George R.R. Martin Information: Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer
Published: Aug 02, 2008 - 01:56 AM :: Print this article
Younger twin to Cersei, and son of Tywin and Joanna, Jaime Lannister is one of the most famous knights in all of Westeros. At fifteen, he became a knight and ascended to the elite Kingsguard, the members of which can neither hold lands nor marry. Two years after his induction he murdered Mad King Aerys during the sack of King's Landing, earning him the epithet "Kingslayer". Though he shares his sister's arrogance, amorality, and striking good looks, he is much more reckless and easily amused.
Jaime was an immensely talented warrior from his youth, fighting gallantly against the Kingswood Brotherhood (an outlaw band) and was invited to join the Kingsguard at the age of 15, becoming its youngest inductee. He agreed to the appointment because of the honor involved, and also to be close to Cersei again (he loving her incestuously), as Tywin had taken her to court with him to match her with a suitable suitor (preferably Rhaegar Targaryen). However, within a day of his appointment, Jaime discovered that Aerys, paranoid of Tywin's power, had extended the invitation to turn him into a hostage and deprive Tywin of his heir. Furthermore, Tywin, slighted by this and by Aerys' refusal to wed Rhaegar to Cersei (the crown prince eventually wed Elia of Dorne), resigned his office of Hand and returned with Cersei to Casterly Rock, separating the erstwhile lovers once again. Finally, it became endlessly clear to Jaime that Aerys deserved his moniker ("the Mad"), especially after witnessing the deaths of Brandon and Rickard Stark.
Shortly before the Sack of King's Landing, Jaime learned that Aerys planned to immolate the city with wildfire should it be taken by enemy forces, killing not only the rebellious army but all its citizens as well. To prevent this mass slaughter, he slew Aerys, as well as the infrastructure the king had placed to ensure his orders was carried out; Jaime later reflected that he is often reviled for what he (Jaime) considers his finest act. Faced with scorn for his oathbreaking ways, Jaime embraced the arrogant and amoral personality people seemed to expect from him.
After Cersei became queen, Jaime fathered all of her children. He attempted to protect their secret at Winterfell by throwing the seven-year old Bran Stark from a window; this, among other factors, incited the War of the Five Kings that followed. He gave battle to Robb Stark at the Whispering Wood and was captured there, subsequently spending much of the war imprisoned at the Tully stronghold of Riverrun. He was eventually freed by Catelyn Stark under oath to (among other things) exchange his life for those of her daughters (Sansa and Arya), and never take arms against the Starks or Tullys again. Catelyn appointed Brienne of Tarth to escort him to King's Landing. At once annoyed and impressed by Brienne's honor and idealism, Jaime still attempted to kill her out of simple malice and arrogance. Brienne was able to defend herself, but would later admit that if Jaime's hands had not been shackled she would not have had any hope of victory.
During Jaime and Brienne's capture by the Brave Companions, Jaime's sword hand was cut off. Deprived of his identity-defining martial prowess, troubled by Brienne's noble behavior, and realizing he no longer liked having (in his own words) "shit for honor," Jaime began to re-evaluate his life, beginning with risking his own life to rescue Brienne from the Brave Companions. When he returned safely to King's Landing, he assumed the office of Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and took his post seriously. His newfound responsibilities caused problems with his family relationships: conflicted by the discovery of Cersei's infidelity, Jaime's feelings toward Cersei soured; he also refused to leave the Kingsguard and become Tywin's heir, causing his father to disown him. Going completely against his family, he charged Brienne to find the missing Sansa Stark and keep her safe from the wrath of House Lannister. He gave her a Valyrian steel longsword his father had fashioned for him out of Ned Stark's greatsword "Ice," and bade her name it "Oathkeeper." Finally, he rescued his brother Tyrion from execution and admitted to betraying him during a traumatic moment in Tyrion's youth.
Jaime's oath to Catelyn was put in jeopardy when he went to Riverrun to end Brynden Tully's resistance. He managed to take the castle bloodlessly by releasing the prisoner Lord Edmure Tully and threatening the life of his unborn child should he refuse to yield the castle. Though he succeeded in keeping his oath to Catelyn, the incident added to Jaime's already-monstrous reputation as kingslayer, child-killer, and sister-lover.
The end of A Feast for Crows shows him commanding that Cersei's letter asking him to save her life be thrown into the fireplace. Whether he is actually ignoring her pleas or simply destroying the letter, which might otherwise be used as evidence to prove their incestuous relationship, remains to be seen.
Source: Wikipedia
Shortly before the Sack of King's Landing, Jaime learned that Aerys planned to immolate the city with wildfire should it be taken by enemy forces, killing not only the rebellious army but all its citizens as well. To prevent this mass slaughter, he slew Aerys, as well as the infrastructure the king had placed to ensure his orders was carried out; Jaime later reflected that he is often reviled for what he (Jaime) considers his finest act. Faced with scorn for his oathbreaking ways, Jaime embraced the arrogant and amoral personality people seemed to expect from him.
After Cersei became queen, Jaime fathered all of her children. He attempted to protect their secret at Winterfell by throwing the seven-year old Bran Stark from a window; this, among other factors, incited the War of the Five Kings that followed. He gave battle to Robb Stark at the Whispering Wood and was captured there, subsequently spending much of the war imprisoned at the Tully stronghold of Riverrun. He was eventually freed by Catelyn Stark under oath to (among other things) exchange his life for those of her daughters (Sansa and Arya), and never take arms against the Starks or Tullys again. Catelyn appointed Brienne of Tarth to escort him to King's Landing. At once annoyed and impressed by Brienne's honor and idealism, Jaime still attempted to kill her out of simple malice and arrogance. Brienne was able to defend herself, but would later admit that if Jaime's hands had not been shackled she would not have had any hope of victory.
During Jaime and Brienne's capture by the Brave Companions, Jaime's sword hand was cut off. Deprived of his identity-defining martial prowess, troubled by Brienne's noble behavior, and realizing he no longer liked having (in his own words) "shit for honor," Jaime began to re-evaluate his life, beginning with risking his own life to rescue Brienne from the Brave Companions. When he returned safely to King's Landing, he assumed the office of Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and took his post seriously. His newfound responsibilities caused problems with his family relationships: conflicted by the discovery of Cersei's infidelity, Jaime's feelings toward Cersei soured; he also refused to leave the Kingsguard and become Tywin's heir, causing his father to disown him. Going completely against his family, he charged Brienne to find the missing Sansa Stark and keep her safe from the wrath of House Lannister. He gave her a Valyrian steel longsword his father had fashioned for him out of Ned Stark's greatsword "Ice," and bade her name it "Oathkeeper." Finally, he rescued his brother Tyrion from execution and admitted to betraying him during a traumatic moment in Tyrion's youth.
Jaime's oath to Catelyn was put in jeopardy when he went to Riverrun to end Brynden Tully's resistance. He managed to take the castle bloodlessly by releasing the prisoner Lord Edmure Tully and threatening the life of his unborn child should he refuse to yield the castle. Though he succeeded in keeping his oath to Catelyn, the incident added to Jaime's already-monstrous reputation as kingslayer, child-killer, and sister-lover.
The end of A Feast for Crows shows him commanding that Cersei's letter asking him to save her life be thrown into the fireplace. Whether he is actually ignoring her pleas or simply destroying the letter, which might otherwise be used as evidence to prove their incestuous relationship, remains to be seen.
Source: Wikipedia
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