Tywin Lannister

Lore & Background

Tywin developed an early distrust of mockery while watching his father, Lord Tytos Lannister, ridiculed as "the toothless lion." At age 19, he led the army that exterminated the rebellious Houses Reyne and Tarbeck, a victory commemorated by the song "The Rains of Castamere." He married his cousin Joanna, but her death during Tyrion's birth left him bitter; he never remarried. As Hand to King Aerys II Targaryen, Tywin became the second-most powerful man in the realm until the Mad King grew paranoid, appointed Jaime to the Kingsguard to rob Tywin of his heir, and forced Tywin's resignation. During Robert Baratheon's rebellion, Tywin remained neutral until victory was near, then captured King's Landing through treachery, ordering the royal family murdered before Ned Stark could arrive.

In Their Own Story

During the War of the Five Kings, Tywin raised a host of almost 40,000 men after Catelyn Stark arrested Tyrion. He split his force, sending half under Jaime to besiege Riverrun while he led the other half against Roose Bolton at the Battle of the Green Fork. Although Robb Stark's forces routed Jaime and captured him, Tywin remained in the Riverlands, later marching west upon hearing of Stannis Baratheon's siege of Storm's End. At the Battle of the Fords, Ser Edmure Tully inflicted heavy losses on Tywin but delayed his march long enough for him to receive word that Stannis was moving on King's Landing. Tywin joined forces with House Tyrell and arrived in time to save the city, earning the title "Savior of the City." Later, he conspired with Lord Walder Frey and Roose Bolton to slaughter Robb Stark and his army at The Twins during Edmure Tully's wedding.

Reader's Guide

Tywin is not a point-of-view character in the novels; his actions are interpreted primarily through Tyrion. In the television adaptation, he gains the title "Lord Paramount of the Westerlands," absent from the books. His personal cruelty peaks regarding Tysha: after discovering Tyrion married a peasant girl, Tywin annulled the union, lied that she was a prostitute hired by Jaime, and forced guards to gang-rape her while making Tyrion rape her last. Years later, when Tyrion is accused of killing Joffrey, Jaime frees him from prison, confessing he felt compelled after lying about Tysha. Tyrion escapes through a secret tunnel, finds his former mistress Shae in Tywin's bed, strangles her, and confronts Tywin on the privy. When Tywin scornfully calls Tysha a "whore," Tyrion shoots him dead with a crossbow, noting that as his father died, he did not shitting gold.

Did You Know?

• Tywin was inspired by real historical figures Philip IV of France and Edward I of England.
• Charles Dance was cast as Tywin specifically based on his performance in Alien 3.
• The song "The Rains of Castamere" was written to tribute the extermination of Houses Reyne and Tarbeck.
• Tywin's corpse was poorly embalmed at the Great Sept of Baelor, leaving it unclear if this was deliberate or accidental.
• Tyrion killed Tywin while he was on the privy, ending a life that had once made him the second-most powerful man in Westeros.