Jaime

Biodata

Power Progression

Jaime’s documented progression concerns swordsmanship and adaptation to losing his dominant hand, rather than named cultivation realms.

Appearance

• Golden hair and green eyes: His hair remains recognizable even beneath the mud of captivity 2 4.
• Tall, handsome build: Captivity leaves him gaunt; after grooming at Harrenhal, he again resembles the ideal knight celebrated in songs 15 26.
• White armor and cloak: Resumes his characteristic Kingsguard dress upon returning to King’s Landing, where he also cuts his long hair short 52.
• Missing right hand: Initially wears bandages, later uses a golden prosthesis. By his time defending Castle Black, the prosthesis is gone and his wrist is wrapped in dingy gray bandages 26 101 253.

Personality

Jaime is proud, sarcastic, and quick to anger. Even captivity, mutilation, and humiliation fail to extinguish his habitual mockery. He needles Brienne, insults dangerous opponents, and sometimes invokes his father’s power to intimidate others or secure cooperation 10 27 28 284.

His cynicism conceals a strong attachment to knighthood. He admires Brienne’s loyalty and recognizes something of his younger self in her principles. Although he dismisses chivalrous restraint against brutal captors, he also insists that Vargo Hoat pick up a sword before facing him 15 23.

Genuine friendship matters deeply to him. Years of flattery surrounding his family name, followed by estrangement from his surviving Kingsguard comrade, leave him doubtful that others value him as an equal. Corleone’s friendship gradually becomes important enough that Jaime endures Tywin’s taunts, challenges his authority, and risks himself in Corleone’s defense 17 52 109 119.

After losing his hand, Jaime increasingly judges himself by what he can actually accomplish rather than by honor, office, or ancestry. His decision to retrain at the Wall comes from frustration at being unable to protect those closest to him. Following his victory over Mance, he no longer feels a need to prove himself through trophies 162 289.

History

Early Knighthood and the Kingslayer

Born into House Lannister’s wealth and privilege, Jaime pursued knightly achievement rather than inheritance or political power. Arthur Dayne knighted him, and his early Kingsguard service gave him comrades he valued as equals, including Dayne, Gerold Hightower, and Barristan Selmy 17 89 111.

War destroyed that fellowship. Most of his sworn brothers died, leaving only Jaime and Barristan alive. Jaime’s killing of the Mad King earned him the name “Kingslayer”; Barristan subsequently refused his company and publicly used the epithet. Jaime later hints that without his intervention, Robert Baratheon would have inherited a ruin, but changes the subject before explaining further 10 17.

At the Battle of the Whispering Wood, Jaime attempted to reverse defeat by cutting his way directly toward Robb Stark. He killed three of Robb’s guards but was captured before reaching him. The failed attack continued to haunt him long afterward 284 286 288.

Captivity and Escape

While captive with Brienne, Jaime lost his right hand after intervening to protect her. Corleone treated the damaged wrist and challenged his despair with the example of Colin “Broken Hand,” a Night’s Watch ranger who had learned to fight with his left. Jaime promised Corleone a bathtub full of gold dragons for returning them to King’s Landing 4 10.

Corleone’s maneuvering among the Brave Companions gave Jaime an opening to escape. Using a concealed dagger, Jaime freed himself and Brienne during the company’s internal fighting. He then confronted Vargo Hoat, but his unfamiliar left-handed technique nearly cost him the duel. Yego returned a sword to him, and Jaime killed Vargo after the wounded mercenary collapsed from fever 10 15 16.

Jaime discarded his severed hand on Vargo’s corpse. During the subsequent treatment of his wrist, he accepted Corleone’s offer of friendship and introduced himself simply as “Jaime Lannister—of the Kingsguard.” He later openly called both Corleone and Brienne his friends 16 17 18.

Harrenhal and Return to King’s Landing

At Harrenhal, Jaime’s confrontation with Roose Bolton escalated into mutual threats. Jaime appointed Corleone his personal adviser, granting him authority to negotiate on his behalf. Corleone ultimately secured their departure with an escort 20 254.

Their return to King’s Landing did not restore the dignity Jaime expected. A wealthy rider mistook him for a bumpkin and splattered him with dung, while Corleone declined his anxious invitation to accompany him to the Red Keep 47.

Tywin then demanded that Jaime leave the Kingsguard and inherit Casterly Rock. Jaime refused. Despite his father’s repeated insults, he remained to demand payment for Corleone, insisting that his rescuer was a genuine friend rather than another flatterer 52.

Defending His Friends

Jaime began training with Bronn, whose practical methods helped him regain basic control of a sword. He also condemned the Red Wedding’s violation of guest right, despite acknowledging that Tywin had known about the plot 101.

At Corleone’s knighting ceremony, Jaime feared that Tywin’s arrival with a drawn sword signaled punishment. He blocked his father’s path until Corleone persuaded him to step aside; Tywin instead personally knighted Corleone 109.

When Gregor Clegane attacked Corleone, Jaime intercepted the greatsword with his golden hand. The impact injured his remaining hand, but he held his ground despite Gregor’s public mockery. Corleone subsequently defeated Gregor and demanded an apology to Jaime and Brienne 119.

Jaime later helped Corleone escape the Red Keep after his confrontation with Tywin. He expressed no regret, explaining that Corleone had saved him in the Riverlands when exploiting his identity would have been more profitable 154.

Departure for the Wall

The confrontation with Gregor strengthened Jaime’s resolve to seek Colin’s instruction. Joffrey’s death and Tyrion’s imprisonment deepened his conviction that the white cloak meant little without the ability to protect others 122 162.

Before departing, Jaime entrusted Tyrion’s safety to Corleone. Corleone agreed on the condition that Jaime return alive and master left-handed swordsmanship, then gave him a custom-forged sword and records concerning left-handed swordsmen 162.

At Castle Black, Jaime trained under Colin after Jeor Mormont made an exception to receive him. He spent nearly half a year there and eventually helped hold the fortress’s flank against a wildling attack 253 283.

Reinforcements and the Battle Beyond the Wall

Jaime traveled to Winterfell to request reinforcements against Mance Rayder. He endured Ramsay Bolton’s taunts, recognized that Ramsay’s supposed Stark bride was not Arya, and chose not to expose the deception. When Roose offered only twenty men, Jaime proposed using them to kill Stannis Baratheon instead 254.

By the journey through White Harbor, Jaime’s force numbered two hundred Bolton riders. Finding that Stannis had already sailed north to aid the Night’s Watch, they returned toward Castle Black. There, Jaime condemned the decision to send Jon Snow into Mance’s camp on a likely suicidal assassination mission 283 284.

Jaime arranged to take the reinforcements through a secret passage after dark. When Hake refused to aid Stannis’s hard-pressed troops, Jaime charged the wildlings alone. His horse was killed, but Hake and the Bolton cavalry eventually joined him 284 285 286.

During the fighting, Jaime killed a giant and then led a small assault toward Mance’s position. Davos’s cavalry and Night’s Watch fighters helped clear his route. Jaime broke through the final guards and cut Mance’s throat, succeeding where his attack on Robb Stark had failed 287 288.

After the victory, Jaime told Stannis that he was doing what he wanted to do. He nevertheless accused Stannis of ordering the destruction of the Great Sept and attacks on Cersei and Corleone. Stannis denied the charges 289.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

• Exceptional early talent: Praised by Arthur Dayne; Bonifer Hasty also recalls his superb swordsmanship and courage in the Riverlands 16 235.
• Extensive formal training: His footwork and reactions draw on years of drills at Casterly Rock and the Red Keep 16.
• Left-handed adaptation: Initially suffers from weak attacks, inaccurate thrusts, poor grip, and instinctive attempts to use his missing hand. Bronn and Colin help him rebuild his fighting technique 16 101 253.
• Close-range improvisation: Uses daggers, sword pommels, and even a spear clamped beneath his right armpit when circumstances demand it 15 286 287.
• Limits: His giant-killing attack nearly exhausts him, and prolonged fighting leaves his sword’s edge rolled 287 288.

Command and Battlefield Tactics

• Experienced commander: Assesses terrain, enemy deployment, and attack routes before organizing the sortie from Castle Black 284.
• Direct assaults on leadership: Attempts to reach Robb Stark at the Whispering Wood and later successfully reaches Mance Rayder 286 288.
• Leadership by example: His solitary charge helps draw Hake and the Bolton riders into battle; he later rallies a smaller force for the attack on Mance 286 287 288.

Horsemanship

• Strong riding skills: Keeps his seat when nearly unhorsed at King’s Landing and controls a startled mount under arrow fire at Castle Black 47 284.
• Mounted combat: Fights through the wildling army on horseback and dismounts without falling when his dying horse collapses 286.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• White Kingsguard armor and cloak — His characteristic equipment in King’s Landing; continues wearing a white cloak during the northern fighting 52 162 286.
• Golden prosthetic hand — Replaces his missing right hand and stops Gregor’s greatsword during Corleone’s defense. Later absent at Castle Black 101 119 253.
• Concealed curved dagger — Hidden in his sleeve during captivity; used to cut bindings and kill an attacker 10 15.
• Oathkeeper — Carried after Corleone enters his private meeting with Tywin 63.
• Custom sword forged by Tobho Mott — A farewell gift from Corleone. Unnamed when presented; “Frostmourne” is Corleone’s suggested name, not a confirmed choice by Jaime 162.
• Booklet on left-handed swordsmen — Given by Corleone to support his retraining 162.

Relationships

• Vito Corleone — Rescuer, physician, adviser, and trusted friend. Restores Jaime’s hope after his mutilation; Jaime repeatedly defends him and entrusts Tyrion’s protection to him 4 17 20 109 154 162.
• Brienne of Tarth — Fellow captive and friend. Their frequent arguments coexist with Jaime’s admiration for her loyalty and character; he lost his hand after speaking up to save her 10 18 23.
• Tywin Lannister — Father. Their relationship is strained by Tywin’s insistence on inheritance and Jaime’s attachment to the Kingsguard. Jaime repeatedly resists him over Corleone 52 109 154.
• Cersei Lannister — Elder sister and lover. Jaime asks Corleone to watch over her before his departure, although Cersei later resents his leaving without telling her or writing 2 122 235.
• Tyrion Lannister — Younger brother. Tyrion supplies Bronn as a sparring partner; Jaime later makes arrangements for his safety before riding north 101 162.
• Colin “Broken Hand” — Model for recovery and eventual swordsmanship teacher. Jaime credits him with his renewed fighting ability 4 253.
• Bronn — Paid sparring partner, charging ten gold dragons a day. Trains Jaime by exploiting his weaknesses rather than observing chivalrous conventions 101.
• Arthur Dayne — Knighting sponsor, former sworn brother, and admired standard of swordsmanship. Jaime does not consider himself Dayne’s equal even when recalling his own pre-injury skill 17 155.
• Addam Marbrand — Childhood companion, raised alongside Jaime at Casterly Rock. Welcomes him warmly upon his return and helps search for Corleone 57.
• Jon Snow — Fellow defender of Castle Black. Jon acknowledges Jaime’s contribution despite their families’ hostility; Jaime later protests Jon’s assignment to assassinate Mance 253 284.
• Hake Bolton — Cavalry leader who joins Jaime’s charge, rescues him after his horse falls, and names him “Giants Slayer” 286 287.
• Stannis Baratheon — Political enemy and temporary battlefield ally. Jaime helps his troops against the wildlings, then confronts him over alleged attacks on his family and Corleone 286 289.

Notable Quotes

“I trust him, Brienne. He is my friend. Just like you.” 18

“Honor, titles, the family name—none of them are worth anything when it matters. What matters is what you can do.” 162

“Giants are people too. If they’re people, they can be killed. Still, that’s not a bad title. Sounds much better than ‘Kingslayer.’” 287

“I’m doing what I want to do, Lord Stannis.” 289