Westeros Notorious Rulers and Families

Kevan Lannister

Ser Kevan was also known as Master of Laws, Lord Regent, and Proctor of the Realm, son of Tytos Lannister and Jeyne Marbrand, born 244 AC.Ser Kevan married Dorna Swyft, and together they had four children Lancel Lannister, Willem Lannister, Martyn Lannister, and Janei Lannister.Ser Kevan died by Varys "Little Birds" in 300 AC.Youth: Kevan was a confidant and companion for his elder brother, Tywin since childhood. Recognizing the competency of Tywin at an early age, Kevan did his best to realize his brother's wishes, though this meant perpetually living in his shadow. In contrast, Tywin had stormy relations with his other brothers, Tygett and Gerion.Lord Tytos Lannister sent young Kevan to Castamere to serve as a page and then squire to Lord Roger Reyne. Ser Tywin, Kevan, and Tygett fought in the War of the Ninepenny Kings, during which Kevan was knighted by Lord Reyne.At sixteen, Kevan visited the Free Cities on his coming-of-age tour.Reyne-Tarbeck Revolt: Upon the return to Casterly Rock, Ser Tywin charged Kevan with the task of ridding the Westerlands of robber knights and bandit outlaws who had taken advantage of the weak rule of their father, Lord Tytos. Tywin also had Kevan collect the outstanding debts owed to Casterly Rock, and those who could not pay immediately had to surrender a family member as a hostage till the debt was settled. As Ser Harys Swyft was not able to pay at the time, he handed his daughter Dorna into Kevan's custody. Kevan would eventually fall in love with Dorna and marry her by 266 AC.In contrast to Ser Harys, Lord Roger Reyne refused to pay and Lord Walderan Tarbeck sought out Lord Tytos to convince him to countermand Tywin's actions. Tywin had Walderan imprisoned, however, and in response, Lady Ellyn Tarbeck kidnapped Stafford Lannister. Tywin refused to be part of Tytos's negotiations with Ser Reynard Reyne, so Tytos had Kevan exchange Walderan for Stafford at Castamere.According to a semi-canon source, Kevan aided Tywin in suppressing the Reyne-Tarbeck revolt in 261 AC. Ellyn laughed at Kevan when he demanded the surrender of Tarbeck Hall. Ellyn was slain when Tywin attacked the castle, however.Lord Tywin: Ser Kevan had four children with his wife: Lancel, twin boys Martyn and Willem, and a daughter, Janei.Tytos Lannister died in 267 AC, making Tywin the new Lord of Casterly Rock. Kevan was Tywin's closest confidant, sharing all of his counsel. As a second son, Kevan became a household knight and served his older brother, though this meant he held no lands of his own. Kevan did hold certain incomes and was frequently rewarded by Tywin for his good service despite his lack of status, and he set aside chests of coin from this and his generous inheritance from his late father, Lord Tytos Lannister.In 274 AC, the Princess of Dorne and her children, Oberyn and Elia Martell, came to Casterly Rock to see Lady Joanna Lannister. Unfortunately, their visit came shortly after Joanna died giving birth to Tyrion Lannister. Tywin, in his grief, placed Kevan in charge of entertaining their Dornish guests.Kevan is remembered by his nephew, Jaime, as being a stout man with a sword in his youth. He fought in a melee at King's Landing but was thrown from his horse by Thoros of Myr, whose flaming sword terrified his horse. Kevan has visited Dragonstone. Kevan has two hundred knights under his command, with gold to hire sellswords and influence to double his numbers. One of his sons, Lancel Lannister, squires for King Robert I Baratheon.Recent Events: Ser Kevan accompanies his elder brother, Lord Tywin Lannister when war breaks out in the Riverlands after the death of King Robert I Baratheon. The Lannisters capture Raventree and Harrenhal.At the battle on the Green Fork, Kevan commands the center, a large mixed force. Tywin intends the left flank to break and for Kevan to wheel around to crush the advancing northmen against the Green Fork, but the cautious northern commander, Lord Roose Bolton, withdraws rather than fall into this trap. Following their victory, the Lannisters discover that Robb Stark was not present in the battle.While his Lannister army is marching south, Robb captures Ser Jaime Lannister, Tywin's son, and Willem Lannister, Kevan's son, in the battle in the Whispering Wood, and relieves Riverrun with the Battle of the Camps. When word reaches the Lannisters at the Crossroads Inn, Kevan defends Jaime to Ser Harys Swyft. Tywin orders Kevan to command Ser Gregor Clegane, Ser Amory Lorch, and Vargo Hoat to lead their reavers in raiding the riverlands, while Tywin leads the rest of their host to Harrenhal.After the deaths of Ser Cedric Payne and Ser Lorimer the Belly, Kevan takes charge of Podrick Payne and sends him to King's Landing to squire for his nephew, Tyrion Lannister.Martyn Lannister, another of Kevan's sons, is captured by Robb Stark, now the King in the North, in the Battle of Oxcross.Kevan accompanies Tywin when the Lannisters depart Harrenhal. They attempt to force their way back to the westerlands, but they are repelled at the Red Fork by Ser Edmure Tully in the Battle of the Fords. The Lannisters then join the Tyrells and defeat Stannis Baratheon in the Battle of the Blackwater. After the battle, Kevan announces some of the rewards for the victors on behalf of King Joffrey in the throne room of the Red Keep. Tywin has Kevan's son, Ser Lancel Lannister, named Lord of Darry.King Joffrey I Baratheon appoints Ser Kevan to his small council as master of laws. Kevan pays off and dismisses the remaining guards of his wounded nephew, Tyrion Lannister, and the uncle warmly greets Tyrion when he rejoins the council. Kevan is concerned for Lancel, who was wounded at the Blackwater. During the wedding of Tyrion and Sansa Stark, Kevan dances with Lady Janna Fossoway and Sansa.After Catelyn Stark releases Ser Jaime Lannister from captivity at Riverrun, Lord Rickard Karstark murders Willem Lannister. With Willem dead, Martyn a captive, and Lancel weakened, Kevan becomes consumed by worry and grief. As a result, Tywin relies on Tyrion more than he would prefer. Robb agrees to exchange Martyn for Robett Glover. Kevan is present when news of the Red Wedding is received. He is appalled by Joffrey's statement that he wants the head of Robb so he can serve it to his sister, Sansa, at his wedding to Margaery Tyrell, a request that Tywin refuses to grant.Kevan gives Joffrey a magnificent red leather jousting saddle for his wedding. He escorts Lady Olenna Tyrell during the wedding procession and is pleased with the wedding feast when Sansa praises Lancel's valor. Joffrey dies during the feast, and Tyrion is accused of regicide and kinslaying.Kevan reluctantly believes that his nephew is guilty, although Tyrion denies involvement. Tyrion names Sansa as a witness to his defense, but Kevan is unable to find her in King's Landing. Lord Petyr Baelish and Olenna conspired to poison the king, and Petyr smuggled the unsuspecting Sansa to the Vale of Arryn. Kevan visits Tyrion nightly and relays Tywin's offer that Tyrion admit guilt and join the Night's Watch, but Tyrion instead insists on trial by combat. Kevan attends the duel, during which Tyrion's champion, Prince Oberyn Martell, is slain by Ser Gregor Clegane. Kevan has King Tommen I Baratheon sign documents in the aftermath of the Red Wedding. He unsuccessfully attempts to mend the breach between Tywin and Jaime. Varys and Jaime free Tyrion before he is to be executed; Tyrion then kills Tywin in the Tower of the Hand.When the body of Lord Tywin Lannister is discovered, Ser Kevan is one of the first to be notified of his brother's death. He prays by the bedside of his brother,[8] shaken and wearied by the murder. He attends Tywin's funeral.Queen Regent Cersei Lannister offers her uncle the position of Hand of the King. Kevan doubts Cersei's leadership and reveals Tywin informed him of his plan to send her back to the Westerlands as Lady of Casterly Rock with a new husband before his death. Kevan states that he will only accept the position if Cersei names him regent for King Tommen I Baratheon as well as Hand and she returns to the Rock. He also advises choosing Lord Mathis Rowan or Lord Randyll Tarly as Hand of the King instead. Cersei refuses his demands and throws wine in his face when he insults how she raised Joffrey. Kevan insinuates to Cersei and later Jaime that he is aware of the incest between the twins.Cersei appoints two Lannister cousins in positions for which Kevan is better suited; Daven is made Warden of the West and Damion is named Castellan of Casterly Rock. Kevan is angered that Daven received the title of warden, though he bears Daven no ill will as he knows Daven never asked for the position. At Tommen's wedding, Cersei suggests that Kevan hunt down the Hound, but he rebuffs her.Kevan heads the escort—one hundred crossbowmen, three hundred men-at-arms, and the lords of the west—that is to return Tywin's body to the westerlands to be buried in Casterly Rock.[20] Cersei appoints Ser Harys Swyft, as the Hand of the King. Harys is the father of Dorna Swyft, Kevan's wife, so Cersei keeps him close as a threat against Kevan.Kevan helps his son Lancel restore Castle Darry, the estate Kevan had won for him. He arranges for Lancel to wed Amerei Frey, who has Darry ancestry so that the smallfolk will more easily accept House Lannister of Darry. Lancel soon devotes himself to the Faith Militant instead of Darry, however, and Kevan departs after the wedding. A brooding Kevan spends three days at the siege of Riverrun while returning west, but he is distant to Daven. Sent by Cersei to pacify the Riverlands and resolve Riverrun, Jaime discusses Kevan with his aunt, Genna Lannister, the sister of Kevan and Tywin. Genna mentions that Kevan's dutiful nature is evident in Jaime, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.After Cersei is imprisoned by the Faith, Harys, and Grand Maester Pycelle send a raven to Casterly Rock offering Kevan the regency.Lord Davos Seaworth is brought before Lord Godric Borrell at Breakwater. Since Kevan is not in control of King Tommen I Baratheon, Godric allows Davos to continue to White Harbor.Kevan accepts the role of regent to Tommen, returns to King's Landing, and sets about trying to fix the mess that Cersei made. As a concession to House Tyrell, Kevan names Lord Mace Tyrell as Hand of the King, Lord Paxter Redwyne as Master of ships, and Lord Randyll Tarly as Master of laws. Kevan visits the imprisoned Cersei and confronts her about her affair with his son, Lancel. He tells her that regardless of the outcome of her trial, her rule is now at an end.[4] After Cersei confesses to having slept with the Kettleblack brothers, Kevan sends Osmund and Osfryd to the dungeons. To appease the High Sparrow and redeem the shame of House Lannister, inspired by what Tywin did to their father's mistress, Kevan has Cersei perform a walk of atonement from the Great Sept of Baelor to the Red Keep. Kevan has Jocelyn Swyft cover the nude Cersei when she arrives at the castle. Kevan discusses with the small council how to deal with Jon Connington and his "feigned dragon", Aegon Targaryen, who have invaded the storm lands with the Golden Company. Kevan sends his good father, Ser Harys Swyft, to Braavos to negotiate the crown's financial problems with the Iron Bank. He is suspicious of Ser Robert Strong, the new member of the Kingsguard produced by Qyburn. He later has supper with the freed Cersei and King Tommen. After dinner, Kevan is told by a servant that Pycelle is seeking him, and in the Grand Maester's chamber Kevan finds a white raven announcing winter's arrival. Varys suddenly shoots Kevan in the chest with a crossbow, and the wounded Kevan notices that Pycelle has already been slain. Varys explains he bears Kevan no malice, but he cannot allow Kevan to undo Cersei's misrule. With his death by crossbow, Cersei will believe that Kevan was murdered by Tyrion Lannister or House Tyrell. The Tyrells, in turn, will suspect Cersei herself, undermining the alliances, and shoring up Tommen's hold on the Iron Throne. This would open the way for Prince Aegon to take the throne. Varys then commands his "little birds" to finish Kevan off.