Tywin Lannister

Tywin Lannister
Political information
Title(s)	Hand of the King Lord of Casterly Rock Warden of the West Lord Paramount of the Westerlands Savior of the City (of King's Landing)
World of Westeros
Season(s)	1, 2, 3
Appeared in	17 episodes (see below)
First seen in	"You Win or You Die"
Last seen in	"The Bear and the Maiden Fair"
Portrayed by	Charles Dance

"Before long I'll be dead, and you and your brother and your sister and all of her children, all of us dead, all of us rotting in the ground. It's the family name that lives on. That's all that lives on. Not your personal glory, not your honor... but family."

―Lord Tywin Lannister to Ser Jaime Lannister

Lord Tywin Lannister is a major character in the second and third seasons. He initially appeared as a recurring character in the first season and debuted in "You Win or You Die." He is played by starring cast member Charles Dance. Tywin Lannister is the head of House Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West, Lord Paramount of the Westerlands and, currently, the Hand of the King to his grandson, King Joffrey Baratheon. Intelligent, calculating, and ruthless, he is also the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms. His primary concern is his family's legacy.

Biography

Background

Tywin is the lord of House Lannister, the Lord Paramount of the Westerlands, and the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms. The Westerlands are one of the constituent regions of the Seven Kingdoms and House Lannister is one of the Great Houses of the realm. House Lannister rule the region from their seat of Casterly Rock and Tywin also holds the title Lord of Casterly Rock. He is also the Warden of the West. He is a widower with three children, Jaime, Cersei and Tyrion.

Tywin is the son of Tytos Lannister. His father presided over a period of decline for the house. He frittered away much of their fortune on poor investments and allowed himself to be mocked at court creating a perception of weakness. Their vassals House Reyne of Castamere rebelled against Lord Tytos. Tywin put down the rebellion personally, extinguishing their house and re-establishing the fearsome reputation of House Lannister. His ruthlessness gave darker meaning to the common phrase "A Lannister always pays his debts" and was immortalized in the song "The Rains of Castamere".

Tywin married his cousin Joanna Lannister and their first children were the fraternal twins Cersei and Jaime. She died after giving birth to Tyrion. Tywin blames his son for the death of his spouse. Jaime was diagnosed with a learning difficulty by a Maester who predicted that he would never read. Tywin sat with his son for four hours a day until he overcame his problems with transposing letters in his mind. Jaime resented being forced to practice.

Tywin serves as the Mad King's Hand

Tywin served as Hand of the King to Aerys II Targaryen for twenty years but resigned after the Mad King, driven by envy and distrust, rejected Tywin's proposal to marry his daughter Cersei to Prince Rhaegar and made his son Jaime a member of the Kingsguard - thus robbing Tywin of his heir - events which Tywin perceived as insults. During Robert's Rebellion Tywin remained neutral, answering neither the summons of the King nor the calls from the rebels, until the Battle of the Trident. Tywin marched with the full power of Casterly Rock to the capital, feigning he had come to defend it from the rebellion. After the city gates were opened, Tywin ordered the city to be taken and the royal family eliminated in a quick and efficient manner; as a result the city was sacked and the royal family massacred by Ser Gregor Clegane and Ser Amory Lorch. Meanwhile, Tywin's son killed the Mad King. Tywin presented the bodies of the royal family as proof of his allegiance. After the rebellion Robert Baratheon took the throne and married Tywin's daughter Cersei to cement their alliance.

Cersei's son Joffrey Baratheon is the heir to the throne. She has two younger children Myrcella Baratheon and Tommen Baratheon. Unbeknownst to Tywin all three children are the product of her incestuous relationship with Jaime. Tywin is close to his younger brother, Kevan who is his chief advisor. Kevan's son Lancel is King Robert's squire.

Tywin despises and hates his younger son, seeing him as misshapen and perverse. When Tyrion was very young, Jaime set him up with a prostitute. Jaime posed her as a common girl in distress that they rescued from bandits. Jaime chased the bandits off while Tyrion comforted the girl. They married, but when Tywin found out he was furious and made Jaime reveal the truth. Tywin paid her for every one of his guards to have sex with her and forced Tyrion to watch. Tywin's hatred of Tyrion has been reciprocated since. Nevertheless, all of Tywin's children are in awe of him and heed his counsel.

Season 1

Tyrion is accused of the attempted murder of Bran Stark and taken prisoner by Catelyn Stark. Despite their mutual dislike Tywin regards any affront to Tyrion as an affront to the honor of House Lannister as a whole and will not allow the action to go unpunished. Jaime confronts Catelyn's husband Eddard Stark who is the current Hand of the King to Robert. Eddard takes responsibility for Catelyn's actions. They fight, but the fight is prematurely ended when one of Jaime's guards intervenes, injuring Eddard. Jaime then leaves King's Landing. Lord Tywin leads an army of sixty thousand men from the Westerlands to the borders of the Riverlands where he is met by Jaime. He commands Jaime to take half their men and besiege Riverrun, the childhood home of Catelyn. Tywin is incredulous that Jaime didn't capture Eddard Stark when he had the chance on the basis that he didn't win their fight 'fairly' because a Lannister man-at-arms interfered. Robert dies after being injured by a boar while hunting and Joffrey claims the throne. Eddard challenges Joffrey's legitimacy and is arrested for treason in King's Landing.

Tywin in the Lannister war camp

Tywin moves his half of the force West to the banks of the Trident. Tyrion arrives at the Lannister army having won his freedom in a trial by combat. He is accompanied by the leaders of the hill tribes, Shagga, Timett and Chella, having won their allegiance with promises of supplies. Tywin agrees to the alliance, and is amused when the hill tribes say they will only fight if Tyrion is with them on the field. Learning that the Stark army is moving to meet him in battle, Tywin triumphantly predicts victory, since Robb Stark is an unproven, untested 'green' boy. Tyrion notes that Robb is belligerent and cleverer than he looks. Tyrion bemuses Tywin by suggesting that he would like Robb. The Lannister armies prepare for battle. Tywin tells Tyrion that he will place the hill tribe forces in his vanguard and orders Tyrion to lead them from the front. Tyrion angrily accuses his father of trying to kill him but nevertheless survives the ensuing Battle of the Green Fork. The Lannister force wins a decisive victory but finds the Stark force much smaller than the scouts had reported. Robb had split his forces at the Twins and led the majority west. He won a victory of his own in the Battle of the Whispering Wood and captured Jaime. In King's Landing Joffrey has Eddard executed for his crimes.

Tywin in full armor following the Battle of the Green Fork.

Lord Tywin and his bannermen meet to discuss Jaime's defeat and capture. Kevan reports that both of Robert's brothers (Stannis and Renly Baratheon) have made their own claims on the Iron Throne. Kevan suggests a truce with House Stark. Tyrion impresses his father by asserting that Joffrey has destroyed any hope for peace between the Starks and the Lannisters. Tywin dismisses the others and orders Tyrion to go to King's Landing to act as Hand of the King in his place. He instructs Tyrion to keep Joffrey under control and to watch for treason among the small council. He forbids Tyrion to bring the prostitute Shae to court but Tyrion defies him and has Shae follow him to King's Landing.

Season 2

Main: Tywin Lannister Season 2

As the head of House Lannister Tywin is leading his forces in defence of his grandson King Joffrey Baratheon in the War of the Five Kings. He has suffered three significant defeats at the hands of newly declared King in the North Robb Stark and his son Jaime Lannister remains Robb's captive. His regrouped forces are raiding the Riverlands from their base at Harrenhal.

Robb wins a further victory against Tywin's reinforcements in the Battle of Oxcross. Tywin returns to Harrenhal to find his courtyard full of prisoners and Ser Gregor Clegane and his men systematically torturing them to death. He orders a halt to the practice because it is a waste of manpower. He notices a female prisoner posing as a boy. She says that it is safer to travel as a boy and recognizing her intelligence he makes her his new cupbearer. Unbeknownst to Tywin the girl is Arya Stark.

Tywin hosts a war council to discuss a new strategy to defeat Robb. He is frustrated at having underestimated his opponent. Realizing that Arya is from the north he asks for her opinion of Robb. She relays rumours about his supernatural connection to his direwolf and supposed invulnerability. Tywin asks if she believes what she has heard and she says that anyone can be killed.

Tywin berates Ser Amory Lorch for misdirecting a communique into the hands of their enemies. He is surprised to discover that Arya reads better than his bannerman. He later questions the source of her literacy. She is able to maintain her lie while Tywin recalls how he made Jaime overcome his reading difficulties. As Tywin reminisces about his father's weakness Arya steals the letter. She is caught carrying it by Amory. She orders Amory's death through her connection to the assassin Jaqen H'ghar. Tywin is shocked when Amory dies on the threshold of his chambers but does not know who was responsible; he believes he was the one being targeted. Tywin meets with Petyr Baelish who proposes an alliance with House Tyrell.

Tywin dedicates himself to finding the assassin, ordering the torture and execution of dozens of his own men. Arya serves him mutton, a meal he dislikes, Arya says she will go look for something else but he instead invites her to eat, and they talk about Harrenhal and how it came to ruin after Dragons attacked it. He is once again very impressed with her knowledge, and is amused by her will to defy him when he corrects her on how to refer to one's lord.

Tywin hosts a war council at Harrenhal.

Robb continues to win victories in the Westerlands, taking captives at Yellow Fork, forcing the surrender of the Crag and closing on Casterly Rock itself. King Stannis Baratheon sails on King's Landing. With both the nations capital and his own seat under threat Tywin convenes a war council. He argues that Robb is a greater threat and decides to march immediately. He leaves Ser Gregor as castellan at Harrenhal and Arya to be his cupbearer. Unbeknownst to him, however, Arya manages to escape Harrenhal.

Tywin arrives in King's Landing towards the end of Battle of the Blackwater with a large force of Lannister-Tyrell soldiers, thus winning the battle. A wounded Tyrion sees them arrive, just before passing out. Cersei is sitting on the Iron Throne with Tommen, when Tywin comes in to announce their victory.

File:Tywin court 2x10.png

Tywin rides to Throne

At the ceremony to honor the heroes of the battle, Tywin Lannister rides his horse into the throne room and across to the throne, where Joffrey grants him the honorific title of "Savior of the City" and reaffirms him as Hand of the King to the court. Tywin rides in on his horse to accept the honor, but not before the beast defecates on the doorway of the throne room.

Season 3

Following the Battle of Blackwater Tywin wastes no time in asserting his authority over King's Landing, shunning his grievously injured son; instead busying himself with his new position of Hand of the King. Eventually, Tywin relents, and grants Tyrion an audience, who walks in on his father authoring a conspiratorial sounding letter to an unknown individual, in which Tywin describes the North as being "ripe for the taking". Tyrion request his father give him Casterly Rock, as he is his only heir since Jaime took his oath. Tywin hatefully spites his son for 'killing' his mother in childbirth, and saying that he will never make Tyrion heir to Casterly Rock, considering him an abomination and a curse, who would humiliate the family name and turn Casterly Rock into a brothel. As Tyrion leaves, he says if he finds another whore in his chamber he will hang her.

Tywin calls a Small Council meeting and has the meeting take place near his own chambers in the Tower of the Hand to assert his dominance. Baelish, Varys, and Pycelle arrive first and quickly take their respective places next to Tywin. Cersei and Tyrion arrive last, Cersei opts to sit at her father's right hand as close to him as possible. Realizing all eyes are on him Tyrion noisily drags his chair to the opposite end of the table as far from his father as can be. Tywin begins by chiding his fellow council members. They have a legion of spies between them and yet they have no clue where Jaime is. Varys next informs lord Tywin that Hoster Tully is dead and most of Robb Starks' forces are in Riverrun for his funeral. Roose Bolton has been left in charge of Harrenhal making him the de facto lord of the castle. Tywin argues that Baelish being lord of Harrenhal in name only serves his purposes just fine: courting Lysa Arryn. Littlefinger thanks Tywin for this new promotion. Tyrion brings up that this would leave the council without a Master Of Coin and Tywin agrees with his son for once and promptly names Tyrion the new Master Of Coin.  Tyrion's protests fall on deaf ears as all the other council members are eager to please Tywin and agree that Tyrion is up to this latest challenge.

Tywin is busy pouring over documents and writing letters when Cersei enters the tower of the hand. When Cersei just sits there Tywin points out she wished to speak with him. Cersei wants reassurance that all that can be done to locate her brother is being done. Tywin coldly states that if he went above and beyond to free his dwarf son then it can be assumed that he would do even more to for his eldest son and heir. When Tywin notices that Cersei hasn't left he asks what else she wants. Cersei feels that Tywin has always throw her over in favour of her brothers. She further argues that she is the one that has heeded her fathers advice and that she can contribute a great deal to the Lannister legacy. Tywin ask his daughter for an example of such contributions. When Cersei claims that the Tyrells are untrustworthy Tywin dismisses her her concerns. Tywin even admires Margaery Tyrell for being the only one able to manipulate Joffrey. He goes on saying that his mistrust of her doesn't stem from her being a woman but from the fact that she isn't all that bright. Cersei quips that maybe Tywin should try to control Joffrey, and Tywin dryly states that he will.

Tywin has summoned Tyrion to his chambers and objects to his son's tardiness. Tyrion is dismayed to find Cersei  there also. When Tyrion boasts that he managed to charm Olenna Tyrell into contributing to the enormous expense of the royal wedding Tywin does not care. Tywin states he has more important matters to discuss with his children than counting coppers. Thanks to Cersei Tywin has stumbled on a Tyrell plot to wed Sansa to Loras, allowing the Tyrell family to control the north. Tyrion doesn't see the harm in this but he does jape that Sansa isn't Loras' type. Tywin doesn't appreciate his son's humour and goes on to say that Tyrells shouldn't be scheming against him after he brought them into the royal family. Tyrion also fails to see how Sansa is the key to the North as her elder brother Robb still lives. Tywin replies that Robb's army is melting away. With the Freys and the Karstarks gone  Robb's days are done. Tyrion advises his father not to insult the Tyrells since they have been so instrumental in winning the war. Tywin retorts that per definition a plot isn't public knowledge so the Tyrell couldn't possibly be affronted if Sansa were to marry another. When he sees his sister simpering Tyrion understands that his father wishes him to wed Sansa. Tyrion states that after what the poor girl went trough forcing her to marry a dwarf is cruel even by Tywin's standards. Tywin doesn't really care about the Stark girls' wellbeing he simply wants the North. Tywin goes onto say that it's past time for Tyrion to wed. Seething Tyrion retorts that he was happily married once in case his father forgot. Tywin remembers the incident all too well, but states that the North is Tyrion's "reward" for his valour in battle. Tywin knows that his son will obey despite all his protests. When Cersei laughs at her brother's discomfort Tywin says that she too must do as she is bid. Cersei is struck dumb when her father informs her that she will wed Loras. In doing so the Lannisters will bind both the Reach and the North to them. Cersei refuses to comply and states that she is queen regent not some brood mare. Losing his patience Tywin shouts that she is his child and will fall in line. Marrying again will also put down the revolting rumours about Cersei and Jaime. Tywin then abruptly leaves his children saying that they have disgraced the Lannister name for far too long.

Tywin has a meeting with Olenna Tyrell to discuss Cersei' and Loras' upcoming nuptials. Lady Olenna is less than enthusiastic about this latest Tyrell-Lannister match. The queen of thorns deems Cersei too old to wed the heir to Highgarden. Tywin then attempts to force Olenna's hand by mentioning Loras' homosexuality but Olenna merely laughs at this she's always know her grandson was a 'swordswallower'. She also point out that no one cares about a bit of buggery amongst the nobility, but incest is an entirely different matter. Tywin says that this is just a vile rumour that isn't worth repeating but if it were true then House Tyrell has already burnt itself by taking the Lannister side. When Lady Olenna still won't relent Tywin threatens to appoint Loras to the Kingsguard which would spell the end for house Tyrell's lineage. Seemingly defeated the queen of thorns admits it strange for any man to live up to his reputation.

A grim looking Tywin enters the throne room, Joffrey has summoned him. After exchanging some false curtsey Tywin asks why his grandson wished to see him. Joffrey wants an update on what 'his' Small Council has been doing. Tywin informs Joffrey that the king can attend any Small Council meeting should he desire it. The boy king claims that he is too busy to attend said meetings, he also demands to know why the location of the council meetings has changed? Tywin says that he is holding the meeting in the tower of the hand to save time.  Joffrey then complains that he would have to climb too many steps should he wish to sit in on a small council meeting. Tywin just gives his signature icy stare and climbs up to the Iron throne and looms over his spoiled grandchild. Tywin 'jokes' that he could arr arrange for Joffrey to be carried up those steps. The king shrinks backs visibly and changes topics by mentioning Danaerys Targaryen. Tywin is surprised that Joffrey would know anything about the exciled princess. When Joffrey asks if something is to be done about Danaerys now that she has dragons Tywin mocks any fears the king might have. Tywin also  warns his grandson that he should heed his advisor's council on matters he does not comprehend. Joffrey protests that he hasn't been counceled on anything, sternly Tywin says he is being advised at this very moment. The king still insists on being kept in the loop Tywin then concedes that he will inform Joffrey should he deem it necessary. Defeated Joffrey sinks back into the Iron throne. Tywin then takes his leave a hint of a smile on his face.

Personality

Tywin is a cold, ruthless, arrogant, highly intelligent and calculating man. He was deeply in love with his late wife Joanna, but after she died giving birth to Tyrion, whatever warmth might have been in him died with her. Tywin hates Tyrion for causing the death of his wife, as well as for shaming Tywin and their family by being born a misshapen dwarf.

Tywin insists that all he does is for the sake of his family. Tywin's own father Tytos was a generous and caring man, whose bad investments and indecision made House Lannister a laughingstock. Tywin had to rebuild his family's fortunes almost singlehandedly, and sees outward signs of caring and emotion as the same kind of weakness that his own father showed. Ironically, however, Tywin's harsh actions and unwillingness to serve as a caring father figure have resulted in severe emotional problems in all three of his children, who are all terrified of him. Jaime and Cersei have been having an incestuous sexual relationship since they were very young, partially due to the lack of any loving parental relationship either of them had. Tywin actually spent most of their lives away in King's Landing serving as Hand of the King, and with their mother dead, his children were functionally raised by servants. Tywin only sporadically visited his home at Casterly Rock, and on the occasions when he did return he would deal out severe punishment for any transgressions his children committed while he was away.

What little relationship Tywin may have had with Tyrion was destroyed when Tywin had his marriage to the commoner Tysha annulled, then forced Tyrion to watch as he had his guards gang-rape the girl. The irony, of course, is that Tywin himself married for love when he married his own first cousin Joanna, instead of entering into a marriage-alliance with another more powerful noble family. Over the years, Tywin seemed to develop an outright joy in inflicting petty humiliations on Tyrion, such as "rewarding" him on his sixteenth nameday by putting him in charge of the privys and sewers at Casterly Rock.

Meanwhile, Tywin possesses a very conservative, patrician set of social values, in which women are suited to securing marriage-alliances and little else, not wielding power on their own. Thus in contrast to House Tyrell, in which female members of the family are trained in ruling and court intrigue as much as the men are, Tywin never trained Cersei how to rule. Without instruction from her father, because Tywin always disregarded her as simply a means to an end, Cersei turned into a queen who actually isn't very skilled at the art of ruling.

Of his three children Tywin has the least shame for Jaime, but not outright respect. Tywin feels disappointed that Jaime wants to continue to be a member of the Kingsguard, as while it is the highest honor a knight can aspire to, it means that Jaime had to swear away his rights to marriage or inheritance, which would leave Tywin's hated son Tyrion as his heir.

Tywin does have a generally good relationship with his younger brother Kevan, whom he shaped his whole life to serve as his faithful lieutenant. On the whole, however, for a man who claims to value family above all else, Tywin has hypocritically destroyed his relationships with his own children.

Appearances

Template:Season One Appearances Template:Season Two Appearances Template:Season Three Appearances

Image gallery

Tywin telling Jaime Lannister about the importance of legacy in "You Win or You Die".

Kevan and Tywin Lannister discussing strategy in "The Pointy End".

Tywin at his camp in "Baelor".

Tywin appoints Tyrion Lannister as acting Hand of the King in "Fire and Blood".

Tywin in the second season.

Family tree

Template:House Lannister family tree

Quotes

"Lannisters don't act like fools."

―Tywin Lannister

"A lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of a sheep."

―Tywin Lannister

Tyrion: "I want what is mine by right. Jaime is your eldest son, heir to your lands and titles, but he is a Kingsguard, forbidden from marriage or inheritance. The day Jaime put on the white cloak he gave up his claim to Casterly Rock. I am your son and lawful heir."
Tywin: "You want Casterly Rock?"
Tyrion: "It is mine by right."
Tywin: [sighs] "We'll find you accommodations more suited to your name and as a reward for your accomplishments during the Battle of Blackwater Bay. And when the time is right, you will be given a position fit for your talents so that you can serve your family and protect our legacy. And if you serve faithfully, you will be rewarded with a suitable wife - And I would let myself be consumed by maggots before mocking the family name and making you heir to Casterly Rock."
Tyrion: "Why?"
Tywin: "Why? You ask that? You who killed your mother to come into the world? You are an ill-made, spiteful little creature full of envy, lust, and low cunning. Men's laws give you the right to bear my name and display my colors since I cannot prove that you are not mine. And to teach me humility, the gods have condemned me to watch you waddle about wearing that proud lion that was my father's sigil and his father before him. But neither gods nor men will ever compel me to let you turn Casterly Rock into your whorehouse. Go, now. Speak no more of your rights to Casterly Rock. Go!"

--Tywin's opinions on his son Tyrion, "Valar Dohaeris".

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Tywin is a ruthless, pragmatic leader and a formidable general and strategist, although he prefers to orchestrate events from behind the scenes rather than leading from the front. His father, Lord Tytos, was a weak ruler who was mocked by many of his vassals. When House Reyne of Castamere and House Tarbeck of Tarbeck Hall rose against House Lannister, young Tywin led his House's armies and crushed the revolt. He was the Hand of the King under King Aerys II Targaryen for twenty years before a series of insults saw him resign the position. Tywin's term in office as Hand of the King was very successful, to the point that he was essentially the only man holding the kingdom together as Aerys II grew increasingly more insane over the years. The TV series does not state this, but the reason the Mad King had Ilyn Payne's tongue torn from his mouth with hot irons was because he overheard Payne remarking that Tywin was the real ruler of the kingdoms. After Tywin resigned and returned home to Casterly Rock, Aerys II's rule rapidly spiralled out of control, which in turn only fueled the Mad King's paranoia.

When Robert's Rebellion erupted, Tywin took no part. Only after it became clear that the rebels would be victorious, Tywin betrayed Aerys by sending his army to sack King's Landing, delivering Robert Baratheon his final victory of the war. This action spawned the original friction between House Lannister and Ned Stark, who correctly observed that the Lannisters only intervened when it was convenient, and that they could not be trusted. Further, Ned was disgusted that the Lannister army had dishonorably sacked the city and even killed Rhaegar Targaryen's small children (as Aemon recounts to Jon in the TV series). The first book explains that Gregor Clegane led the Lannister forces that found and killed the children; Gregor personally killed Rhaegar's infant son by bashing his head in, then - while covered in the blood and brains of her baby - raped and killed Rhaegar's wife Elia Martell. Tywin's defense when confronted by Ned was that he never personally ordered Gregor to kill the royal children, but Tywin also did nothing to punish Gregor. It is Ned's disgust at Tywin's actions during the Sack of King's Landing that drive how he deals with Cersei's betrayal, because even if Cersei's children are bastards borne of incest, Ned knows that Robert would have all three killed if he told him, and Ned fears that this would make himself no better than Tywin.

Tywin pledged fealty to Robert in the aftermath of the conflict, and Robert agreed to marry Tywin's daughter Cersei. Tywin is proud of his son Jaime, a great warrior, but loathes his youngest son Tyrion, blaming him for the death of Tywin's wife, Joanna, in childbirth. The books make it clear that Tywin is unaware of the incestuous relationship between Jaime and Cersei.

His appearance is slightly different in the books, where he is completely bald with long golden "side whiskers" and green eyes flecked with gold.

According to the TV series official pronunciation guide developed for the cast and crew, "Tywin Lannister" is pronounced "TIE-win LAN-iss-ter", as opposed to "Tih-win", etc.

See also

• Tywin Lannister at A Wiki of Ice and Fire (MAJOR spoilers from the books)

References

Template:SmallCouncil navbox Template:Lannister navbox