Understanding Tywin Lannister

[thelittledragonthatcould]

Okay why didn't the Maester give Tywin his due about KL or Elia and her babies while giving Tywin all the credit of Aerys reign while Hand or putting the Westerlands right?

It was a ass licking dedication to Tywin and the Lannister again making Tywin out to be a victim of Aerys and the court while praising him and not mentioning Tywin doing some of the most heinous deeds Westeros have experienced in years.

 

He does give him his due over Kings Landing.

 

The walls were manned by knights and watchmen, awaiting the enemy. When the first army that arrived flew the lion of Casterly Rock, with Lord Tywin at its head, King Aerys anxiously ordered the gates to be opened, thinking that at last his old friend and former Hand had come to his rescue, as he had done at the Defiance of Duskendale. But Lord Tywin had not come to save the Mad King.

This time, Lord Tywins cause was that of the realms, and he was determined to bring an end to the reign that madness had brought low. Once within the walls of the city, his soldiers assaulted the defenders of Kings Landing, and blood ran red in the streets.

 

Which is pretty similar to how we hear about it in the books

 

The whole city was afraid. Sansa could see it from the castle walls. The smallfolk were hiding themselves behind closed shutters and barred doors as if that would keep them safe. The last time King's Landing had fallen, the Lannisters looted and raped as they pleased and put hundreds to the sword, even though the city had opened its gates.

 

Elia is difficult but from the sounds of it, from the conversations between Oberyn, Tyrion and Tywin, is that it was never confirmed who the killers were or who was responsible. There would be a bunch of hearsay but nothing officially said that is why Oberyn wants confirmation.

 

Before this book was even published we already knew that Tywin put the Westerlands right from his fathers poor rule, we are told that from Kevan and Genna who have no reason to put down their father in favour of Tywin.

 

As for the great times between in the 20 years Tywin ruled as Hand, well we know for a fact that it was more peaceful than the 20 years before or after and we know that it was prosperous from Kevan, Pycelle and even Ned who comments on the Royal treasury being full. We also know that the realm turned to shit very, very quickly after he quit.

 

Connington, who seems to be a pretty neutral character, seems to rate him highly as he uses his death as a reason for the Golden Company to attack Westeros.

 

"—is not what it was, now that Tywin Lannister is dead. The Seven Kingdoms will never be more ripe for conquest. Another boy king sits the Iron Throne, this one even younger than the last, and rebels are thick upon the ground as autumn leaves."

[The Wolves]

 
He does give him his due over Kings Landing.
 
The walls were manned by knights and watchmen, awaiting the enemy. When the first army that arrived flew the lion of Casterly Rock, with Lord Tywin at its head, King Aerys anxiously ordered the gates to be opened, thinking that at last his old friend and former Hand had come to his rescue, as he had done at the Defiance of Duskendale. But Lord Tywin had not come to save the Mad King.
This time, Lord Tywins cause was that of the realms, and he was determined to bring an end to the reign that madness had brought low. Once within the walls of the city, his soldiers assaulted the defenders of Kings Landing, and blood ran red in the streets.
 
Which is pretty similar to how we hear about it in the books
 
The whole city was afraid. Sansa could see it from the castle walls. The smallfolk were hiding themselves behind closed shutters and barred doors as if that would keep them safe. The last time King's Landing had fallen, the Lannisters looted and raped as they pleased and put hundreds to the sword, even though the city had opened its gates.
 
Elia is difficult but from the sounds of it, from the conversations between Oberyn, Tyrion and Tywin, is that it was never confirmed who the killers were or who was responsible. There would be a bunch of hearsay but nothing officially said that is why Oberyn wants confirmation.
 
Before this book was even published we already knew that Tywin put the Westerlands right from his fathers poor rule, we are told that from Kevan and Genna who have no reason to put down their father in favour of Tywin.
 
As for the great times between in the 20 years Tywin ruled as Hand, well we know for a fact that it was more peaceful than the 20 years before or after and we know that it was prosperous from Kevan, Pycelle and even Ned who comments on the Royal treasury being full. We also know that the realm turned to shit very, very quickly after he quit.
 
Connington, who seems to be a pretty neutral character, seems to rate him highly as he uses his death as a reason for the Golden Company to attack Westeros.
 
"is not what it was, now that Tywin Lannister is dead. The Seven Kingdoms will never be more ripe for conquest. Another boy king sits the Iron Throne, this one even younger than the last, and rebels are thick upon the ground as autumn leaves."

The Maester tries to paint Tywin as someone who was trying to save the realm from Aerys when he talks about KL which we know is bullshit. And again everyone knows that Tywin ordered the deaths of Rhaenys and Aegon and probably Elia laying the blame at Aerys feet or Elia is just Tywin ass kissing they all know he did it it's no secret.

All we hear in the book is a biased POV favoring the Lannisters Im not saying Tywin didn't do some of those good things mentioned I'm just saying he's not some poor soul who suffered so much or cared about the realm.

[thelittledragonthatcould]

The Maester tries to paint Tywin as someone who was trying to save the realm from Aerys when he talks about KL which we know is bullshit.

Was Aerys not mad? Was he not a danger to the realms safety? That is hardly bullshit. It was not in Tywins best interests for that mad man continuing to run the realm.  He helped put an end to the war.
 

And again everyone knows that Tywin ordered the deaths of Rhaenys and Aegon and probably Elia laying the blame at Aerys feet or Elia is just Tywin ass kissing they all know he did it it's no secret.

 

There is a difference between some (or even many) being aware of something and it being officially known.  It was an open secret, open secrets are often left out of histroy books especially when the people are still alive.

 

The fact that Oberyn demands confirmation of what he believes he knows should tell you that much.
 

All we hear in the book is a biased POV favoring the Lannisters

You can't have it both ways. Happy to believe the biased things people who don't like Tywin say about him but blaming all the positives on the characters being biased in favour of him.

 

 

Im not saying Tywin didn't do some of those good things mentioned I'm just saying he's not some poor soul who suffered so much or cared about the realm.

 

 

I don't think he is some poor soul, there are quite a few Tywin fans on this board and I'm pretty sure few of them think he is some 'poor soul'. He can be quite the asshole at times, he is clearly not a man who you would want to get on the wrong side of and he is an elitist who is indifferent to the smallfolk - not in a cruel way but in the way that a farmer is indifferent to his farm animals.

 

However he did care about the realm. The realm being peaceful and prosperous is good for him, it is good for all the Lords. The further up you are in nobility the better it is as they benefit from this.

[Kal-L]

 

I agree. Even if they weren't true, for rumors to follow those two around for so many years would drive Tywin crazy. Joanna losing her virginity to Aerys, Joanna being Aerys' paramour, and finally, after marrying Tywin, Joanna being dismissed from Court by Rhaella for being a whore. Then you've got Aerys moving in with Tywin and Joanna for over a year. And all through that (and then for more than a decade after) Tywin stays in Aerys' service. The Tywin we knew in the present narrative and he Tywin of that era seem like two different people sometimes.

Was the bold ever confirmed ?

[AerionBrightflameII]

He always seemed more of a pragmatist to me..Didn't like the way he treated Tyrion or the Red Wedding but the rest i can see the point of, he was one of the best Hand of the King's ever at 21.