King, making Tywin the second-most powerful man in the realm. Over the years, as Aerys became increasingly paranoid, he stopped trusting in Tywin, believing him to have become too powerful and appointed Tywin's eldest son Jaime to the kingsguard, robbing Tywin of his preferred heir. Thereafter, Tywin resigned as Hand of the King and returned to Casterly Rock. During Robert Baratheon's rebellion, Tywin remained neutral until Robert had all but won the war. He then captured King's Landing through treachery and ordered the murder of the royal family before Ned Stark could capture the city. Fearing Tywin's wrath, The Mad King ordered Jaime to kill his father. Instead, Jaime murdered Aerys, thereby betraying his vow to protect the king. Following the war, Tywin agreed to a marriage between his daughter Cersei and the new King Robert Baratheon, who pardoned Jaime and allowed him to continue his service as a member of the Kingsguard. Tywin returned to Casterly Rock to rule the Westerlands. At the beginning of the series, Tywin is described as a broad-shouldered man in his fifties with thin but muscled arms. After he had started going bald, he began shaving his head but grew out bushy golden side-whiskers. He is said to have pale-green eyes flecked with gold. Tywin Lannister is not a point of view character in the novels, so his actions are witnessed and interpreted mainly through the eyes of his estranged dwarf son Tyrion Lannister. Television adaptation Tywin Lannister's background remains largely the same in the television adaptation of the book series, with some minor changes. In the show, he is given the new title "Lord Paramount of the Westerlands," which was not present in any of the A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Tywin's role in the series, however, is much more prominent compared to the books. Charles Dance was cast as Tywin in the first season of HBO's Game of Thrones, and portrayed the character in the first four seasons. He was cast for the role based on his performance in Alien 3. Storylines A Game of Thrones Tyrion is arrested by Catelyn Stark, who suspects him of attempting to assassinate her son Bran. Despite his contempt for Tyrion, Tywin views his kidnapping as a slight against his family and sends Gregor Clegane to raid Catelyn's homeland, the Riverlands. He raises a host of almost 40,000 men, half of whom are given