Lore
Who is Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones?
Cersei Lannister’s journey in Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire.

House of the Dragon introduces the early generations of House Lannister, particularly through characters like Jason and Tyland Lannister. Their actions and legacies expand the importance of House Lannister in the wider HBO universe. The show’s portrayal of the family builds on the history established in Fire and Blood.
In Fire and Blood, Lady Johanna Lannister, Jason’s wife, was a fierce ruler who fought against the Red Kraken, Dalton Greyjoy. Her story highlights the strength and influence of the Lannister family, setting the foundation for later generations. This history contributes to the rise of Cersei in Game of Thrones.
Cersei Lannister became one of the most powerful and infamous figures in Westeros. In the show, she sat on the Iron Throne as the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. While the show follows her journey closely, the books provide more depth to her life and struggles, leaving her ultimate fate uncertain.
George R. R. Martin has expanded the Lannister legacy in his novels, offering readers a detailed look at Cersei’s motivations and challenges. Though the show captures her ambition and drive for power, the books explore her inner conflicts and darker paths in even more detail. Additionally, her ultimate fate in the books is unknown. This article explores everything we know about Cersei Lannister.
Who was Cersei Lannister?

Credits: HBO
Queen Cersei Lannister was the twentieth ruler of the Seven Kingdoms in the TV show Game of Thrones. She was the widow of King Robert Baratheon. Cersei was the daughter of Lord Tywin Lannister. She had two brothers: Jaime, her twin, and Tyrion, her younger brother.
Cersei was involved in an incestuous relationship with her twin brother, Jaime. Together, they secretly had three children: Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen. These children were passed off as the legitimate heirs of King Robert Baratheon.
After the deaths of all three of her children, Cersei ascended the throne. She became the first officially recognized queen regent of the Seven Kingdoms. Her reign ended during the Battle of King’s Landing.
During the battle, both Cersei and Jaime were killed. Cersei was the last monarch to sit on the Iron Throne. Her death marked the end of her rule.
In the books, Cersei is portrayed as the only daughter of Lord Tywin Lannister and Lady Joanna Lannister. She is the twin sister of Ser Jaime Lannister.
Cersei married King Robert I Baratheon after Robert’s Rebellion. She became the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. She was the mother of Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen Baratheon.
Cersei becomes a POV character in A Feast for Crows, where her character is further explored. She struggles to maintain power and control during the events in the book.
In the television show, Cersei is portrayed by actress Lena Headey. A young version of Cersei is shown in a flashback in Season 5, where she is played by Nell Williams.
Quick Facts
Show
- Cersei Lannister is portrayed by Lena Headey in all eight seasons of Game of Thrones.
- In the show, Cersei’s rise to power is more directly linked to her actions following Robert Baratheon’s death, where she seizes control of King’s Landing.
- She has a more prominent role in the early seasons as the queen and later as Queen Regent, making political moves to protect her children.
- Cersei’s relationship with her brother Jaime is more openly depicted, with several key moments shown in explicit detail.
- Her role as a mother is more focused on her desire to protect her children, with her interactions with Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen becoming central to her motivations.
- In the show, Cersei’s death takes place during the destruction of the Great Sept of Baelor in season 6, while in the books, this event has yet to occur and may unfold differently.
Books
- Cersei’s characterization in the books is richer and more complex, with much of her internal thoughts and motivations presented in first-person POV in A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons.
- In the books, Cersei’s actions and decisions are often driven by paranoia, fear of the prophecy of the “valonqar” (little brother), and her intense hatred for Tyrion, whom she blames for the death of their mother.
- Her relationship with her brother Jaime is more deeply explored, with several chapters dedicated to their complex feelings, including their secret incestuous bond.
- Cersei’s role as a political leader in the books is less direct than in the show. While she has significant influence, she is often in competition with her father, Tywin Lannister, and is more dependent on his authority to maintain power.
- Cersei’s death in the books is uncertain, as she is still active in the political scene.
In the show

Credits: HBO
Biography and Background
Cersei was the eldest child of Lord Tywin and Lady Joanna Lannister. She was raised in Casterly Rock with her twin brother, Jaime, and younger brother, Tyrion. After her mother’s death, she grew up primarily under the care of servants, as her father was often away. Cersei was known for her beauty as a young girl.
Cersei resented Tyrion for the death of their mother and blamed him for her suffering. She and Jaime shared a secret incestuous relationship, which continued despite her marriage to King Robert Baratheon. Her three children, Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen, were fathered by Jaime, though they were passed off as Robert’s.
In her early years, Cersei hoped to marry Rhaegar Targaryen or become queen. She visited a woods witch, who foretold her future, revealing that she would be queen but would be overthrown by a younger, more beautiful queen. Cersei took this prophecy seriously.
Cersei’s marriage to Robert Baratheon was politically motivated, and she soon grew to despise him. After his death, she took the throne, but her reign was marked by turmoil and conflict, both internally and externally. Her ambition and determination to maintain power drove her actions, often leading to disastrous results.
Key Events and Actions
When King Robert died, Cersei quickly installed her son Joffrey as king. She acted as regent for him and worked to strengthen her grip on power. However, her decisions often backfired, especially when she attempted to eliminate her enemies using the Faith Militant, which later turned against her.
Cersei was involved in numerous political manipulations, including her attempts to undermine House Tyrell and control the throne through her children. She also sought alliances and made enemies, including Eddard Stark, who tried to expose her secrets. Cersei’s relationship with Jaime became strained as the events unfolded, especially after the death of their children.
She orchestrated the destruction of the Great Sept of Baelor, killing many of her enemies, but this act caused immense damage to her family. Afterward, Cersei struggled to maintain control over the realm, facing challenges from both inside and outside the kingdom.
Cersei’s manipulation of her children was a key factor in her attempts to secure the throne. Her obsession with their safety led to her ultimate downfall, as her actions caused their deaths one by one. This loss, coupled with her rising paranoia, led her to increasingly erratic decisions.
Reign and Downfall
Cersei’s reign ended with the Battle of King’s Landing. As the city was under siege, she became more isolated, relying on her brother Jaime and her ally, Qyburn, to help her navigate the ongoing conflict. However, the end of her rule was inevitable. Cersei’s decisions caused the fall of House Lannister.
Her relationship with Jaime deteriorated further as their ambitions and beliefs diverged. Despite Jaime’s attempts to maintain some form of unity, Cersei’s reckless decisions led to her ultimate demise. Her role in the destruction of the city and her actions during the war led to widespread hatred and rejection.
In the final moments, Cersei was killed alongside Jaime, as the city collapsed around them. Her death marked the end of House Lannister’s rule over the Seven Kingdoms.
Her legacy remains one of ruthless ambition, betrayal, and the tragic failure to protect her children, which ultimately caused her family’s destruction. Despite her many schemes, Cersei could not escape the inevitable collapse brought on by her own actions.
Read More: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau takes us through the moments that led to Jaime’s return to Cersei
In the books

Credits: Magali Villeneuve
Appearance and Character
Cersei Lannister is a beautiful woman with curly golden hair, emerald green eyes, fair skin, and a slender figure. As a child, she and her twin brother Jaime were so alike that even their father could not tell them apart. As adults, they still resemble each other closely.
Cersei is ambitious, willful, and hungry for power. She believes herself to be politically astute and resents being excluded from power due to her gender. She thinks of herself as a female version of her father, Tywin, and is angered when people do not obey her commands. Her pride and impatience often lead her to make rash decisions.
Cersei’s wardrobe includes many fine gowns, such as a sea-green silk gown and a black silk one with red rubies. She also wears jewelry featuring large emeralds. She has a large royal wheelhouse and an ornate barge at King’s Landing. Cersei enjoys Arbor gold and uses it to maintain her luxurious lifestyle.
Early Life
Cersei was born in 266 AC as the first-born child of Tywin and Joanna Lannister. She was born shortly before her twin brother, Jaime, and the two were very close growing up. Cersei and Jaime often swapped clothes and took each other’s lessons. They also played dangerous games, such as daring each other to touch the caged lions at Casterly Rock.
Cersei’s mother died shortly after giving birth to her younger brother, Tyrion, who she resented for causing her mother’s death. Cersei later showed Tyrion’s dwarfism to the Martells and twisted his penis in a cruel act. Afterward, she had little patience for the bedmaids her father assigned her, feeling they were dull and tried to come between her and Jaime.
Betrothal to Rhaegar Targaryen
During a visit from the Martells, Cersei was told she would be betrothed to Rhaegar Targaryen. She became infatuated with him after meeting him at a tourney. However, her father Tywin had already arranged a match with Rhaegar. At a later tourney, Cersei visited a woods witch, Maggy the Frog, who foretold that Cersei would marry a king, not a prince, and that she would be overthrown by a younger queen. The woods witch told her she would be killed by a “valonqar.” This prophecy haunted Cersei for years.
Cersei later killed a maid named Melara to silence her about the prophecy. She also learned the word “valonqar” meant “little brother” in High Valyrian, leading her to believe Tyrion would kill her one day. This belief fueled her hatred and distrust of him.
Life at Court
Cersei was taken to King’s Landing at age twelve by her father. She was often told of potential suitors but was kept unmarried. In 281 AC, when Cersei was fifteen, she seduced Jaime into joining the Kingsguard, knowing this would prevent him from marrying anyone else and keep him close. However, her father saw Jaime’s appointment as a slight, and Tywin withdrew to Casterly Rock, separating the twins.
After Robert’s Rebellion, Cersei was married to King Robert Baratheon to strengthen the alliance between House Baratheon and House Lannister. Despite her wedding, she continued her incestuous relationship with Jaime. She bore Robert three children, but all of them were Jaime’s.
Marriage to Robert and Strained Relationship
Cersei’s marriage to Robert deteriorated quickly. His drunkenness and inability to satisfy her led Cersei to despise him further. She had several children with Jaime and kept up the lie that Robert was their father. Over time, Robert became distant and preferred to spend time with whores. Cersei also ensured that Robert did not impregnate her by using other methods.
Cersei’s relationship with Robert grew increasingly strained. She became jealous of Robert’s relationships with other women, and was enraged to know he had a bastard daughter. When Robert suggested bringing the girl to court, Cersei made threats to protect her family’s status.
In King’s Landing and the Death of Jon Arryn
Following the death of Jon Arryn, Cersei and her children traveled to Winterfell with Robert. While there, Cersei and Jaime’s incestuous relationship was discovered by Bran Stark, leading to the boy being pushed out of the tower window. Cersei later blamed Jaime for his impulsiveness.
Upon their return to King’s Landing, Cersei sided with her son Joffrey in a dispute with Arya Stark, demanding harsh punishment. Cersei also sought to remove threats to her family, including planning the death of Jon Arryn, which led to his investigation by Eddard Stark.
Seizing Power and War with the Starks
When Robert died, Cersei seized control of the throne, denouncing Eddard as a traitor. She became Queen Regent for Joffrey and began plotting to remove him from power. She successfully had Eddard imprisoned, but her son Joffrey made a rash decision to execute Eddard, further alienating the Stark family.
Afterward, Cersei faced threats from the Starks and began manipulating those around her, including Tyrion. She also sought to secure alliances by sending Myrcella to Dorne and manipulating others to take her side.
Cersei’s Reign and Conflict with the Tyrells
Following her father’s death, Cersei became even more paranoid. She struggled to maintain control, particularly over her son Tommen. Her growing paranoia led to clashes with the Tyrells, whom she believed were trying to take control of the kingdom. She took drastic actions, including the revival of the Faith Militant. Cersei also sought to manipulate the Tyrells through false accusations and framing them for crimes.
Decline and Imprisonment
Cersei’s actions led to her eventual imprisonment by the Faith of the Seven. She was forced to undergo a walk of atonement, humiliating herself before the people of King’s Landing. Despite this, she remained determined to maintain her grip on power.
Her imprisonment allowed her enemies to take control, and her only hope was a trial by combat. Cersei’s fate remained uncertain, as her power was slowly stripped away, leaving her vulnerable to the political forces surrounding her.
In the Winds of Winter
The events of The Winds of Winter have yet to be fully revealed, but Cersei’s political machinations continue to play a crucial role. New plots and alliances emerge as she attempts to regain control over the kingdom.
Read More: 10 things we want to see in the Game of Thrones prequel series
Quotes
“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.”
―Cersei Lannister to Eddard Stark (in Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire)
Read More: Lena Headey talks about those explosive deaths in Game of Thrones season 6 finale
Quick Answers
What is Cersei Lannister’s appearance?
Cersei Lannister is described as a beautiful woman with curly golden hair, emerald green eyes, fair skin, and a slender, graceful figure. As a child, she and her twin brother Jaime were nearly identical, with their father unable to distinguish between them. (Books)
What is Cersei Lannister’s personality like?
Cersei is willful, ambitious, and has a certain cunning according to her brother Tyrion. She is greedy for power and resents being excluded from it due to her gender. She is quick-tempered, impatient, and makes rash decisions. (Books)
What is Cersei’s relationship with her brother Jaime?
Cersei and Jaime have a very close, often incestuous, relationship. They were inseparable as children and continued their romantic and sexual relationship into adulthood. (Books)
Who was Cersei Lannister betrothed to?
Cersei was initially betrothed to Prince Rhaegar Targaryen by her father Tywin, though the engagement never came to fruition. Later, she married Robert Baratheon after his rebellion. (Books)
What prophecy haunts Cersei Lannister?
Cersei is haunted by a prophecy given by the woods witch Maggy the Frog, which predicts that she will be overthrown by a younger and more beautiful queen and that her children will die before her. The prophecy also mentions a “valonqar” or little brother, which Cersei believes refers to Tyrion. (Books)
What role does Cersei play in Robert’s Rebellion?
Cersei played a passive role in Robert’s Rebellion, as she was a child during the events. However, her marriage to Robert Baratheon after the rebellion solidified the alliance between the Lannisters and the Baratheons. (Books)
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