House Lannister



House Lannister is one of the Great Houses of Westeros, one of its richest and most powerful families and oldest dynasties. They used to rule the Westerlands as the Kings of the Rock before swearing allegiance to the Targaryen family. They have since served the Targaryens and now King Robert Baratheon as the Wardens of the West.

House Lannister's symbol is a golden lion on a crimson background, and their house motto is "Hear Me Roar!". Their unofficial motto, which is as well known as the official one is "A Lannister Always Pays His Debts".

Members

 * Lord Tywin Lannister, the head of the family.
 * His daughter, Queen Cersei, married to King Robert Baratheon.
 * His eldest grandson, Prince Joffrey Baratheon, heir to the Iron Throne.
 * His granddaughter, Princess Myrcella Baratheon.
 * His youngest grandson, Prince Tommen Baratheon.
 * His eldest son, Ser Jaime Lannister, of the Kingsguard.
 * His youngest son and legal heir, Tyrion Lannister, a dwarf.


 * Ser Kevan Lannister, Tywin's younger brother. Married to Dorna Lannister.
 * Lancel Lannister, Kevan's eldest son and heir, squire to King Robert Baratheon.

Sworn to House Lannister

 * House Clegane of Clegane Keep.
 * House Crakehall of Crakehall.
 * House Lefford of Golden Tooth.
 * House Marbrand of Ashemark.
 * House Payne.
 * House Swyft of Cornfield.

In the books
In the Song of Ice and Fire novels, House Lannister was established many thousands of years prior to the books' opening by a trickster-hero called Lann the Clever, who tricked the powerful Casterly family into abandoning their stronghold of Casterly Rock, which the Lannisters took for their own. The Lannisters have ruled the region known as the Westerlands ever since, getting rich of the many gold and silver mines in the western hills and mountains.

During Robert's Rebellion, the Lannisters sat out most of the war, refusing to heed the calls of King Aerys II Targaryen to aid him in crushing the rebellion. After the rebel victory at the Battle of the Trident, the Lannister army marched to the relief of King's Landing but, instead of helping defend the city, instead brutally sacked it, killing King Aerys and his grandchildren. Robert Baratheon publicly forgave the Lannisters their actions and accepted their allegiance, marrying Cersei Lannister in thanks for Tywin's assistance. However, Eddard Stark saw the Lannister action as betrayal and murder, and has not trusted them ever since.