Tyrion Lannister

"Those are brave men knocking at our door. Let's go kill them!"

- Tyrion Lannister during the siege of King's Landing

"I'm guilty of a far more monstrous crime: I'm guilty of being a dwarf!"

- Tyrion Lannister at his trial

Tyrion Lannister is a major character in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels, and the TV adaptation, A Game of Thrones. Tyrion was the third son of Tywin Lannister, lord of Casterly Rock, preceded by Jaime and Cersei Lannister. Unfortunately for Tyrion, he was born a dwarf, reaching only about four feet in height upon reach adulthood. Since childhood, he was subject of prejudice because of his condition, however, he managed to rise in status thanks to his great intellect.

Tyrion was falsely accused of orchestrating an assassination attempt on Bran Stark by Lord Petyr Baelish and Lady Catelyn Stark. This leads to Tyrion being taken captive and taken for trial in Baelish's mountain fortress of the Eyrie. Tyrion, however, is acquitted in trial by combat, represented by a mercenary named Bronn. This incident leads to a conflict between the Lannisters and Starks, which, after Tyrion returns to King's Landing, escalated further with the death of King Robert Baratheon and the subsequent execution of Lord Eddard Stark by Joffrey Baratheon. These incidents trigger off a conflict between Joffrey and the Lannisters, two other claimants to the throne, Stannis and Renly Baratheon, as well as the Starks of the North and the Greyjoys of the Iron Islands, both of whom claimed independence from King's Landing. This conflict became known as the War of the Five Kings.

Tyrion is appointed acting Hand of the King by his father while Tywin led the army against Robb Stark's Northern forces. During this time, Tyrion is forced to prepare the defenses of King's Landing from an attack by the fleet of Stannis Baratheon. Tyrion prepares a defense hinging on the use of a ship filled with a highly flammable Greek Fire-like substance known as Wildfire, and sailing it unmanned into the Baratheon fleet, before igniting it with a flaming arrow. The plan is an outstanding success, and much of Stannis' fleet is destroyed in a massive explosion, and sinks into the Blackwater Bay. Stannis and a significant fleet, however, survive, and launch an invasion, ramming the gates to the city. Tyrion dons a custom-sized suit of plate armor and personally leads a counterattack against Stannis' forces, at one point killing a man in single combat with an axe. Tyrion is wounded, however the defenders hold out for long enough to Tywin's cavalry to arrive and reinforce the city and force Stannis into retreat.

After the victory at the siege of King's Landing, Tyrion is made Master of Coin and given a seat on the king's small council. Tyrion, while losing his status of acting hand of the king, remains a major figure in court, and is unwilling married to Sansa Stark. When King Joffrey is poisoned at his wedding to Margaery Tyrell, Joffrey points to Tyrion with his last breath, and Cersei accuses him of the murder. At Tyrion's trial, his former mistress, Shae, bears false testimony against him.

Tyrion demands a trial by combat, this time represented by Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne, who intends to use the trial as an excuse to kill Gregor Clegane, the champion of the crown, in order to avenge his sister, whom Gregor murdered years earlier. Oberyn manages to strike Gregor with a poisoned spear, however before he succumbs, Gregor managed to kill Oberyn by crushing his skull with his bare hands. Because of this result, Tywin sentences Tyrion to death.

Before the sentence can be carried out, however, Tyrion is freed by his brother, Jaime, and strangles Shae to death, before taking a crossbow and shooting his father, literally while he sits on a garderobe (medieval toilet).