Westeros Notorious Rulers and Families

Tywin Lannister

Lord Tywin was also known as a Ser Tywin, Hand of the King, Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, Warden of the West, Savior of the City, the Great Lion of the Rock, and The Old Lion.He is the son of Tytos Lannister and Jeyne Marbrand, born 242 AC.

Lord Tywin married Joanna Lannister, they had three children Cersei Lannister, Jamie Lannister, and Tyrion Lannister.

Lord Tywin died on the privy by his son Tyrion in 300 AC.

Early Life: Tywin was the firstborn of Tytos Lannister and Jeyne Marbrand. According to legend, the baby bit the finger of his grandsire, Lord Gerold Lannister.

Lord Tytos agreed to marry his daughter Genna to Emmon Frey, the second son of Lord Walder Frey, just to please the Lord of the Crossing. The betrothal was announced at a feast in 252 AC, with most of the western lords in attendance. Upon the announcement, Lord Roger Reyne left the hall in anger and Ellyn Reyne laughed aloud. Only the ten-year-old Tywin spoke out against the wedding because he thought it was an uneven match.

Shortly after that incident, Tytos sent Tywin to King's Landing to serve as a royal page and cupbearer at King Aegon V Targaryen's court, where Tywin befriended the young Prince Aerys Targaryen and Steffon Baratheon, the heir to Storm's End. His cousin, Joanna Lannister, also served at the royal court as a companion and lady-in-waiting to Princess Rhaella Targaryen from 259 AC.

During the War of the Ninepenny Kings in 260 AC, eleven thousand Westermen under the leadership of Tywin's uncle, Ser Jason Lannister, were sent to fight beside other forces of the Iron Throne in the Stepstones. Tywin, who was already a knight, joined the Lannister force, as did his brothers Kevan and Tygett as squires. The young Prince Aerys served as a squire during the war and when he won his knighthood, Tywin was granted the honor of knighting his friend.

Reynes and Tarbecks: Since Lord Tytos Lannister was a weak ruler who was taken advantage of by his bannermen, Tywin, and his brothers sought to restore the prestige of House Lannister after their return from the Stepstones. Tytos protested feebly before returning to his mistress.

Tywin demanded repayment of gold his father lent out, and those who could not repay immediately had to send a hostage to Casterly Rock until their debt was settled. Ser Kevan Lannister was given command of five hundred veteran knights tasked with ridding the Westerlands of robber knights and outlaws. Ser Harys Swyft, the Knight of Cornfield, surrendered his daughter Dorna into Kevan's custody, but Roger Reyne, Lord of Castamere, reportedly laughed at Tywin's edicts. When Lord Walderan Tarbeck of Tarbeck Hall rode to confront Tytos, who was not present at the Rock, the young Tywin ordered Walderan imprisoned for disloyalty. Walderan's wife Ellyn responded by seizing Tywin's cousin Stafford and two Lannisters of Lannisport. Lord Tytos ordered the hostages to be exchanged and forgave House Tarbeck's debt to House Lannister.

Late in 261, AC Tywin provoked Houses Reyne and Tarbeck by ordering that Roger and Walderan appear at Casterly Rock to answer for their crimes. When the accused instead renounced their allegiance to House Lannister, Tywin raised an army without his lordly father's leave. Tywin defeated Walderan in battle and then destroyed Tarbeck Hall, with Ellyn dying during its collapse. Tywin then defeated Roger, who fled back to Castamere. Instead of waiting for the subterranean castle to surrender, Tywin ended the Reyne-Tarbeck revolt by diverting a nearby stream into Castamere, drowning the Reynes within.

The ruined castles were left as reminders of the fate that awaits those who scorn the power of Casterly Rock, and "The Rains of Castamere" was written as a tribute to the event. When Lord Farman of Faircastle grew truculent years later, Tywin had an envoy perform the song with a lute; Lord Farman caused no further trouble after hearing the message.