Tywin Lannister (Game of Thrones)

Tywin is the Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West. He aided Robert Baratheon in his war to attain the Iron Throne.

Background
Lord Tywin Lannister is the head of House Lannister, father of Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion Lannister, and grandfather of Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen Baratheon. He is a widower; his wife died during childbirth with Tyrion, which together with his son's deformed body is the source of his anger towards his youngest son. Tywin helped make his House the wealthiest in all of Westeros, thanks largely to the many gold mines the Lannister's control. Their extensive wealth, together with Tywin's skills with money and the Lannisters' famous golden hair, have led to a popular joke that Tywin "shits gold." Before Robert Baratheon took the throne of the Seven Kingdoms, Tywin served as the "Mad King" Aerys Targaryen's hand. Tywin and House Lannister joined Robert's side in the war, though not until after Robert had gained the upper hand. After finally entering the conflict, Tywin was responsible for the sacking of King's Landing.

Major Plots
After Gregor Clegane began raiding the Riverlands, the King's Hand Ned Stark orders Tywin to come to King's Landing to answer for his bannerman's crimes. He does no such thing. Instead Tywin raises an army, half of which he entrusts to his son Jaime, and attacks House Tully. He explains to Jaime that even though Tyrion is the lowest of the low, he is still a Lannister, and his capture by Catelyn Stark was a great insult to their House. If they did not respond in kind, the Lannisters would no longer be feared. Tywin leads his forces against Robb Stark and the northeners, wanting to quell their little uprising. The Lannister forces, with some aid from a group of mountain men led by Tyrion, crush the northeners. However, this was but a small part of the force from the north, sent by Robb as a distraction while he moves to attack Jaime and his part of the army. After the battle, Tywin sends Tyrion to King's Landing, to act as Hand of the Kind in his stead.