Margaery Tyrell

The ambitious Rose of Highgarden who married three kings and challenged Cersei Lannister.

Margaery Tyrell is a fictional character in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series and its television adaptation, Game of Thrones, portrayed by Natalie Dormer. First mentioned in A Game of Thrones (1996) and appearing in A Clash of Kings (1998), she is the daughter of Mace Tyrell and Alerie Hightower. As a member of House Tyrell, the second wealthiest Great House, she is known for her shrewdness, ambition, and adaptability. Guided by her grandmother Lady Olenna, Margaery uses her beauty and family influence to secure power, eventually becoming an influential political figure who wed three kings: Renly Baratheon, Joffrey Baratheon, and Tommen Baratheon.

Quick Facts

Series

A Song of Ice and Fire character; Game of Thrones

Last

Television:
"The Winds of Winter" (2016)
Video game:
"The Ice Dragon" (2015)

Creator

George R. R. Martin

Portrayed by

Natalie Dormer

Also known as

The Little Queen
The Little Rose
Maid Margaery

Gender

Female

Family

House Tyrell
House Baratheon
House Lannister

Spouse

Renly Baratheon
Joffrey Baratheon (unconsummated)
Tommen Baratheon

Lore & Background

Margaery is the only daughter of Lord Mace Tyrell and Lady Alerie Hightower. Her older brothers are Willas, the heir to Highgarden; Ser Garlan the Gallant; and Ser Loras Tyrell, a member of the Kingsguard. Although House Tyrell appears led by Mace, it is actually guided by the willful Lady Olenna Baratheon (born Redwyne), who arranges Margaery's marriages and mentors her in politics. In the novels, Margaery is not a point-of-view character; her actions are witnessed through Sansa Stark and Cersei Lannister. She leverages her grandmother's influence to navigate court intrigue, forming an amiable relationship with Joffrey's ex-fiancée Sansa Stark to learn about the King's true nature before marrying him.

Reader's Guide

In the television series, Margaery appears as an adult rather than a teenager, first shown in Season 2 following her marriage to Renly. She displays pragmatism regarding Renly's relationship with her brother Loras. In Season 3, she manages Joffrey better than anyone else, becoming popular with the common people through PR moves toward the poor. After Joffrey is poisoned in Season 4 (with Olenna revealed as the mastermind), she marries Tommen and becomes Queen of the Seven Kingdoms in Season 5. She taunts Cersei but falls victim to a trap involving the Faith Militant, leading to her arrest alongside Loras. In Season 6, after briefly securing their release by convincing Tommen to ally with the Faith, Margaery deduces Cersei is plotting against them. She dies instantly when wildfire set by Qyburn on Cersei's orders engulfs the Sept of Baelor.