Jaime Lannister

Lore & Background

Jaime Lannister is introduced as the son of Tywin Lannister, one of the wealthiest men in Westeros, and twin brother to Queen Cersei. Derisively called "the Kingslayer," he earned this title by killing the "Mad King" Aerys II Targaryen during the coup that placed Robert Baratheon on the Iron Throne. While often described as handsome and an incomparably skilled fighter, his reputation is marred by his secret relationship with his sister and the murder of young Bran Stark after being discovered in a tower window.

In A Storm of Swords (2000), Jaime reveals to Brienne of Tarth that he killed Aerys because the king planned to incinerate King's Landing with wildfire rather than surrender. His worldview shifts dramatically after Vargo Hoat, leader of a mercenary company that has defected to Roose Bolton, cuts off his sword hand. This loss strips him of his primary identity as a warrior, forcing him to re-evaluate the concept of honor he once idolized through figures like Ser Arthur Dayne and Barristan Selmy.

Martin explained that Jaime's journey explores whether redemption is possible for those who have done terrible things. By refusing Cersei's request to champion her in trial by combat in A Feast for Crows and entrusting Brienne with his Valyrian steel sword "Oathkeeper," Jaime begins to separate himself from his old, cynical self, striving instead to become the honorable knight he once admired.

Reader's Guide

To understand Jaime Lannister, one must trace his evolution from a minor villain in A Game of Thrones to a tragic hero in A Storm of Swords. Readers should note his initial introduction as the "Kingslayer," a title that masks the heroic act of saving King's Landing from wildfire. His character is defined by the tension between his incestuous love for Cersei and his duty as a Kingsguard knight. Key turning points include his capture at the Battle of the Whispering Wood, his confession to Catelyn Stark regarding Aerys Targaryen, and the loss of his sword hand to Vargo Hoat.

Jaime's journey is a study in redemption. He moves from mocking honor behind a golden armor to embracing it through self-sacrifice. In A Feast for Crows, he rejects Cersei's demands, signaling a break from his past. George R. R. His story is not about becoming a perfect knight, but about finding a way to live with the terrible things one has done.

Did You Know?

• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Jaime.
• Jaime was knighted by Ser Arthur Dayne, an event he describes as the birth of the 'Young Lion' before his disillusionment set in.
• In A Game of Thrones (1996), Jaime is not only carrying on an incestuous affair with his twin but also pushes Bran Stark out a window to likely death.
• Jaime lost his sword hand while defending Brienne of Tarth, an event that forced him to re-explore the meaning of honor without relying on his swordsmanship.
• Time magazine's Eric Dodds described Jaime as 'handsome, an incomparably skilled fighter, and disarmingly witty'.