Tywin Lannister

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Tywin Lannister is Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport and Warden of the West. A calculating, ruthless, and controlling man, Tywin is one of the most powerful lords in Westeros. He is the father of Jaime, Cersei, and Tyrion Lannister. He loves his children Jaime and Cersei, but despises Tyrion. This is partly because Tyrion is deformed, but also Tywin blames his son for causing his beloved wife Joanna's death, as well as shaming the family name with his frequent whoring.

Appearance

Tywin is a tall, slender, broad-shouldered man in his fifties. He has kept his head shaved ever since he started going bald, but grows bushy golden side-whiskers out all the same. He has green eyes flecked with gold. In battle, he wears deep crimson armor highlighted with gold, with a cloth-of-gold cape.

History

In his youth, Tywin watched his father Tytos mishandle the Lannister fortunes and nearly ruin the family. After becoming lord of the house, Tywin managed to single-handedly restore the family honor and fortunes. He dedicates all his efforts to maintaining the Lannisters' prestige.

Tywin was a powerful Hand of the King for a long time under Aerys II until Aerys' increasing paranoia and jealousy drove the two into several bitter disagreements. After Aerys refused to marry Cersei to his heir, Prince Rhaegar, and raised Jaime to the Kingsguard without Tywin's permission, Tywin resigned the position of Hand and returned to his own lands. During Robert's Rebellion Tywin remained at Casterly Rock, taking no side until after Robert's decisive victory at the Battle of the Trident. After the battle, Tywin mustered his forces and rode for the capital of King's Landing. After Aerys was convinced that Tywin had come to aid him, he ordered the gates of the city opened. Tywin's forces brutally sacked the city while knights sworn to him slew Rhaegar's wife and children.

After Robert's death, Tywin was made Hand of the King for Joffrey Baratheon, his grandson. For much of the next year he conducted war against House Stark and had his son Tyrion serve as Hand in his stead. When his surprise withdrawal to attack Stannis led to the victory of House Lannister at the Battle of the Blackwater and an alliance with House Tyrell, he resumed his position as Hand until he was murdered in his privy by Tyrion. His death also appeared to show that he was somewhat hypocritical, as Tyrion's former whore, Shae, was found in his bedchamber.

Though ruthless, Tywin Lannister was also an able and shrewd ruler who brought great prosperity during his tenures as the King's Hand. He was especially talented at the raising of funds, leading to persistent rumors of a "Midas touch" and even the whispered jest that he must "shit gold". His daughter Cersei once reminisced that the common folk cheered twice as loud for him as they did for their actual king, Mad Aerys II. Though his children also greatly respected him, none of them were ever able to conform to the paths he had laid out for them, a fact that caused many difficulties.

References and sources

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at House Lannister.
The list of authors can be seen in the page history of House Lannister.
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