Tyrion, is Tywin's third child, a misshapen dwarf nicknamed "The Imp" and "The Halfman". He is a personal favorite character of George R. R. Martin. Though Tyrion shares his father's talent for political maneuvering, he receives little respect from Tywin because of his deformity, sharp tongue, penchant for whoring, and the death of his mother during his birth. He is capable of cruelty to his enemies, but also has great sympathy for fellow outcasts and the mistreated.
Early in life, Tyrion found himself ostracized from regular family life, and sought his own entertainment. When Tyrion was 13, he and Jaime rescued a common girl, Tysha, from a compromising situation. Tysha found Tyrion pleasing, and they married in secret, but Lord Tywin found out and explained that she was a prostitute whom Jaime had hired for Tyrion's benefit. Tywin had her repeatedly raped by his men before Tyrion's eyes, and then forced the boy to do the same. This incident scarred Tyrion, but also brought him closer to Jaime, the only person who ever showed kindness to him.

Tyrion joined the royal family on their fateful trip to Winterfell, after which he visited The Wall with Jon Snow, Eddard Stark's bastard son. On his return, he met Catelyn Stark at a roadside inn. She arrested him on suspicion of the attempted murder of Bran Stark and brought him to the Eyrie. There Lysa Arryn put him on trial for that crime, as well as the murder of Jon Arryn (he was innocent of both). He escaped punishment with the victory of his champion, the sellsword Bronn, in a trial by combat. After leaving the Eyrie, he recruited the mountain clans of the Vale into his service with hopes of using them against the Vale. Along with his new troops, he participated in the Battle of the Green Fork against Stark forces commanded by Roose Bolton.

Tywin made Tyrion his temporary replacement as Hand of the King, but forbade him from indulging in his weakness for prostitutes. Tyrion disobeyed him, secretly taking the young prostitute Shae into his service. As Hand, he entered a bitter power struggle with Cersei, but managed to consistently outplot her. He arranged the wildfire-filled ships and massive chain that decimated Stannis Baratheon's fleet during the Battle of the Blackwater and greatly contributed to the victory against Stannis. His contributions were not appreciated, however, and he took a severe facial wound in an assassination attempt during the fighting.

Upon the return of his father, Tyrion found himself demoted to Master of Coin and forced into a political marriage with Sansa Stark. Though they were married for over a month and though Tyrion grew to care for his unwilling bride, Tyrion never forced consummation on her, a decision that earned him scorn and jest in court but gratitude from his wife. The two were eventually accused of the murder of King Joffrey, but since Sansa had fled, only Tyrion stood trial; his jury was Tywin Lannister, Mace Tyrell and Prince Oberyn Martell . During the trial, Tyrion was accused and humiliated by several people, including his prostitute, Shae, who lied under incentive from Cersei. However, it was known that Gregor Clegane would be Cersei's champion in case Tyrion picked trial by combat, and the formidable duelist Oberyn Martell agreed to champion Tyrion to revenge himself against Gregor Clegane. Unfortunately, The Mountain that Rides crushed the Red Viper of Dorne, and Tyrion was condemned to death.

Tyrion was freed from his prison cell by his brother Jaime and a reluctant Varys. During their escape, Jaime revealed that their father had made him lie about Tysha being a prostitute, and that she was exactly what she seemed: a peasant girl who had genuinely loved Tyrion. Tyrion saw this as an unforgivable betrayal and abandoned Jaime, promising retribution if they met again. He also revealed that Cersei was "a lying whore" who was having sex with Lancel, Osmund Kettleblack "and Moon Boy for all I know" and (falsely) told Jaime that he had indeed poisoned Joffrey. Before leaving the castle, Tyrion via the secret tunnels Varys led him into visited his father's room and found Shae there (naked in Tywin's bed while wearing Tywin's chain of office), whom he killed. He then confronted his father, demanding he tell him what became of Tysha. Tywin revealed that he had not killed her, but provoked Tyrion by repeatedly calling her a whore. Tyrion slew his father with a crossbow and escaped.

Tyrion has since fled across the narrow sea, his own motives unknown even to himself. In an excerpt from A Dance with Dragons on Martin's website it is revealed that Tyrion is currently in Pentos and is staying with Illyrio Mopatis. Back in the Seven Kingdoms, Cersei has put a bounty on his head, resulting in a mass murder of dwarves.

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