House Lannister is one of the Great Houses of Westeros. They are the wealthiest family in the realm. They once possessed a Valyrian steel sword called Brightroar, which was lost by King Tommen II Lannister. Fair-haired, tall and handsome, the modern Lannisters are the blood of Andal adventurers who carved out a mighty kingdom in the western hills and valleys.
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Tywin was the Lord of House Lannister, the Lord Paramount of the Westerlands, and the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms. Tywin also held the title Lord of Casterly Roc and the Warden of the West. He wass a widower with three children, Jaime, Cersei, and Tyrion, and sole grandfather of the incest-born Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen Baratheon. Tywin was close to his younger brother, Kevan. Through the female line, they boast of descent from Lann the Clever, the legendary trickster of the Age of Heroes who swindled Casterly Rock from its previous rulers.
Cersei is the only daughter and eldest child of Tywin. Cersei is the elder twin of Jaime. Her three children, Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen, are officially Robert's, but in reality are the products of her incestuous relationship with Jaime. She began an incestuous relationship with Jaime in her youth which has continued despite her marriage. At age 19, Cersei was married to King Robert Baratheon, a political marriage and became Queen. In time, Cersei's feelings for Robert turned to hatred and she returned to her brother as a result.
Jaime was a knight of the Kingsguard, a position he held since he was a teenager. Despite being sworn by the holiest oaths to protect the king as a member of the Kingsguard, he ultimately turned his own sword on Aerys, slaying him at the foot of the Iron Throne itself. For this infamous act, Jaime is known throughout the Seven Kingdoms as the "Kingslayer." He is known for his handsome looks, arrogant demeanor, and superb martial skills. Jaime is the biological father of Cersei's children, Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen, whom the world believes are Robert's kin.
Tyrion is the youngest son of Joanna and Tywin. His mother Joanna Lannister died giving birth to him. Tyrion's father and sister hold him in contempt as they blame him for the death. He is a dwarf, causing him problems and persecution. His size has led him to being referred to derisively by various names, such as "the Imp" and "The Halfman". He has a fondness for prostitutes and drink, but is also intelligent, cunning, and educated. He also is a kind man who would protect the innocent claiming that he loves broken things.
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House Lannister's lands are in the far west of the continent. Their seat is Casterly Rock, a castle on a rocky promontory overlooking the Sunset Sea. It overlooks the thriving city of Lannisport and sits atop the most productive gold mine in the Westerlands. The highly productive goldmines of Casterly Rock and the Golden Tooth have made them the wealthiest of the Great Houses.
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House Lannister used to rule the Westerlands as the Kings of the Rock before swearing allegiance to the Targaryen family. Before Tywin Lannister was the head of the family, his father Tytos Lannister presided over a period of decline for the house. He frittered away much of their fortune on poor investments and allowed himself to be mocked at court creating a perception of weakness. Tywin put down a rebellion and re-established the fearsome reputation of House Lannister. His ruthlessness gave darker meaning to the common phrase "A Lannister always pays his debts."
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House Lannister can raise approximately 60,000 men in a relatively short period of time. As the richest house, the Lannisters' forces are among the best-equipped in the Seven Kingdoms, though House Tyrell commands larger numbers. However, the strength of House Lannister has been badly depleted due to the War of the Five Kings, between the Battle of Blackwater and the battles with Robb Stark, such as the Battle of Oxcross. Nevertheless, it is clear that House Lannister is still able to field tens of thousands of men, even after the losses suffered against Robb Stark.
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Casterly Rock alone has a garrison of 10,000 Lannister soldiers, showing that the Lannisters still command a considerable amounts of men. However, much of this army is later annihilated by the Targaryen forces at the Battle of the Goldroad, dealing a crippling bow to the already massively depleted Lannister forces. The Lannisters also command a modest fleet, berthed at Lannisport. The original fleet belonging to Lord Tywin directly, was largely destroyed at anchor during the Greyjoy Rebellion in a preemptive strike, led by Euron and Victarion Greyjoy.
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Lannister soldiers seem to be more well-equipped than any other army that Westeros could muster. This is particularly evidenced by the high quality swords forged directly in the Crownlands and Westerlands, by skilled smithies and armorers, and other high quality infantry and cavalry weapons such as spears, supplied to the Lannister soldiers. An advanced degree of standardization is clearly displayed, to an extent which outmatches even the Tyrell forces. The weapons of House Lannister even include Scorpion ballistae.
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The Lannisters are commonly outfitted in excellent grade armor. Many of them protected by sturdy, red-dyed leather coated over augmented steel armor plates, in a striking combination. This smart design is ergonomically practical, with the segmented armor allowing for ample mobility and flexibility for the wearer. This makes them more nimble than other soldiers who might be wearing basic plates of armor, while retaining the strong defensive properties. They also have crested steel and leather helmets with uniquely designed cheek visors.
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The horizontally arrayed crests on their helmets, are a kind of defensive feature less often seen in most other military forces, being designed to block all but the most brutal strikes to their heads, denying contact to the surface of the helmet, and wearer's head underneath it (at least in theory). When the facial visors are opened, the soldier can get a better view of their surrounding vicinity, as well as talk with or to civilians more personally in their patrol duties or guard duties. The design allows more options than you'd get in a simple helmet.
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Lannister armor and robes use vast quantities of relatively expensive amounts of scarlet red and blood red dye across the Lannister military forces universally. They are well protected by ovate and rounded kite shaped shields, constructed of thick wood in multiple layers. Adorning these are intricately carved lions, and painted sigils of House Lannister, red and yellow-gold being the main color palette. The ubiquitous style of the Lannister garments and armor, indicates an organized system of military procurement, to militarily efficient standards.
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Cloaks, robes and under layers padding the armor in their sigil colors, make for fine looking soldiers dressed in the best that money can buy. In summary, the Lannister military is best suited/strongest on land when led properly and fields the best equipped infantry and potentially the best cavalry on paper. It is dangerous in open field battles and ambushes, but has proven vulnerable to attacks from the North, the Stormlands (and Dragonstone) and now the Dothraki and Unsullied.
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House Lefford of Golden Tooth is a vassal house that holds fealty to House Lannister of Casterly Rock. Their lands are the main entrance to the Westerlands from the east and their castle is the Golden Tooth. The head of the house is the Lord of Golden Tooth. The current head of the family is Leo Lefford. The Lefford sigil is a golden pile on sky blue, a sun left in the sky.
House Swyft of Cornfield is located north-east of Crakehall and south of Clegane's Keep. They are landed knights rather than a full noble house. House Swyft is counted as a strong vassal, however, Tyrion Lannister considers Ser Harys to be a chinless craven and lickspittle of little worth. House Swyft joined their Lannister lieges in siding with King Aegon II Targaryen during the Dance of the Dragons. At this time they were a full noble house, but by the time the series begins, they are a knightly house.
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House Marbrand of Ashemark is in the hilly area where the Tumblestone begins and their castle is Ashemark. The current head of the family is Damon Marbrand. Ser Addam Marbrand is a childhood friend of Jaime Lannister and a key officer in the Lannister army. House Marbrand is also closely tied to Lannisters through marriage: Jeyne Marbrand was the wife of Tytos Lannister and mother of all five of his children, including Tywin and Kevan. Thus all of the Lannister characters who appear in the TV series have some blood relationship with the Marbrands.
House Crakehall of Crakehall is located at the Searoad, at the south of the Westerlands, between the sea and a large forest. The current head of the family is Desmond Crakehall. The Crakehalls are known for their uncommon robustness. The late Sumner Crakehall was the former Lord of Crakehall. Jaime Lannister was his squire in his youth. Roland Crakehall, his son, participated in the Sack of King's Landing. He and Ser Elys Westerling found Jaime standing over the body of the Mad King.
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House Thorne contributed troops to the defense of the city during the Sack of King's Landing. Ser Alliser Thorne was on the walls when the Lannister troops stormed the Red Keep. He was wounded and captured. Tywin Lannister gave him the choice between taking the black or being executed. He chose the former. A historical member of the house is Ser Rickard Thorne, a knight of the Kingsguard who served during the reign of King Viserys I and chose to side with King Aegon II during the Dance of the Dragons.
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