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The Lannisters were kings in their right before they were forced to kneel to Aegon the Conqueror. Although they were allowed to keep their fortune, they were reduced to mere lords, and had little influence at the royal court during the first century of Targaryen rule. This did not change until Jason and Tyland Lannister played major roles in the Dance of the Dragons. In House of the Dragon, the Lannister twins are portrayed by Jefferson Hall (who, incidentally, also appeared in Game of Thrones as Ser Hugh of the Vale).
Jason and Tyland are introduced in season 1, episode 3, “Second of His Name”. They are believed to be the sons of Tymond and Ceira Lannister, and Jason is, in fact, the direct ancestor of Tywin Lannister. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Hall stated that there are “tiny little drops of Tyrion or tiny little drops of Cersei” in the Lannister twins in House of the Dragon (“I put it in there as a sort of teaser”). Although they have mostly been in the background so far, this seems to be true as Jason emerges as a typically self-important and misogynistic Lannister, and the “frightfully dull” Tyland is actually revealed to be quite power-hungry in the lore.
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Who Are the Lannister Twins in House of the Dragon?
The Lannister twins’ political motivations are made apparent throughout the events preceding and during the civil war. When Rhaenyra Targaryen visits the westerlands in 112 AC, both of them attempt (and fail) to woo her during a feast at Casterly Rock to elevate the status of House Lannister.
In House of the Dragon, only Jason vies for her hand in marriage during the royal hunt for Aegon II Targaryen’s second nameday. This is when his arrogance and foolishness is clearly demonstrated; he boasts of his family fortune and presumptuously states that Casterly Rock has enough space to build a dragon pit. Unsurprisingly, Rhaenyra fails to see this as a promising alliance (strategic or otherwise), and rejects him. Later, Jason presents Viserys I Targaryen with a gift for Aegon: a red and gold ornate spear. Ignoring Rhaenyra’s wishes, he again expresses his desire to marry her. He even goes as far as to say to the king that House Lannister will strengthen House Targaryen (which literally has dragons). He also indirectly questions Rhaenyra being heir apparent to the Iron Throne.
As Viserys says afterward:
That man’s pride has pride.
Jason goes on to marry Lady Johanna of House Westerling, with whom he has five daughters and one son. He also has daughters with his favorite mistress. In 129 AC, Jason supports the greens due to Tyland’s position at court.
Whereas Jason grows up with a sense of entitlement (as is typical of the Lannisters), Tyland, being the second son, has to succeed on his own merits. He is eventually appointed as master of ships and lord admiral during Viserys’ reign, making him one of the youngest members of the small council. In House of the Dragon, he is first seen trying to reason with Viserys about the ongoing conflict in the Stepstones, so he can revolt against the Triarchy.
After Viserys’ death, the small council discusses the matter of succession, during which Tyland favors Aegon as the new king. When Lyman Beesbury is murdered by Criston Cole for questioning Aegon’s succession, Alicent Hightower appoints Tyland as the new master of coin, who then manages the royal treasury accordingly.
When Rhaenyra gains power in 130 AC, Tyland is tortured to disclose where the gold is located, but he refuses to comply despite being blinded, maimed and gelded. Rhaenyra is eventually forced to flee after the riots in King’s Landing, and Tyland is set free. He once again serves as the master of coin when the greens take back the city. When King Aegon suggests sending Aegon the Younger to the Wall or mutilating him to ensure Rhaenyra’s line ends with him, Tyland argues that he should be executed instead — which causes him to receive a lot of backlash from the blacks. However, the king ends up being murdered, and is succeeded by Aegon III. Tyland receives a royal pardon as his brother’s wife agrees to return Casterly Rock’s portion of the crown’s gold. He is appointed as Hand of the King, and now gives the greens a reason to despise him for serving the new king loyally.
Tyland’s shifting allegiances prove that he is solely concerned about his own ambitions and titles. He is cunning and calculated, and his disfigured face only gives the smallfolk further cause to doubt his intentions. As women usually faint at the sight of him, he wears a silken hood over his head during formal events — which earns him the name of “the hooded hand”:
A monster who hides his twisted face from gods and men.
In an interview with Vulture, Hall commented on the Lannister twins’ different personalities:
Tyland becomes so entwined at the court and learns so much so quickly that he changes. So, like, at a family dinner, Jason’s talking about […] the wine he’s drunk or the hunt he’s been on, whereas Tyland’s got some trade secrets up his sleeve he has to swallow and keep to himself.
What Happens to Jason Lannister?
During the Dance of the Dragons, Aemond Targaryen sends Jason with a host of a thousand knights and seven thousand archers and men-at-arms to the riverlands. In the Battle at the Red Fork, Jason is mortally wounded by a knight named Pate of Longleaf (who consequently becomes known as ‘Longleaf the Lionslayer’). Adrian Tarbeck takes command in his place, and defeats the rivermen.
Jason dies of his injuries shortly after, and is succeeded by his son Loreon as Lord of Casterly Rock. Johanna tries to defend the westerlands from the ironborn but Lannisport is ultimately sacked. Hundreds of women are captured, including Jason’s beloved mistress and his daughters.
What Happens to Tyland Lannister?
In 133 AC, the Winter Fever spreads in King’s Landing. Tyland attempts to control it by ordering the gold cloaks to close the city gates so that no one can enter or leave. The Red Keep’s gates are also shut to protect the king and those at court. When the disease is more or less eliminated, with no new cases reported as such, Tyland contracts it. He dies only two days later, in the presence of Septon Eustace and Aegon, who holds his hand when he takes his last breath. He leaves behind no wife or children.
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House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is HBO's prequel series to Game of Thrones. Set hundreds of years earlier, the show follows the inner machinations and rivalries of the Targaryen royal family. The show was created by Ryan Condal and George R.R. Martin, and stars Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy, Rhys Ifans, and Olivia Cooke.
