History Characters / GameOfThronesTywinLannister

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: If ever there were a grand master at this, it is Tywin Lannister. He's given at least one to each of his children -- telling Jaime that his personal glory is ultimately worthless, Tyrion that he'll ''never'' honor any claim Tyrion has to Casterly Rock because of his irresponsible and lecherous behavior (also because he's a dwarf who killed his mother during childbirth), and Cersei that his lack of confidence in her is not because she's a woman but because she's not as smart as she thinks she is. He always has one on hand for moronic subordinates as well and has no problem with summarizing the flaws of past rulers, [[KickTheSonOfABitch Joffrey included]], while the guy is lying in state with his mother by his side, and over her feeble and rather pathetic protests no less.

** In Season 4, Tywin admits, [[KickTheSonOfABitch in front of his dead body no less]], that Joffrey was not a wise king. So even if Tyrion was guilty, which of course he wasn't, Tywin and company should really be thanking him for the getting the millstone out of the way. Instead, Tywin lets him take the fall for Joffrey's oh-so-terrible murder. It's the equivalent of a wife and husband having a domestic argument and the husband grounding the child for daring to speak out against the horrible wife causing problems. Never have the words NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished been more appropriate as far as Tyrion's concerned.

* KickTheSonOfABitch:
** When he chastises Gregor Clegane and Amory Lorch for making very obvious mistakes.
** He chooses to give a lecture to Tommen (a full on PetTheDog moment by itself) right next to Joffrey's body (albeit a dead body that ordered Ned Stark's death and started an expensive, bloody war) as Cersei is grieving for her son. He even mentions what a terrible king Joffrey was and coldly ignores Cersei's "this is not the time or place" feeble complaint. Although its insensitive it doesn't change the fact Joffrey still was a terrible king and Cersei ''did'' do a poor job at raising him.

* FourStarBadass: Has never lost a war, as he proudly remarks to Arya and is a cunning and gifted military strategist. The blood splatter on his face during Battle of Blackwater also gives away that he [[FrontlineGeneral fought alongside his men.]]

* MachiavelliWasWrong: Tywin's character arc serves as a closer examination of the trope (and TruerToTheText of Machiavelli's political theory, too). While Tywin ticks nearly all stereotypical fictional boxes of the trope (preferring fear over any overt affection--[[FreudianExcuse seeing as shallow shows of it is what ruined his father Tytos's rule]]), he falls fatally short of an important aspect: avoiding being ''hated''. With House Lannister running roughshod of nearly every significant major and minor player in the Seven Kingdoms, there was no shortage of people to band together against them--leaving the future of his House in terminal decline once he's gone.

* RapePillageAndBurn: An indirect example. Tywin himself never engages in such activities, but this was pretty much his strategy in the War of the Five Kings, utilized scorched earth tactics across the Riverlands. Ironically, this backfires in the long run, as it means one of Westeros' primary bread baskets is lost, which puts him at a disadvantage with the Tyrells.
* RatedMForManly: While not burly or brawny, Tywin makes up for it with his intensely foreboding, patriarchal presence, his powerful social status and his pursuit of traditionally manly hobbies like hunting and fishing.

* DitzyGenius: He's a cunning grand strategist, shrewd businessman, cunning strategist and very well read and is as pragmatic as they come regarding everything, ''except'' how to be a remotely loving father.

* FourStarBadass: Has never lost a war, as he proudly remarks to Arya and is a cunning and gifted military strategist. Also a FrontlineGeneral unlike his book counterpart.

* BadassBaritone: His deep voice suits well with his commanding demeanor. The blood splatter on his face during Battle of Blackwater also gives away that he [[FrontlineGeneral fought alongside his men.]]

* HumiliationConga: Season 4 starts with him at the height of his power but it proves to be PrideBeforeAFall. Throughout the season, he is gradually weakened. He is forced to concede to the Tyrells in order to avoid bankruptcy after the war drained his house's finances. Due to the looming threat of Dany and her army he has to make amends with the Martells who despise his family with a passion. Then Joffrey dies on his wedding day and his plan of getting Jaime to renounce the Kingsguard fails. His alliance with the Martells ends, and he even loses the services of Ser Gregor as TheBrute. ''Then'', Cersei confirms that her children were the product of incest with Jaime, to Tywin's shock and disbelief. And ''finally'', Tywin gets offed by Tyrion, after finally being revealed as a hypocrite whoremonger much like his son.

* LegacySeeker: Obsessed with ensuring that House Lannister endures long after he's gone. As a result, he will always prioritize the family's prestige over the mental well-being of his children, all three of whom grow up to be dysfunctional adults who simultaneously resent him and crave his approval. Plus, it's clear that Tywin's skill and [[TheDreaded fearsome reputation]] are the only things keeping House Lannister afloat. The lack of non-bastard grandchildren with the Lannister name has already left the family's future in question (a fact that Cersei rubs in his face during season 4). Combined with the [[TookALevelInDumbass dwindling competence]] of [[FailureHero Tyrion]], [[BrokenAce Jaime]], and [[SmugSnake Cersei]], it's doubtful that Tywin's legacy will survive for long without him. [[spoiler: After Tyrion murders Tywin, House Lannister undergoes a swift decline, and several members are killed in a cascade of self-inflicted disasters; by the end of the series, Tyrion is the last Lannister remaining, and not only appears uninterested in furthering the family line but it is implied that he will spend the rest of his life serving the new king to rebuild the kingdom. Ultimately Tywin's abusive treatment of his children while hypocritically saying his cruel actions are for the good of the Lannister family destroyed both his legacy and family.]]

* KnightOfCerebus: While Game of Thrones was never a light-hearted show, Tywin's introduction considerably darkened the tone of the story. His emotional abuse of all of his children, ESPECIALLY Tyrion, is shown to its fullest potential, and his status of being feared all over the country establishes him as the Starks' most terrifying and dangerous foe in spite of his lack of any powers beyond his wealth, a large army, and his intellect.

* KnightOfCerebus: While Game of Thrones was never a light-hearted show, Tywin's introduction considerably darkened the tone of the story.

* LegacySeeker: Obsessed with ensuring that House Lannister endures long after he's gone. As a result, he will always prioritize the family's prestige over the mental well-being of his children, all three of whom grow up to be dysfunctional adults who simultaneously resent him and crave his approval. Plus, it's clear that Tywin's skill and fearsome reputation are the only things keeping House Lannister afloat. The lack of non-bastard grandchildren with the Lannister name have already left the family's future in question (a fact that Cersei rubs in his face during season 4), and combined with the dwindling competence of Tyrion, Jaime, and Cersei, it's doubtful that Tywin's legacy will survive for long without him.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Tywin is a two-time Hand of the King, and the Warden of the West (a position only equal to three others and only inferior to the King himself and his Hand). Hand in hand with his titles, Tywin is a ruthless yet highly effective commander who struck the killing blow to King's Landing and the Targaryen royal family in Robert's Rebellion.

The ruthless patriarch of House Lannister of Casterly Rock, father ([[KissingCousins and paternal first cousin once removed]]) of Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion, and grandfather to Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen. Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West, and the Lord Paramount of Westerlands, the wealthiest region of the Seven Kingdoms, Tywin Lannister is the most feared and richest Lord in the Realm. Calculating, harsh, and ruthless, he is famed as a brilliant administrator, who managed the Realm masterfully during his twenty years as Hand of the King to Aerys Targaryen and is a capable battle commander. He resumes the post under his grandson, King Joffrey and he leads the fight against Robb Stark in the War of the Five Kings. Tywin's driving motive is in securing House Lannister's hold as the most powerful dynasty in Westeros, no matter the cost. Ironically, the coldness and brutality that Tywin demonstrates not only with his enemies, but also with his own family (especially Tyrion, which he hates), may end up causing his downfall...

* DirtyCoward: Although Tywin is a FrontlineGeneral during the Battle of Blackwater, [[HypocriteHasAPoint Joffrey]] accuses him of being this during Robert's Rebellion, hiding at Casterly Rock and only joining once victory was all but guaranteed much like Walder Frey. Considering [[TranquilFury Tywin's reaction]], it's heavily implied that [[VillainHasAPoint Joffrey struck a nerve.]]

** Tywin may be cold, ruthless and callous towards anyone whose name doesn't end with "Lannister", but [[MoralMyopia while he has no qualms hiring rapists, pedophiles, psychopathic killers or just outright assholes to do his dirty work,]] Tywin himself is ''not'' a {{Sadist}} or a psychopath and doesn't derive any pleasure from senseless killing and torture. Oberyn Martell's assertion that he ordered The Mountain to do kill Elia in the horrific way he did genuinely offended and discomforted him.

** In "Kissed by Fire", he expresses confusion and annoyance over Tyrion's protests over his ''reward'' of a forced marriage to Sansa Stark, remarking that she's both beautiful and the remaining heir to Winterfell once Robb's dealt with. Thus, in Tywin's eyes Tyrion is ungratefully complaining about becoming one of the most powerful men in Westeros, rather than forcing a child who's suffered at Joffrey's hands to have to marry him and essentially ordered to exert MaritalRapeLicense.

*** [[spoiler:And at the end of the series, [[EverybodysDeadDave that's exactly what happens]]. Cersei and Jaime die in Daenerys's attack on King's Landing, leaving Tyrion, the son he despised, the last of the main line of House Lannister. Since Shae's death has killed Tyrion's sex drive to the point of near-celibacy, it's very unlikely he'll have children, meaning that with his death, House Lannister's main line will go extinct and House Lannister can only be carried on through the various cadet branches of Lannisport and other places mentioned and seen in the show. In the end, Tywin's attempt to bring about a lasting golden age for his family instead led them to their doom]].

** Some aspects of [[UsefulNotes/EdwardTheFirst King Edward I Longshanks]] and [[UsefulNotes/LEtatCestMoi King Philip le Bel]] are also at play. King Edward was tall, intimidating, ruthless and has very little respect for his offspring[[note]]For reference to this portrayal, see at least ''{{Film/Braveheart}}''; it is on record that Edward I vented badly on the clearly-incompetent Edward II before he died[[/note]], while King Philip was cold, unsmiling and icy. Edward won a famous victory in the Battle of Eversham against Simon de Montfort (whose sigil inspired that of House Reyne). King Philip ruthlessly purged UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar and introduced administrative efficiency only to have all his work wasted by his descendants who would start UsefulNotes/TheHundredYearsWar. ''Literature/TheAccursedKings'' which deals with King Philip was an acknowledged influence on the books.

* MakeAnExampleOutOfThem: One of his primary philosophies when dealing with those in his way. If ever another family, be it a vassal or a rival, defies or insults House Lannister, Tywin will brutally, and thoroughly crush them, often in visible ways. He explains this to Jaime that if other groups are allowed to slight their house without response, then it sets a precedence which they can't afford.

* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: He never engages in it directly but he insists on Tyrion getting Sansa pregnant by any means necessary. When Tyrion says he won't rape her, Tywin is annoyed as it's clear he [[EvilCannotComprehendGood sees no issue with forcing his son to rape a teenage girl whose family he just had murdered and fails to see why Tyrion objects.]]

* ObnoxiousInLaws: Robert used to rub him the wrong way by [[HatesBeingTouched patting him on the back]].