Lancel Lannister

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House Lannister.svg House Lannister of Darry.svg Warrior's Sons.svg Star of the Faith.svg Lancel Lannister
Lancel Lannister.jpg
Artwork by Amok ©

Titles
Allegiances
Culture Westermen
Born In 282 AC[1]Westerlands[2]
Father Kevan Lannister
Mother Dorna Swyft
Spouse Lady Amerei Frey (dissolved)
Lover Queen Cersei Lannister
Books

Played by Eugene Simon
TV series Game of Thrones:
Season 1 | 2 | 5 | 6

Lancel Lannister is a member of House Lannister of Casterly Rock and is the eldest son of Ser Kevan Lannister. Lancel and his cousin, Tyrek Lannister, are squires to King Robert I Baratheon.[3]

Appearance and Character

See also: Images of Lancel Lannister

A handsome and strong youth, Lancel has the thick sandy hair and green eyes of House Lannister. He has a wisp of a mustache.[4][5] The boy is said to closely resemble his cousin, Ser Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard,[5] whom he admires.[6]

Lancel is humorless, self-assured, arrogant as a Lannister, and impatient.[4][5] Comely and well spoken,[7] Lancel is able to sing.[4] The youth is eager for glory.[8]

Lancel's attire includes slashed red velvet with black silk undersleeves, a jeweled dagger, and a gilded scabbard hanging from his swordbelt.[5]

History

Queen Cersei Lannister insisted that King Robert I Baratheon take her cousins, Lancel and Tyrek, as squires.[9] Cersei's father, Lord Tywin Lannister, ordered his nephew to obey all of Cersei's instructions.[10]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Robert I Baratheon insults his squires, the cousins Lancel and Tyrek Lannister, for not being able to fit armor on the fat king.[9]

After Robert is mortally wounded by a boar, Ser Barristan Selmy informs Lords Eddard Stark and Varys that Lancel had supplied wine to the king during the hunt in the kingswood.[11] When Varys asks Lancel about the hunt, the youth says he was given the wineskins from his cousin, Queen Cersei Lannister, who said they were her husband's favorite vintage.[12]

A Clash of Kings

Ser Lancel Lannister, by Henning Ludvigsen © Fantasy Flight Games

With Ser Jaime Lannister, her twin and lover, a captive of Robb Stark, Cersei sleeps with Lancel,[2] although the youth never finishes inside her.[5][6] Cersei, the regent for King Joffrey I Baratheon, insists that her cousin be knighted as Ser Lancel.[13] Tyrion Lannister, the acting Hand of the King, learns from his sister that the alcohol supplied by Lancel to Robert was strongwine fortified to be more potent than the king was accustomed.[14]

Lancel becomes Cersei's new favorite.[13] During one visit to Cersei's chambers in the Red Keep, Tyrion hears Lancel singing "The Seasons of My Love" to the accompaniment of a harpist and a piper.[4]

After Tyrion has Pycelle imprisoned, Cersei sends an emboldened Lancel to Tyrion to demand the release of the Grand Maester. Tyrion gets Lancel to admit his involvement in Robert's death and that he is sleeping with Cersei. Tyrion blackmails his shamed cousin into spying on Cersei for him.[5] The new knight later reveals to Tyrion that Cersei is discretely meeting with the Kettleblack brothers.[15]

Lancel survives the riot of King's Landing, riding to the Red Keep with Cersei and Prince Tommen Baratheon. When Tyrion kicks King Joffrey, Ser Balon Swann restrains Lancel.[15]

In the royal sept at the Red Keep, Lancel informs Tyrion that Cersei plans for Prince Tommen to be sheltered at Rosby with Lord Gyles Rosby. Tyrion sends Ser Jacelyn Bywater to secure Tommen at Rosby under Tyrion's influence.[8]

Lancel wants his own command[8] in the upcoming battle against Stannis Baratheon, Joffrey's uncle, which is granted.[16][17] His arm is wounded during the Battle of the Blackwater, and the sight of Lancel in his bloody surcoat causes some women in the Queen's Ballroom to scream. Lancel angrily objects to Cersei's demand to have Joffrey brought inside Maegor's Holdfast, as the king's disappearance from the battle would cause desertion among his defenders. Lancel offers to stay by Joffrey's side as long as the king remains in the fight, but the queen responds by striking his wound, which bleeds anew. Sansa Stark has a serving man bring Lancel to Maester Frenken for treatment.[18] Stannis's army is eventually defeated with the arrival of Lords Tywin Lannister and Mace Tyrell.[18]

For his services to Joffrey, Lancel is named the new Lord of Darry in the riverlands.[19] Cersei believes this is a sop by Tywin to Ser Kevan Lannister, his brother and Lancel's father.[20] It is feared that Lancel will lose his arm or even his life.[19]

A Storm of Swords

Lancel suffers from an ulcerating wound which does not heal.[21] Kevan tells Tyrion that Lancel has praised Tyrion's efforts at the Blackwater, and that Cersei has been visiting his son's sickbed to pray for him.[22] Tywin considers wedding Lancel to Sansa, but Kevan does not feel Lancel would be healthy enough to consummate the marriage.[22] Tywin instead arranges for the girl to wed Tyrion.[23] With Lancel wounded and Martyn a prisoner of Robb Stark, Kevan becomes overcome with grief after Lord Rickard Karstark murders his third son, Willem Lannister.[21]

After the Red Wedding, Tywin tells Tyrion that Lancel must marry a girl from House Frey according to his alliance with Lord Walder Frey.[24]

Kevan brings Lancel from his sickbed to attend the wedding feast of King Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell. The thin Lancel is now ghastly looking, with white and brittle hair. Sansa praises Lancel's valor and strength, causing Lancel and Kevan to both beam. Father and son have seats of honor near the Iron Throne. Joffrey chokes to death during the feast, and Cersei accuses Tyrion of murder.[25]

Lord Petyr Baelish informs Sansa that he sent the Kettleblack brothers to King's Landing so they could be found by Bronn and Lancel.[26]

After Jaime frees Tyrion from the black cells to avoid execution for Joffrey's death, Tyrion tells his brother that their sister Cersei has been sleeping with various men, including Lancel. Tyrion kills their father, Lord Tywin, during his escape.[27]

A Feast for Crows

Maester Ballabar helps treat Lancel as he recovers. A grey-faced Lancel attends the funeral of his uncle, Lord Tywin. Lancel tells Cersei that the High Septon prayed with him to help his recovery, and Lancel develops a new-found piety to the Faith of the Seven. Worried that Lancel might reveal her secrets, Cersei suggests that Lancel pray silently.[20] Lancel attends the wedding of King Tommen and Margaery.[28] It is rumored in King's Landing that Lancel's wounds have made him unable to reproduce.[6] The High Septon dies in his sleep;[29] unbeknownst to Lancel, Cersei has had the religious leader assassinated by Ser Osney Kettleblack.[30]

Ser Harwyn Plumm clears out broken men from Darry.[28] Jaime, bothered by Tyrion's claim that Cersei slept with Lancel, insults his cousin when Lancel departs King's Landing for Darry with his father and two septons.[31] Lancel quarters the lion of House Lannister with the plowman of House Darry on the arms of House Lannister of Darry.[6] Lancel weds Amerei Frey, but they do not consummate the marriage.[6]

Lancel is ambivalent as to rumors of the promiscuity of his new wife. Instead of his bedchamber, Lancel sleeps in the castle's sept. He commands his retainers to never disturb him during his prayers. The young lord is guarded by sparrows and Poor Fellows. Kevan departs Darry after quarreling with his son.[6]

Lancel prays in the sept instead of attending the welcoming feast when Jaime arrives at Darry. Jaime finds the barefoot Lancel looking like a beggar in his roughspun tunic and hair shirt. Lancel has shaved the crown of his head and has attempted to grow a beard. The fasting Lancel claims he receives visions from the Seven each night, and that he dreamed of being killed by Jaime after admitting to his sins. Lancel admits to having supplied King Robert with the strongwine and to having slept with Cersei, whom he loved. The young lord also says he had confessed his sins to the late High Septon. Lancel explains he is joining the High Sparrow and the Warrior's Sons, and that Harwyn can have Darry and Amerei after he renounces them. Jaime refuses his cousin's repeated requests to pray together.[6]

When Jaime arrives at the siege of Riverrun, Ser Daven Lannister is shocked to hear of their cousin's decisions, while Genna Lannister is not surprised.[32]

Cersei sees Lancel among the Warrior's Sons in the capital.[30]

A Dance with Dragons

Lancel is one of Cersei's accusers after she is arrested by the Faith. The imprisoned queen admits to the High Sparrow that she slept with Lancel, but she denies having conspired with Lancel to kill King Robert.[33] Under the command of Ser Theodan the True, Lancel makes up part of Cersei's escort in her walk of atonement.[34]

Kevan Lannister, the Lord Regent for King Tommen, considers naming his son Lancel to the Kingsguard. Kevan is assassinated by Varys, however.[35]

Quotes by Lancel

Lancel: Have a care how you speak to me, Imp.
Tyrion: Oh, unhand your sword. One cry from me and Shagga will burst in and kill you. With an axe, not a wineskin.[10]

—Lancel and Tyrion Lannister

Jaime: How long has it been since you've eaten?
Lancel: My faith is all the nourishment I need.[6]

Jaime Lannister and Lancel

Jaime: In any case, you're not like to be taken for Baelor the Blessed.

Lancel: No. He was a rare spirit, pure and brave and innocent, untouched by all the evils of the world. I am a sinner, with much and more to atone for.
Jaime: What do you know of sin, coz? I killed my king.

Lancel: The brave man slays with a sword, the craven with a wineskin. We are both kingslayers, ser.[6]

Jaime Lannister and Lancel

Quotes about Lancel

I know the lad well. A stalwart boy, Ser Kevan Lannister's son, nephew to Lord Tywin and cousin to the queen. I hope the dear sweet lad does not blame himself. Children are so vulnerable in the innocence of their youth, how well do I remember.[11]

Bronn: Four hairs on his lip and he thinks he's a man.
Tyrion: Four hairs and a knighthood. He's Ser Lancel now, never forget.[36]

Look at him. Not quite so tall, his features not so fine, and his hair is sand instead of spun gold, yet still ... even a poor copy of Jaime is sweeter than an empty bed, I suppose.[5]

Tyrion Lannister's thoughts

Though only seventeen, he might have passed for seventy; grey-faced, gaunt, with hollow cheeks, sunken eyes, and hair as white and brittle as chalk. How can Lancel be among the living when Tywin Lannister is dead? Have the gods taken leave of their wits?[20]

Cersei Lannister's thoughts

And Lancel ... I suppose we should have seen this coming from afar. A life protecting the High Septon is not so different from a life protecting the king, after all.[32]

Cersei: Lancel loved me. He was half a boy, but I never doubted his devotion to me or my son.

High Sparrow: And yet you still corrupted him.

Cersei: I was lonely. I had lost my husband, my son, my lord father. I was regent, but a queen is still a woman, and women are weak vessels, easily tempted ... Your High Holiness knows the truth of that. Even holy septas have been known to sin. I took comfort with Lancel. He was kind and gentle and I needed someone.[33]

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
 
 
 

Behind the Scenes

Lancel may be a reference by George R. R. Martin to Lancelot, one of the Knights of the Round Table who had an adulterous affair with Queen Guinevere.

References

  1. See the Lancel Lannister calculation.
  2. 2.0 2.1 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Lancel Lannister.
  3. A Game of Thrones, Appendix.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 29, Tyrion VII.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 30, Jaime IV.
  7. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 32, Sansa III.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 44, Tyrion X.
  9. 9.0 9.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  10. 10.0 10.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 29, Sansa II.
  11. 11.0 11.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 47, Eddard XIII.
  12. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 58, Eddard XV.
  13. 13.0 13.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 17, Tyrion IV.
  14. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 3, Tyrion I.
  15. 15.0 15.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 41, Tyrion IX.
  16. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 60, Sansa VI.
  17. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 61, Tyrion XIV.
  18. 18.0 18.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 62, Sansa VII.
  19. 19.0 19.1 A Clash of Kings, Chapter 65, Sansa VIII.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 7, Cersei II.
  21. 21.0 21.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 32, Tyrion IV.
  22. 22.0 22.1 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 19, Tyrion III.
  23. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 28, Sansa III.
  24. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 53, Tyrion VI.
  25. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 60, Tyrion VIII.
  26. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 68, Sansa VI.
  27. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 77, Tyrion XI.
  28. 28.0 28.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 12, Cersei III.
  29. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 17, Cersei IV.
  30. 30.0 30.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 43, Cersei X.
  31. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 16, Jaime II.
  32. 32.0 32.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 33, Jaime V.
  33. 33.0 33.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 54, Cersei I.
  34. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 65, Cersei II.
  35. A Dance with Dragons, Epilogue.
  36. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 20, Tyrion V.

External Links

Preceded by Lord of Darry
299300 AC
Succeeded by