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  == Character description ==
  Tywin Lannister is Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, and Warden of the West.
  When Lannister bannermen the Reynes and Tarbecks eventually revolted against the Lannisters' rule, Tywin personally led the Lannister army in exterminating the rebellious vassals, placing the bodies of their entire families on display at Casterly Rock.  
  Tywin eventually married his first cousin Joanna.  When she died giving birth to their dwarf son Tyrion, it is said that "the best part of Tywin died with her". He never remarried. There are rumors that Tyrion is not Tywin's son and Tywin holds Tyrion responsible for Joanna's death. When Tywin discovered that the young Tyrion had secretly eloped and married Tysha, a peasant's daughter, he had Tyrion's marriage forcefully annulled, telling him that the entire love affair was a plot by Jaime to get Tyrion to lose his virginity, his love being nothing more than a hired prostitute.  Tywin then had his personal guards gang-rape Tysha in front of Tyrion and later forced Tyrion to rape her last.  Aerys II Targaryen appointed Tywin  Hand of the King. The relationship between Aerys and Tywin grew bitter  and he resigned as Hand after Aerys appointed Tywin's first son Jaime to the Kingsguard, directly denying him as Tywin's heir. Aerys increasingly engaged in behavior for which he was known as the Mad King.
  During Robert Baratheon's rebellion, Tywin remained neutral until Robert had all but won the war. He then captured King's Landing through treachery and ordered the murder of the royal family before Ned could capture the city. The Mad King then ordered Jaime to kill his father. Instead, Jaime stuck his sword in his back betraying his vow to protect the king. Tywin's army sacked King's Landing. Following the war, Tywin returns to Casterly Rock to rule the Westerlands, and remains there until the beginning of the series.