The Lannister family tree, as depicted in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire and the HBO adaptation Game of Thrones, centers on Lord Tywin Lannister and his three children—Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion—with the family’s roots extending back to the legendary founder Lann the Clever and the Age of Heroes. This article maps the known branches of House Lannister, clarifies the relationships between key characters, and explains how the family’s internal dynamics shape the series’ central conflicts.
The Founding and Early History
According to legend, House Lannister was founded by Lann the Clever, a trickster figure from the Age of Heroes who, in one popular tale, tricked the Casterlys out of their rock fortress (later Casterly Rock) by singing, laughing, and using cunning rather than force. The house’s sigil—a golden lion on a crimson field—and its words, “Hear Me Roar!” reflect this proud and martial heritage. Over millennia, the Lannisters became the wealthiest of the Great Houses, primarily due to gold mines beneath Casterly Rock and the surrounding hills. The family’s power base is the Westerlands, with Casterly Rock as their ancestral seat and Lannisport as their principal city.
The Main Branch: Tywin and His Children
The most relevant generation for the main story begins with Lord Tytos Lannister, whose weak rule led to rebellions among his bannermen. His eldest son, Tywin, restored the family’s dominance and became the most feared and powerful lord in Westeros. Tywin married his cousin Joanna Lannister, and their marriage produced three children:
- Cersei Lannister (born 266 AC) – Twin sister of Jaime, later Queen to King Robert Baratheon and, after his death, Queen Regent and eventually Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. She has three children with Jaime: Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen, all officially presented as Robert’s heirs.
- Jaime Lannister (born 266 AC) – Twin brother of Cersei, a knight of the Kingsguard, known as the Kingslayer for killing Aerys II Targaryen. He is the biological father of Cersei’s children and, in the books, reveals the truth of their parentage to Tyrion before the events of the Red Wedding.
- Tyrion Lannister (born 273 AC) – A dwarf, despised by Tywin and Cersei but loved by Jaime. He is intelligent and witty, serving as Hand of the King to Joffrey and later as an advisor to Daenerys Targaryen. His parentage is a subject of speculation in the fandom, but the books and show do not confirm any alternative father.
Tywin’s own siblings include his brother Kevan, who serves as a loyal advisor and later as Hand of the King, and his sister Genna, who married into the Frey family. Tywin’s younger brother Tygett died of a pox, and his youngest brother Gerion disappeared at sea.
The Lannister Cousins and Cadet Branches
House Lannister has several cadet branches, most notably the Lannisters of Lannisport (the city branch) and the Lannisters of Darry (a minor branch). In the main narrative, the most prominent cousins are the children of Tywin’s brother Kevan:
- Lancel Lannister – Kevan’s eldest son, who squires for Robert Baratheon and later becomes a knight. He is injured at the Battle of the Blackwater and later joins the Faith Militant, playing a role in Cersei’s downfall.
- Martyn and Willem Lannister – Kevan’s younger twin sons, who are taken as hostages by the Starks. Willem is killed by Rickard Karstark in the books, while Martyn survives.
- Janei Lannister – Kevan’s young daughter, mentioned but not prominent.
Other notable cousins include Tywin’s cousin Stafford, who is killed at the Battle of Oxcross, and Stafford’s son Daven, who becomes Warden of the West after the Red Wedding. Tywin’s sister Genna’s sons (the Freys) are also Lannister kin, but they belong to House Frey.
The Children of Cersei: The Official Royal Line
Cersei’s three children are the central figures of the royal succession, though their true parentage is a secret that drives much of the plot:
- Joffrey Baratheon – The eldest, cruel and sadistic, he becomes king after Robert’s death. He is poisoned at his own wedding to Margaery Tyrell.
- Myrcella Baratheon – Sent to Dorne as a ward, she is later betrothed to Trystane Martell. In the show, she is killed by the Sand Snakes; in the books, she is disfigured by a poisoning attempt but survives.
- Tommen Baratheon – The youngest, who becomes king after Joffrey’s death. He is a gentle boy, manipulated by Cersei and the Faith, and in the show he commits suicide after Cersei’s destruction of the Great Sept.
In the books, Cersei also has a fourth child, a son born to Jaime who died in infancy, and she later becomes pregnant again by Jaime, though that pregnancy is aborted by a potion given to her by Qyburn.
The Targaryen Connection and the Mad King
The Lannisters’ relationship with the Targaryens is crucial. Tywin served as Hand of the King to Aerys II (the Mad King) for nearly twenty years, but resigned after the king grew paranoid. During Robert’s Rebellion, Tywin sacked King’s Landing, and Jaime killed Aerys to prevent the king from burning the city with wildfire. This act earned Jaime the contemptuous nickname “Kingslayer” and created a lasting rift with the Targaryen loyalists. Later, the Lannisters oppose Daenerys Targaryen’s claim to the Iron Throne, and Tyrion becomes her Hand, but his loyalty is divided between his family and his queen.
The Lannister Family Tree in the Books vs. the Show
While the HBO adaptation largely follows the books, there are notable differences in the family tree details. For instance, the show omits Tywin’s siblings Tygett and Gerion, and it does not include the character of Genna Lannister (though she is mentioned in a deleted scene). The show also condenses the roles of several cousins, such as Lancel, who is more prominent in the books. Additionally, the show invents a love scene between Cersei and Jaime in the sept, which has no direct book equivalent. The books also reveal that Cersei’s children were all conceived during a period when Jaime was a member of the Kingsguard, which is why their true parentage must remain hidden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Tywin Lannister’s father?
Tywin Lannister’s father is Lord Tytos Lannister, who ruled the Westerlands before Tywin. Tytos was a weak and kindly lord, often mocked by his bannermen, which led to rebellions that Tywin brutally suppressed after taking power.
Are Cersei and Jaime really twins?
Yes, Cersei and Jaime are fraternal twins, born in 266 AC. They share a close bond that becomes incestuous, and they are the biological parents of Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen.
Who is Tyrion Lannister’s real father?
In the books and show, Tyrion’s father is Tywin Lannister. However, there is a fan theory that Tyrion is actually the son of Aerys II Targaryen and Joanna Lannister, but this is never confirmed in the canon, and George R.R. Martin has stated that Tyrion is Tywin’s son.
What happened to Tywin’s other siblings?
Tywin had three siblings: Kevan, Genna, and Tygett, and a younger brother Gerion. Kevan is killed by Varys in the books (and in the show, he is killed by the explosion of the Great Sept). Genna survives into the epilogue of A Dance with Dragons. Tygett died of a pox, and Gerion disappeared at sea on a quest to find a Valyrian steel sword.
Is the Lannister family tree based on a real historical family?
No, the Lannisters are a fictional family created by George R.R. Martin. They are loosely inspired by historical dynasties such as the Plantagenets and the Medici, particularly in their wealth, political intrigue, and internal conflicts.
Who is the current head of House Lannister at the end of the series?
In the books, after the deaths of Tywin, Kevan, and Cersei’s children, the line of succession is unclear, but Tyrion is the last living son of Tywin, though he is exiled and disinherited. In the show, Tyrion survives as Hand to Bran Stark, but he does not claim Casterly Rock. The fate of the house is left ambiguous.
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