Tywin's Red Wedding: Mastermind's Secret Plan Revealed

The Red Wedding was a massacre that took place during the War of the Five Kings, at the wedding feast of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey. The event was orchestrated by Lord Walder Frey, as revenge for Robb Stark's breaking of a marriage pact with House Frey. While Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King, did not engineer the Red Wedding, he was aware of the plan and gave his approval. Tywin also offered protection and titles to Walder Frey and Lord Roose Bolton, who oversaw the massacre, and personally killed Robb Stark.

Tywin Lannister approved the plan

While some believe that Tywin Lannister engineered the Red Wedding, others argue that he simply approved the plan. In the books, it is revealed that Tywin received a letter from Walder Frey explaining the plan and its cost, to which Tywin replied with a simple "yes". This suggests that Tywin did not devise the plan but instead gave his consent and support to Walder Frey and Roose Bolton, who are considered the masterminds behind the massacre.

Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King to Joffrey I Baratheon, played a crucial role in the Red Wedding by offering protection and titles to those involved. Without his promise of protection, it is unlikely that Lord Walder Frey would have proceeded with the massacre, which violated the sacred laws of hospitality. Tywin's involvement ensured the collaboration of the conspirators and the success of their plan.

The Red Wedding was a pivotal event during the War of the Five Kings, resulting in the slaughter of Robb Stark, the King in the North, his mother Catelyn, and thousands of their soldiers. The massacre was orchestrated by Lord Walder Frey, seeking revenge for Robb's broken marriage pact with House Frey. While Tywin may not have initiated the plan, his approval and support were instrumental in its execution.

The aftermath of the Red Wedding had significant consequences for Tywin as well. Whatever pacts he had with the North fell apart after his death, and Houses Bolton and Frey ultimately met their ends following the Battle of the Bastards and the assassinations at the Twins. The Red Wedding left a lasting stain on the ancient guest right, and Tywin, as the one who approved and facilitated the plan, bears a significant share of the accountability for its consequences.

In conclusion, while Tywin Lannister may not have engineered the specifics of the Red Wedding, he undoubtedly approved and facilitated the plan. His involvement, including his promise of protection and titles, was crucial to the conspirators' victory. The subsequent downfall of Houses Bolton and Frey, as well as the breakdown of pacts with the North, further emphasize the impact of Tywin's approval and support for the Red Wedding.

Walder Frey orchestrated the massacre

The Red Wedding was a massacre that took place during the wedding feast of Edmure Tully, Lord of Riverrun, and Roslin Frey. The event resulted in the deaths of the King in the North, Robb Stark, his mother Catelyn, and most of his thirty-five hundred soldiers. The massacre was orchestrated by its host, Lord Walder Frey, as revenge for Robb breaking a marriage pact with House Frey.

Walder Frey's motivation for orchestrating the massacre stemmed from a broken marriage pact with Robb Stark. As part of the agreement, Robb was betrothed to one of Walder Frey's daughters, which secured an invaluable strategic position for the Northmen during the War of the Five Kings. However, Robb broke this pact, which was a significant slight to House Frey and a violation of the sacred laws of hospitality.

Walder Frey conspired with Lord Roose Bolton to plan the massacre, but he also required assurance of protection from a powerful ally. This is where Tywin Lannister, the Hand of the King to Joffrey I Baratheon, comes into play. Tywin promised Walder Frey protection, enabling him to carry out the massacre without fear of reprisal.

The small council of King Tommen I Baratheon, following Tywin's death, discussed how to place blame for the Red Wedding solely on the Freys and not the Iron Throne. This indicates that Tywin played a role in planning the massacre, but the extent of his involvement is unclear. It is speculated that Tywin's motivation was to prevent Lord Frey from returning to Stark's arms and prolonging the war.

The massacre itself took place at the Twins, with Walder Frey hosting a feast for the highborn in one of his castles, while a "bastard feast" for lesser ranks was held in the second castle. Common soldiers celebrated in tents outside the castle. The violation of sacred laws of hospitality made the Red Wedding a particularly heinous act, but Walder Frey was driven by a desire to avenge the slight against his house.

Roose Bolton killed Robb Stark

Roose Bolton was the Lord of the Dreadfort and the head of House Bolton, the former ruling Great House of the North after usurping the position from House Stark. He was one of Robb Stark's top generals, but they often disagreed due to various tactical and political differences.

Roose Bolton's betrayal of Robb Stark was long in the making. Even before the Red Wedding, there were signs of his treacherous nature. For instance, when Robert gave the order to have Lady killed, Eddard did the deed himself, but Roose stood apart, ensuring his reputation remained unchanged. Another instance is when Roose advised Robert to kill Ser Barristan Selmy, who was brought before him seriously wounded. Roose also had no feelings, and his cruel nature was well-known. He was also discreet about practising the abolished tradition of the first night to avoid the attention of the Wardens of the North, House Stark.

During the War of the Five Kings, Roose served King in the North Robb Stark, but they disagreed often due to tactical and political differences. One instance of this was when Robb insisted that their prisoners, the Lannisters, be treated well, rejecting Roose's suggestion to torture them. Another instance was when Roose brought news of Winterfell's fall and urged Robb to continue their offensive, but Robb declared that he must return north to retake his castle and save his brothers.

Roose Bolton ultimately betrayed and murdered Robb Stark at the Red Wedding after allying with House Frey and House Lannister. During the wedding, Roose sat beside Lady Catelyn and, just before the massacre, showed her that he was wearing chain mail under his sleeve, revealing that the Starks had been betrayed. He then ran to safety as the Freys turned on the Starks. Roose approached Robb and stabbed him in the heart, saying, "The Lannisters send their regards." After killing Robb, Roose climbed to the top of the Twins and watched the massacre of the Stark forces.

Tywin's accountability

While some sources suggest that Tywin Lannister was not the mastermind of the Red Wedding, it is clear that he played a significant role in the planning and execution of the massacre. Tywin's accountability for the Red Wedding is evident in several ways.

Firstly, Tywin approved the plan and provided assurance to the conspirators, Walder Frey and Roose Bolton. In the Tyrion chapter of the book series, it is revealed that Tywin received a letter from Walder Frey explaining the plan and the price he demanded, to which Tywin simply replied, "yes." This indicates that Tywin gave his consent and endorsement to the plot, even if he did not initiate it himself.

Secondly, Tywin offered protection and titles to Walder Frey and Roose Bolton, incentivizing their participation in the massacre. By promising protection, Tywin enabled the violation of the sacred laws of hospitality, which otherwise may have deterred the conspirators. This assurance from Tywin, the Hand of the King, was crucial in securing the collaboration of the conspirators and ensuring the success of their plan.

Thirdly, the execution of the Red Wedding bore the marks of Tywin's influence and style. As noted by one of the characters, Lame Lothar, and Roose Bolton planned the actual details of the massacre, but they required Tywin's approval and funding to carry it out. The way in which the wedding was conducted shouted "Lannister," indicating Tywin's involvement and endorsement.

Finally, Tywin's accountability extends beyond the planning stage. He actively worked to shift blame away from himself and his house, and onto the Freys, both before and after the event. Before the Red Wedding, Tywin ensured that the blame would fall primarily on House Frey, as evidenced by the small council's discussions during the reign of King Tommen I Baratheon. After the massacre, Tywin's death resulted in the downfall of his pacts with the North, and ultimately, the end of Houses Bolton and Frey after the Battle of the Bastards.

In conclusion, while Tywin may not have single-handedly engineered the Red Wedding, he was a key player in its planning and execution. His approval, protection, and political maneuvering were crucial to the success of the conspiracy. Therefore, Tywin Lannister bears significant accountability for the massacre that took place at the Red Wedding.

Tywin's death

Tywin Lannister's death was at the hands of his son, Tyrion. After learning of his father's involvement in the Red Wedding, Tyrion confronted Tywin while he sat on the privy. Tywin had orchestrated the Red Wedding, a massacre at Edmure Tully's wedding, which resulted in the slaughter of Robb Stark, his mother Catelyn, and his soldiers.

Tyrion was enraged, having also discovered that Tywin had been involved with his former mistress, Shae. Upon finding Shae in Tywin's bed, Tyrion strangled her with a necklace. He then confronted his father, demanding to know what happened to his first wife, Tysha, whom Tywin had claimed was a prostitute and had gang-raped by his guards. When Tywin repeatedly dismissed Tysha as a "whore", Tyrion shot him with a crossbow, leaving him to die on the privy.

The irony of Tywin's death was not lost on Tyrion, who remarked that the claim about his father "shitting gold" was a myth, as Tywin's bowels loosened upon death. Tywin's corpse lay in state for seven days at the Great Sept of Baelor before being returned to the Westerlands.

Tyrion's actions in killing Tywin were driven by his father's abuse and mistreatment, which ultimately led to Tyrion questioning morality. Tywin's death marked a significant turning point in Tyrion's character arc, and the Lannister plotline.

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