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This is a listing of members of House Lannister that appear in A Song of Ice and Fire.

For the main character index, see HERE

For the main Westerlands entry, see HERE

House Lannister of Casterly Rock

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"Hear me Roar"

—Lannister House Words

The richest house in Westeros. They control the Westerlands, with its hills and rich gold mines, and claim to descend from Lann the Clever, who is said to have stolen sunlight for his hair and winkled Casterly Rock from House Casterly using only his wits. They are of First Men origin through the female line, though they follow neither the Old Gods nor the customs of the heritage anymore since Andal adventurers married into the family hundreds of years ago. The Lannisters are powerful and controlling, and completely merciless to those they view as weak. They are effectively the royal house and become the nemesis of the Starks early on. They have notable similarities to the historical Borgia dynasty, as well as drawing some inspiration from various members of the Wars of the Roses. They have a second, unofficial motto — "A Lannister always pays his debts" — which is an invitation to Good Samaritans and a warning to Bad ones. Their members are beautiful, with green eyes and blonde hair, and their sigil is a golden lion on a red field.

Given that Robert's children are really the bastards of Jaime and Cersei, the Lannisters are the de facto rulers of the Seven Kingdoms.

Click here for the House Lannister Ancestors page.

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Tropes related to House Lannister

The Alcoholic: They seem to have a genetic predisposition, with both Tyrion and Cersei being high-functioning alcoholics. Joffrey was starting to get there as well.
Ambition Is Evil: Under Tywin's leadership, the Lannisters are determined to win the game of thrones and rise to the top of their own empire, by any means necessary. They have gained control of Westeros as a result of their pragmatism and ruthlessness, in addition to an infamously villainous reputation.
Ancestral Weapon: A Valyrian greatsword named Brightroar, which has since been lost when an ancient king went on a voyage and never returned. It's noted that the Lannisters have tried to buy replacements for decades. Gerion Lannister went missing on a search for it.
- They now have two Valryian swords: Widow's Wail and Oathkeeper, made from Ned Stark's melted down greatsword Ice
Animal Motifs: Lions.
Badass Family: Despite their glaring flaws, everyone from Tywin's line is this to a degree. The same can be said of his siblings. His dad? Not so much.
Battle of Wits: Almost the whole family is all over this trope like a rash, both when it comes to playing the game of thrones... and just being a bunch of snarky, trolling wise-crackers. It is even said to go as far back as their purported founder, the legendary trickster-figure Lann the Clever. They do manage to provide a lot of the snark for the whole series, each in their own, unique ways and to varying degrees. It's practically a family curse, as it means they aren't as effective as they could be when using those wits against others as a team. However, many funny, manipulative and analytic crowning moments are the trade-off to constantly sharpening your claws on each other.
- Also comes with the flip-side to knowing you have wits to battle with: Too Clever by Half, You Talk Too Much!, the Villain Ball, and attacks of Smug Snake Syndrome are enduring traits that crop up whenever a Lannister relies rather too much on being the most cunning person in the room. In both the best and worst of them.
The Beautiful Elite: Most Lannisters, though not all, are described as attractive.
Beauty, Brains, and Brawn: Beautiful but conniving Cersei, political genius Tyrion, and Master Swordsman Jaime, respectively.
Beauty Is Bad: As a general rule, the prettier a Lannister is, the nastier they are. Kevan is described as unattractive, but he's much less cruel and more reasonable than his older brother. The increasing compassion of Jaime is juxtaposed with his increasing scruffiness. Cersei, who is widely considered to be one of the most beautiful noblewomen in Westeros, is cruel, treacherous, and occasionally murderous, while her tall, handsome son Joffrey is a horrific psychopath. His brother Tommen is plump but a Cheerful Child. Tyrion, who is actually deformed and considered horrifying due to his dwarfism, is the noblest member of his family and has remained as such. Myrcella subverts this at first, as she takes after Cersei but is kind and gentle, but later gets her face disfigured by a scar.
Big Fancy Castle and Elaborate Underground Base: Their ancestral castle, Casterly Rock, is less a castle and more a medieval Mt. Cheyenne (Word of God states that Casterly Rock is based of the Rock of Gibraltar). Even the Targaryens, right after the War of Conquest ended, grudgingly acknowledged that Casterly Rock is basically the only castle in Westeros that could survive a direct attack by dragon-fire - because it's not so much a "castle" as a hollowed-out coastal mountain. Any would-be attackers would have to resort to a disastrous frontal assault (which has never worked), or slowly starving them out.
Big, Screwed-Up Family: Neither Tywin nor his descendants would be called well-adjusted, apart from Myrcella and Tommen.
- Lannisters who are not in Tywin's line are more down-to-earth and affable.
Blue Blood: Former Kings of the Westerlands.
Boring, but Practical: The Lannisters don't have warging powers like the Stark children, or dragons like the Targaryens, or even the power of a god like the Lord of Light. What the Lannisters do have, however, is gold. Gold that they parlay into tremendous military and political power to support their family legacy. Indeed, the Lannisters tend be serious skeptics about all things magical and are not easily intimidated by news of dragons rising in the east.
Brutal Honesty: When any given Lannister wants to hit you with a hard and/or uncomfortable truth, they tend to swing for the bleachers.
The Clan: While Tywin's line is the one that gets the most attention, there are, in fact, several branches of the Lannister family. Not to mention many very closely-related, lesser houses. If somebody's from the Westerlands, are blond-, strawberry- or golden-headed with green, blue or hazel eyes and have "Lan" in their surname somewhere, you're very likely looking at a twig from somewhere on the wider Lannister mangrove thicket.
Les Collaborateurs: Twice, against the Andals then the Targaryens. When they couldn't beat them, they joined them.
Color-Coded Characters: Most Lannisters have blonde hair and green eyes; also, most of them favor dressing in Lannisters' red and gold.
Color Motif: The colors on their house sigil are red and gold, representing their intense ambition, military power, and wealth.
Corrupt Bureaucrat: They'll use anything to get what they want. However low and dirty it can get. And, bribery? Is this Family's go-to, first resort across the board. If that won't work, they bring out the appeals to nepotism and/or authority, blackmail, and threats. Or worse.
Divided We Fall: Despite coming out on top in the War of the Five Kings, the frictions within Tywin Lannister's family are gradually destroying everything he achieved.
Egopolis: The Westerlands' biggest city, Lannisport, is named after the Lannisters.
Fiction 500: They're the wealthiest of the great houses of Westeros. This is owed to gold mining and money lending, especially to the Crown itself, and trade with Essos.
- When Tywin Lannister drowned the Reynes in the silver mines of Castamere, he never reopened either their keep or their mines to exploit. The Reynes were one of the most powerful vassal houses of Westeros, which shows just how much wealth the Lannisters have being willing to forego the silver of the Reynes.
Foreshadowing: Maester Yandel argues that the Valyrians considered trading with the Rock for gold and resources, but that prophecy drove them away; the prophecy stated that the gold from the Rock would bring them to ruin, turning them away from Westeros altogether. Centuries, or even millennia later, the last Valyrian king of Westeros Aerys Targaryen "The Mad" saw the destruction of his house and his own death for relying on the Lannisters of the Rock when he shouldn't have.
- In addition, some fan theories speculate that this prophecy is also related to the Doom of Valyria, since the Lannisters used gold from Casterly Rock to purchase their sword Brightroar from the Valyrians. For extra irony, a spinoff theory has the Targaryens be the ones who accepted the payment and made the sword.
Fun with Homophones: The Lannisters' song and go-to implied threat, The Rains of Castamere, is about the destruction of House Reyne of Castamere.
Gang of Hats: At first it's played straight, with all the Lannisters bar Tyrion portrayed as greedy, vain, and corrupt snobs — Tywin, Jaime, Joffrey, Cersei and to a lesser extent Lancel all fitting under this category. However, as the story goes on, we get to know Lannisters with vastly different personalities, ranging from the naive and well-meaning (Tytos and Tommen), innocent (Willem, Tyrek, and Myrcella), and incompetent (Stafford) to the reasonable (Kevan, Genna, and Tygett), kind (Gerion), heroic (Daven, and post-character development Jaime), and devout (Lancel).
Generation Xerox: Looked at with Tywin's children. Cersei considers herself a female version of Tywin, but Jaime finds her too mercurial to match their father and so considers himself to be the most like Tywin. When he tells his aunt Genna this, however, she claims he shares a lot of traits with his uncles, but Tyrion is closest to Tywin in terms of personality and political savvy (not like Tywin would ever admit it— just ask Genna when she said that exact thing. Tywin didn't speak to her for six months).
Generational Trauma: Despite being the nominal villain house, House Lannister is steeped in 5 generations of trauma. It started with Lord Gerold Lannister: a decent lord who was shadowed by accusations of kinslaying due to being a second son who ended up taking over the lordship due to mishaps from the rest of his family. He also played favorites with his sons but lost the first 2 before they could properly become the lord. Leaving him with just his 3rd son Tytos as the only remaining option. Tytos in turn, having so much unexpected responsibility thrust upon him, was considered "weak" with a good sense of humor but no command as a lord Paramount. With a wife who died before all the family could reach maturity, his apathy and seemed cowardice made his eldest son Tywin overcorrect. Tywin became obsessed with showing strength and authority and became seen as a strong, powerful man but one without the kindness of his father to make him beloved as well. When his wife died giving birth to their youngest, it made Tywin hateful and cold to all his kids, messing all of them up in various ways too. Which in turn would screw up a final generation of the kids as Tywin's daughter Cersei's own insecurities and faults were never properly addressed, leading to all kinds of problems for her kids as well.
Greed: Wealth, power, respect, fear, love. They want it all.
Hereditary Twinhood: House Lannister appears to produce twins more often than other houses. Besides Jaime and Cersei, there's their cousins Willem and Martyn, and their great-uncles Tywald and Tion. There were also their ancestors Jason and Tyland during the Dance of the Dragons.
Heroic Lineage: From Lann the Clever.
It's All About Me: The Lannisters prioritize their own interests above those of other people, including each other. This often leads to conflict from inside the family and outside.
It Runs in the Family: By and large, and going from a historical perspective, a Lannister on your side is one of the best allies you can have. A Lannister who is not on your side is one of the worst enemies. The fondness for Disproportionate Retribution may have been made famous by Tywin, but it definitely didn't start with him, and the same goes for being a Hypercompetent Sidekick.
- And no, being a generally awful person is not this. Tywin, Cersei, Joffrey, Lancel, and Jaime at first just unfairly color the perception of the family, In-Universe and out. Most Lannisters are actually fairly decent people.
Keystone Army: After Tywin's death and Tyrion's escape, the Lannisters start going down like a house of cards. With both their patriarch and their best mastermind gone, Cersei puts herself in charge and starts royally screwing things up, making a series of terrible decisions that ends with her being stripped and disgraced in front of the entire city of King's Landing. When Kevan seizes control afterwards, planning to raise his grand-nephew Tommen to be a proper king, it looks like things might be salvaged after all...only for Varys to put a crossbow bolt through his chest.
Kingmaker Scenario: They sided against the Mad King in a blatant power play. Jaime had nothing to do with it, but nobody believes him.
Meaningful Name:
- The main branch is House Lannister of Casterly Rock, after the House of Lancaster of the War of the Roses.
- Also on the vein of real world monarchies, they are also reminiscent of the Kings of Castile in Spain, which are historically among the most powerful and influential monarchies in the world.
- "Lannister" is also quite close to the Latin word for executioner, lanista. Given the reputation and temperament of many of their vassals and the means they often employ...
Metallic Motifs: Gold — they're very proud and ambitious. Justified, since their ancestral seat is built over a gold mine, so they grew very rich as a result.
Old Money: All the Great Houses count, but the Lannisters take it further, controlling the richest gold mines in Westeros and known for their wealth since Lann the Clever swindled their ancestral castle from House Casterly.
People of Hair Color: Blond.
Pride: Lannisters think they are better than everyone. The most incompetent Lannister is put in higher regard than a stranger.
Pyrrhic Victory: House Lannister may still be winning the war as of the end of A Dance With Dragons, but it's clear that the foundation of their victory is crumbling. Tyrion is exiled, Jaime is maimed and disillusioned and seemingly being led into a trap, Cersei is discredited, and Kevan and Tywin are dead; Lancel has sworn himself to the Faith Militant, Tyrek has disappeared, Daven has been named Warden of the West, removing him from crown-related matters, and Genna is tied to the Freys; for all intents and purposes, the only Lannister still standing in somewhat stable ground is Martyn (son of Kevan) and he's just a kid. Also, the war against Robb Stark cost them much of their military strength, and the Lannisters' allies are either unreliable, alienated, or incompetent. Lady Barbrey Dustin refers to the Lannisters as a spent force.
Jaime: I've lost a hand, a father, a son, a sister, and a lover, and soon enough I will lose a brother. And yet they keep telling me House Lannister has won this war.
Realpolitik: Many of them play hard ball when it comes to political maneuvering. Pragmatism usually trumps over such things as ethical concerns or immediate personal feelings — unless they can rationalize it to themselves as something pragmatic, of course. Heck, Tywin can even contemplate burying the hatchet with the Martells and cozying up to the Tyrells in a bid to have fewer headaches to deal with. However, they tend to weight towards the Machiavelli Was Right school of thought — minus the "and be loved" bit. Fear, terror, and respect are where it's all at for practically all of them, even the nicer ones; which causes them to run into problems with the "never be hated" bit as a result.
The Remnant: The original line of Lannisters descended from the First Men died out thousands of years ago and now only exists in the female line.
Retcon: The first book explains that the Lannisters are of Andal descent but the expanded back story reveals an Andal married into the family and took the name when his father-in-law died.
Rich Bastard: Though their territory isn't the largest, they control the gold mines that easily make them the richest family.
Tyrion — "Rich as a Lannister". That is what they say.
Rising Empire: After the fall of House Targaryen and the unstable reign of House Baratheon, the Lannisters seize control of the Seven Kingdoms. Tywin, Cersei, and Joffrey are dead-set on making this happen, dragging the rest of the family along with them.
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: After Tywin's mass slaughter of the Reynes and Tarbecks, House Lannister's ruthless, almost indiscriminate sense of vengeance is well-known and feared throughout the realm. It's half the reason why they are so famous for paying their debts.
The Scapegoat: The Lannisters had nothing to do with Jon Arryn's death but few believe that, especially since they're the ones who have seemingly benefited the most from his death.
Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Jaime and Tyrion get by on Tywin's and Cersei's reputation.
Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: Aside from having married into the royal family, the Lannisters have also loaned huge amounts of money to the crown. That naturally gives them more power than most houses.
Screw the Rules, I Make Them!: Tyrion, Jaime, Cersei, and even Kevan know Cersei's children have no real claim to the throne but still work actively to keep them in power.
Single Line of Descent: The Lannisport Lannisters were set apart precisely to achieve a single line of descent to inherit Casterly Rock, so they have little to no claim on it unless they marry with the main line.
- True to form, there's a lot more sense to this side-lining than meets the eye. Sure, it limits competing claims; but, they're also insurance. Things like the Great Spring Sickness and over-extension in plots happen, so having distant, possible, "in case of emergency, only", clearly-related, secondary 'heirs' to fall back onto is good.
The Starscream: They've been biding their time to once again become the most powerful family in Westeros ever since they lost in the Targaryen conquest.
- The Reynes and Tarbecks were this to them.
Stealth Pun: Since they're a family of lions, the Lannisters could be called a pride.
Tangled Family Tree: The Lannisport Lannisters were created to simplify the convoluted inheritance chain of House Lannister. However, they have dozens of offshoots of their own, various petty nobles with last names starting with "Lan": Lannys, Lantells, Lansters, etc. are found in abundance in Lannisport.
Theme Naming: Lots of male names beginning with "Ty-" or "Ti-"; the male names usually consist of two syllables ending on either "l" or "n". Most of them are nicknamed either "The Lion" or "The Golden"
- Names starting in "J" or "L" are incredibly common as well. To name a few: Jaime, Janei, Joanna, Joy, Jason; Lancel, Loreon, Lucion, Lyman, Lelia.
Token Evil Teammate: For Robert Baratheon's reign. They joined his rebellion late in the game and sacked King's Landing on his behalf. Later, they become important fixtures in Robert's court, but Robert's other allies, namely the Starks and Arryns, were wary of them.
The Unfettered: They tend to be remarkably ruthless in playing the Game of Thrones.
Villain Protagonist: Jaime starts as pretty villainous and we occasionally get to journey along with him. Tyrion might be the White Sheep of the family, but he's still working for the good of House Lannister most of the time, which is hardly good for most of the realm — but, his point of view is usually quite sympathetic. And, Cersei... yeah, well. We get a lot of her story, some of it from her point of view, even. And, she'd be downright insulted to be considered a compassionate white hat.
Villains Never Lie: While they are well-known for their deceitful ways, the main Lannister family often actually uses the truth about their enemies as weapons against them, especially Tyrion. Others may occasionally tend towards various levels of Metaphorically True. Yet, most of them go for Honesty Is the Best Policy: after all, (brutal) honesty and truth can be verified, as well as come across as a show of Refuge in Audacity at the same time.
Virtue Is Weakness: Lannister values state that "honor" is an arbitrary set of laws that produces weakness to be exploited in others.

Tywin's family

Lord Tywin Lannister

See the Tywin Lannister page.

Lady Joanna Lannister

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1d162ad5a4faff063c7238531336a766.jpg

In those days, his father had been Aerys's Hand, and many people said that Lord Tywin Lannister ruled the Seven Kingdoms, but Lady Joanna ruled Lord Tywin.

Daughter of Jason Lannister and his second wife Marla Prester. Was Tywin's cousin and wife and mother of Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion. Died giving birth to her son Tyrion.

All There in the Manual: Certain details about her are only found in The World of Ice And Fire.
The Consigliere: She was Tywin's chief and most trusted advisor.
Cynicism Catalyst: She was one of only two people Tywin ever smiled at (the other being his daughter Cersei) and it's noted that he was never the same after her death.
Death by Childbirth: She died giving birth to Tyrion, something Tywin and Cersei absolutely loathe him for.
Deceased Parents Are the Best: Averted. While she sounds better than Tywin in every way, Jaime and Cersei are both quite messed up despite being old enough to remember her. In fact, Jaime and Cersei were both bitter at their mother for putting them in separate rooms after she caught them at their "experiment." Tyrion never really met her since she died delivering him, and thus doesn't reminisce about her at all.
Disposable Woman: Is basically just a plot device with a uterus, existing solely to give birth and so that Tywin and Cersei have a reason to hate Tyrion.
Dream Sequence: Jaime has a nightmare wherein he encounters his mother (implied to be her actual ghost) who laments the terrible state of her family after Tywin's death.
Everyone Went to School Together: Spent some portion of her life at court in the company of Rhaella and Aerys Targaryen, the Princess of Dorne (mother of Doran, Elia and Oberyn), and most likely others.
Heterosexual Life-Partners: With the Princess of Dorne when they were the ladies-in-waiting of Princess Rhaella.
The High Queen: Although not a queen (a powerful lady instead), she otherwise seemed to have fit the trope.
Lady-In-Waiting: She served as one of Queen Rhaella's ladies for several years, although she was dismissed shortly after her wedding to Tywin, possibly because of the "liberties" Aerys took with her during the bedding ceremony. That, or there is some truth in the rumours about her under The Mistress entry below.
Let Us Never Speak of This Again: She had discovered Cersei and Jaime's "experiments" as children, and separated them in rooms on different ends of Casterly Rock. She told both of them never to do that again. She also never told Tywin about this, though she told her children that she would tell him if they do it again, but she died before it could happen.
The Lost Lenore: To Tywin, as per his brother Kevan and sister Genna.
Kick the Dog: She was the "dog" once. When she went to King's Landing to attend the anniversary tourney held to celebrate Aerys' tenth year on the throne, Aerys insulted Joanna by asking her if giving suck had ruined her breasts. Tywin, who was also present, was angered and tried to resign as Hand of the King the next day, but Aerys refused.
Kissing Cousins: She was Tywin's first cousin.
Missing Mom: Became this upon her death. In-universe (and out), some would wonder What Could Have Been if she had lived to have a say in her children's upbringing.
The Mistress: There are rumors about Joanna having given her maidenhead to Prince Aerys the night of Jaehaerys's coronation, and having reigned shortly as Aerys's paramour after he ascended the throne himself. Grand Maester Pycelle insists these are only rumors, not truths. Then again, this is Pycelle we're talking about. With Unreliable Narrators in play, it's unclear whether she ever returned Aerys's desires or he was simply an Abhorrent Admirer. When Daenerys Targaryen asks Ser Barristan whom else her parents would have wanted to marry instead of each other, he describes Aerys's feelings about Joanna as lust rather than love, in contrast to Rhaella's romance with Ser Bonifer Hasty.
- It should also be noted that Joanna and Tywin were wedded a year after Aerys was crowned (and Tywin appointed Hand of the King).
Morality Chain: To Tywin. As noted by many characters, he became more ruthless after her death. The best part of Tywin died with her.
Plot-Triggering Death: The Lannisters are the way they are in great part because Joanna died'; the few good parts that Tywin had died with her, causing him to hate and abuse Tyrion (who he blamed for her death) while also depriving her children of any real discipline or a positive parental influence.
Posthumous Character: Long dead by the time the series begins.
Silk Hiding Steel: Was implied to be this. It's mentioned that Tywin ruled the Seven Kingdoms as Aerys's Hand, but was ruled at home by his lady wife.

Queen Cersei Lannister*

See the Cersei Lannister page.

Ser Jaime Lannister*

See the Jaime Lannister page.

Tyrion Lannister*

See the Tyrion Lannister page.

Kevan's Family

Ser Kevan Lannister*

Ser Kevan Lannister, Regent and Protector of the Realm

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kevan_lannister_ffg_1646.jpg

"When a dog goes bad, the fault lies with its master."

Second child of Tytos Lannister and Jeyne Marbrand. Married to Dorna Swyft, with whom he had four children (Lancel, twins Willem and Martyn, and Janei). Tywin's younger brother and right-hand man for many years, Kevan has, by choice, mostly lived his life in Tywin's shadow. He is known to be stolid and reliable, as opposed to coming across as particularly villainous, and in later books is revealed to be a pretty decent man. At the start of the series, he and Tywin are the only two remaining sons of Tytos Lannister, their younger brothers Tygett and Gerion both having predeceased them. They also have a sister, Genna, who married Emmon Frey, second son of Lord Walder.

A Death in the Limelight: Gets to be the POV character of the epilogue of A Dance With Dragons, where he gets murdered.
Alas, Poor Villain: His POV chapter make him more sympathetic and show him trying to hold the realm together. Then Varys cruelly kills him and throws the fact that he's dying and dragging the realm down with him in his face.
Almighty Janitor: As a mere household knight, Kevan is lesser than a landed knight or a minor lord. As Tywin's dragon, however, he's one of the most powerful and influential men on the continent. And even on his own, years of service to a generous and rich brother has made him both very wealthy and given him the sort of connections that would let him be a serious thorn in anyone's side, if he felt like it.
Badass Boast:
- When Cersei scorns him and throws wine in his face, Kevan gives her a gentle warning.
  Kevan: I hold no lands, that is true. But I have certain incomes, and chests of coin set aside. My own father forgot none of his children when he died, and Tywin knew how to reward good service. I feed two hundred knights and can double that number if need be. There are freeriders who will follow my banner, and I have the gold to hire sellswords. You would be wise not to take me lightly, Your Grace... and wiser still not to make of me a foe.
- He's not moved when Jaime advises caution if he encounters the Hound.
  Kevan: I was hanging outlaws and robber knights when you were still shitting in your swaddling clothes.
Big Brother Worship: No one in the entire series saw as much good in Tywin as Kevan.
Tyrion: (dumbfounded) ...You love him.
Kevan: He is my brother.
Brutal Honesty: When it suits him. He outright tells Cersei she's a terrible ruler and an even worse mother, and he doesn't sugarcoat his conversations with Jaime, either. His POV shows him struggling to hide this trait while sitting in council with Mace Tyrell and Randyll Tarly, lest he piss either of them off.
Cool Uncle: Seems to have a very good relationship with Tyrion. For example, kissing him on the cheeks and complimenting how bravely he fought at the Battle of the Blackwater. He even continues to be kind and fair to Tyrion when he thinks he killed Joffrey.
The Con: Varys kills him with a crossbow partly to make it seem like Tyrion killed him like he did with Tywin, and making it seem like the fugitive dwarf is still at Westeros when he's actually half a world away.
The Creon: Tyrion observes that he's too humble to ever take power of his own volition and is quite happy to do his brother's bidding. He realized early on he was a follower and could never match Tywin's leadership ability, but when he does get power thrust onto him and can't refuse it, he turns out to be quite competent in his own right.
Deadpan Snarker: His jabs aren't as biting as Jamie's or Cersei's, but he's pretty good at Stealth Insults.
Jaime: [Tommen fares] well enough. Balon Swann is with him during the mornings. A good and valiant knight.
Kevan: Once that went without saying when men spoke of those who wore the white cloak.
The Dragon: To Tywin, for most of his life. He's very comfortable in the role.
Dragon Ascendant: After Tywin's death and Cersei's later disgrace he's made Lord Regent by Pycelle and Ser Harys Swyft. Unfortunately it's tragically Subverted as he's almost immediately killed off before he can stabilise the realm.
Dragon-in-Chief: As Regent to Tommen.
The Easy Way or the Hard Way: When Cersei defies his wish for her to return to Casterly Rock (mainly to keep her from being a bad influence on Tommen), Kevan notes quite openly that despite not being a proper Lord, should she refuse him he's wealthy enough and has enough men loyal to him that he could make things very difficult for her if he so chose.
Everyone Has Standards: Kevan has no problem ordering large scale pillage of the Riverlands. But he is horrified when Joffrey announces his intention to make Sansa kiss Robb’s severed head in public. He's also not amused when Cersei slaps Jaime— right next to their father's body— after Jaime snarked about how terrible of a regent she would be to Tommen and the Seven Kingdoms, telling the twins to take their quarrel elsewhere.
Foil:
- He represents everything that Cersei doesn't respect and doesn't have: common sense, loyalty, reliability, prudence, the actual ability to rule, kindness, humility and understanding how power actually works.
- Like Ned Stark, he grew up as the overshadowed but dutiful middle child. Also like him, he departs to the capital to become Hand of the King and works to stabilise the realm. The difference is that this time Varys wanted to accelerate, not delay chaos, and thus killed Kevan, whereas he had tried to save Ned.
The Good Chancellor: When he takes over the Regency from Cersei, he immediately starts making progress towards putting out the fires and fixing the messes she created. This does not end well for him, as Varys wants the realm to sink into chaos.
Happily Married: He adores his wife. The only reason why the reader never encounters Dorna is not because Kevan has shut her away, but because he believes that she would hate the Royal Court due to her quiet and sensitive nature, and so they've arranged for her to stay at home with their younger children. He has an incredibly valid point, since he died at court, and it's all to easy to picture a Stark-like situation happening had he brought his wife and kids.
Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Tywin.
Heroic BSoD: He's utterly devastated to learn that his son Willem has died, to the point that he's actually unable to function for several weeks and Tywin has to turn to Tyrion to get things done until Kevan finishes grieving.
History Repeats: In A Dance With Dragons, Kevan concludes that unless Harys Swyft can get the crown loans from the moneylenders of Tyrosh or Myr, he'll have no choice but to pay the Iron Throne's debts with Lannister gold to appease the Iron Bank of Braavos after Cersei offended them (he dare not raise taxes on the cusp of winter for fear of giving Stannis or Jon Connington and Aegon VI more supporters), in the same way his older brother Tywin discretely paid the crown's debts out of his own pocket after King Aerys II got into a spat with the Iron Bank haranging him to repay his father's war debts to the Bank.
Horrible Judge of Character: Downplayed, Kevan is generally quite good at judging others' personalities and motivations, but he does have his blind spots when it comes to his family. He sees Tywin as a truly just man doing what he does for the realm and didn't realize just how ambitious, cruel and vindicative his brother was. Also while he isn't naïve about Cersei's current personality and aptitudes, he failed to see how cruel and screwed up Cersei already was as a girl. He also fails to realize how disloyal and dangerous Littlefinger is, believing like Tywin that he wouldn't turn on the Lannisters nor represent any threat, despite Tyrion's warnings.
I Did What I Had to Do: His rationale for letting the Faith humiliate Cersei with her walk of atonement: he had to appease the Faith, and Cersei had to be stripped of power and defanged before she corrupted Tommen into another Joffrey.
Ignored Expert: Despite Cersei refusing to move away from power and to return to Casterly Rock, and his own refusal to become her puppet Hand of the King, Kevan does give her useful advice such as pointing out how bad of a mistake it would be to alienate Mace Tyrell, and advising her to name Matthis Rowan or Randyll Tarly as Hand of the King as both men are very capable, and it would make strengthen their loyalty towards the king and make them second-guess their loyalties to Highgarden. Cersei evidently fails to see the logic in this and refuses, seeing this only as a proof of him having been bought by Mace Tyrell.
I'm Cold... So Cold...: Before getting finished off, Kevan lies half-sat, slowly agonizing, and violently shivering due to the sheer cold air entering through the windows in Pycelle's chamber. Varys explains he opened them due to Pycelle soiling himself in dying.
Irony: Upon Tywin's assassination and later Cersei's imprisonment by the Faith, Kevan is summoned by Grand Maester Pycelle to become Lord Regent and Protector of the Realm for the child king Tommen I. This is a higher position than Tywin had ever accomplished for all his years of trouble and ambition. However, this power lasts Kevan about five minutes before Varys fills him with crossbow bolts.
Karmic Death: Kevan accepts Tywin's atrocities because he believes they are done for the good of the family/realm. Varys kills Kevan "for the children".
Knighting: He was knighted by his mentor, Ser Roger Reyne, after showing his worth on the battlefield during the War of the Ninepenny Kings.
Know When to Fold Them: He privately agrees with his father-in-law Harys Swyft that the Tyrell forces that captured Dragonstone didn't do a thorough job of searching for the purported treasure vaults and caches of dragon eggs the Targaryens supposedly hid there, but knowing that he can't afford to alienate the Tyrells any more than Cersei already has when the Crown needs every ally it can get, Kevan defuses the argument between Harys and Mace Tyrell by concluding if there was wealth on Dragonstone, Stannis likely took it with him when he left.
Locked Out of the Loop: Kevan was Tywin's closest confidant yet there were still a few things Tywin kept secret even from him. After Connington's exile, Kevan had thought Aerys would have no choice but reinstate Tywin as Hand of the King once more and thinks his choices of Chelsted and Rossart instead as having ultimately cost Aerys his life. However Jamie reveals Aerys did send for Tywin but he ignored the summons.
A Match Made in Stockholm: The World of Ice & Fire reveals that this is how he met Dorna. Ser Harys Swyft could not pay back what he owed to House Lannister when Tywin sent Kevan to collect the debts of the Westerlands lords, so he had to give him Dorna as a hostage. Kevan and Dorna ended up falling in love and getting married.
Mentor Archetype:
- To make amends with House Reyne due to the ire at Genna's betrothal to the Freys, Tytos sent Kevan to Castamere to become Roger Reyne's squire; Reyne eventually knighted Kevan during the War of the Ninepenny Kings, though they found themselves in opposite sides when the Reynes and the Tarbecks rebelled against House Lannister.
- He starts to become this to Tommen, giving him real teachings and advices on how to be a king, unlike Cersei, and promises to himself that he'll make Tommen a great king in his POV chapter. Varys cut this short by assassinating him.
My Master, Right or Wrong: For all his decency shown in later books, Kevan doesn't object to his brother's command to Rape, Pillage, and Burn the Riverlands. "They will burn, my lord."
Nice to the Waiter: Nice to everybody, actually. Including Tyrion and other "undesirables". He actually shows surprise and concern when Tyrion suddenly shows up when everyone thought he was still Catelyn Stark's prisoner, while Tywin reacted as if he had just seen Tyrion an hour before. Even though the Starks are officially traitors to the realm, his response to Joffrey's gloating that he will make Sansa Stark kiss her brother Robb's severed head is to remind the king that Sansa is now his aunt by marriage and therefore owed a degree of deference. His last such act is to tell a boy who brought him a message to take shelter from the cold.
Noble Top Enforcer: Deconstructed. He may come across as this when compared to the Mountain, Amory Lorch or Vargo Hoat, but the truth is that he's the one who carries Tywin's orders to Rape, Pillage, and Burn the Riverlands to those three monsters without any hesitation.
Tywin: Unleash Ser Gregor and send him before us with his reavers. Send forth Vargo Hoat and his freeriders as well, and Ser Amory Lorch. Each is to have three hundred horse. Tell them I want to see the riverlands afire from the Gods Eye to the Red Fork.
Kevan: They will burn, my lord. I shall give the commands.
Not So Above It All: To Cersei's surprise.
- What he sought on King's Landing was his deserved reward and he is right in challenging Cersei's capacity to rule. He had largely remained quiet due to Tywin's presence, but argued that his brother's intention had been always to send Cersei back to Casterly Rock. Cersei in response names Daven as Warden of the West just to spite him.
- He is certainly not happy when he finds out that Cersei slept with Lancel.
- Like most Lannisters, he can give snark with the best of them, albeit in a much more politely subdued manner. He fully demonstrates this by unleashing it on both Cersei and Jaime after Tywin’s death.
Number Two: To Tywin, which is how he likes it.
Only Sane Man: He's picked up most of Tywin's lessons but is not as vindictive as his brother. He's also one of the first people to call Cersei on her idiocy, demanding she give up her regency for the good of the realm. In A Dance with Dragons Varys invokes this trope, killing him because he is the only man left who can keep the Lannister regime from collapsing.
O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Several members of the Lannister family note his cold demeanor in AFFC when he realizes just how much Tywin's offspring (and his own son) have screwed everything up. His refusal to be his great-nephew's Hand of the King causes his sister Genna to smell a rat, as he refuses to be Cersei's Yes-Man.
Genna: Kevan always did what was asked of him. It is not like him to turn away from any duty. Something is awry here, I can smell it.
Outliving One's Offspring: He is devastated and shaken to the core after he learns of his son Willem's death at the hands of Rickard Karstark and his men.
Overshadowed by Awesome: Instead of trying to compete with Tywin like Tygett did, Kevan embraced a subservient role towards his older brother.
Politically Incorrect Villain: He's a Lannister after all, so naturally he's not above classism. He refuses to marry one of his sons to Jeyne Westerling on account of her mother's family being "up-jumped merchants". This could also imply a hint of racism or xenophobia, given the Spicers' Essosi origins.
Punch-Clock Villain: He's not a bad guy at heart, but he has a job to do, and if Tywin says jump, he jumps.
Reasonable Authority Figure: Kevan is a decent ruler and leader, who takes into account the problems of the realm and is more of a people person than his brother.
The Reliable One: Tywin's best source of counsel.
Selective Obliviousness: Kevan's admiration, love for and loyalty toward Tywin made him blind to his brother's flaws and faults. While he has a loving relation with Tyrion, Kevan seemingly didn't see or refused to see just how abusive and unjust Tywin's treatment of Tyrion was, and he doesn't seem to realize how cruel and vindicative Tywin was, believing that Aerys should have called Tywin back as his hand following Jon Connington's exile and that Tywin would have accepted if Aerys summoned, underestimating just how bitter and revengeful Tywin was over all the slights Aerys did to him, with Jaime having confirmed that Aerys did try to summon Tywin back but in vain.
The Snark Knight: Cersei found this out the hard way. He pulled her up quite sharply and effectively on a number of her screw-ups, thanks. And, disabused her of the notion that he was blind to the whole incest thing quite backhandedly, if fairly politely.
The Squire: In his youth, he squired for Lord Roger Reyne, the Red Lion of Castamere.
That Wasn't a Request: Cersei tells him that it's his responsibility to the realm to take up Tywin's post as Hand, and Kevan, though tired of war and politicking says he will... but he'll also be Regent and send Cersei back to Casterly Rock.
Token Good Teammate: Deconstructed. His claim to good would be keeping his hands clean of the atrocities carried out by the Mountain, Amory Lorch and the Bloody Mummers, but only because he communicated Tywin's orders of Rape, Pillage, and Burn the Riverlands instead of carrying them out himself.
Underestimating Badassery: Averted toward Jon Connington. Unlike Mace Tyrell who dismisses Connington as just a nuisance, Kevan rightly suspects that Connington's failure at the Battle of the Bells, age and experience with the Golden Company have made him a much bigger threat that he was during Robert's Rebellion. Played straight with Littlefinger, however. Despite Tyrion's warnings about Baelish's treacherous nature and dangerosity Kevan much like Tywin refuses to see him as a potential threat due to Baelish's low birth, lack of skills at arms, and of the Lannister's wealth, unaware that Baelish doesn't play by the normal rules of feudal politics and is far more cunning that he imagines.
Well-Intentioned Extremist: Kevan just wants peace for the realm and for House Lannister to remain stable. After Tywin dies, Kevan is shown to take less extreme actions, though he allows Cersei's walk of shame to happen. His acceptance and willingness to go along with the various atrocities Tywin carried out throughout his life, also appears due to genuinely believing they were necessary for the realm and House Lannister.
Yes-Man: Subverted. Cersei thought he qualified because he followed his older brother, and believed she could easily push him around. To her surprise, it turned out that he followed Tywin because he thought Tywin was right most of the time, and was much more vocally critical towards Cersei. Averted in regards to Tyrion, as like his sister Genna, Kevan fully understands that Tywin is wrong in his opinions of Tyrion and outright complimented him for his actions in the Battle of the Blackwater.

Dorna Lannister

Dorna Lannister (neé Swyft)

"My lady wife mislikes travel. Lannisport is her place."

— Kevan Lannister

The daughter of Ser Harys Swyft, wife of Kevan and mother of Lancel, Martyn, Willem, and Janei. By Kevan's description of her she's the incarnation of Acceptable Feminine Goals and Traits.

A Match Made in Stockholm: The World of Ice & Fire reveals that is how Dorna met Kevan. Ser Harys Swyft could not pay back what he owed to House Lannister when Tywin sent Kevan to collect the debts of the Westerlands lords, so he had to give him Dorna as a hostage. Kevan and Dorna ended up falling in love and getting married.
The Ghost: She never appears in the series because she stays at home and would be out of place in King's Landing.
Innocent Flower Girl: Kevan mentions she loves flowers and that she would be miserable in the Decadent Court of King's Landing.
Proper Lady: She's the ideal Westerosi wife.
Textile Work Is Feminine: Kevan also mentions she loves needlework.
True Beauty Is on the Inside: Cercei and Tyrion Lannister both describe Dorna as not conventionally attractive in their POV chapters, with varying degrees of viciousness. It is likely that Kevan, also described as plain and solid, fell for her kind and gentle personality, facilitated by spending a great deal of time with her on the road from Cornfield to Casterly Rock.
Women Are Delicate: Kevan describes her as a gentle soul, never comfortable except at home with friends and kin around her.

Lancel Lannister

Ser/Lord Lancel Lannister

See the Faith Militant character page.

Willem Lannister

Second son of Kevan Lannister and Dorna Swyft, and twin to Martyn. A squire in host commanded by Jaime Lannister.

Arranged Marriage: Averted. Gawen Westerling tried to arrange a marriage between Willem — or Martyn — to Jeyne Westerling. Kevan refused because of Jeyne's mother lineage being nothing more than up-jumped merchants.
Child Soldier: As you'd expect from a Squire. And, most noble children. But... especially a Lannister one (it's not like they get a lot of choice). Unfortunately, a high risk of death is part of the package.
Revenge by Proxy: Rickard Karstark kills him in his cell after Catelyn releases the Kingslayer for being the only Lannister nearby.
I Have Your Wife: Captured in the Whispering Wood and taken hostage to Riverrun along with his cousin Tion Frey.
The Squire: The first step in becoming a proper knight. It gets him killed.

Martyn Lannister

Third son of Kevan Lannister and Dorna Swyft, and twin to Willem. A squire in host commanded by Stafford Lannister.

Arranged Marriage: Averted. Gawen Westerling tried to arrange a marriage between Martyn — or Willem — to Jeyne Westerling. Kevan refused because of Jeyne's mother lineage being nothing more than upjumped merchants.
- The trope might end up being played straight with him, as after his brother Lancel left his wife to join the Warrior's Sons, there was talk of having Martyn marry her and become the new Lord of Darry.
I Have Your Wife: Captured at the Battle of Oxcross.
Prisoner Exchange: Released by Rolph Spicer at Golden Tooth in exchange for the liberation of Robett Glover at Duskendale.
Unexpected Successor: After ADWD, he is one of the few Lannisters that remains who has both feet on the ground and a legitimate claim aside from his cousin-once-removed Daven. Problem is, he's just a kid.
The Squire: A younger ember of the house serving a knight.

Tygett's Family

Ser Tygett Lannister

Tyg

Fourth child of Tytos Lannister and Jeyne Marbrand. Was married to Darlessa Marbrand, with whom he had a son, Tyrek. He strove to escape his older brother's shadow by proving himself as a warrior, but never succeeded at surpassing him. Nevertheless, Tygett had a good relationship with his nephews Jaime and Tyrion. He died of a pox sometime before the events of the series.

Always Someone Better: He lived his whole life in Tywin's shadow, but was never able to surpass him in any respect. Their sister Genna notes that this "just made him angrier as the years went on."
Blood Knight: Gives off vibes of this, even though we've, obviously, never seen it in action. When people compare Jaime to him, this is usually the trope they are getting at.
Child Soldier: He was only ten years old when he fought in his first battle during the War of the Ninepenny Kings, slaying four men during the war, including a knight of the Golden Company. A year later he was part of Tywin's campaign against the Reynes and Tarbecks.
Cool Uncle: Tyrion has fond memories of Tygett, recalling that he was always nice to him.
Knight in Sour Armor: Due to resenting living in Tywin's shadow.
Master Swordsman: His sister Genna tells Jaime "you fight like Tyg", Jaime being regarded In-Universe as the greatest living swordsman in the world.
Passed-Over Promotion: Tywin recommended him as the new master-at-arms for the Red Keep, but King Aerys, at this point jealous of Tywin's success as Hand, ignored his suggestion and appointed Ser Willem Darry instead.
Posthumous Character: Died several years before the series began.
Sibling Rivalry: Again, with Tywin.

Tyrek Lannister

Wet Nurse

Only child of Tygett Lannister and Darlessa Marbrand, he serves as a squire to King Robert Baratheon alongside his cousin Lancel.

Arranged Marriage: To Ermesande Hayford, who is only a baby but is the last member of House Hayford, which gives the Lannisters a claim to her houses lands. (No, there's no consummation, thank the gods. Though Tyrek does have to live with being called "Wet Nurse.")
In-Series Nickname: Other squires mock him as "Wet Nurse" for his marriage to Ermesande Hayford.
Never Found the Body: He was last seen during the riot in King's Landing, but unlike the other victims of the rioters, his body was never found, and the only trace of him was his riderless horse. Instantly Lady Ermesande became the woman who was widowed before she was weaned.
Regal Ringlets: Has long golden curls in his hair.
The Squire: The other Lannister cousin who serves as Robert's squire.
What Happened to the Mouse?: In-Universe and out. The other characters comment several times about how odd it is that his body never turned up, since the other victims of the riot were left where they were killed. The gold cloaks spend two books searching for him, and Ser Addam Marbrand wonders if he might be being held hostage, but dismisses the idea when no demands are made. Jaime at first thinks Tyrek is dead, reasoning that when Tyrek's killers realized who he was, they probably dumped him in the river to keep anyone from finding out, but later ponders if Varys might have something to do with his disappearance, since he didn't accompany the royal party that day, never warned anyone about the possibility of the riot even though he would have surely heard something through his spies, and that it would be easy for him to have arranged a riot to snatch a Lannister for some unknown purpose. The Fandom is similarly stumped because one fate has means but no motive, the other motive but no means. The reveal that Varys is supporting the Golden Company might mean that he is planning to use Tyrek to help "Aegon" gain control of Casterly Rock. Also Tyrek may be a witness to how Robert's bastards looked like him, but his "children" don't, which would further discredit the Lannister regime.

Gerion's family

Gerion Lannister

Gerion Lannister by Sedeslav

Youngest child and fourth son of Tytos Lannister and Jeyne Marbrand. Had a bastard daughter, Joy Hill, by a woman named Briony. He rejected the game his brothers Kevan and Tygett played with comparing themselves to Tywin. Gerion was known for his laughter and daring attitude. Like his brothers Kevan and Tygett, he loved and appreciated the worth of his nephew Tyrion. He disappeared on a journey to the ruins of Valyria to recover the ancient Lannister Valyrian steel sword Brightroar.

Annoying Younger Sibling: Likely served this role for Tywin.
Cool Uncle: Tyrion and Jaime's favorite uncle.
Generation Xerox: Of all his siblings, he appears to be the one who had most in common with their father, Tytos, being a generally kind and happy man, who was quick to laugh and had a gift for making others laugh.
Mirror Character: The kids' more adventurous, youngest uncle that disappeared but might well be alive for all we know? Hello again, Benjen Stark!
Never Found the Body: Well, not that looking on another continent with a blighted crater of doom would be at all easy...
Nice Guy: He somewhat doted on Tyrion. One of his nephew's favorite memories of him is Gerion placing Tyrion on a table and asking him to recite the Wonders of the World, then honestly praising his intelligence.
Parental Substitute: Judging from Tyrion's memory of his uncle, Gerion seems to have been more of a father to him than Tywin.
Posthumous Character: Officially dead for a good decade and no one knows what happened to him after sailing to Valyria, though it's fair to point out that he did sail to a literal Hell on Earth and that is about as close to dead as anyone can measure in the world of ASOIAF.
Plucky Comic Relief: He was this among his family. Impressive, given his eldest brother's extreme hatred of jokes and laughter. Genna says that he realized early that he didn't have the military acumen or ruthlessness of his brothers, and so chose to take things easier. His constant joking was part of it, as Genna says he thought it "better to mock the game than play and lose."
The Smart Guy: Maybe a touch Too Clever by Half, too. He could have done with a touch more preparation (and, human psychology) when trying to pull a Walk into Mordor.
Walk into Mordor: Attempted but failed.
Well-Intentioned Extremist: The last news of him while alive was of a desperate man trying to buy slaves in Volantis to replace half of his crew, who abandoned him when he prepared to sail through the Smoking Sea. Gerion was never heard from again.

Joy Hill

Gerion's bastard daughter, her mother being a woman named Briony. She's eleven years old.

Arranged Marriage: Tywin arranges for her to marry a natural son of Lord Walder as part of their alliance in exchange for the betrayal of Robb Stark. However, Tywin also promised Joy to marry Ser Raynald Westerling as par of his deal with Sybell Spicer.
- That might actually be a misunderstanding. Spicer said that Tywin promised her son would have joy in his marriage and Jaime assumed she was referring to Joy Hill. Tywin is dead by then so is not available to clear things up.
The Ghost: She is mentioned a few times, but hasn't been seen yet.
Nice Girl: According to Jaime.
Shrinking Violet: Due to her father's disappearance.
The Unfavorite: Apparently she was the apple of her father's eye, but her uncle Tywin has a simmering dislike for her. Well, at least it's a few steps above the complete loathing he has for Tyrion. This is not for any deformity or any personal failing on her part, but because she is an acknowledged bastard in the most powerful and respected family in the Seven Kingdoms that, under Tywin, usually doesn't acknowledge any by-blows (but her father did it anyway). She is certainly sheltered, educated and cared for (because to do otherwise would also be shameful), but she is also never allowed to forget that she doesn't "really" belong as part of her family; in a sense, her situation is very similar to that of Jon Snow's.

Genna's family

Lady Genna Lannister

See House Frey page.

Stafford's Family

Ser Stafford Lannister

Uncle Dolt

Oldest son of Jason Lannister and Marla Prester. Brother of Joanna Lannister and uncle to Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion. Married Myranda Lefford, with whom he had a son, Daven, and two daughters, Cerenna and Myrielle. During the War of the Five Kings he was tasked with raising a third Lannister force at the village of Oxcross, near Lannisport.

And Show It to You: After his death at Oxcross, rumors abound that Robb Stark had his heart cut out and fed it to his direwolf. Catelyn Stark dismisses this tale as Lannister propaganda.
General Failure: His failure to set up sentries around his camp allowed his army to be taken completely unaware and get routed. This is apparently a running theme with him, as Jaime says that Cersei's nickname for Stafford was "Uncle Dolt."
The Ghost: He is frequently mentioned, but dies before being seen.
I Have Your Wife: He was the wife, one of three Lannister hostages that Lady Ellyn Tarbeck seized after Tywin imprisoned her husband for refusing to pay his debts to Casterly Rock. Tywin wanted to send Lord Walderan Tarbeck back to his wife in three pieces in retaliation, but his father Tytos, Stafford's uncle chose to negotiate an exchange.
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: By Lord Rickard Karstark at the Battle of Oxcross while trying to reach his horse.

Ser Daven Lannister

Ser Daven Lannister, the Warden of the West

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/daven_lannister_ffg_5857.png

"You know the best thing about heroes, Jaime? They all die young and leave more women for the rest of us."

Oldest child and only son of Stafford Lannister and his wife Myranda Lefford; first cousin to Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion. Much more competent than his father. He took command of his father's remaining forces and later laid siege to Riverrun. After Tywin Lannister's death, he is named Warden of the West.

Arranged Marriage: To one of Walder Frey's daughters. He is rather annoyed, since Tywin set it up without even consulting him. He still plans to go ahead with the wedding, given that he doesn't want to end up like Robb Stark.
Badass Cape: Wears a fox-fur cloak.
Beard of Sorrow: After a fashion; he started growing his beard after his father was killed by Rickard Karstark, swearing that he would not shave until he'd avenged him. Unfortunately Rob Stark executed Rickard for treason before he could get the chance, but Daven had come to like the beard so he just kept it.
Bling of War: Wears a suit of gilded ringmail.
Boisterous Bruiser: Comes across like this when we meet him; he spends part of his time yelling and drinking.
Daven: You a Piper, boy? You have a runty look to you.
Lewys: I'm Lewys Piper, if it please my lord.
Daven: I beat your brother bloody in a melee once. The runty little fool took offense when I asked him if that was his sister dancing naked on his shield.
Lewys: She's the sigil of our House. We don't have a sister.
Daven: More's the pity. Your sigil has nice teats. What sort of man hides behind a naked woman, though? Every time I thumped your brother's shield, I felt unchivalrous.
Brutal Honesty: Frequently insults his idiotic allies to their faces and actively wishes for the death of some of the Freys serving with him.
Childhood Friends: With Jaime. Notable for their interactions being one of the only times the reader gets to see Jaime let his guard down completely and just be Jaime, not "The Kingslayer" or "The Lord Commander of The Kingsguard" or even a knight; just a guy.
Deadpan Snarker: Like most Lannisters. His best quip comes when Jaime suggests that Kevan married Lancel to Gatehouse Ami in the hopes she could help him win over the Darry smallfolk, and Daven responds "How, by fucking them?"
Hot-Blooded: Does have a rather fulsome character, yes.
Large Ham: Should he start climbing mountains, you could nickname him "Blond BRIAN BLESSED" quite easily.
The Lancer: To Jaime at the siege of Riverrun. If it had come to storming the castle, Jaime would have given him orders to lead the assault (although he did fully intend to take part himself).
Like Father, Unlike Son: A proven battle commander unlike Dad.
Manly Facial Hair: He has grown an impressive and manly beard that makes him look even more lion-like.
Mirror Character: To Robert Baratheon. An affable, boisterous man of a warrior that drinks a lot, swears a lot, doesn't care much for politics and is decidedly different from his family. Had Robert met him in his own glory days, they would have been drinking buddies. Other than that, Daven is actually loved by his family; the Baratheons didn't care much for each other.
Misblamed: He finds out that his cousin Kevan is not happy at him for being named Warden of the West. Daven tells him he doesn't even want the job and if he had a say in the matter he would give it away. Kevan leaves, but remains cold towards Daven.
The Reliable One: Up until Jaime's arrival, Daven was practically the highest authority on the Riverlands, though he acted mainly as the middleman between the Crown, the Freys and the Riverlords alongside Lady Genna. He's practically the whole reason they're all not killing each other, though the Freys are at an odds end when Jaime reveals that the POWs will be transported to King's Landing, leaving them with their asses on the air.
Spiteful Spit: Does one when Jaime mentions Vargo Hoat and reveals that Hoat was the one who cut off his hand.
Surrounded by Idiots: When besieging Riverrun, he has to contend with multiple incompetent Freys.
Troll: He has a blast trolling Jaime's squires... and, just loves baiting Freys. Nice to see the smart mouth is not just restricted to the main House.
Unexpected Successor:
- Despite being a cousin far down the line of succession, Daven is appointed Warden of the West by Cersei after Tywin is killed. He thinks it should have gone to Kevan, but accepted the position out of duty. This becomes a moot point later when Kevan himself dies.
- Until Tyrion returns to Westeros (if he ever does so), Daven might have to assume the role of Lord of Casterly Rock too, because there's just no one else.

Tytos' generation

Lord Tytos Lannister

The Toothless Lion, The Laughing Lion

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tytos_lannister_woiaf_7991.png

"His lordship wants only to be loved. So he laughs, and takes no offense, and forgives, and bestows honors and offices on those who mock him and defy him, thinking thereby to win their loyalty. Yet the more he laughs and gives, the more they despise him."

— Maester Beldon

Third son of Gerold Lannister and Rohanne Webber. Married to Jeyne Marbrand, with whom he had five children: Tywin, Kevan, Genna, Tygett and Gerion. Known under the mocking alias "The Toothless Lion", he was a kind but weak man that brought House Lannister to near ruin, as he loaned money to lords that never bothered to repay him and allowed his vassals to mock him at court or ignore his orders. He was Happily Married with Lady Jeyne Marbrand, but she died shortly after giving birth to their fifth child, Gerion. The event broke the spirit of the ever optimistic Tytos something fierce; before it happened, one of his more flattering nicknames had been "The Laughing Lion", but it was a description no one could justifiably pin on him afterwards. The character is likely inspired by Henry III of England.

Adipose Rex: He's described as fat in later years.
Bumbling Dad: He loved his children, and they all appear to have loved him back (even Tywin), but they all acknowledge that his weak style of rulership and wish to please others was a disaster almost brought down his ancient house.
Generation Xerox: Tywin inadvertently recreated his father in his own children. Undereducated Cersei, disregarded as a choice for inheritance for reasons beyond her control — and, who winds up trying to rule, anyway. Amiable Jaime, who really doesn't want to be a Lord, despite being constantly pressured into becoming it, so he finds escapist ways to avoid responsibility for as long as possible and inadvertently causes merry hell as a result. And, Tyrion — love-starved, regard-seeking, utterly unappreciated and the nice guy of the grandkids, despite an acid edge.
- Also, just as Tytos was never the same after the death of his lady wife, the same happened with Tywin when Joanna passed.
Good Parents: Despite being a... shall we say ineffective ruler, ALL of his children remember him as a good father. Even Tywin Lannister himself has admitted that even though he hated his father's weakness, he sincerely loved his father and fondly remembers him as "a good man."
- Furthermore while Tywin presumably got the lion's share of the inheritance, being the eldest son, Tytos made sure his other children were well taken care of as he left them each of them a generous share of inheritance after his death.
Happily Married: He and Jeyne had a very loving relationship, and he was never the same after she died.
Hidden Depths: Dismissed as weak, useless and with a defective ability to judge others... Yet, Ellyn Reyne-Tarbeck didn't get anywhere with him, whereas she did make inroads with his supposedly better and more prepared older brothers. Maybe, had he been given a little more education and care as a child, he'd have been a lot less of a "disappointment" as an adult. He, at least, saw her as only hot for the Rock.
Horrible Judge of Character: Zig-Zagged. He would frequently lend huge sums of money to fellow nobles who had no intention of ever paying him back and he considered Walder Frey a good man. But on the other hand, he had Lady Ellyn Reyne-Tarbeck pegged as a schemer who was trying to take the Rock from under the Lannisters from the very beginning; something his supposedly more savvy brothers failed to realize.
I Just Want to Be Loved: As said so by Maester Beldon, Tytos just wanted to be loved, which is one of the reasons why he would be so forgiving and laugh off the mockery and disrespect from several of his bannermen and go out of his way to please them.
I Owe You My Life: Elevated the grandfather of Sandor and Gregor Clegane, Tytos's kennelmaster at the time, to nobility after the man and his hounds saved Tytos when a lioness attacked him.
The Load: You get the distinct impression that Tywin breathed a huge sigh of relief when his dad finally died, even though he loved him.
Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places: Following the death of Jeyne, he tried to fill the void with a number of women. Tyrion had to get it from somewhere, after all. Which is also one reason why Tywin is less than happy to see that Tyrion has this trait.
Massively Numbered Siblings: His children, Tywin, Kevan, Genna, Tygett and Gerion.
Nice Guy: Too nice for his own good, according to both children of his we hear from. He would hand out money and laugh off excuses for not repaying it, making House Lannister seem like a massive pushover and easily exploitable.
No-Respect Guy: As his son Kevan notes, despite being a good man, even those of his bannermen who didn't openly rebel against Tytos mocked him behind his back, and he was apparently a laughing stock at court.
Non-Action Guy: He was never knighted and never participated in a tournament.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: To Henry III. Like Henry, Tytos was an amiable, easy-going man but a weak ruler who had a revolt break out late in his rule from some of his most powerful vassals, a revolt put down by his more ruthless son; Edward I being an inspiration for Tywin Lannister, Tytos' eldest son.
Overly Generous Fool: Tytos was an extremely generous man who almost ruined his house by constantly dropping the debts people owed him. He did this out of a desire to be loved, but he was viewed as a softhearted fool by both the other lords and his subjects.
Posthumous Character: Long dead by the time of the books.
Replacement Goldfish: Took a candlemaker's daughter as his Hot Consort, dressing her in his wife's jewels and deferring to her in the running of his House. This so humiliated his family that any indication that Tyrion is going the same way is Lord Tywin's Berserk Button.
- He himself was one for his two elder brothers Tywald and Tion.
Trademark Favorite Food: He was very fond of cheese, cake and beer, which made him fat later in life.
Unexpected Successor: He was Gerold Lannister's third son, only becoming his heir after Tywald died during the Peake Uprising and Tion during the Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion.
Unfit for Greatness: In the higher echelons of Westerosian society (where underhanded politics and backstabbing is the norm), being deemed a kind, but weak-willed man isn't going to go over all that well. And, will get used against you.
Unwitting Instigator of Doom: By being such a spineless and mocked lord, he instilled an obsession with respect in his son Tywin (and his siblings too, to a lesser extent), who would grow up willing to do anything to preserve the family's prestige. Said ruthlessness would lead to all kinds of problems for the Realm down the line, like Tywin's total extermination of two rebellious families (including a baby), his brutal butcher of the Targaryen children, his campaign of destruction across the Riverlands, and his orchestration of the Red Wedding. His strict and humorless nature, no doubt influenced by Tytos' easy-going and jovial nature, would also play a huge role in shaping his own children into pretty messed up individuals, one of whom would end up killing him in response to all the abuses he had to endure.
"Well Done, Son" Guy: Genna mentions he was actually the third son of the previous Lord Lannister, Gerold Lannister, which is why he craved approval from older men.

Ser Jason Lannister

The youngest son of Gerold Lannister and Rohanne Webber (so Tytos' younger brother). He was married twice, firstly to Alys Stackspear (with whom he had a son, Damon), and secondly to Marla Prester (with whom he had five children, including Stafford and Joanna). He also had a bastard daughter, Lynora Hill, by an unnamed serving girl. Killed during the War of the Ninepenny Kings while fighting on Bloodstone.

Arranged Marriage: To Marla Prester.
Convenient Miscarriage: Inverted. His wife Alys Stackspear died in childbirth, allowing Jason to remarry. The child, however, survived, and was promptly never mentioned again, barring a single mention in the family tree.
Frontline General: During the War of the Ninepenny Kings, he commanded eleven thousand men and fought on the front lines.
Likes Older Women: At 15, he's married to Marla Prester, who is 30 at the time.
Massively Numbered Siblings: Six trueborn children (Damon by Alys Stackspear, and Stafford, Joanna and four unnamed children by Marla Prester) and at least one bastard (Lynora Hill, by an unnamed serving girl).
No Name Given: Four of his eight children have yet to receive names.
Odd Name Out: Brother to Tywald, Tion, and Tytos.
Really Gets Around: At 13 he fathered a bastard on a servant girl. At 15 he deflowered Alys Stackspear, whom he was forced to marry, though she died in childbirth. Two weeks after Alys' death, he was married to Marla Prester, who gave him six children.
Shotgun Wedding: To Alys Stackspear, and later, to Marla Prester.

Household

Vylarr

Captain Vylarr

Vylarr is the captain of the Lannister guards stationed at King's Landing early on in the War of the Five Kings.

Aerith and Bob: Has a Valyrian name despite being from the Westerlands.
Everyone Has Standards: He isn't executed by Edmure, implying he didn't assist Tyrion's sleeper agents in breaking Sacred Hospitality.
Just Following Orders: His justification to Tyrion for leaving the heads of the Stark household on display- Joffrey told him to do it.
Pet the Dog: Despite being Tywin's man through and through, he does show some concern for Tyrion's safety when he dismisses him and his guard.
Punch-Clock Villain: Never seen doing anything particularly cruel or malicious outside of his orders.
Spear Carrier: Mostly exists to give exposition to Tyrion about how Cersei's running the city.
The Stoic: He remains unperturbed by Tyrion's order to take all of his men to Riverrun. Even Tyrion's Implied Death Threat doesn't provoke much of a reaction from him.
What Happened to the Mouse?: His subplot about rescuing Jaime ultimately goes nowhere and ends in his capture; we never hear from him again. The appendix lists him as alive, however, and it mentions he's back in Casterly Rock by the start of A Feast For Crows, although the details of his release are never given.
Undying Loyalty: To Tywin and Casterly Rock. This is actually brought up as a plot point, since he's loyal only to the Lannisters and not the Crown, meaning that Vylarr will side with Tyrion (who's acting as Tywin's representative) over Cersei. This allows Tyrion to act with impunity in the city since Cersei's own guards only answer to him.

Lester

Red Lester

Lester is a guard sworn to House Lannister.

Meaningful Name: He's highly likely to be a ginger, and not just named simply for being stuffed in Lannister red near-constantly. Either that, or he really likes him a colorful cheese board (Red Leicester — yes, it's said "Lester"). Now we just need a Sage Derby and Young Cheddar to show up (a ploughman's lunch).
Nice Guy: Offers his condolences to Cersei over her father's death, and believes that Tyrion will Face Death with Dignity.
Noble Male, Roguish Male: The Noble male to Lum's rogue.
Recurring Extra: Has only two small scenes to his name. (Oddly enough, despite his insignificance, Cersei Lannister knows him by name)
Villain Respect: Says Tyrion will go out bravely.
Vitriolic Best Buds: With Lum.

Lum

Lum is a guard sworn to House Lannister.

The Ghost: Unlike Lester, who makes a fleeting appearance in A Feast For Crows, Lum is only ever heard by Tyrion.
Jerkass: Constantly slags off Tyrion.
Noble Male, Roguish Male: The rogue to Lester's noble.
Politically Incorrect Villain: Claims Tyrion will "weep like a woman" when dragged to the executioner's block.
Punch-Clock Villain: His most heinous act is shittalking Tyrion, who is- as far as he knows- a kinslayer and a murderer.
Vitriolic Best Buds: With Lester.

Jyck

Tyrion's personal guard and procurer.

Battle Butler: He's prepared to draw his sword and fight a room full of people Catelyn has ordered to arrest Tyrion before Tyrion tells him not to.
Fearless Fool: Fights bravely but recklessly against the Mountain Clans.
Forgotten Fallen Friend: A long time servant and companion of Tyrion who is killed by the Mountain clansmen about midway through the first book and has yet to be mentioned in a single one of the sequels. Shows you the regard the Lannisters have for their servants.
Nice Guy: He seems like a loyal, dependable guy content with his job. Although he is fairly sullen as a captive.
Poor Communication Kills: Awkward situations have risen in the past for him not telling prostitutes he hired for Tyrion that Tyrion is a dwarf.
Those Two Guys: Shares most of his scenes with Morrec.

Morrec

Tyrion's second servant, a cook and groom.

Doomed Hurt Guy: He dies of a festering wound after a clash with the Mountain Clansmen.
Forgotten Fallen Friend: A long time servant and companion of Tyrion who is killed by the Mountain clansmen about midway through the first book and has yet to be mentioned in a single one of the sequels.
Informed Attribute: Tyrion says that he's a good archer but he never gets a chance to show it.
Those Two Guys: Shares most of his scenes with Jyck.

Senelle

One of Cersei's maids.

Bearer of Bad News: Wakes up Cersei with news of her father's murder.
Shrinking Violet: She shows fear when waking up Cersei in the middle of the night with an urgent message.
Uncertain Doom: She's given to Qyburn to experiment on and he later states that she is exhausted.

Tytos Lannister's second mistress

"Vain and proud she was, before...so haughty you'd think she'd forgot she came from dirt. Once we got her clothes off her, though, she was just another whore."

—a Lannister guardsman

The lowborn daughter of a candlemaker, who became Tytos' mistress in his old age.

Ain't Too Proud to Beg: She begged for mercy when her humiliating punishment was announced, but Tywin was not moved.
Though she had been too young to witness the spectacle herself, Cersei had heard the stories growing up from the mouths of washerwomen and guardsmen who had been there. They spoke of how the woman had wept and begged, of the desperate way she clung to her garments when she was commanded to disrobe, of her futile efforts to cover her breasts and her sex with her hands as she hobbled barefoot and naked through the streets to exile.
The Exile: Tywin banished her from Lannisport forever after Tytos' death.
Gold Digger: It doesn't take a maester to see that she was only with Tytos for his wealth, no.
No Historical Figures Were Harmed: Some of her traits are reminiscent of Madame du Barry, the last mistress of King Louis XV of France, whose presence at the royal court was scandalous because she had been a commoner, and who was eventually banished by his grandson. In particular, Kevan's comment about Tytos' second mistress wearing his late wife's jewelry may be a reference to the Affair of the Diamond Necklace.
No Name Given: Her name is never mentioned.
Rags to Riches: She enjoyed her new position as mistress to the richest lord in the Westerlands, and would even go as far as to wear his late wife's gowns and jewelry. It didn't last, however.
Robbing the Dead: How Tywin and Kevan felt about her wearing their dead mother's jewels and gowns.
Kevan: Our own father was gentle and amiable, but so weak his bannermen mocked him in their cups. Some saw fit to defy him openly. Other lords borrowed our gold and never troubled to repay it. At court they japed of toothless lions. Even his mistress stole from him. A woman scarcely one step above a whore, and she helped herself to my mother's jewels!
Shameful Strip: After Tytos' death, the first thing Tywin did was to strip the silks and jewels from her and parade her naked through the streets of Lannisport for a fortnight while forcing her to confess to every man she met that she was a thief and a whore.

Cadet Houses

House Lannister of Lannisport

Rosamund Lannister

A Lady-In-Waiting to Princess Myrcella Baratheon when the princess went to Dorne. A distant cousin to the main Lannister line, Rosamund is about two years older than the Princess.

Bit Character: Aside from her name and presence, she's just there to function as a decoy. She has no spoken lines in the books.
Distinguishing Mark: She has straight hair, unlike Myrcella.
Doppelgänger: Chosen by Tyrion to accompany Myrcella to Dorne because they look very much alike in order to protect the princess.
Identity Impersonator: Arianne Martell does try to pass off Rosamund as Myrcella in order to storm the princess away.
Playing Sick: Arianne dresses her up like Myrcella and convinces everyone that she has redspots so that they keep away from her.
Prince and Pauper: She has overtones of this, although she is not quite a pauper because belongs to the nobility; still, she is several berths below Myrcella.
Princess Classic: Invoked and subverted. Myrcella argues that she and Rosamund have switched places numerous times in the past as a game; this implies that she knows how to dress and act like Myrcella in princess regalia, in spite of not being a princess herself.
Princess for a Day: She has passed off as Myrcella numerous times.
Regal Ringlets: Subverted. Her hair is straight, unlike Myrcella.
Swapped Roles: This is the entire purpose of her presence at Dorne in order to protect the princess.
Uncanny Family Resemblance: She can easily pass herself off as Myrcella. Given they are cousins on both sides of Myrcella's turned-on-itself family tree and that they are just about the same age, this is hardly surprising.

Characters / A Song of Ice and Fire - House Lannister

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