I will begin with a bit of background on Tywin Lannister and why the Lannisters were the most feared house in The Seven Kingdoms. The renowned song “The Rains Of Castamere” is not a mere fiction. This is about the actions of Tywin Lannister.

The Rains Of Castamere personifies the obliteration of House Reyne of Castamere & House Tarbeck through song. This event is often referenced as the Reyne-Tarbeck Rebellion. House Reyne & House Tarbeck were the vassals of their liege-lord, Tytos Lannister. He was perceived as weak and a pushover by his bannerman. To restore dominance to his house, Tytos’ son, Tywin, marched against the would-be social climber, Lord Robert Reyne. The houses mentioned were the three most powerful houses in the Westerlands.* In the years since the Reyne-Tarbeck Rebellion, the song has become very popular with Lannister soldiers and has become an anthem for House Lannister. It was sung by Lannister soldiers in a brothel in Kings Landing immediately before the Battle Of Blackwater Bay and it was also sung at King Joffery’s wedding by performers. It is sometimes referenced as ‘The Lannister Song’.

And who are you, the proud lord said,
that I must bow so low? (Robert Reyne not wanting to bow to Tywin)
Only a cat of a different coat,
that’s all the truth I know.(Calling their only a difference the colour of their sigil)
In a coat of gold or a coat of red,(Lannister gold or Reyne red)
a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my Lord,
as long and sharp as yours. (Comparing Lannister & Reyne as equals)
And so he spoke, and so he spoke,
that lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o’er his hall,
with no one there to hear.
Yes, now the rains weep o’er his hall,
and not a soul to hear. (They are all dead)

Tywin Lannister was ruthless and cunning thus quickly defeating the Reynes & Tarbecks, burning their houses to the ground and rendering both houses extinct. Tywin put all the surviving Reynes to sword; man, woman and child. He took no prisoners and this was an example to any Lannister vassals who would dare challenge the Lannister’s rule. He had all the corpses of the Reynes hung on the gates of Casterly Rock where he let them rot in the hot sun for an entire summer. This was a long summer which lasted many years. The defilement of the Reynes & Tarbecks marked the first major step of House Lannister’s return to glory in which Tywin Lannister almost singlehandedly rebuilt his house’s fortunes.

“When our vassals, the Reynes Of Castamere, dared to rise up against the Lannisters, they learned how dangerous it can be to taunt a lion”

Tywin Lannister

Edward I AKA The Hammerer Of Scots (1272-1307) or Hammerer Of Starks if you’re Tywin Lannister was as ruthless as Lord Tywin. He was as formidable as the late Lion and “we will never see his like again” say Ser Loras Tyrell to Cersei at his wake in season five. Loras is probably right. People like Tywin only come around once in a century. I liked Tywin. There I said it. He did what needed to be done. He was ruthless because he had to be. He was a warrior, a politician, a tactician and what’s more, a pragmatist. He was just a shit father. If you don’t believe me, ask Tyrion or Cersei for that matter. Mainly Tyrion who he wanted to have thrown into the sea. The only thing bad about him was his treatment of Tyrion. Tywin was a cold, stern and serious man. He blames Tyrion for his wife’s death as she died giving birth to him.

“With her (Joanna Lannister’s) death, Grand Maester Pycelle observes, the joy went out of Tywin Lannister, yet still he persisted in his duty.”

A World Of Ice & Fire

“Someday you’ll sit the iron throne and the truth will be what you make it”

Cersei Lannister

In 1298, King Edward invaded Scotland where he earned the title “The Hammer of the Scots”. He even commanded his very own mad dog, Sir John Fitz Marmaduke, his own Gregor Clegane: A ruthless, bloodthirsty killer who was utterly without mercy.

“You are a bloodthirsty man; I have often had to rebuke for being too cruel. But now be off, use all your cruelty, and instead of rebuking you I shall praise you.”

King Edward To Sir John Fitz Marmaduke

As the king, you could say Edward pushed gold out of both cheeks like Tywin but he certainly wasn’t shot by his son whilst in the privy.