It is almost funny to imagine Tywin Lannister, the man who would eventually become one of the most feared political figures in Westeros, and takeover ‘Game of Thrones‘ as a tyrannical figure. But that’s exactly where his story begins.
Tywin Lannister Was Serving the Targaryens Long Before He Became Their Enemy
According to George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books and The World of Ice & Fire, Tywin Lannister was sent to King’s Landing as a boy and served as a cupbearer at the court of King Aegon V Targaryen, better known as the Egg that we saw in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’.
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Tywin was around ten years old when he arrived at court in 252 AC. He wasn’t there because he was destined to become the ruthless Hand of the King. At that point, he was simply a young nobleman from House Lannister being introduced to the world of royal politics. And that experience would shape him in ways that are easy to overlook.
While serving at court, Tywin became acquainted with two boys who would eventually become enormously important to Westerosi history: Prince Aerys Targaryen and Steffon Baratheon. Aerys was the heir to the Iron Throne and would eventually become the infamous Mad King.
Steffon, meanwhile, would become Lord of Storm’s End and the father of Robert, Stannis, and Renly Baratheon. The three boys formed a friendship during their time together at court. It is one of those details from the books that makes Westeros feel strangely small. Before Robert’s Rebellion, before the executions, before the sack of King’s Landing, Tywin and Aerys weren’t bitter enemies. They were young men who grew up together.
Tywin Went From Cupbearer To The Most Powerful Man in Westeros
Tywin’s rise after leaving court is even more remarkable because of how dramatically his reputation changed. He eventually became Lord of Casterly Rock and proved himself a formidable administrator and military commander.
When Aerys II became king, Tywin was appointed Hand of the King and served for many years. However, their childhood friendship didn’t survive adulthood. The relationship between Tywin and Aerys deteriorated badly, eventually becoming one of the central personal conflicts behind the collapse of the Targaryen regime.
That’s what makes Tywin’s childhood at Aegon V’s court so fascinating. The future Lord of Casterly Rock didn’t begin as the ruthless patriarch we remember. He began as a ten-year-old boy carrying wine for a king.
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