Hear Me Roar

Home to the wealthiest of the great houses, the keep at Casterly Rock sits literally on top of a gold mine, built into the very rock. From that lofty yet uncomfortable position, House Lannister rules over the Westerlands (and influences all of Westeros, by virtue of the kingdom’s purse strings). With the ascension of Lord Tywin to the house seat, the Lords of the Rock developed a reputation for ruthlessness as well as riches. This was due in part to Tywin’s remorseless efforts to keep his bannerhouses in line, but also because Aerys II was murdered by one of his own Kingsguard: Ser Jaime Lannister. Their unofficial motto states, "A Lannister always pays his debts."

With the recent death of Lord Tywin Lannister, his brother Kevan now rules House Lannister.

History

The Lannisters claim descent from the legendary trickster, Lann the Clever, along the women’s line. Legends say that Lann conned the Casterlys out of Casterly Rock using only his wits, then plucked gold from the sun to brighten his hair. Even without such a claim, their connection to the Age of Heroes is clearly marked by their fair hair and tall, handsome build — hallmark traits of Andal blood.

When Aegon the Conqueror swept through the land, King Loren of the Rock sided with King Mern of the Reach against the Targaryens. They were defeated upon the Field of Fire, but King Loren survived and later swore fealty to Aegon. Following his surrender, he sired an heir who continued the Lannister line.

Lord Tywin’s father, Tytos, was an amiable but weak man who was mocked and swindled not only by his bannermen, but even his mistress. Even before Tytos’s death, Tywin proved himself repeatedly to be made of sterner stuff than his father, eradicating two of Lannister’s disloyal bannerhouses.

At the age of 20, Tywin became the King’s Hand. During his two decades as Hand to Aerys, Tywin rose to such power that some considered him to be the true ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. He gave up his position, however, after his eldest son, Jaime, was accepted into the Kingsguard at the age of 15. Tywin resigned under a thin pretext, for he believed Aerys was playing games with him by taking away his heir. Tywin returned to Casterly Rock with his daughter, Cersei.

During Robert Baratheon’s rebellion, Aerys summoned Lord Tywin’s swords. Tywin did not respond at once, instead waiting until after Prince Rhaegar’s defeat at the Trident to march toward King’s Landing. When 12,000 Lannister men finally arrived at King’s Landing, the Mad King was desperate for help. He opened the gates to Lannister’s soldiers believing Tywin to be his saviour. It instead proved to be his undoing, as the Lannisters sacked the city while Ser Jaime slit the king’s throat.

Eddard Stark arrived in King’s Landing to find the lion banner of the Lannisters flying above the castle and Jaime seated on the Iron Throne. While Jaime readily yielded the throne to Lord Stark and House Lannister swore fealty to King Robert, Jaime’s betrayal of Aerys has continued to live on in infamy.

Holdings

Casterly Rock is a fortress carved from a stone on the shores of the Sunset Sea, next to the city of Lannisport. Extensive gold mines run beneath the castle. The Lannisters also control gold mines at Castamere, Nunn’s Deep, the Pendric Hills, and the Golden Tooth. The last is also the site of a small but formidable castle that protects the Westerlands from invaders from the east.