The Lannisters are one of the most powerful families in Westeros and they have been ruling the Seven Kingdoms since Joffrey received the crown in season one.
They have developed a reputation for wiping out any houses that try to challenge them and they stick by their house words that ‘a Lannister always pays their debts’.
In season one the family is mostly united in their ambition to rule Westeros but conflicts start to form as the rumours of Cersei and Jaime’s relationship begins to grow.
The family falls apart following Joffrey’s death, which Cersei believes was carried out by her brother Tyrion.
Only a few members of the main Lannister family remain but they all have very different ambitions and allegiances and it’s not clear if any of them will survive.
Tywin Lannister
Tywin (Charles Dance) was the Lord of Casterly Rock and the head of the Lannister family at the start of Game of Thrones.
He is the father of Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion, but his wife Joanna died when Tyrion was born.
Following the death of Robert Baratheon , Tywin became Hand of the King to Joffrey and then Tommen, which meant that he had a lot of power in King’s Landing.
He usually chaired the small council and arranged alliances and marriages to strengthen his families power in Westeros.
Tywin died in the final episode of season 4 when he was shot twice by his son Tyrion after he escapes from his prison cell.
Cersei Lannister
Cersei (Lena Headey) is the daughter of Tywin and the twin sister of Jaime and the sister of Tyrion.
Viewers are introduced to her as the wife of King Robert Baratheon but it soon becomes clear that she has a sexual relationship with her brother Jaime.
It then becomes common belief that Cersei’s three children are from her relationship with Jaime instead of being the kids of Robert.
She becomes the new Queen of Westeros following the death of her son Tommen.
Jaime Lannister
Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is the son of Tywin and the brother of Cersei and Tyron, and he later becomes the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
We discover in season one that he has a relationship with his sister Cersei and is the father of her three children.
In season 3 Jaime loses his right hand after it is chopped off by Locke, who serves House Bolton, and he later covers his stump with a golden hand.
Unlike Cersei, Jaime has a close relationship with Tyrion and he even helps him escape from prison after being charged with the murder of King Joffrey.
Following the revelation that the White Walkers and undead are coming to attack Westeros, Jaime decides to leave Kings Landing and instead fight alongside the living.
Tyrion Lannister
Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) is the youngest child of Tywin and is the brother of Cersei and Jaime.
He has dwarfism and is disliked by his father and sister who both blame him for his mother’s death, as she died when he was born.
He is later married to Sansa Stark but they never consummate their marriage, and he is then accused of murdering King Joffrey after he is poisoned on his wedding day.
Jaime helps his brother escape but Tyrion ends up killing his father Tywin before leaving Westeros to avoid his execution.
He is now the Hand of the Queen for Daenerys Targaryen and he has become one of her closest advisers.
Cersei and Jaime’s children
Joffrey Lannister
Known to the public as Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) it soon becomes clear that him and his siblings are actually the children of Cersei and her twin brother Jaime.
Following the death of King Robert in season one, Joffrey becomes the new King of Westeros.
Joffrey was present during the Battle of the Blackwater but didn’t carry out any fighting himself.
He later ended his betrothal to Sansa Stark and instead got engaged to Margaery Tyrell to strengthen the alliance of their families.
He dies in season three after being poisoned on the day of his wedding to Margaery.
Myrcella Lannister
Myrcella (Nell Tiger Free) was sent to Dorne in season 2 after Tyrion Lannister arranged an alliance with House Martell, which would involve her marrying Trystane Martell when they were older.
She doesn’t appear again until season 5 when Cersei sends Jaime Lannister and Bronn to find her and return her home.
Doran Martell agrees to let her travel back to King’s Landing as long as her engagement to Trystane continues and that he travels with them.
Ellaria then kissed Myrcella as she said her goodbyes, but her lips was covered in poison and Myrcella dies in the arms of Jaime while they are on the boat travelling back to King’s Landing.
Tommen Lannister
Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) was a minor character for most of the early seasons of Game of Thrones, but he became more prominent following the death of his brother Joffrey.
As the new King of Westeros he is quickly guided by his grandfather Tywin and a marriage is arranged with Margaery Tyrell.
Following Margaery’s death at the hands of his mother, Tommen commits suicide by jumping out of his bedroom window.
Other Lannisters
Kevan Lannister
Kevan (Ian Gelder) is the brother of Tywin Lannister and is well experienced with wars and armies, working as one of the main officers during the war of the five kings.
He arrived at King’s Landing following Tywin’s death, but later made his return to Casterly Rock after being dissapointed with Cersei running the small council instead of King Tommen.
He later returns as Tommen’s Hand of the King when Cersei is arrested by the Faith Militant, but then dies when Cersei destroys the Sept of Baelor.
Lancel Lannister
Lancel (Eugene Simon) is one of Kevan’s sons and therefore a cousin of Cersei, Jaime and Tyrion.
He originally served as a squire for King Robert Baratheon, but after suffering an injury during battle he disappeared while carrying out his recovery.
The character reappeared in season 5 after joining the Sparrows, a religious movement in King’s Landing.
Lancel is sent to retrieve Cersei when she doesn’t show up for her trial but instead he discovers wildfire planted underground with candles nearby.
He is too late to stop the flame and dies in the explosion.
Game Of Thrones season eight kicks off Monday 15 April at 2am and will be repeated at 9pm GMT on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV, while seasons one to seven are also currently available on NOW TV.
MORE: Game of Thrones season 8: Everyone’s going to die, aren’t they?
