit to Casterly Rock to see Lady Joanna Lannister. Unfortunately, their visit came shortly after Lady Joanna's death and Tyrion Lannister's birth. Tywin, in his grief, placed Kevan in charge of attending to their Dornish guests, establishing his trust in his younger brother.[9]

Kevan soon became Tywin's closest confidant, sharing all of his counsels.[3] As the second son of the reigning Lannister family, Kevan became a household knight and served his older brother - though this meant he held no lands of his own. Kevan did hold certain incomes and was frequently rewarded by Tywin for his good service despite his lack of status, and he set aside chests of coin from this and his generous inheritance from his late father, Tytos Lannister.[3]

Kevan was a noted tourney knight in his youth. In 276 AC, Kevan may have been one of Cersei Lannister's two uncles unhorsed by Rhaegar Targaryen in the tourney for King Aerys II.[10] He fought in a melee at King's Landing, but was thrown from his horse by Thoros of Myr, whose flaming sword terrified his horse.[11]

Kevan married Dorna Swyft and they have four children: Lancel, twin boys Martyn and Willem, and a newborn daughter, Janei.

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Ser Kevan Lannister. © FFG

Ser Kevan accompanies Lord Tywin Lannister during his campaign in the Riverlands.[4] At the Battle of the Green Fork, he commands the center, a large mixed force. Tywin intends the left flank to break and for Kevan to wheel around to crush the advancing northmen against the river, however, the cautious northern commander Lord Roose Bolton withdraws rather than fall into this trap. Following their victory, the Lannisters discover that Robb Stark was not present in the battle, and they move toward Riverrun.[12]

However, when word reaches Tywin's host of the defeat at the Battle of the Whispering Wood and of the capture of his nephew, Ser Jaime Lannister, Kevan continues with the rest of the army to Harrenhal. Tywin orders Kevan to command Gregor Clegane, Amory Lorch and Vargo Hoat to lead their reavers in setting the Riverlands afire from the Gods Eye to the Red Fork while the rest of their host re-deploys at Harrenhal.

A Clash of Kings

Kevan accompanies his brother's attempt to force his way into the Westerlands and takes part in the Battle of the Fords. He retreats with the army after the defeat at Stone Mill.[13] Later he takes part in the attack on Stannis Baratheon's flank during the Battle of the Blackwater.

A Storm of Swords

After the siege on King's Landing is lifted, King Joffrey Baratheon appoints Ser Kevan to his small council as Master of Laws.[14] After receiving news of the death of his son Willem at Riverrun, and with his other sons' lives in danger (Lancel's wound refuses to heal, and Martyn remains in Stark captivity), Kevan becomes consumed by worry and grief for a time; as a result Tywin must rely on Tyrion more than he would prefer.

Kevan attends the wedding of Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister, where he dances with several ladies at the feast, including Sansa. He is present when news of the Red Wedding is received and is appalled by King Joffrey Baratheon's statement that he wants the head of Robb Stark so he can serve it to Sansa at his own wedding, a request that Tywin refuses to grant.

Kevan gives Joffrey a magnificent red leather jousting saddle for the royal wedding.[15]

A Feast for Crows

When the body of Lord Tywin Lannister is discovered, Ser Kevan is one of the first to be notified of his brother's death. He prays by the bed-side of his brother, evidently shaken by the murder.[7]

Following the death of his brother, Tywin, Queen Regent Cersei offers Kevan the position of Hand of the King. Kevan doubts Cersei's leadership, and reveals Tywin informed him of his plan to send her back to the Westerlands as Lady of Casterly Rock with a new husband before his death. Kevan states that he will only accept the position if Cersei names him Regent as well as Hand and she return to the Rock. He also advises choosing Mathis Rowan or Randyll Tarly as Hand of the King instead.[3]

Cersei refuses his demands, which prompts Kevan to say from what he saw of Joffrey, Cersei is as unfit a mother as she is a ruler, causing an enraged Cersei to throw her wine in his face. Kevan also warns his niece to not make him a foe, as despite being a household knight of Tywin, he has two hundred knights under his command, with gold to hire sellswords and influence to double his numbers.[3]

Cersei later appoints two Lannister cousins in positions that Kevan was better suited for; Daven is made Warden of the West and Damion is named Castellan of Casterly Rock. Kevan is also angered that Daven Lannister received the title of Warden of the West over him, though he bears Daven no ill will as he knows Daven never asked for the position. At Tommen's wedding, Cersei suggests that Kevan hunt down "the Hound", but he rebuffs her.[16]

Kevan rides at the head of the escort that is to return his brother's body to the Westerlands to be buried in Casterly Rock; 100 crossbowmen, 300 men-at-arms, and the lords of the west. Kevan quickly becomes alienated from his immediate family and comes to believe Tyrion to be Joffrey's murderer. He also comes to believe the rumors of incest between Cersei and Jaime, and confronts his nephew with his suspicion during the procession, while informing him he is leaving to help Lancel restore Darry.[6] Lancel soon becomes a religious fanatic and abandons Castle Darry, the estate Kevan had won for him.

Kevan refuses to add his forces to his cousin's at the Siege of Riverrun, and returns to the west to see his younger son Martyn.[17] After Cersei's imprisonment, the small council led by Grand Maester Pycelle and Harys Swyft name Kevan Regent of the King and send a raven to Casterly Rock offering him the position.[18]

A Dance with Dragons

Lord Regent Kevan Lannister - by Amok ©

Kevan accepts the role of Regent to King Tommen Baratheon, and sets about trying to fix the mess that Cersei made. As a concession to House Tyrell, Kevan makes Mace Tyrell Hand of the King and raises two of Tyrell's bannerman to the small council: Paxter Redwyne is made the Master of Ships, and Lord Randyll Tarly the Master of Laws.

Kevan visits the imprisoned Cersei and confronts her about her affair with his son Lancel. He tells her that regardless of the outcome of her trial, her rule is now at an end.[5]

Kevan discusses with the small council how to deal with the crown's crisis of Jon Connington and his feigned dragon and the crown's financial problems. He later has supper with Cersei and King Tommen.

Kevan is told by a servant that Pycelle is seeking him.[19] He finds a White raven announcing winter's arrival. Varys appears suddenly and shoots Kevan in the chest with a crossbow. Varys apologizes to Kevan as he lays dying, stating that he bears Kevan no ill will:

...This pains me, my lord. You do not deserve to die alone on such a cold dark night. There are many like you, good men in service to bad causes...'[19]

Varys tells him he cannot allow Kevan to undo Cersei's work; with his death by crossbow, Cersei will believe Kevan murdered by Tyrion or House Tyrell, who in turn will suspect her, undermining the alliances shoring up Tommen's hold on the Iron Throne, opening the way for King Aegon VI. Varys then commands his "little birds" to finish Kevan off. As he dies, he sees Pycelle dead at his desk, his head smashed in.[19]

Life

Ser Kevan Lannister spent most of his life in his older brother's shadow. After Joanna Lannister's death Kevan became Tywin's most trusted captain and confidant. Tyrion once says of Kevan that...

...the gods shaped him to be a follower not a leader, well the gods and my lord father.

However, in his few appearances after Tywin's death, Kevan proved himself an able and competent leader in his own right. Despite not being a Lord, his strategic thinking, significant retinue and personal wealth made him a man of significant standing. His leadership and diplomatic skills allowed him to placate House Tyrell after the damage Cersei did to the alliance with the House. Kevan also was in the process of binding the Faith of the Seven behind Tommen I. Varys knew Kevan could have succeeded in repairing the Iron Thrones Tyrell/Lannister alliance and making it a severe threat to Aegon's claim, thus the reason Varys had Kevan killed.

Quotes by Kevan

A man who fights for coin is loyal only to his purse. [20]

– Kevan, regarding a Tyroshi sellsword


Cersei: Bring us Sandor's head, and I know His Grace will be most grateful. Joff may have liked the man, but Tommen was always afraid of him... with good reason it would seem. Kevan: When a dog goes bad, the fault lies with his master.[16]

- Kevan and Cersei Lannister


Cersei: The king is my son. Kevan: Aye, and from what I saw of Joffrey, you are as unfit a mother as you are a ruler. [16]

- Kevan and Cersei Lannister

Family

Kevan Lannister is married to Dorna of House Swyft, with whom he has three sons, Lancel, Willem and Martyn, and a daughter, Janei.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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

External links