Westeros Notorious Rulers and Families

Joanna Lannister

Lady Joanna was also known as Lady of Casterly Rock, she is the daughter of Jason Lannister and Marla Prester, born 244-252 AC.Lady Joanna married Tywin Lannister, they had three children, Cersei Lannister, Jamie Lannister, and Tyrion Lannister.Lady Joanna died in childbirth in 273 AC.Early Life: Joanna's father, Ser Jason, was the younger brother of Tytos Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock. She had one older sibling, Damon, a son from her father's first marriage, and five younger siblings (three brothers, and two sisters), the eldest of whom was Stafford. She also had an older bastard sister, Lynora. Tywin Lannister, the eldest son of Lord Tytos, met his cousin Joanna at Casterly Rock while they were children.Joanna went to King's Landing in 259 AC, for the coronation of King Jaehaerys II Targaryen, and remained as a lady-in-waiting for the future queen, Princess Rhaella Targaryen. There were rumors that Joanna gave her maidenhead to Prince Aerys the night of Jaehaerys's coronation and that she briefly became Aerys's paramour after he ascended the Iron Throne. However, Grand Maester Pycelle insists these tales are baseless, as Tywin would not have married Joanna if they were true, "for he was ever a proud man and not one accustomed to feasting on another man's leavings."Married Life: Joanna married her first cousin, Tywin, now serving as Aerys's Hand of the King, in 263 AC in a lavish ceremony in the Great Sept of Baelor. On their wedding day, the oft-grim Tywin smiled a rare occurrence. At the wedding feast, Aerys drunkenly joked about how it was a pity the first-night tradition was banned, and he took certain "unwonted liberties' with Joanna in the bedding ritual when the men at the feast had to disrobe the bride. Not long thereafter, Joanna was dismissed by Queen Rhaella Targaryen from her service in King's Landing. While Rhaella turned a blind eye towards most of her husband's infidelities, she did not approve when it concerned one of her ladies, several of whom were sent away from court. Joanna departed for Casterly Rock at once, and she seldom visited the capital afterward.Joanna's marriage to Tywin was reportedly a happy one, and she became Tywin's trusted counselor and companion. Her influence on her husband was such that people say that Tywin ruled the Seven Kingdoms as Hand, "but was ruled at home by his lady wife."In 266 AC, Joanna gave birth to Cersei and Jaime, with Tywin present. King Aerys ordered Tywin to bring Joanna and the children to King's Landing when the children were old enough to travel, but Lord Tytos Lannister died before this could occur. Instead, Tywin, Aerys, Prince Rhaegar, and half the court went to the westerlands in 267 AC, where they remained for most of the next year.Joanna attended the Anniversary Tourney in King's Landing in 272 AC, held to celebrate Aerys's tenth year on the Iron Throne. Aerys insulted Joanna by asking her if nursing her children had ruined her breasts, and the king refused the outraged Tywin's resignation the next day.At some point within the next year, Joanna's servant caught Jaime and Cersei together, engaged in some kind of sexual activity. Joanna sent the maid away, moved Jaime's chamber to the other side of Casterly Rock, and put a guard outside of Cersei's chamber. She then warned her twins that they must never do such a thing again, or else she would be forced to tell their father.Death: During her time as Queen Rhaella's lady-in-waiting, Joanna had befriended the Princess of Dorne, another member of the court. The Dornish Princess had two children, Oberyn and Elia Martell, who were not yet promised in marriage, so the two women planned to have their children be wed to each other.In 273 AC, Joanna died birthing her youngest son, the dwarf Tyrion, while the Martells were on their way to Casterly Rock. Once confronted on the subject, Tywin bluntly refused all the offers (Jaime wed to Elia, Cersei wed to Oberyn, or both), and instead offered newborn Tyrion for Elia, an offer meant to be insulting.Tywin seldom spoke of his wife, but he was greatly saddened by her death and never remarried. Tywin has since blamed Tyrion for Joanna's death. A brother, Kevan, later took over Joanna's role as Tywin's most trusted counselor.