House Lannister

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House Lannister of Casterly Rock
House Lannister.svg
Hear Me Roar!
Coat of arms A gold lion, on a crimson field
(Gules, a lion or)
Seat Casterly Rock
Heads
Region Westerlands
Titles
Overlord House Baratheon of King's Landing
Cadet branches
Ancestral weapon Brightroar (lost)
Founder Lann the Clever
Founded Age of Heroes

House Lannister of Casterly Rock is one of the Great Houses of Seven Kingdoms, and the principal house of the westerlands. Their seat is Casterly Rock, though another branch exists in nearby Lannisport. Their sigil is a golden lion on a field of crimson.[1] Their official motto is "Hear Me Roar!" However, their unofficial motto, equally well known, is "A Lannister always pays his debts."[2][3] The Warden of the West is a Lannister by tradition. Their gold mines have made the Lannisters the wealthiest of the Great Houses.[4]

Through the female line the Lannisters boast of descent from Lann the Clever, the legendary trickster of the Age of Heroes who tricked the members of House Casterly into giving him Casterly Rock[5] during the era of the First Men. Later marrying Andals,[6] the Lannisters reigned as Kings of the Rock until the Targaryen conquest, when they were defeated at the Field of Fire. King Loren I Lannister's surrender to Aegon the Conqueror allowed the Lannisters to remain the liege lords of the westerlands.[7]

The current Lord of Casterly Rock is Tywin Lannister, whose daughter Cersei is the queen of King Robert I Baratheon, while her twin, Ser Jaime, is a knight of Robert's Kingsguard. Tywin's youngest child is Tyrion, a dwarf.

Traits

Lannisters have a reputation for being comely[8] with fair, golden hair and emerald green eyes.[9][10]

Lannisters are known for wearing crimson cloaks,[11] and their household guard are known as the red cloaks.[12]

History

First Men Kings

Casterly Rock by Ted Nasmith ©

The Lannisters suddenly appear as First Men in historical records of the Age of Heroes, ruling large portions of the westerlands from Casterly Rock just as the Casterlys vanish from the chronicles. They claim descent from Lann the Clever, the legendary figure who tricked the Casterlys from Casterly Rock.[6]

According to a semi-canon source, members of lesser branches of the family left Casterly Rock and developed a nearby village into the city of Lannisport, forming House Lannister of Lannisport. Meanwhile, the Lannisters of Casterly Rock grew to become Kings of the Rock.[13] The first known King of the Rock was Loreon I Lannister, although Lann the Clever has posthumously been called by the same title. Loreon gained House Reyne as his vassals and defeated the Hooded King, Morgon Banefort.[6]

Andal Kings

During the coming of the Andals to Westeros, King Tybolt Lannister initially fought the invading Andal warlords and adventurers who ventured into the westerlands, but Kings Tyrion III and Gerold eventually took a policy of arranging marriages between them and the daughters of the local First Men houses. They also took Andal sons and daughters as wards and fosterlings at Casterly Rock to prevent betrayals such as those that had happened in the Vale. In time, the Lannister kings also wed their children to Andals, and when King Gerold III died without male issue, a council crowned the Andal husband of Gerold's only daughter, Ser Joffrey Lydden, who took the Lannister name. Thus the Lannisters became an Andal house, though their First Men name lived on.[6]

Cerion extended his rule to the Golden Tooth, and Tommen I gained Fair Isle. Lancel I and Lancel IV fell while campaigning against the Kings of the Reach from House Gardener, while Gerold the Great raided the Iron Islands.[6]

Hagon Hoare, King of the Iron Islands, allowed his mother, the dowager queen Lelia Lannister, to be mutilated by the Shrike. Her nephew, the King of the Rock, began a war which left the Iron Islands impoverished.[14]

House Lannister possessed an ancestral Valyrian steel greatsword called Brightroar, but it was lost when King Tommen II Lannister went on a quest to Valyria and never returned.[15] The Lannisters have been looking for a replacement ever since, though they have not stopped looking for their own lost ancestral sword.[15]

Targaryen Conquest

The host of the Two Kings, from Game of Thrones Blu-ray

When the Wars of Conquest began and Aegon the Conqueror swept through Westeros, Loren I, King of the Rock, sided with Mern IX Gardener, King of the Reach, against the Targaryens. The host of the Two Kings numbered fifty-five thousand men, five thousand of them mounted knights, while the Targaryens had only ten thousand men, many of uncertain loyalty and reliability. The two armies met in the plains of the Reach south of the Blackwater Rush. With their smaller force severely weakened and in danger of routing, Aegon and his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys, each deployed their three dragons, the only time this happened during Aegon's Conquest. Their combined fires scoured the battlefield, immolating more than four thousand men (including King Mern and his heirs) in the the Field of Fire.[16]

After he was captured the following day, King Loren the Last bent the knee to Aegon and was allowed to remain Lord of Casterly Rock. Loren rose as the first Warden of the West.[17] Queen Visenya is said to have been grateful that Loren rode to war instead of seeking refuge in his castle, as Casterly Rock may have withstood even dragonflame.[18]

To encourage greater ties throughout the Seven Kingdoms, House Targaryen brokered marriages between the new vassals sworn to the Iron Throne. The eldest son of Lord Loren Lannister, for instance, was wed to a girl from House Redwyne.[19]

First Century of Targaryen Rule

While the great wealth of Casterly Rock was untouched by the Targaryen Conquest, the Lannisters were reduced from kings to lords, and they did not have close ties to the new Targaryen kings. The Lannisters had little presence at the royal court for the first century of Targaryen rule, and no Lannister is mentioned as a member of the small council until the lead-up to the Dance of the Dragons. During this first century, the noble houses with the closest political connections to the Targaryen dynasty were the Velaryons, Baratheons, Tullys, Hightowers, and Arryns.[20]

By the time of the Faith Militant uprising, Lyman Lannister was Lord of Casterly Rock, and was wed to Jocasta Tarbeck. Lord Lyman resented the Lannisters' lack of influence under the new Targaryen regime, but could do little about it. When the conflict began in 42 AC, Prince Aegon Targaryen and his sister-wife, Princess Rhaena were in the middle of a royal progress through the westerlands, and were briefly trapped at Crakehall by Poor Fellows, until Lord Lyman offered the couple refuge at Casterly Rock. Lyman refused to surrender them to King Maegor I Targaryen, although he declined to support Aegon's claim militarily. A shrewd ruler, Lyman carefully weighed his actions and played both sides: when young Aegon the Uncrowned eventually raised a rebel army to march against his uncle Maegor, Lyman's bastard son Tyler Hill led five hundred men from Lannisport to join his forces - thus allowing Lyman himself to plausibly deny that he had directly ordered a force of westermen to join the rebels. As it happened, Aegon was slain by Maegor in the Battle Beneath the Gods Eye in 43 AC, though Tyler Hill survived.[21]

In the second half of Maegor's reign the surviving Faith Militant rebounded, now led by Ser Joffrey Doggett, leader of Lannisport chapter of the Warrior's Sons. They could no longer face Maegor in open battle but resorted to ambush and harassing his forces. By late 45 AC, Joffrey ruled the hill country north of the Golden Tooth in all but name. Maegor also later sent the son of Jeyne Westerling to be Lyman's ward.[21]

Throughout all this the Lannisters took no direct action in favor of one side or the other. At the very end of the conflict in 48 AC, Maegor's nephew Jaehaerys I Targaryen declared against him, and after his brutal reign the Great Houses could finally stand him no longer. First the Velaryons declared for Jaehaerys, rapidly followed by most of the Great Houses including the Lannisters. Abandoned by his supporters and with rebel armies advancing on King's Landing unopposed, Maegor ran out of options, and was found dead on the Iron Throne by the time the rebels arrived.[21]

Lord Lyman led three hundred knights to King's Landing to attend the famed Golden Wedding in 49 AC, a grand event which by extension celebrated Jahaerys's succession to the throne and reconciliation with the Great Houses.[22] The Lannisters hosted Rhaena and her husband, Androw Farman, for a time after they were sent away from Fair Isle. Rhaena eventually departed, however, after determining that Lyman and his wife Jocasta coveted her dragon eggs, hoping to become the "second house" in the realm (displacing the Targaryens' current favorites, the Velaryons and Baratheons).[23] King Jaehaerys never fully trusted Lyman either, accurately judging that he was an ambitious man who wanted to increase Lannister power by edging his way into the Targaryens' inner circle. At multiple points Jaehaerys therefore passed over Lyman for several royal offices and favors: he decided not to name him master of coin in 50 AC, or to name him as the new Hand of the King in 54 AC, or to consider him as master of coin again in 59 AC upon the death of Rego Draz.[24] Lyman and many of his bannermen died months later in 59 AC from the Shivers plague.[8]

In 80 AC, Jaehaerys once again passed over the Lannisters, this time for a royal marriage between his younger daughter Princess Daella and young Tymond Lannister, the new heir to Casterly Rock. This had more to do with the fact, however, that Daella personally disliked Tymond, for he was a noted womanizer and overly fond of wine. Nonetheless Jaehaerys indulged Daella and let her marry whoever she chose instead of insisting on a political marriage alliance, and ultimately she chose to wed Rodrik Arryn.[8]

Twenty years later, Lord Tymond Lannister and three hundred westermen attended the Great Council of 101 AC at Harrenhal. Despite the fact that Jaehaerys never granted the Lannisters any royal favors, like the overwhelming majority of lords at the council they voted in favor of Jaehaerys's preferred candidate Viserys (son of his second son) over Laenor Velaryon (Jaehaerys's grandson through his first son's daughter). It was said that a major factor in the decision for many lords was that male proximity predominate in the inheritance, regardless of their current political allegiance.[25] Ser Jason and Ser Tyland Lannister, twin knights, wooed Rhaenyra Targaryen during the princess's visit to Casterly Rock in 112 AC, but without success.[25]

The Dance and Regency

Ser Tyland Lannister by Enife ©

As Viserys I's reign continued, the Lannisters aligned with the emerging political faction led by House Hightower, specifically Viserys's second wife Alicent Hightower. While the Targaryens treated the Hightowers with respect due to their connections to the leadership of the Faith of the Seven in Oldtown, they were not as influential as the Velaryons or Baratheons and rarely served on the small council in the first century of Targaryen rule. Both the Hightowers and Lannisters ruled powerful port cities on the west coast of Westeros, and increasingly came to resent the Velaryons and their allies who were then pre-eminent at the royal court. Over time these two factions coalesced into "the Greens" (the Hightowers, Lannisters, and their allies) led by Alicent, and "the Blacks" (the Velaryons and their allies) led by Viserys's eldest child, Princess Rhaenyra.

In the third and last decade of Viserys I's rule, the Hightowers came back into power on the small council after the mysterious death of Lyonel Strong in 120 AC. Alicent's father Otto Hightower was brought back to replace him as Hand of the King, and he spent the next decade stacking the small council with green loyalists. Among them, Tyland Lannister became the new master of ships.[26]

Upon Viserys I's death, a civil war broke out between the two rival branches of House Targaryen, known as the Dance of the Dragons. Lord Jason Lannister declared for Alicent's eldest son, Aegon II Targaryen, while his twin brother Tyland Lannister (who had been master of ships) was finally named as master of coin after the removal of Lyman Beesbury (the only member of the small council who didn't support Aegon II). Tyland seized the royal treasury, swelled by years of peace and prosperity under Viserys, and divided the Crown's gold into four parts. One part was entrusted to the care of the Iron Bank of Braavos for safekeeping, another was sent under strong guard to Casterly Rock, and a third went to Oldtown. The remaining wealth was used by the greens for bribes and gifts and hiring sellswords.[26]

The bulk of Rhaenyra's supporters in mainland Westeros were in the North, the Vale, and the riverlands, and they began amassing their forces at Harrenhal for an eventual strike on King's Landing. To counter this, the main Lannister army invaded the riverlands from the west, while Aemond Targaryen's forces from King's Landing invaded the riverlands from the south, hoping to catch their enemy on two fronts. As the war progressed, Lord Jason was killed by Longleaf the Lionslayer in the Battle of the Red Fork,[27] and the remaining Lannister host under first Ser Adrian Tarbeck and then Lord Humfrey Lefford was then shattered in the Battle by the Lakeshore, the bloodiest battle of the civil war.[28]

After the fall of King's Landing, Daemon and Rhaenyra executed several members of Aegon II's small council, but spared Tyland - because they hoped they could force him to confess where he sent the Crown's treasury. Tyland was given over to the torturers, but despite being blinded and gelded, even after months of torture he refused to give up his secret.[20] Rhaenyra's husband, Prince Daemon Targaryen, suggested giving Casterly Rock to Hugh Hammer, which horrified Lord Corlys Velaryon, Hand of the Queen.[28]

With Casterly Rock in disarray, Dalton Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, attacked the westerlands to support Rhaenyra's blacks. Lannisport was sacked by the ironborn, but they were unable to conquer the Rock from Jason's widow, Lady Johanna Lannister, who was ruling on behalf of her four year old son, Lord Loreon Lannister.[27]

Near the end of the war, Aegon II retook King's Landing, where they freed the mutilated Tyland - who continued to serve on Aegon II's small council until his death. Many assumed that Tyland would have gone insane from his extensive torture, but surprisingly he retained all his wits and cunning - nor did his blindness affect his shrewd mind. At the end of the war he was sent to the Free Cities to try to hire new sellsword armies, but the final defeat of Aegon II's armies and his death by poisoning then ended the war.[29]

Tyland returned to Westeros, and was named the new Hand of the King to Rhaenyra's eldest surviving son, King Aegon III Targaryen, whose execution Tyland had once proposed. Tyland had an odd sense of honor, in that he only felt compelled to obey oaths he had personally sworn, not those made by his ancestors or his allies, but once he had personally sworn an oath he would keep it even to his enemies. Tyland served loyally and ably as Hand early in the regency of Aegon III, trying to hold the realm together after the devastation of the war and the harsh winter the followed. Both Tyland and his sister-in-law Lady Johanna (current regent for House Lannister) attended Aegon III's coronation, and his wedding to Aegon II's daughter, Jaehaera Targaryen.[30]

Although the Dance of the Dragons had ended with Aegon III on the Iron Throne, Dalton refused to make peace with the westerlands. Lady Johanna won a victory over the ironborn at Kayce, but her plan to recover Fair Isle ended with the deaths of Ser Erwin Lannister and Lords Prester and Tarbeck.[31] Lord Unwin Peake, Tyland's successor as Aegon's Hand, tasked Lord Alyn Velaryon with bringing peace to the west. Dalton was killed by Tess, one of his many salt wives, however, and the ironmen began to retreat. Johanna presented Alyn Oakenfist with a golden seahorse when his fleet finally arrived in the west, but the admiral declined her suggestion to attack the Iron Islands.[32]

Johanna took advantage of the struggle for power in the Iron Islands by having Ser Leo Costayne invade the archipelago with a Lannister army. In return for conquering the isles for young Lord Loreon, Leo hoped to win Johanna's hand. The Lannister army eventually faltered and Leo was slain on Great Wyk, but hundreds of ironborn ships and villages were destroyed during the invasion. Many ironborn nobles were killed in the campaign, and Johanna had the captured Rodrik Greyjoy gelded and turn into a fool for Loreon.[33]

Meanwhile, after the Dance ended in 131 AC Tyland Lannister was heavily involved in dealing with the outbreak of the Daughters' War in the Free Cities, and the complicated political maneuverings that followed as the multi-sided war spilled over into the narrow sea and involved the fleets of Westeros. Two years into the regency of Aegon III, however, Westeros was further devastated by the outbreak of the Winter Fever. While it never spread to the west coasts of the continent, King's Landing was hard hit. Tyland ordered a quarantine and was locked inside the city along with the rest of its inhabitants, where he was one of the last to die from the plague in 133 AC.

Rebellions and Uprisings

Lord Damon Lannister remained loyal to the Targaryens in 196 AC during the First Blackfyre Rebellion, but he was defeated by Ser Quentyn Ball outside the gates of Lannisport.[20]

Damon and his heir, Ser Tybolt Lannister, participated in the tourney at Ashford Meadow. Damon was defeated in the first tilt by Lord Leo "Longthorn" Tyrell, while his son defeated his opponent to become a champion.[34] Tybolt inherited the lordship from Damon when the latter died of the Great Spring Sickness.[35]

Gerold Lannister was a suitor to Rohanne Webber, Lady of Coldmoat, but much preferred to remain at Casterly Rock with his brother Tybolt.[36] When Lord Dagon Greyjoy raided the western coast during the early reign of Aerys I Targaryen, House Lannister built ships to fight him at sea.[35] Gerold succeeded as lord after the deaths of Lord Tybolt and his daughter, Lady Cerelle Lannister, under mysterious circumstances, but the new lord became known as Gerold the Golden for his prosperous rule.[37]

Gerold's second wife, Lady Rohanne, disappeared in 230 AC}, and his twin sons, Ser Tywald and Ser Tion, were killed in the Peake Uprising in 233 AC and the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion in 236 AC, respectively. Tion's widow, Ellyn Reyne, bickered with Jeyne Marbrand, the wife of Gerold's new heir, Tytos Lannister, and Ellyn eventually remarried to Walderan Tarbeck, Lord of Tarbeck Hall.[37]

Tytos became lord after his father Gerold's death in 244 AC. Although a kind man, Tytos was a weak ruler, and corruption and disloyalty spread among his bannermen, including Houses Reyne and Tarbeck. On three occasions King Aegon V Targaryen sent knights to bring order to the westerlands.[37] Tytos's younger brother, Ser Jason Lannister, was killed in the War of the Ninepenny Kings in 260 AC, but Tytos's older sons—Tywin, Kevan, and Tygett—won honor for their House in the war.[37]

Ser Tywin sought to restore House Lannister to their former glory, so he crushed the Reyne-Tarbeck revolt in 261 AC.[37]

Tywin

Tywin Lannister, by Nacho Molina ©

When Aerys II Targaryen succeeded to the Iron Throne in 262 AC, his friend, the twenty-year-old Ser Tywin Lannister, became the youngest man to serve as Hand of the King. Tywin then became Lord of Casterly Rock after the death of Tytos Lannister in 267 AC.[37] Like his grandfather Gerold, Tywin became a skilled steward and ruler.[38]

When Aerys was held hostage by Lord Denys Darklyn, Tywin's conservative approach took six months to resolve the Defiance of Duskendale in 277 AC. This instigated Aerys's paranoia and drove a wedge between the two, along with the king's lusting after Joanna Lannister, Tywin's wife, cousin, and trusted confidante.[38]

Despite Tywin's attempts to ensure a strong legacy, life at Casterly Rock was dysfunctional at best. His twin children, Cersei and Jaime, began an incestuous relationship at an early age.[39] Tywin was never a jovial man, but when Joanna died birthing their third child, Tyrion, he was much saddened.[40] His brother, Kevan, became his right hand and their sister, Genna, took a maternal role over the children. His second brother, Tygett, died of a pox,[41] and their youngest brother, Gerion, sailed off on a journey to Valyria, never to be seen again.[42]

Cersei, while a young maid, visited a woods witch called Maggy the Frog, who shared portents of Cersei's future that planted seeds of her paranoia.[43] Cersei possibly murdered her friend Melara Hetherspoon, who had witnessed the prophecy.[44] Tyrion, when thirteen years old, was out with Jaime when he met and married a girl named Tysha, a match which was quickly and cruelly ended by their father.[3] Tywin offered Tyrion to Houses Martell, Hightower, Royce, Florent and Tully, but he was rejected by all.[45] Jaime was a promising young knight, dubbed by Ser Arthur Dayne. Tywin was devastated when Jaime joined King Aery's Kingsguard, breaking off a betrothal to Lysa Tully. Upon this action (which he perceived as Aerys robbing him of his heir),[46] coupled with the Mad King's refusal to wed Prince Rhaegar Targaryen to Cersei,[47] Tywin resigned the Handship.[37] This flew in the face of Jaime's plan, which was to be closer to Cersei; he was kept in King's Landing while Cersei returned to Casterly Rock.[48]

Robert's Rebellion

Ser Jaime Lannister after killing King Aerys II Targaryen, by Michael Komarck © Green Ronin

The Lannisters stayed neutral for the majority of Robert's Rebellion. Only after the killing of Rhaegar Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone, by Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm's End, in the Battle of the Trident did Lord Tywin Lannister bestir himself from Casterly Rock.[49]

Tywin led an army of twelve thousand to King's Landing, where he professed loyalty to House Targaryen.[49] Although Lord Varys objected, Grand Maester Pycelle, a Lannister loyalist, convinced King Aerys II Targaryen to open the capital's gates. Tywin betrayed the Targaryens, however, and had his host conquer the city for Robert. During the ensuing Sack of King's Landing, Ser Jaime Lannister of the Kingsguard slew Aerys to avert the Mad King's wildfire plot.[50] Meanwhile, Ser Gregor Clegane and Ser Amory Lorch, two of Tywin's knights, killed Rhaegar's wife, Elia Martell, and children[51] to prove House Lannister's commitment to Robert's cause.[49] The bodies of Princess Rhaenys and Prince Aegon were wrapped in crimson cloaks to hide their blood.[52][53]

Afterwards, Tywin's daughter Cersei was wed to the new king, Robert I. Tya Lannister had been the last Lannister to marry a member of House Baratheon, Gowen Baratheon, before the marriage of Robert and Cersei.[52]

Baratheon Era

The royal marriage and the increasing amount of gold King Robert I Baratheon owes to Lord Tywin Lannister have only increased Lannister power.[54] Much of Tywin's energy is directed inward, ensuring all of his relatives do their part to uphold the family name.[55]

On behalf of Balon Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands, Euron and Victarion Greyjoy began Greyjoy's Rebellion with the burning of the Lannister fleet.[56] Tywin joined Robert and Eddard Stark, Warden of the West, in invading the Iron Islands, however, and the rebellion was defeated.[57]

Tywin attended the tourney on Prince Joffrey's name day in King's Landing. Queen Cersei Lannister and her children accompanied Tywin during his return to Casterly Rock; en route they were informed of the death of Jon Arryn, Robert's Hand of the King.[58]

Recent Events

A Game of Thrones

Jaime Lannister leads a Lannister army, by Amok © Fantasy Flight Games

King Robert I Baratheon travels to Winterfell to ask his childhood friend, Lord Eddard Stark, to succeed Lord Jon Arryn as Hand of the King. The king is accompanied by Queen Cersei Lannister, their children, and Cersei's twin, Ser Jaime of the Kingsguard.[59] Lysa Arryn, the sister of Eddard's wife Catelyn, sends a letter accusing Cersei and her family of having murdered Jon.[60] One of Eddard's sons, Bran Stark, witnesses the twins fornicating in the First Keep, and Jaime throws the boy from the tower.[61] Bran survives but is left comatose.[62]

King Robert names Jaime the new Warden of the East instead of Jon's young son, Lord Robert Arryn.[49] Two of Cersei's cousins, Lancel Lannister and Tyrek Lannister, attend Robert as squires.[63] Tyrion Lannister, the younger brother of Cersei and Jaime, visits the Night's Watch at Castle Black.[64]

An assassin attempts to kill Bran with a Valyrian steel dagger.[65] His mother, Catelyn, travels to King's Landing, where her childhood friend, Lord Petyr Baelish, informs her he had lost the dagger to Tyrion.[66] Catelyn later captures Tyrion at the crossroads inn,[67] although he denies any involvement in attacking Bran.[68] Instead of Winterfell, Catelyn brings Tyrion to the Eyrie, where Lysa accuses him of having murdered Jon Arryn.[69] Tyrion wins his freedom through Bronn's victory in trial by combat.[70] While traveling the high road through the Vale of Arryn, Tyrion gains the mountain clans as his allies.[3]

Meanwhile, Tyrion's capture by Catelyn prompted his father, Lord Tywin Lannister, to send Ser Gregor Clegane into the riverlands in an attempt to draw her husband, Lord Stark, into the field, hoping to capture him for an exchange.[71][72] Eddard, however, is waylaid on the streets of King's Landing by an angry Jaime and is injured in the melee.[73] Jaime rides for Casterly Rock,[74] and Eddard sends Lord Beric Dondarrion to bring Gregor to justice.[11]

Eddard discovers that Cersei's children—Prince Joffrey, Princess Myrcella, and Prince Tommen Baratheon—were fathered not by King Robert, but by the queen's brother, Jaime.[75][52] Cersei fears for her children if Eddard informs Robert of her children's parentage. She has her cousin Lancel, Robert's squire, supply the king with strongwine during a boar hunt,[76][77] resulting in Robert receiving a mortal wound in the kingswood.[78] Eddard intends for Stannis Baratheon to succeed his elder brother Robert instead of King Joffrey,[78] Cersei refuses Eddard's warning to flee King's Landing,[52] and she has Eddard imprisoned with the aid of Petyr Baelish and the gold cloaks.[79] Tywin is named Hand of the King to Joffrey and Jaime, despite his absence, is named Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, replacing Ser Barristan Selmy.[80]

War breaks out in the Seven Kingdoms, with Jaime winning victories over the river lords at the Golden Tooth and Riverrun.[2] Meanwhile, Tywin and his brother, Ser Kevan Lannister, capture several castles in the riverlands.[2] Eddard's son, Robb Stark, marches south with a host of northmen to rescue his father, however.[81]

Tywin repels one Stark army under Lord Roose Bolton in the battle on the Green Fork, during which Tyrion and his clansmen participate.[82] Roose's force turns out to have been a feint, however. Unexpectedly aided by House Frey,[83] Robb captures Jaime in the Whispering Wood[84] and breaks the Lannister siege of Riverrun in the Battle of the Camps.[71]

The small council intends for Eddard to take the black if he admits to treason. Joffrey orders the execution of Lord Stark, however, ruining any chance of peace.[85] With the captured Jaime lost to him, Tywin orders Tyrion to act as Hand in the capital while Tywin campaigns in the riverlands.[71]

A Clash of Kings

Lord Tywin's Host by Tomasz Jedruszek © Fantasy Flight Games

Robert I Baratheon's brothers, Stannis and Renly, each contest Joffrey I Baratheon's right to the Iron Throne, while Robb Stark has been named King in the North and King of the Trident. The conflict becomes known as the War of the Five Kings. Lord Tywin Lannister encamps at Harrenhal so that he can defend King's Landing from attack.[86] Ser Stafford Lannister begins to train another Lannister army in the westerlands.[10] Tywin forbade Tyrion Lannister from bringing a prostitute, Shae, to the capital, but Tyrion brings her anyway.[87]

Tyrion, as acting Hand of the King, and Cersei, as Joffrey's regent, compete for influence in King's Landing,[9] with Tyrion constantly outmaneuvering her. Desperate for allies, Tyrion makes moves to ally with House Martell. Part of this involves betrothing Joffrey's sister, Princess Myrcella Baratheon, to Prince Trystane Martell. After her ship leaves port, the royal party is caught up in the riot of King's Landing provoked by King Joffrey.[88] Tyrek Lannister has wed to Ermesande Hayford so that the Lannisters can claim her lands,[9][12] but Tyrek disappears during the riot.[88]

Ser Jaime Lannister languishes in the dungeon of Riverrun, despite Tyrion's attempt to free him.[89] Cersei replaces her twin in her bed with their cousin, Ser Lancel Lannister.[77] Tyrion blackmails Lancel into spying for him.[77] Cersei threatens Alayaya, whom she thinks is Tyrion's whore, and Tyrion threatens Cersei's children in return.[90]

Robb Stark bypasses the Golden Tooth, destroys Stafford's army in the Battle of Oxcross,[91][91] and raids the westerlands.[89] After Renly is assassinated and Stannis begins to besiege Storm's End, Tywin's army marches from Harrenhal to confront Robb.[92] The westermen are prevented access to their homelands across the Red Fork by Ser Edmure Tully, who is victorious in the Battle of the Fords.[93] Stannis captures Storm's End sooner than expected and marches on King's Landing.[93][94]

Tywin is close enough to King's Landing to defend the city when he hears of Stannis's impending attack. Due to Tywin's presence, Tyrion's defensive preparations, and a new alliance with House Tyrell negotiated by Lord Petyr Baelish, the Lannisters are able to defeat Stannis in the Battle of the Blackwater,[95][96] despite nearly suffering a rout of the gold cloaks when Cersei withdraws King Joffrey from the city walls.[97] Podrick Payne saves Tyrion from Ser Mandon Moore during the battle.[98]

Following the Blackwater, most of Stannis's bannermen declare for Joffrey, and Lord Tywin takes up rule as Hand in his own right. A wounded Lancel receives Darry, forming House Lannister of Darry.[96]

Within the dungeon of Riverrun, Jaime admits to Catelyn Stark that he had thrown Bran Stark from the First Keep, but he denies having sent the catspaw.[99]

A Storm of Swords

Catelyn Stark, having heard of the supposed deaths of two of her sons Bran and Rickon at the hands of the turncloak Theon Greyjoy, releases Jaime from captivity at Riverrun in an attempt to covertly exchange him for her daughters, Sansa and Arya.[99][100] Unknown to most is that Arya escaped King's Landing long ago.[101] Brienne of Tarth and Ser Cleos Frey, the son of Jaime's aunt Genna, escort Jaime toward King's Landing.[100] After sending his horsemen to search the riverlands for Jaime, Lord Rickard Karstark murders two of Robb Stark's captives, Jaime's cousins Tion Frey and Willem Lannister.[102] Cleos is eventually killed by outlaws near Maidenpool and Brienne and Jaime are captured by the Brave Companions. Their leader, Vargo Hoat, has Zollo chop off Jaime's sword hand.[39]

Tywin refuses to appoint Tyrion as heir to Casterly Rock,[55] instead making him master of coin[45] and wedding him to Sansa for her claim to Winterfell and denying House Tyrell the chance to wed her to Willas.[103] Tywin's brother and right hand, Ser Kevan Lannister, is named master of laws.[104] Tywin also betroths Joffrey to Margaery Tyrell, and tries to re-wed Cersei, this time to Willas, but Lord Mace Tyrell refuses under pressure from his mother, Olenna.[15] Cersei is shunned from the small council, and Tywin disregards her regency over Joffrey, insisting she follow her father's commands.[45] Tywin restores the title of Warden of the East to House Arryn[45] and also reinstates Pycelle as Grand Maester when he hears the Citadel plans to grant the title to a Tyrell uncle, Gormon Tyrell.[105]

When Tywin discovers that Robb Stark has wed Jeyne Westerling, a daughter of one of his minor bannermen, Lord Gawen Westerling, instead of a daughter of Lord Walder Frey, Tywin begins plotting with Jeyne's mother, Sybell Spicer, the slighted Lord Frey, and the opportunistic Lord Roose Bolton.[45][51][106] The Brave Companions bring Jaime to Harrenhal, which is held by Lord Bolton and Ser Aenys Frey. Instead of returning Jaime to Lord Edmure Tully at Riverrun, Roose decides to send his captive on to King's Landing while leaving Brienne with Vargo.[50] Jaime returns to Harrenhal in time to rescue Brienne from Harrenhal's bear pit.[46] Steelshanks Walton escorts them to the capital and Qyburn treats Jaime's stump.[46]

Tywin's treachery is accomplished in the wedding of Edmure Tully to Roslin Frey at the Twins, where Robb, Catelyn, and many others are murdered under guest right. The Starks and Tullys are ousted from power, replaced respectively by the Lannister-backed Boltons and Freys,[51] although Lord Petyr Baelish has been named Lord Paramount of the Trident.[107] Tywin negotiates marriages to Freys for Ser Lancel Lannister, Ser Daven Lannister, and Joy Hill.[51] Most of the Stark and Tully bannermen grudgingly return to the king's peace after the Red Wedding. With Renly Baratheon and Robb dead, Stannis Baratheon repelled and with few followers, and the Greyjoys concentrating on the north, Lannister power is at its zenith.[108]

When King Joffrey unexpectedly dies at his wedding feast, Cersei wrongfully accuses Tyrion of the deed.[108] Joffrey's younger brother, Tommen Baratheon, becomes king.[109] Tywin is a judge at Tyrion's trial, along with Mace Tyrell and Prince Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Dorne.[110] After a bevy of witnesses defame Tyrion, including those he thought his friends, the Imp demands a trial by combat.[111] Since Ser Gregor Clegane is appointed the royal champion, Prince Oberyn fights for Tyrion in an effort to avenge his sister, Princess Elia Martell, killed by Gregor during Tywin's Sack of King's Landing. Oberyn loses, however, and Tyrion is condemned to die.[111]

Jaime's return to the capital finds him a changed man, increasingly at odds with his family. He quarrels with Lord Tywin, refusing to resign from the Kingsguard to become heir to Casterly Rock. Tywin gifts him with a Valyrian steel sword, but Jaime names it Oathkeeper and gives it to Brienne, asking her to protect the missing Sansa Stark.[109] Tyrion and Jaime separately conclude that Joffrey was responsible for sending the catspaw to assassinate Bran Stark.[108][109] Before Tyrion can be executed Jaime forces Varys to help him free his brother his cell; Tyrion reveals Cersei's infidelity but accepts false responsibility for Joffrey's death. During his escape, Tyrion strangles his former lover, Shae, and kills his father, Tywin, with a crossbow.[112]

At the Eyrie, Sansa learns that Lysa Arryn and Petyr Baelish, not the Lannisters, were responsible for the death of Lord Jon Arryn.[113]

A Feast for Crows

Queen Regent Cersei Lannister, by Magali Villeneuve © Fantasy Flight Games

Dead soldiers with bearing the colors of House Lannister have washed up on the Quiet Isle. According to the Elder Brother, they are buried next to their enemies.[114]

Tywin Lannister's death lingers over the realm. Cersei resumes her regency, now over the newly-crowned Tommen I, and she sets out to prove herself a better ruler than her father. Ignoring her father's plans, she fills the small council with her own lackeys.[115] As Queen Regent, she tries to appoint Jaime as Hand of the King, but he refuses.[116] Ser Kevan Lannister acknowledges Cersei as Lady of Casterly Rock. She offers him the position of Hand, which he declines unless he can also assume the regency. Cersei refuses to give up her power and appoints Ser Daven Lannister as the new Warden of the West to slight Kevan, and Ser Damion Lannister is named castellan of the Rock.[43] Finally she makes Ser Harys Swyft the Hand, because he is a tractable man and Kevan is wend to his daughter, Dorna Swyft.[115] Kevan helps his son, Lord Lancel Lannister, at Darry and then continues on to the Rock.[117]

Cersei puts out a bounty for Tyrion's head, resulting in the deaths of many innocent dwarfs throughout the Seven Kingdoms,[115] but she refuses to rescind the offer for fear someone might stay his hand. Despite Tommen's marriage to Queen Margaery Tyrell, Cersei begins to plot against the Tyrells, whom she suspects of intrigue. She gives her maid Senelle, whom she suspects of espionage, to Lord Qyburn, her master of whisperers, for his experiments in necromancy, along with the corpse of Gregor Clegane, who has died from the poisoned spear of Oberyn Martell.[115] Margaery wants her brother, Ser Loras Tyrell, to become King Tommen's master-at-arms, but Cersei refuses.[47] The queen regent tasks Ser Balon Swann with delivering the Mountain's skull to Oberyn's family in Dorne.[115]

To raise funds to build new dromonds, Cersei defers repayments of all crown debts,[115] angering the Iron Bank of Braavos and the Faith of the Seven, and she also has the High Septon chosen by Tyrion assassinated by Osney Kettleblack.[118] She tries to mollify the new High Septon, the so-called High Sparrow, by allowing the return of the Faith Militant.[119]

Euron Greyjoy, the new King of the Isles and the North, leads the ironborn in the taking of the Shields, outraging the Tyrells. Cersei grants Loras his wish to take command of the siege of Dragonstone, hoping that he would rashly storm the castle to free up the Redwyne fleet.[120] Her hopes are fulfilled, as the Knight of Flowers is reportedly maimed by boiling oil.[121]

Meanwhile, Cersei has charged Jaime with resolving Daven's siege of Riverrun and subduing the rest of the riverlands.[122] While on campaign, Jaime tries to hone his swordsmanship with his remaining left hand with the mute Ser Ilyn Payne.[122] Jaime confronts his cousin Lancel at Darry, where the latter is lord but has sworn himself to the Faith Militant.[117] Jaime takes command at Riverrun, meeting his aunt Genna, dismissing Ser Ryman Frey, and taking Edmure Tully as his own prisoner.[123][124] Ser Brynden Tully escapes the castle and Edmure surrenders Riverrun to Genna's husband, Ser Emmon Frey.[106]

Cersei maneuvers Margaery into being seized by the Faith for adultery and high treason.[118] When Cersei visits the Great Sept of Baelor, however, the High Sparrow has the Queen Regent arrested for her own fornications, murders, and other myriad sins.[118] Lord Orton Merryweather, having replaced Harys Swyft as Hand, flees the capital, and Lord Aurane Waters sails away with Cersei's new dromonds. Harys, now master of coin, and Grand Maester Pycelle take control of King Tommen and request that Kevan Lannister return to King's Landing as Lord Regent.[118] Cersei writes an impassioned letter to Jaime, imploring him to defend her in a trial by combat, but he burns the letter at Riverrun without response.[106]

Brienne of Tarth searches the northern crownlands and eastern riverlands for Sansa Stark. She is joined during her journey by Podrick Payne, Tyrion's onetime squire,[125] and Ser Hyle Hunt.[126] After fighting with former Brave Companions at the Whispers[126] and the crossroads inn,[127] the three are captured by the brotherhood without banners and brought to Lady Stoneheart. Because Brienne carries Oathkeeper and documents bearing Tommen's seal, the three travelers are accused of serving the Lannisters and are threatened with hanging.[128]

A Dance with Dragons

Ser Kevan Lannister, as Lord Regent, begins trying to undo Cersei's political bumbling. To placate House Tyrell, he appoints Lord Mace Tyrell as Hand of the King, and his bannermen, Lords Paxter Redwyne and Randyll Tarly, to the small council. He also visits the imprisoned Cersei, confronting her about her affair with his son, Lancel, and telling her that, regardless of her trial, her rule is at an end.[129] When Cersei undergoes her walk of atonement across King's Landing, shaven and nude, Kevan ensures that King Tommen I Baratheon does not witness the event.[130] Qyburn provides her with a new champion, Ser Robert Strong.[130][53]

Tyrion Lannister, aided by Varys, has been smuggled to Pentos across the narrow sea. Varys's ally, Magister Illyrio Mopatis, arranges for Tyrion to travel with a misfit band to seek out Daenerys Targaryen.[131] En route, Tyrion realizes that one of the group is actually Jon Connington, the onetime Hand to Aerys II Targaryen and a friend of Aerys's son, Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. The youth traveling with Jon is said to be Rhaegar's son, Prince Aegon Targaryen, long thought to have died in the Sack of King's Landing.[132]

At a brothel in Selhorys, Tyrion is captured by another exiled lord, Ser Jorah Mormont, who aims to return to Daenerys for his own reasons.[133] On the way to Meereen, Tyrion befriends a dwarf woman called Penny, who had performed at Joffrey's wedding. After the Selaesori Qhoran wrecks, they are captured and sold into slavery. They are nearly killed by lions in the Great Pit of Daznak before Queen Daenerys puts an end to it.[134] When their master, Yezzan zo Qaggaz, dies of the pale mare, the trio joins the Second Sons, as Tyrion plans to have Ben Plumm switch sides again and to have the company aid Daenerys.[135][136]

Jaime brokers peace at the siege of Raventree, the last southron stronghold loyal to Robb Stark's lost cause. While at Pennytree he unexpectedly meets Brienne of Tarth, who tells him that he must go with her to save Sansa Stark from the Hound.[137]

Kevan and the small council try to deal with the resurgent Faith Militant, as well as the landing of the Golden Company and Aegon Targaryen in the stormlands. Varys and his little birds murder Pycelle and Kevan in the Grand Maester's chambers, however. A supporter of Aegon, Varys hopes the death of the competent Lord Regent will cast suspicion between Highgarden and Casterly Rock and continue the rifts created during Cersei's rule.[53]

Known Members at the end of the third century

Lions of Casterly Rock, by Cristi Balanescu © Fantasy Flight Games

The known Lannisters during the timespan of the events described in A Song of Ice and Fire are:

With unspecified familiar relationship to the main branch there is also:

Family Tree

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
 
 
 

Household

At Casterly Rock:

In King's Landing:

Historical Members

Original Lineage

Andal Lineage

After the Conquest

Sworn Houses and Former Sworn Houses

Quotes

The Lannisters are proud. You'd think the royal sigil would be sufficient, but no. He makes his mother's House equal in honor to the king's.[142]

The Lannisters never declined, graciously or otherwise. The Lannisters took what was offered.[16]

—thoughts of Tyrion Lannister

There is no limit to Lannister pride or Lannister ambition.[65]

Tyrion: We Lannisters do have a certain pride.

Catelyn: Pride? Arrogance, some might call it. Arrogance and avarice and lust for power.

Tyrion: My brother is undoubtedly arrogant. My father is the soul of avarice, and my sweet sister Cersei lusts for power with every waking breath. I, however, am as innocent as a little lamb. Shall I bleat for you?[143]

A Lannister always pays his debts.[3]

No man sheds Lannister blood with impunity.[2]

The Lannisters of Casterly Rock were a damnably large and fertile house.[10]

—thoughts of Catelyn Stark

By what right does the wolf judge the lion? By what right?[50]

My lady, has no one told you? Lannisters lie.[50]

Not every Lannister is fool for glory.[144]

Tyrion: On my honor as a Lannister.
Jorah: The Lannisters have no honor.[145]

The Lannisters make enemies easily but have a harder time keeping friends.[146]

In Westeros, the word of a Lannister is considered good as gold.[136]

In the series

House Lannister was the royal House of the Seven Kingdoms following the extinction of House Baratheon of King's Landing, which had been their puppet house during the War of the Five Kings, for a brief stint of time until House Targaryen took back the Iron Throne in Daenerys Targaryen's war for Westeros.

The incestuous relationship of Cersei and Jaime had been concealed in a conspiracy. Their son Joffrey Baratheon had claimed the Iron Throne on the premise that he was actually fathered by the late King Robert Baratheon. Lord Tywin was a key supporter of his reign in the War of the Five Kings. The Lannisters continued to hold sway when Tommen Baratheon ascended the throne, with Kevan Lannister as Hand of the King and Protector of the Realm, but lost their hold over Tommen to the Faith of the Seven, and, after destroying the Great Sept of Baelor, Cersei took the throne. With the deaths of Cersei and Jaime at the Battle of King's Landing, Tyrion is now the head of House Lannister and given up the crown in favor of an elective monarchy. It currently swears fealty directly to the King of the Andals and the First Men, an office which is currently held by Bran Stark.

Season 1

Following the death of the Hand of the King Jon Arryn, Queen Cersei Lannister meets with her brother Jaime in the throne room. They discuss their secret incestuous relationship and speculate that Jon may have known about it. Lysa Arryn writes to her sister Catelyn claiming that Jon Arryn was murdered by House Lannister.[8]

Cersei and Jaime travel north to Winterfell with her husband King Robert Baratheon. Robert plans to make Eddard Stark Hand of the King. They are accompanied by their brother Tyrion. Their son Joffrey is betrothed to Sansa. Cersei and Jaime continue liaise in a disused tower. They are interrupted by Bran, and Jaime pushes him out of the window of the tower to prevent him from revealing what he saw.

Cersei and Jaime are shocked to learn that Bran survived the fall. Cersei visits Catelyn at Bran's bedside and tells her that she once had a black-haired son who died young. Joffrey refuses to pay the Stark family the same courtesy and Tyrion violently rebukes him. The royal party leaves Winterfell and Tyrion splits from the group to go further north to see the Wall. He befriends Jon Snow, a bastard of House Stark and new volunteer to the Night's Watch. On the Kingsroad south Joffrey is attacked by Arya and her direwolf Nymeria. Arya was attempting to defend her friend Mycah from Joffrey's cruel bullying, but Joffrey claims to Robert and Cersei that the attack was unprovoked. When the direwolf cannot be found Cersei demands that its sister wolf Lady be executed. An assassin attempts to kill Bran as he lies comatose at Winterfell but he is protected by his direwolf Summer. Catelyn discovers a blond hair in the disused tower and notes the fine blade the assassin used; she suspects the Lannisters of ordering the assassination.

Cersei counsels her son about the incident and warns him that anyone who is not a member of their House is an enemy. A raven arrives with news of Bran's recovery. Cersei fears that he will expose their secret and Jaime comforts her. Tyrion finds the Night's Watch undermanned and lacking voluntary recruits. He travels south with the recruiter Yoren. Catelyn goes to King's Landing to discuss the attack on Bran with Eddard. She is told by Littlefinger that the knife the assassin used belonged to Tyrion.[10]

Tyrion is disturbed by a frosty reception from Robb at Winterfell and notes the absence of Catelyn. He delivers plans for a saddle that will allow the paraplegic Bran to ride a horse but chooses to stay elsewhere because of Robb's rudeness. Much further south Tyrion chances across Catelyn in the Inn at the Crossroads. She calls upon the loyalty of the Tully bannermen present and has him arrested for the assassination attempt.

In King's Landing, Eddard begins to investigate the movements of Jon Arryn prior to his death and uncovers a bastard son of Robert. Jaime refuses to deliver a message from Eddard to Robert, but does reminisce with Eddard's Captain Jory Cassel about fighting during the Greyjoy Rebellion. Jaime is chagrined at having to guard Robert while he cheats on Cersei. Cersei attends the Tourney of the Hand thrown in Robert's honor but leaves when Robert's coarse behavior annoys her. She visits Eddard, questions his motivations and warns him that his service to Robert is futile. Lannister sworn sword Gregor Clegane kills Jon Arryn's former squire Hugh of the Vale during the jousts.

Cersei and Robert have a frank discussion about the threat of the alliance between the exiled House Targaryen and the Dothraki, their loveless marriage, and Robert's feelings for his dead first love Lyanna Stark. Catelyn takes Tyrion East through the Vale of Arryn and he is imprisoned in the sky cells of the Eyrie. News of his capture reaches King's Landing and Jaime confronts Eddard and kills several of his guards, including Jory before dueling him personally. Eddard is wounded by a Lannister Man-at-Arms and Jaime leaves him alive and rides out of the capital. Lord Tywin Lannister calls his banners and marches on the Riverlands (Catelyn's ancestral home) to punish her for Tyrion's abduction.[13]

Cersei and Robert argue over punishing Eddard for the capture of Tyrion and Robert hits her. Robert goes hunting in the Kingswood leaving Eddard to rule in his absence. Refugees from the Riverlands report being attacked by Ser Gregor Clegane. Eddard dispatches a small force to bring Gregor to justice and calls Tywin to King's Landing to answer for Gregor's crimes. Tyrion wins his freedom in a trial by combat where the sellsword Bronn fights as his champion. Eddard's investigation of Robert's bastards and then the Baratheon lineage leads him to realize that Cersei's children are all fathered by Jaime.

Jaime liaises with Tywin's forces at an encampment in the Riverlands. Tywin has gathered an army of sixty thousand men. He tells Jaime that the current conflict will decide the fate of their family. He orders Jaime to take thirty thousand men and besiege Riverrun, Catelyn's childhood home and the seat of House Tully. Jaime ponders why Tywin would risk so much for the ugly, stunted son that he hates, and Tywin explains that a Lannister is a Lannister and any affront must be punished.

Eddard confronts Cersei with his findings and warns her that he intends to tell Robert on his return. Robert's squire Lancel gives him plenty to drink during the hunt and Robert is gravely wounded by a boar in the Kingswood. He is brought back to King's Landing to die. Eddard holds his tongue and Robert declares him Protector of the Realm from his deathbed. Renly appeals to Eddard to help him seize the throne, but Eddard refuses because Stannis is Robert's oldest brother and rightful heir. Eddard writes to Stannis to inform him of his findings, and then recruits Baelish and the City Watch in an attempt to take Cersei and her children into custody. Renly flees the city. Eddard is betrayed by his allies and she instead has him arrested and destroys Robert's final proclamation. Cersei installs Joffrey as King and becomes Queen Regent.

Lannister forces massacre the remaining Stark retainers in King's Landing. Sansa is captured but Arya escapes. Cersei manipulates Sansa into writing to her brother Robb to convince him to swear fealty to Joffrey. Robb sees through the ploy and calls his banners to march south. Cersei dismisses Ser Barristan Selmy as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and installs Jaime in his place.

Tyrion is captured by the Hill tribes of the Vale but convinces them to join the Lannister cause in exchange for weapons and autonomy from the Lord of the Eyrie. Tyrion and his men link up with Tywin in the Riverlands as he prepares to battle Robb's army.

Robb sends a decoy force to fight Tywin's force and Tywin wins an easy victory against the much smaller force in the Battle of the Green Fork. Jaime is captured by Robb's army in the Battle of the Whispering Wood. Despite Cersei arranging for Eddard to confess in exchange for leniency, Joffrey has him executed for treason. Tywin receives word that both Stannis and Renly have declared claims on the throne and are gathering armies. These battles mark the opening exchanges of the War of the Five Kings.

Jaime is questioned by Catelyn and admits to pushing Bran from the tower but does not reveal why. Tywin is frustrated with Cersei's failure to control Joffrey and names Tyrion Acting Hand of the King and sends him to King's Landing. Tywin forbids Tyrion to take his lover Shae with him, but Tyrion defies the order. Tywin moves his army to Harrenhal to avoid being pinned between the opposing forces. Cersei sleeps with Lancel for the first time.

Season 2

Tyrion arrives at King's Landing during Joffrey's nameday. He apologizes to Sansa for the loss of her father and makes his way to the small council, where he informs them of his position as acting Hand of the King. Cersei is enraged by this, but nonetheless complies with their father's wishes. Tyrion scolds Cersei for letting Joffrey execute Eddard Stark, which in turn has led to the North rising up against them.

After Robert's bastards are purged by the City Watch on Joffrey's orders, Tyrion dines with Janos Slynt, who personally killed one of Robert's infant bastards. There, he accuses Janos of having no honor and informs him that he has been replaced by Bronn as Commander of the City Watch. Janos protests and wants to complain to Joffrey, but Tyrion and Bronn instead have gold cloaks drag Janos to a ship to take him to the Wall to serve in the Night's Watch.

Tyrion tests the loyalty of his three fellow councilors by informing them that he plans to wed Myrcella to three different suitors: he tells Pycelle that it will be Trystane Martell, Varys that it will be Theon Greyjoy, and Littlefinger that it will be Robin Arryn. Tyrion later discovers that Cersei believes that her daughter will be shipped off to Dorne, realizing that Pycelle is a spy for Cersei. Before confronting Pycelle, Tyrion gives Littlefinger the task of meeting with Catelyn in Renly's camp to discuss the possibility of exchanging his brother Jaime for her daughters. Afterwards, Tyrion and Bronn have Pycelle locked away.

Later, Lancel, on behalf of Cersei, commands Tyrion to have Pycelle released; during this meeting, Tyrion blackmails Lancel to become his spy, knowing that Cersei is bedding him. He agrees to release Pycelle but he will not have the Grand Maester on the small council. Lancel informs Tyrion that Cersei has commissioned the Alchemists' Guild to produce wildfire for the defense of King's Landing against Stannis and his fleet, so Tyrion and Bronn meet with Wisdom Hallyne, where he tells the Wisdom that he will no longer be producing wildfire for Cersei but for him.

When Tywin arrives at Harrenhal to hold his war council, he commands that Gregor Clegane's prisoners be put to work, stopping Gendry, who informs Tywin that he is a smith, from experiencing a torturous death. He calls on Arya to serve as his cupbearer, although he is unaware of her true identity.

When Tywin's cousin Reginald Lannister requests for the council to be concluded so that he may sleep, Tywin angrily dismisses him and tells him to ride to Lannisport before he sends his wife his head. As Arya serves them drink, Tywin asks where she is from. Arya attempts to lie, but he deduces that she is from the North and asks her what the Northmen say of Robb Stark. Arya praises her brother, and when Tywin asks if she believes that Robb can't be killed, Arya replies that anyone can be killed.

Tywin dismisses the illiterate Ser Amory Lorch from his war council after he sends a letter of Lannister troop movements to a Stark vassal accidentally. Afterwards, Littlefinger arrives to discuss the possibility of forging an alliance between House Tyrell and House Lannister after the untimely death of Renly. He also informs Tywin of Tyrion's proposal to Catelyn to release Jaime in exchange for her daughters.

Later, Tywin inquires about Arya's father, who Arya claims was a stone mason that taught her to read. While Tywin talks about his own father, she steals one of his letters from the table. While reading it, however, she is caught by Amory Lorch. Arya tells Jaqen H'ghar to have him assassinated; Ser Amory collapses in front of Tywin, who misinterprets it as an assassination attempt on his own life.

Ser Gregor later tells Tywin that they believe it to be an infiltrator from the Brotherhood Without Banners. Tywin orders the Mountain to burn down nearby villages and farms. After Clegane leaves, Tywin offers the underfed Arya his mutton. While she dines on the food, he teaches Arya about legacy, mentioning how the once great fortress of Harrenhal was Harren the Black's legacy, and how everyone remembers Aegon Targaryen to present day because of his conquest of the Seven Kingdoms with dragons - which he had used to burn down Harrenhal and House Hoare. Arya mentions how Aegon also rode with his sisters who had dragons of their own. Tywin notes that Arya reminds him of his own daughter. When Tywin asks how she learned all of this history, she claims it was her father, who Tywin continues to believe was a stone mason. However, Tywin figures out that Arya is posing as a lowborn by her proper use of addressing him as my lord; she continues to lie to Tywin, saying that her mother served House Dustin, which Tywin believes.

With word of the impending attack on King's Landing by Stannis from Kevan, Tywin decides to abandon Harrenhal and march at nightfall. He commands Ser Gregor to maintain a garrison at Harrenhal and to track down and destroy the Brotherhood Without Banners.

The Battle of the Blackwater begins; Stannis's fleet sails into Blackwater Bay but is destroyed by wildfire, destroying many of his ships and killing many of his men. Nonetheless, he and his forces are able to row to the city gates, attacking the weak Mud Gate and using ladders to climb over the battlements. As the Baratheon troops overwhelm the Lannisters, Sandor Clegane retreats within the city walls and abandons his post within the Kingsguard. King Joffrey leaves the battle as well per his mother's wishes, leaving Tyrion to lead the attack through hidden tunnels beneath the city. They are able to flank Stannis's forces attacking the Mud Gate, but as they celebrate, more Baratheon troops arrive. During the ensuing chaos, Tyrion is slashed across the face by Ser Mandon Moore, a member of Joffrey's Kingsguard, but before Ser Mandon can kill him, Tyrion's squire, Podrick Payne, stabs Mandon through the back of his head with a pike. As Tyrion slips into unconsciousness, he watches as reinforcements from his father and House Tyrell arrive, forcing Stannis and his remaining troops to retreat. Loras Tyrell and Lannister and Tyrell troops enter the throne room of the Red Keep, where Cersei sits on the Iron Throne with Tommen. Tywin then enters the room, declaring that they have won the battle.

Tyrion awakens from his injuries to the sight of Pycelle, who mockingly gives him a silver coin and informs Tyrion that he is no longer acting Hand of the King due to the arrival of his father. Later, Varys comes to check on him and tells Tyrion that Bronn has been relieved of his command of the City Watch and his hill tribesmen have returned home to the Vale. As he and Podrick exit the room to leave Tyrion alone with Shae, he turns to Tyrion to say that, while the history books will not remember his saving of the city, he and many others will. Shae urges Tyrion to leave with her to Pentos, but Tyrion refuses as he wishes to remain in King's Landing.

At the next convening of court in the Red Keep, Tywin Lannister is formally appointed Hand of the King by King Joffrey and declared the Savior of the City. Joffrey also agrees to wed Margaery Tyrell after he is counseled to set aside his marriage with Sansa and informed by Grand Maester Pycelle that the High Septon has assured him that this is acceptable in the eyes of the gods. Thus, House Tyrell is bounded to the royal family.

Season 3

Cersei meets with Tyrion in his new chambers, inquiring as to what Tyrion wants to discuss with their father, but Tyrion says that he simply wants to meet with his beloved father. At the aforementioned meeting, Tyrion asks his father why he did not visit his injured son, to which Tywin replies that Pycelle assured him that his injuries were not fatal. Tyrion then asks his father that he wants what is rightfully his: to become Tywin's heir and assume his position as Lord of Casterly Rock and Lord Paramount of the Westerlands. However, Tywin angrily refuses, mocking Tyrion as an ill made creature full of envy, lust, and low cunning. As Tyrion walks away, Tywin yells to him that he will hang the next whore he finds with Tyrion. Tyrion later meets with Bronn, who has been knighted and demands a double in his salary given that he is still a sellsword. Cersei, meanwhile, dines with Joffrey, his intended Margaery Tyrell, and her brother Loras. Earlier, Margaery had stopped in Flea Bottom to visit an orphanage. Cersei warns her that Flea Bottom is dangerous, but Margaery expresses her love of the smallfolk. Joffrey takes Margaery's side, defending his betrothed and claiming his mother is growing old.

Cersei realizes that she is losing control of her son to Margaery. She tells Joffrey while he is being dressed that she believes Margaery's love of the smallfolk to be a farce meant to ramp up support for herself from the common people. However, Joffrey dismisses his mother, telling her the conversation has become boring and how the Tyrells are helping them to win the war. Elsewhere, Shae sneaks into Tyrion's chambers and asks him to protect Sansa from Littlefinger at the behest of Ros. Tyrion says that he cannot due to his diminishing political power, and warns Shae of his father's threats. As the two bicker on, they begin to have sex.

Tywin calls the first small council meeting since his appointment as Hand of the King. He finds that none of the councilors are aware of where Jaime is since his release by Catelyn. He then names Tyrion the new Master of Coin as Petyr Baelish is set to leave to the Vale of Arryn to marry Lysa. Tyrion drops by Littlefinger's brothel to gather the crown's ledgers. He and Bronn leave Pod there as reward for saving Tyrion's life at the Battle of the Blackwater. Tyrion later reveals to Bronn that the Iron Throne owes a tremendous debt to the Iron Bank of Braavos, and while teaching Bronn the basics of financing, Podrick returns with the money Tyrion provided him, informing the two that the prostitutes did not accept it. Astonished, Bronn and Tyrion sit Podrick down and ask for copious details on his performance.

Jaime, meanwhile, continues his journey with Brienne. When they are crossing a bridge, however, Jaime steals one of her swords and challenges her to a duel, but due to his exhaustion and fatigue is eventually beaten. During the duel, they are found by soldiers of House Bolton led by Locke, Roose Bolton's best hunter, who were tipped off by a local peasant that had earlier seen them together. Later on, Locke prepares to force himself on Brienne but Jaime defends her, stating that her father, Lord Selwyn Tarth, will pay sapphires for her honor to be preserved. Jaime then asks to be freed from his constraints so that he may rest easy, and Locke tricks him into believing that he will be served food. Locke mocks Jaime for believing that he had fooled them and chops off his right sword hand. Beaten down, they are taken to Harrenhal, where Roose Bolton holds the ruined fortress.

Tyrion meets with Varys, who tells Tyrion the story of how he was cut and reveals to him his revenge: the sorcerer, locked away in a container by Varys, who states that Tyrion will need "the stomach" for the revenge he seeks. While Joffrey tours Margaery around the Great Sept of Baelor, Cersei recalls to Olenna Tyrell how her son, Mace Tyrell, laid siege to Storm's End, the traditional seat of House Baratheon, during Robert's Rebellion. Joffrey and Margaery later walk out onto the steps of the Great Sept, where they wave to a crowd of smallfolk, much to Cersei's worry. She meets with her father and asks if they are doing everything in their power to get Jaime back. She then warns him about Margaery and the Tyrells, but Tywin retorts that he distrusts Cersei not because she is a woman but because she is not nearly as clever as she thinks she is. He proclaims that he will tame Joffrey where Cersei has failed and Margaery has succeeded.

At Riverrun, Martyn and Willem Lannister, who were taken hostage by Tully forces during the Battle of Stone Mill, are murdered by Lord Rickard Karstark as revenge for the deaths of his sons, one of which was at the hands of the Kingslayer. As a result, Robb beheads Rickard against the counsel of his advisors. Edmure Tully warns his nephew that word of their deaths cannot leave Riverrun or the Lannisters may seek revenge.

After meeting with Olenna Tyrell, who agrees to have House Tyrell pay for half the expenses of the royal wedding, Tyrion meets with his father and sister at the Tower of the Hand, where Tywin had moved the small council meetings too. There, he reveals that he has discovered (through Littlefinger and his spy, Olyvar) that the Tyrells are plotting to marry Sansa to Loras. In order to stop this, Tywin arranges for the marriage of Tyrion to Sansa and Cersei to Loras. Neither of the Lannister children are happy about this and try to argue back against it, enraging Tywin. Tywin later meets with Olenna to gain her approval, stating that if she doesn't approve, he will name Loras to the Kingsguard, thus removing the sole heir of the Tyrell main branch from the line of succession given that Loras is the only son of Mace Tyrell.

Tyrion and Cersei watch as Sansa and Loras discuss their wedding. As they wonder who has received the worst end of the arrangements, Tyrion asks Cersei if she was the one to order Ser Mandon Moore to kill him during the Battle of the Blackwater, but discovers it was in fact Joffrey, not his sister as he previously believed. He notes how impulsive and reckless the act was given that it was in public and live view of his own men. The two then hope for Jaime's return. Afterwards, Tyrion meets with Sansa and Shae in the former's chambers where he awkwardly informs the two of the recent marital arrangements made by Tywin.

Meanwhile, in the Riverlands, Jaime and Brienne are brought to Lord Roose Bolton at Harrenhal by Locke. Roose apologizes for the way his soldiers treated them, but isn't short of playing a mind game with Jaime, leading him on to believe that Stannis took King's Landing at the Battle of the Blackwater and killed his sister until he reveals the truth. He then has Jaime taken to former maester Qyburn, the only survivor of Gregor Clegane after he had the castle put to the sword when he and his garrison abandoned it. Qyburn washes out Jaime's wound, who refuses milk of the poppy, leaving him agonizing in pain.

Jaime then meets with Brienne in a bathtub that he decides to share with her. At first, he insults Brienne for failing to keep him in one piece, comparing it to how she failed to protect Renly, but he quickly apologizes for being rude and asks for a truce, stating that he trusts her. He then tells her the story of how he became the Kingslayer after she continues to glare at him, reminding him of the stares he has been given since the Sack of King's Landing during Robert's Rebellion: the Mad King, Aerys II Targaryen, had caches of wildfire placed beneath King's Landing, and when Tywin arrived and tricked Aerys into opening the city gates, but instead proceeded to sack the city in Robert's name, Aerys ordered Jaime to bring him his father's head and commanded his pyromancers, Rossart among them, to "burn them all." Jaime first killed the pyromancers and then Aerys when he had turned to flee. It was there that Eddard had found Jaime, sitting on the Iron Throne with Aerys's corpse beneath it. Jaime, overwhelmed by the memories, falls over and nearly faints in the bathtub but is recovered by Brienne.

Jaime and Brienne dine with Roose Bolton, who says that he will return Jaime to King's Landing because of the abuses he endured from his men but that Brienne will not accompany them due to her treason. As he is about to leave, Jaime meets with Brienne one last time, the latter of which addresses him as Jaime. Brienne asks that Jaime remember his vows to return Catelyn's daughters home to her, to which Jaime says that he will. He then departs from Harrenhal with Bolton soldiers to protect them, as well as Qyburn. Before leaving, Jaime asks Roose Bolton to send the Lannisters' regards at Edmure Tully's wedding to a Frey girl, one of Walder Frey's daughters. However, on the journey back, Qyburn tells Jaime that Locke believes he is being cheated by Selwyn Tarth given that he has not offered sapphires for his daughter's safe return and says that Locke and the Boltons will likely hurt Brienne, prompting Jaime to force his protectors to return him to Harrenhal. There, he finds Brienne in a fighting pit with Locke's bear. He jumps down to protect her; Steelshanks shoots arrows into the bear while Bolton men bring the two out of the pit. Jaime then declares that he will be leaving with Brienne, and the two depart from Harrenhal, but not before apologizing to Locke about the sapphires.

Tyrion and Bronn discuss his marriage to Sansa, with Tyrion not looking forward to the wedding due to her being a child. Meanwhile, Tywin meets with his grandson after being summoned to the throne room in the Red Keep. Joffrey asks for a report on the small council meetings that he has missed, which Tywin responds that he is welcome to begin attending them. Joffrey complains how he hasn't been counseled, but Tywin replies that he is being counseled now. When Joffrey asks about Daenerys Targaryen and her three dragons, Tywin remarks how the Targaryen dragon skulls were kept in the throne room during their reign, the last of which was the size of an apple. He states that Daenerys is the least of their concern, being nothing more than a curiosity in Essos, but Joffrey continues to remain worried over her growing power.

It is the day of the wedding of Tyrion and Sansa Stark. During the ceremony, Joffrey cruelly and mockingly takes away the chair Tyrion was to use to cloak Sansa and bring her under his protection, forcing her to kneel. During the feast, he continues to berate the two, threatening to rape Sansa and forcing the newly wed couple to partake in a bedding ceremony, but Tyrion, who is quite drunk much to the disapproval of his father, threatens Joffrey. Tywin and Tyrion cool down the situation, and he walks away with Sansa, returning to their chambers where he informs her that his lord father has commanded him to consummate the marriage. As she undresses, however, he refuses to do so and passes out on a nearby chair. Before she sleeps, Sansa tucks him in. The following morning, Shae notices how Sansa's sheets are not stained with blood and that she is still a virgin.

After the Red Wedding occurs at the Twins, Tywin calls a small council meeting, which Podrick informs Tyrion of while he is bonding with Sansa. Joffrey plans to have Robb Stark's head served to Sansa during his wedding feast, but Tyrion retorts that she is no longer his to torment, being Tyrion's wife now. Joffrey replies that as king, everyone is his to torment. When Tyrion softly warns that kings are dying like flies, Joffrey petulantly declares that he is the king and will punish Tyrion for his remarks. Tywin then says that any man who must declare himself king is no true king and reminds Joffrey that he won his war for him. When Joffrey accuses his grandfather of hiding out under Casterly Rock during Robert's Rebellion, Tywin calmly but menacingly declares the king is tired and sends Joffrey to bed, commanding Grand Maester Pycelle to give him some essence of nightshade to help him sleep. As the small council disperses, Tywin tells Tyrion to stay behind. Tyrion expresses his disgust over the Red Wedding, and Tywin reveals that he had a hand in it, promising rewards and titles to Walder Frey and Roose Bolton, seeking to protect their family and end the war. Tywin once more commands Tyrion to get Sansa pregnant, but Tyrion refuses to rape her. He then asks his father when he has ever made a decision solely for the benefit of his family to which Tywin replies it was the day he was born: he let Tyrion live because of his name and his status as Tywin's son, despite Tyrion being a dwarf and having killed his beloved Joanna Lannister when she gave birth to him. Tyrion later finds Sansa in her chambers crying.

Meanwhile, Jaime, Brienne, Qyburn, and their entourage finally arrive in King's Landing, where Jaime isn't even recognized due to his poor condition. He arrives at the Red Keep and returns to his sister.

Season 4

Tywin has the Stark Valyrian steel ancestral sword, Ice, melted down and reforged into two new swords. He gifts one to Jaime, and prompts Jaime to leave the Kingsguard to resume his place at Casterly Rock as Tywin's heir. However, Jaime refuses, enraging Tywin. When Jaime asks if his father would like the sword back, Tywin tells him that a one-handed man with no family will need all the help he can get.

Qyburn outfits Jaime with a prosthetic golden hand, which Cersei believes is elegant despite Jaime stating a hook would be more practical. Jaime tells Cersei that he is staying in the Kingsguard to stay by her side, but Cersei snaps back about how Jaime took too long to return to King's Landing by her side and how everything has changed. They are interrupted by Cersei's handmaiden, who brings Cersei important news. Later, Jaime discusses Kingsguard positions during the royal wedding, stating he shall guard the king, much to Meryn Trant's chagrin. Joffrey looks through The Book of Brothers and notices how Jaime's page is relatively empty, then points out how Jaime is old and has lost a hand, stating how Jaime cannot protect him. He leaves with Meryn Trant while Jaime closes the Book of Brothers.

Meanwhile, Tyrion, along with Pod and Bronn, greets the nobility of Dorne outside King's Landing. When Tyrion inquires where Prince Doran Martell is, the Dornish lords reply that he has sent his brother, Oberyn Martell, in his stead, while he remains at Sunspear due to his health. The Dornish lords inform Tyrion that Prince Oberyn arrived before dawn. Tyrion and his companions search the city for Oberyn, finding him in Littlefinger's brothel, where he had gotten in a brawl with two Lannister soldiers. Oberyn introduces them to his paramour, Ellaria Sand, and goes outside the brothel to discuss the death of his sister, Princess Elia Martell, with Tyrion, and tells Tyrion to inform his father that he has arrived at the capital for the royal wedding. Elia had been killed by Ser Gregor Clegane at the Sack of King's Landing during Robert's Rebellion some seventeen years prior.

Before the wedding, Joffrey receives wedding gifts: a large goblet from Mace Tyrell, his father-in-law, a book from his uncle Tyrion, and the second Valyrian steel sword reforged from Ice from his grandfather Tywin. He names it Widow's Wail based on a suggestion from the crowd and destroys Tyrion's gift. Joffrey is then wed to Margaery in the Great Sept of Baelor. Afterwards, the wedding feast takes place outside the Red Keep. During the celebration, Joffrey has five dwarfs mockingly reenact the War of the Five Kings, which greatly offends House Tyrell (especially Loras), Sansa, and Tyrion. After Tyrion refuses to join in at Joffrey's behest, Joffrey pours wine on him and names him his cupbearer. Joffrey intentionally drops his goblet and kicks it under a nearby table, commanding Tyrion to pick it up. While he crawls under, Sansa picks it up and hands it to Tyrion. Joffrey tells Tyrion to fill it up; after he does, Joffrey commands that Tyrion kneel, which he refuses. The tension is broken when the bakers bring out the pigeon pie. Tyrion and Sansa try to leave, but Joffrey forces them to remain behind and tells Tyrion to pour him more wine. Joffrey drinks and suddenly begins coughing. He clutches at his throat and collapses on the ground, vomiting and convulsing. Within minutes, he dies. Cersei angrily accuses Tyrion of poisoning her son and has the Kingsguard arrest him while Sansa is secretly escorted away to Petyr Baelish by Ser Dontos Hollard, the former king's fool.

Cersei stands over the corpse of Joffrey with Tommen. While Tywin takes Tommen away to discuss the duties of kingship, Jaime comes in to be with Cersei, sending the septons and septas away. He tries to comfort his sister and lover, but she backs away. Afterwards, Jaime becomes more aggressive and begins to force himself on her, and the two proceed to have sex despite Cersei stating it's an inappropriate place to perform. Later, Tywin visits Oberyn Martell at Littlefinger's brothel, where he requests that Oberyn join him and Mace Tyrell as a judge for Tyrion's trial and invites him to join the small council. Tywin points out how the Greyjoys are still in open rebellion and how Daenerys has three dragons, which only the Dornish were able to defeat during the War of Conquest three centuries ago. In exchange, Tywin will arrange for a meeting between Oberyn and Gregor Clegane, telling Oberyn that if he helps him bring justice to the king's assassins, he will do the same for Oberyn and Elia's killer. Meanwhile, Podrick visits Tyrion in his cell, smuggling him food, and tells him how he was approached to testify against Tyrion in exchange for a knighthood. Podrick tells Tyrion that he refused, and Tyrion commands that Podrick leave the capital for his own safety. Tyrion tells Podrick that there has never lived a more loyal squire while Podrick emotionally leaves.

Jaime visits Tyrion in his cell after Bronn, who has been training Jaime to sword fight with his left hand at Tyrion's behest, implores him to. Jaime recalls how Cersei earlier asked Jaime to kill Tyrion and bring her Sansa's head, which he had refused to both. Tyrion also denies a part in Joffrey's murder, which Jaime believes. Jaime points out how Sansa had the most motive to kill Joffrey, but Tyrion doesn't believe that she did. Later, Jaime gives Brienne of Tarth new armor and his Valyrian steel sword so that she can bring Sansa to safety to fulfill her vows to Catelyn Stark. Outside King's Landing, he also gives her Podrick as a squire and asks what she will name the sword, to which she responds Oathkeeper. Jaime watches on as Brienne leaves on horseback, who also looks back to Jaime.

After Tommen's coronation, Cersei visits Margaery and asks if she still wants to be Queen, which Margaery replies that she will have to ask her father. Later, Cersei visits Oberyn. Oberyn inquires if Cersei really believes Tyrion is the killer, to which she replies that she knows it (however, it was in fact Olenna Tyrell and Petyr Baelish). She asks him about Myrcella, and her safety. Oberyn replies that they do not hurt little girls in Dorne, but Cersei doesn't believe it. She asks that Oberyn bring her a ship as a gift for her name day, which Cersei missed. Cersei then visits her father, who refuses to discuss the trial with her. Tywin informs Cersei that they are in tremendous debt to the Iron Bank of Braavos due to Robert's outrageous and reckless spending. Tywin tells Cersei that they need the Tyrells by their side due to their wealth, noting how their gold mines in the Westerlands have run dry.

It is the day of Tyrion's trial. At a small council meeting, Varys informs the bureaucrats that the Hound has slaughtered Lannister soldiers in the Riverlands, so Tywin places a large bounty of 100 silver stags on him. He goes on to say that Daenerys has conquered Slaver's Bay and rules Meereen as its Queen. What's more, she has acquired an army of Unsullied, has both Jorah Mormont and Barristan Selmy as loyal advisors, and that her three dragons are growing larger. Tywin has Varys's little birds smuggle a message into the city.

The court trial of Tyrion Lannister begins. Tommen sits out as a judge with Tywin serving in his stead, along with Mace Tyrell and Oberyn Martell, as Tywin had previously arranged. Tyrion does not confess to the accusations placed on him by Cersei, so the Crown calls forward a number of witnesses who speak out against Tyrion. Many of these witnesses were previously made enemies of Tyrion during his tenure as acting Hand of the King, including Meryn Trant, Pycelle, and Cersei herself. Varys also speaks out against Tyrion; when Tyrion asks him if Varys remembers their conversation after the Battle of the Blackwater, Varys replies that he has not forgotten.

During the recess, Jaime confronts Tywin, believing that the whole trial is a farce manipulated by Cersei. He strikes a deal with his father: he will leave the Kingsguard and assume his place at Casterly Rock if Tywin lets Tyrion live. Tywin agrees, promising to send Tyrion to join the Night's Watch. As the court reconvenes, Jaime tells Tyrion to plead guilty and for mercy. However, when Shae is brought forward as the Crown's final witness and lies that Tyrion is guilty, Tyrion loses it and lashes out at the court, stating that he should have let Stannis kill them all. He then demands a trial by combat, much to Cersei and Tywin's chagrin and Jaime's disappointment.

Jaime confronts Tyrion in his cell. He tells Tyrion that he is unable to fight for him in his trial, so Tyrion asks that he send for Bronn. Before leaving, he tells Tyrion that Cersei plans on naming Ser Gregor Clegane, the Mountain, as her champion. Later, Bronn comes to visit Tyrion, who is surprised to find Bronn in more noble clothing. Bronn tells Tyrion that he is to wed Lollys Stokeworth. Bronn refuses to fight for Tyrion, believing that the Mountain would defeat and kill him. However, he wishes Tyrion good luck. Finally, Oberyn visits Tyrion and tells him the story of how they first met: when Tyrion had been born, their father took him and his sister, Elia, to Casterly Rock, where Cersei expressed her anger over her new baby brother due to the death of their mother and her hope for his death, which wounds Tyrion. Oberyn then declares his intentions to Tyrion once more to get justice for the death of his sister at the hands of the Mountain, and tells Tyrion that he will be his champion.

It is the day of the trial by combat of Tyrion. Jaime visits his younger brother in his cell, bringing him wine, and the two discuss their simple cousin Orson Lannister. Tyrion ponders why Orson loved smashing beetles, expressing his dismay that so many innocent beetles had been smashed to death and returned to the dirt. However, the two are unable to come to a conclusion as to why Orson did it. When the bells ring, an emotional Jaime leaves, but not before wishing Tyrion good luck. Tyrion is escorted to the arena, where he finds Oberyn and Ellaria Sand, the former of which is wearing light armor, no helmet, and is drinking wine while his squire, Daemon Sand, polishes Oberyn's spear; secretly, he is outfitting the spear with manticore venom. As Oberyn walks out into the arena, Ellaria grabs him, telling him not to die, to which Oberyn replies that he won't.

Oberyn and the Mountain clash, during which Oberyn demands that Ser Gregor admits to the rape and murder of his sister, Elia, and her children that she bore with her husband, Rhaegar Targaryen, Rhaenys and Aegon. Though Oberyn severely injures the Mountain, cutting him on his leg and piercing him through his stomach and chest, he refuses to kill him given that the Mountain has not confessed. As he walks around the Mountain's body demanding that he admit who gave him the order to kill his sister, niece, and nephew, all the while pointing at Tywin, the Mountain suddenly knocks the Red Viper to the ground. He punches him, knocking out his teeth, and climbs on top of him, where he puts his fingers through Oberyn's eye sockets and confesses to Elia's rape and murder as well as the murder of her children. He then tells Oberyn how he did it: by crushing her skull, and does the same to Oberyn. The crowd is shocked while Ellaria screams in horror. Jaime and Tyrion look on with disappointing and nervous looks while Cersei smirks. Tywin then stands and proclaims that Tyrion is sentenced to death.

Afterwards, Cersei looks over the Mountain's body in Pycelle's laboratory with Qyburn and Pycelle. Pycelle notes how the poison used is manticore venom and that he cannot be saved, by Qyburn says there is a way that no maester is aware of. Pycelle states that Qyburn is arrogant and dangerous, but Cersei instead dismisses Pycelle, giving the laboratory to Qyburn. Qyburn warns Cersei that the process may change the Mountain somewhat but will certainly not weaken him. Later, Cersei meets with her father, again telling Tywin that she does not wish to marry Loras. She goes on to say how she does not want to be removed from King's Landing and shipped off to Highgarden away from her son, Tommen, which Tywin and the Tyrells will fight over to control. When Tywin asks how she will stop him, she says that she will expose the truth about her and Jaime, and that Tywin's legacy is a lie, which leaves Tywin in denial. Tywin says that he does not believe her, but Cersei knows that he does, leaving her father. She meets her brother in the White Sword Tower. Jaime is angered that she has allowed Tyrion to die, but Cersei says that she chooses her family and that she does not love Tyrion nor Tywin, only him, all the while seducing Jaime. Jaime then throws Cersei onto the table, where they proceed to have sex.

The night before Tyrion's trial, Jaime has the guards knocked out and frees his little brother, telling him that he is working with Varys, who has secured a galley in the harbor. The two embrace before Jaime departs, but Tyrion first takes another path: he sneaks into the Tower of the Hand, where he finds Shae in his father's bed. She grabs a knife, but Tyrion rushes onto the bed and chokes his lover to death, weeping and apologizing afterwards. He then stares at Joffrey's crossbow on the wall, taking it and finding his father on the privy. Tyrion confronts Tywin over wanting him dead all his life, and Tywin admits to it, but states that he would never let Ilyn Payne take his head because of his Lannister name. Tyrion tells his father that he loved Shae and has just murdered her, much to Tywin's surprise, but he simply passes her off as a whore. When Tywin insists that they return to his chambers, Tyrion says that he cannot: Shae is still in there. Tywin asks mockingly if his son is afraid of a dead whore, triggering Tyrion to fire an arrow into his father's chest. Tywin, in complete shock, declares that Tyrion is no son of his, to which Tyrion replies that he has always been his son before firing another arrow into his father's heart, killing him. Tyrion then goes to Varys, who suspects that Tyrion has done something. Varys places him into a crate with food, and the crate is placed no the galley. He initially walks towards the Red Keep, but when the bells begin to ring, he instead returns to the galley and sits by Tyrion's crate.

Season 5

A funeral is held for Tywin at the Great Sept of Baelor. Cersei tells the High Septon to have the other lords wait as she mourns over her father, whose body is being protected by Jaime. Cersei goes on to accuse Jaime of being a "man of action" who does not consider his consequences, and expresses her desire to have Tyrion killed for murdering their father. As she leaves, Jaime looks on sadly at their dead father's body. Cersei later meets with her cousin, Lancel Lannister, who has joined the Sparrows, a new and extremist movement within the Faith of the Seven. Lancel's father, Ser Kevan Lannister, expresses his disgust over the Sparrows, and apologizes to Cersei for Lancel's strange and pious behavior. Meanwhile, at the palace of Illyrio Mopatis in the Free City of Pentos, Varys releases Tyrion from his crate, whom he smuggled safely across the Narrow Sea to Essos. Varys explains to Tyrion how he was apart of a group that saw King Robert I Baratheon for the disaster that he was, and implores Tyrion to donate his services to Daenerys Targaryen. Varys tells Tyrion that talented men have a role to play in "the wars to come," and notes how Daenerys is stronger than King Tommen but gentler than King Stannis, and that she has the right family name.

After receiving the necklace of Princess Myrcella Baratheon, Cersei and Jaime's daughter, in the clutches of the statue of a viper, Jaime travels to Dorne with Ser Bronn, intent on rescuing Myrcella, whom they fear is being hurt by House Martell, the rulers of Dorne, in revenge over the deaths of Elia and Oberyn Martell. Jaime and Bronn have a brief skirmish with some Martell guards, but are able to kill them; Jaime himself uses his right prosthetic golden hand to stop one of the guards' swords. Disguising themselves in Martell uniforms, Jaime and Bronn infiltrate the Water Gardens where they locate a happy Myrcella with her intended, Prince Trystane Martell, the son of Prince Doran Martell. Suddenly, they are attacked by three of the Sand Snakes - Obara, Tyene, and Nymeria Sand. Nymeria attempts to run off with Myrcella but before she can, they are stopped by a group of Martell guards led by Areo Hotah, the Captain of the Guards. They arrest Obara, Tyene, Nymeria, Jaime and Bronn, and also apprehend Ellaria Sand, Oberyn's paramour who has plotted with the three Sand Snakes to mutilate Myrcella.

Ellaria later meets with Jaime, and tells him that she does not judge him for being in love with his sister, noting how the Targaryens did the same thing for centuries. She notes how society constantly changes it views on who people are meant to leave, but what never changes is who people truly love. Jaime is later brought before Prince Doran, who questions him as to why he would enter Dorne without telling him. Jaime tells Doran of the threatening message he and Cersei received; Myrcella notes how the necklace was stolen from her, and Doran immediately looks over at Ellaria. Doran and Trystane agree to show mercy to Jaime and Bronn and allow Myrcella to return to King's Landing, much to Ellaria's displeasure. In exchange, Trystane will be given a seat on the small council. Trystane also has Areo Hotah punch Bronn in the face for ding the same to him during their earlier encounter. Jaime and Bronn later depart from Dorne.

After hearing of Ellaria's words earlier to him, Jaime decides to confront Myrcella and tell her the truth of her parentage. Myrcella interrupts Jaime and confesses to knowing the truth, saying that a part of her always knew. Myrcella tells Jaime she is glad that he is her father, and the two embrace. Suddenly, Myrcella begins to bleed from her nose and collapses as Jaime panics. Back on the dock, Ellaria drinks an antidote as her nose begins to bleed too: Myrcella has been poisoned by the Sand Snakes.

Tyrion continues to travel with Varys, having agreed to meet with Daenerys Targaryen. The two make a stop in Volantis. While excreting his wastes, he is suddenly apprehended by Ser Jorah Mormont, who tells Tyrion he intends to take him to "the queen." Tyrion later realizes that Jorah conveniently means Daenerys and not his sister, Cersei, who has placed a bounty on Tyrion's head. During their journey, Tyrion and Jorah form a bond of sorts. In Old Valyria, Tyrion is shocked to see one of Daenerys' dragons, Drogon, flying above the ruins. Shortly afterwards, they are attacked by a group of Stone Men. Tyrion does not make contact with them, but Jorah is secretly touched by one, giving him greyscale, the disease that turns men into stone men. Tyrion later inadvertently informs Jorah of the death of his father, Jeor Mormont, the 997th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, who mourns him.

Tyrion and Jorah are eventually captured by a group of slavers, and are sold into the services of Yezzan zo Qaggaz, who will have his "freedmen" fight in the fighting pits for the Queen of Meereen, Daenerys Targaryen. Jorah uses this opportunity to present Daenerys with a gift: Tyrion, who walks into the pits and informs Daenerys that he is the gift. Tyrion and Jorah are brought before Daenerys in one of the pyramids in Meereen, one of the cities of Slaver's Bay which she has conquered from the slave masters. Tyrion advises Daenerys not to execute Jorah since executing those devote to her is unwise, but says that she cannot allow a known traitor around her either. Tyrion also expresses his thoughts that Jorah is likely in love with Daenerys. Thus, Daenerys emotionally sends Jorah back into exile and has him removed from the city. Daenerys later meets with Tyrion, where she agrees not to have him killed to send a message to House Lannister. Instead, Daenerys will have Tyrion advise her on how to get what she wants: the Iron Throne. Tyrion wonders aloud if she should remain in Slaver's Bay, but Daenerys says that Westeros is her home, not Essos. Daenerys goes onto tell Tyrion that she intends to "break the wheel" of noble houses vying for power, all the while hurting those below them - their vassals and, below them, the commoners of the realm.

Tyrion and Daenerys sit with Missandei, Daario Naharis, and Hizdahr zo Loraq during an event in the fighting pits of Meereen. Tyrion notes how his father would have liked Hizdahr. They are shocked to see that the champion of the competition is none other than Jorah himself. Suddenly, Jorah grabs a spear and throws it towards Daenerys' direction; it instead hits a member of the Sons of the Harpy, an insurgency group of the Great Masters, the slave masters who ruled over Meereen, fighting Daenerys' rule in Meereen. Suddenly, the Sons of the Harpy rise from the crowd and begin to slaughter the audience, the Unsullied and the Second Sons as panic spreads. In the ensuing massacre, Hizdahr is stabbed to death by the insurgents. Tyrion slits the throat of one of the insurgents that nearly kills Missandei, and with Jorah and Daario's help, the five leap off the podium and attempt to escape. However, the gates are shut, and they find themselves surrounded by the Sons of the Harpy with few Unsullied left to shield them. Daenerys closes her eyes, and suddenly Drogon flies into the pit and begins to burn the rebel insurgents, who flee out of fear. Daenerys climbs atop Drogon and flies away from the city as Tyrion, Missandei, Jorah, and Daario watch on in awe. Back at the Great Pyramid, Jorah and Daario decide to go looking for Daenerys while Tyrion, Missandei, and Grey Worm are left behind to govern the city in her stead. As Tyrion watches Daario and Jorah depart, he is approached by Varys, who expresses his delight that Tyrion has made it into Daenerys' service. Tyrion says that it would help him govern the city if he had someone with a "vast network of spies," and tells Varys how he missed him while they were apart.[19]

After being assaulted at a brothel by the radical Sparrows, for mocking the Seven, the High Septon demands justice from the small council. Cersei sees this as an opportunity to undermine House Tyrell, whose influence has grown stronger and stronger over her young son, King Tommen. She has the High Septon thrown into the dungeons beneath the Red Keep and meets with the so-called High Sparrow, who is serving soup to the smallfolk of King's Landing. Cersei goes on to have her son appoint the High Sparrow as the new High Septon and has the Faith Militant reestablished, with the bulk of the forces being made up of the Sparrows, of course. She informs the High Sparrow of Ser Loras Tyrell's "perversions," which are seen as a sin in the eyes of the Faith. As a result, Loras is arrested by a group led by Brother Lancel. At a subsequent hearing for Loras attended by Cersei, Tommen, Olenna Tyrell, Loras's grandmother, and Margaery Tyrell, Loras's sister and Tommen's wife, Margaery testifies for her brother. However, a squire named Olyvar, who is secretly in the service of Lord Petyr Baelish, provides sufficient evidence of Loras' perversions. As a result, both of the Tyrell children are arrested. Cersei smirks at the shocked Olenna over her victory. Earlier, Cersei had met with Baelish to extract this information from him. Baelish also informed Cersei that Sansa Stark has returned to Winterfell and is being wed to Ramsay Bolton; Cersei believes that Sansa played a part in King Joffrey's murder, and agrees to have Baelish appointed as Warden of the North if he defeats the Boltons in the name of House Lannister. Baelish, who has control over the armies of House Arryn, the rulers of the Vale, pledges to use the elite "knights of the Vale" to defend the Iron Throne, and promises that he will not rest until the banner of House Lannister flies over Winterfell.

Olenna later meets with Littlefinger, who promises her the same gift he gave Cersei: a handsome, young man. After checking on Margaery, Cersei meets with the High Sparrow and tells him that she believes Margaery's conditions are fine. The High Sparrow declares his intentions to strip the nobility of their wealth and power to expose them for who they truly are. At that moment, Lancel walks out from the shadows, having confessed of his sins. Realizing their intentions, Cersei attempts to leave, but is apprehended by Septa Unella and locked away.

During her time in prison, she is met by Qyburn, an expelled maester who helped heal Jaime's wound and has been experimenting on the deceased Ser Gregor Clegane. Qyburn informs her that Grand Maester Pycelle has called for her uncle Kevan to serve as Hand of the King and Protector of the Realm, and that both Pycelle and Kevan refuse to visit her. He also informs Cersei that Tommen has fallen into a state of depression and is refusing to eat. He implores Cersei to confess so that she may return to her son, but Cersei refuses to give the High Sparrow that satisfaction. However, Cersei later decides to finally give in. She confesses to some of her sins, but denies any involvement in sleeping with her brother Jaime and conspiring to murder her late husband, King Robert. Because she confesses to some sins but not all, Cersei must still have a trial; however, if she undergoes a humiliating walk of atonement, she may return to the Red Keep. Reluctantly, Cersei agrees to do so. Her hair is cut and she is stripped naked and forced to walk through the streets of King's Landing as Septa Unella rings a bell next to her, shouting "Shame!" and the smallfolk throw food and wastes at her. Her feet bloodied, she finally makes it back to the Red Keep, where Qyburn rushes to her and warps her in a cloak as Kevan, Pycelle, and Lord Mace Tyrell, Olenna's son, watch on. Qyburn then introduces her to the undead and silent Gregor Clegane, who carries a vengeful Cersei off.

Behind the Scenes

The Lannisters may have been inspired by the House of Lancaster.[147]

Notes

  1. In A Feast for Crows, Jaime IV, Ser Jaime Lannister thinks, "Ser Kevan was the only uncle he had left, the last surviving son of Tytos Lannister." It is not known if Jaime only speaks of his paternal uncles or his uncles in general. If it is the latter then Jaime's two unnamed maternal uncles are deceased as well.

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