House Lannister

House Lannister is one of the Great Houses of Westeros. They rule over the westerlands from their seat of Casterly Rock. The gold mines beneath the Rock have made the Lannisters the richest house in Westeros, often earning them the attention to other nobles seeking credit.

Members of the modern House Lannister have a reputation for being fair, with traits bestowed from their Andal forebearers - tall, with golden hair and green-emerald eyes.

Lann the Clever
House Lannister traces their line back to Lann the Clever, during the Age of Heroes. It is said Lann tricked the Casterlys from Casterly Rock, claiming their castle as his own using only his wits. The name of Casterly was kept to the castle, staunch reminder to what Lann the Clever had achieved. Great legends have sprawled across the lands as to how Lann swindled the Rock from the noble Casterlys, with various versions of the tale circulating.

Whispers speak that Lann's ghost still haunts the Rock's fortress.

First Men Kings
Whilst Lann the Clever is often regarded as the first King of the Rock, King Loreon I Lannister was the first to officially claim this title. House Reyne bends to the vassalage of King Loren I. Next, the formidable Hooded King, Morgon Banefort. After King Loreon I, other ambitious Lannisters follow.

Lannisport
Whilst Casterly Rock remains the seat of House Lannister's main line, another line claims nearby a coastal village. These Lannisters develop the village into a prosperous city port, which flourishes into one of the greatest cities in all of Westeros - Lannisport - station of the Lannister fleet, center for culture and trade.

Andal Kings
The Lannisters initially resist the invading Andals, with forces led by King Tybolt. However, Kings Tyrion III and Gerold Lannister begin arranging marriages between them and noble First Men daughters. Andal children are taken as wards at Casterly Rock. Eventually, House Lannister also weds the Andals.

When King Gerold III dies without a male heir, a council crowns his only daughter's husband, Ser Joffrey Lydden, as king. Joffrey Lydden takes the Lannister name, allowing for it to live on. He becomes the first Andal king to reign from Casterly Rock.

When three lesser kings challenge House Lannister, they are defeated by Cerion Lannister. Cerion claims lands as far east as the Golden Tooth and its surrounding hills. Tommen I Lannister claims Fair Isle. Lancel I Lannister challenges the House Gardener Kings of the Reach, riding as far south as Old Oak. However, he eventually falls.

Lancel IV Lannister defeats the ironborn king Harrald Halfdrowned, beheading him with a single slash from Brightroar. Wishing to claim a portion of the Reach, Lancel IV seizes the opportunity when Gyles III Gardener is fighting the Storm King. Lancel IV faces off with Ser Wilbert, the Little Lion, who is fatally wounded. Summoning the last of his strength, Ser Wilbert delivers a fatal blow to his opponent, stabbing his dagger through a gap in Lancel's armor, killing him. It is said that Lancel's men return to the westerlands after the death of their king.

Lelia Lannister becomes the Queen of the Iron Islands when she weds King Harmund II of House Hoare. Her eldest son, Harmund III Hoare, becomes the next Ironborn king. When Harmund III's brother, Hagon, wishes to appease the Drowned God, he has Harmund III and his mother mutilated. The mangled Lelia is sent back to Casterly Rock. Such begins a war between the westerlands and the Ironborn, with Lelia's nephew being the then-Lannister king.