Jaime Lannister

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Jaime Lannister is introduced as the son of Tywin Lannister, one of the wealthiest men in Westeros, and twin brother to Queen Cersei. Derisively called "the Kingslayer," he earned this title by killing the "Mad King" Aerys II Targaryen during the coup that placed Robert Baratheon on the Iron Throne. While often described as handsome and an incomparably skilled fighter, his reputation is marred by his secret relationship with his sister and the murder of young Bran Stark after being discovered in a tower window. In A Storm of Swords (2000), Jaime reveals to Brienne of Tarth that he killed Aerys because the king planned to incinerate King's Landing with wildfire rather than surrender. His worldview shifts dramatically after losing his sword hand while defending Brienne from a bear pit in Riverrun. This loss strips him of his primary identity as a warrior, forcing him to re-evaluate the concept of honor he once idolized through figures like Ser Arthur Dayne and Barristan Selmy. Martin explained that Jaime's journey explores whether redemption is possible for those who have done terrible things. By refusing Cersei's request to champion her in trial by combat in A Feast for Crows and entrusting Brienne with his Valyrian steel sword "Oathkeeper," Jaime begins to separate himself from his old, cynical self, striving instead to become the honorable knight he once admired.

In Their Own Story

In A Game of Thrones (1996), Jaime accompanies King Robert Baratheon to Winterfell. When Ned Stark's son Bran witnesses Jaime and Cersei having sex in a tower, Jaime pushes the boy out the window to silence him; Bran survives but is crippled. Later, after an assassin attempts to kill Bran, Jaime instigates a brawl in King's Landing that results in the death of Jory Cassel and many others. Following Ned Stark's discovery of his children's true parentage and subsequent execution by Joffrey Baratheon, Jaime leads half the Lannister host against the Riverlands. He besieges Riverrun but is captured by Robb Stark's forces at the Battle of the Whispering Wood and imprisoned. During his captivity in A Clash of Kings (1998), Jaime admits his crimes to Catelyn Stark, recounting Aerys's cruelty. In A Storm of Swords (2000), after being held by Locke's men, he saves Brienne of Tarth from a bear pit and lies to their captors to prevent her rape. Upon release, he returns to King's Landing, where he eventually refuses to fight for Cersei in A Feast for Crows. His narrative arc transforms him from an "unscrupulous" figure who pushes children from windows into a man haunted by the weight of contradictory vows, seeking redemption through quiet acts like protecting Brienne and honoring his new oath.

Reader's Guide

To understand Jaime Lannister, one must trace his evolution from a minor villain in A Game of Thrones to a tragic hero in A Storm of Swords. Readers should note his initial introduction as the "Kingslayer," a title that masks the heroic act of saving King's Landing from wildfire. His character is defined by the tension between his incestuous love for Cersei and his duty as a Kingsguard knight. Key turning points include his capture at the Battle of the Whispering Wood, his confession to Catelyn Stark regarding Aerys Targaryen, and the loss of his right hand in defense of Brienne of Tarth. Jaime's journey is a study in redemption. He moves from mocking honor behind a golden armor to embracing it through self-sacrifice. In A Feast for Crows, he rejects Cersei's demands, signaling a break from his past. George R. R. His story is not about becoming a perfect knight, but about finding a way to live with the terrible things one has done.

Did You Know?

• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Jaime.
• Jaime was knighted by Ser Arthur Dayne, an event he describes as the birth of the 'Young Lion' before his disillusionment set in.
• In A Game of Thrones (1996), Jaime is not only carrying on an incestuous affair with his twin but also pushes Bran Stark out a window to likely death.
• Jaime lost his sword hand while defending Brienne of Tarth, an event that forced him to re-explore the meaning of honor without relying on his swordsmanship.
• Time magazine's Eric Dodds described Jaime as 'handsome, an incomparably skilled fighter, and disarmingly witty'.