Tywin's Red Wedding: A Planned Massacre?

Tywin Lannister's involvement in the Red Wedding is a highly debated topic. While some believe that Tywin engineered the Red Wedding, others argue that he merely approved the plan proposed by Walder Frey and had no control over its execution. Lame Lothar and Roose Bolton are believed to have planned the actual event, with Tywin providing approval, funding, and possibly some prior communication with Walder Frey.

Tywin's involvement in the Red Wedding

While some people believe that Tywin Lannister engineered the Red Wedding, others argue that he was not involved in the planning of the event. In the Tyrion chapter after the Red Wedding, it is revealed that Tywin received a letter from Walder Frey explaining the plan and the price he would have to pay, to which Tywin simply answered "yes". Lame Lothar and Roose Bolton are thought to have planned the execution of the Red Wedding, with Walder Frey coming up with the initial idea and suggesting it to Tywin.

Although Tywin did not plan the Red Wedding, he did approve of the project and provided funding. This suggests that Tywin was still involved in the Red Wedding, even if he did not have control over the process. Some argue that Tywin knew the consequences of approving such a plan and was aware that guest rights may be broken.

Walder Frey's role in the Red Wedding

While Tywin Lannister was involved in the Red Wedding, it was Walder Frey who orchestrated the event as revenge for Robb Stark breaking a marriage pact with House Frey. Walder Frey was the host of the wedding feast of Edmure Tully, Lord of Riverrun, and Roslin Frey at the Twins, where the Red Wedding took place. He broke guest right by sharing bread and salt with the Starks and Tullys before slaughtering them, an act considered sacrilege.

Walder Frey was bribed by Tywin Lannister to remove Robb Stark from contention for the throne, either the Iron Throne or the throne of the North. Frey had to ensure that Robb Stark was killed in a way that would bring his entire army to heel, with no chance of retaliation. It is suggested that Walder Frey would not have gone through with the massacre, which violated the sacred laws of hospitality, without the promise of protection from Tywin Lannister.

Roose Bolton's role in the Red Wedding

Roose Bolton was one of the orchestrators of the Red Wedding, alongside Walder Frey. Bolton was a top general of Robb Stark, the King in the North, and was trusted with half of his army. However, Bolton and Stark disagreed often due to tactical and political differences. Bolton eventually betrayed Stark, allying with House Frey and House Lannister, and murdering Stark at the Red Wedding. Bolton's role in the Red Wedding was to plan the execution of the massacre, alongside Lame Lothar. Bolton also gave Catelyn a knowing look and revealed chain mail under his sleeve, which tipped her off to the trap.

Guest rights and the Red Wedding

While some people believe that Tywin Lannister engineered the Red Wedding, it is clear from the Tyrion chapter after the event that he merely received a letter from Walder Frey explaining the plan and the price he had to pay, which was rather low. Tywin simply answered 'yes'. It was Walder Frey who ultimately broke guest right, but it was Roose Bolton and Lame Lothar who planned the actual execution of the Red Wedding. However, it is unlikely that the Red Wedding would have happened without Tywin's approval, funding and initiation of the project.

Tywin's accountability for the Red Wedding

Although some people believe that Tywin Lannister engineered the Red Wedding, it is clear from the Tyrion chapter after the event that he did not plan it. Instead, he received a letter from Walder Frey explaining the plan and the price he would have to pay, to which Tywin simply answered 'yes'. However, Tywin did approve the plan, and it is unlikely that the Red Wedding would have happened without his involvement. It is also likely that Tywin knew the consequences of approving the plan, including the breaking of guest rights, and so he is still accountable for the Red Wedding.

Frequently asked questions