Though he is legally King Robert Baratheon’s son, Tommen Baratheon’s biological father is Ser Jaime Lannister, Cersei’s twin brother. When Lord Jon Arryn dies mysteriously, Tommen accompanies his father to Winterfell, where he meets Bran Stark. Later, he becomes King and marries Margaery Tyrell of House Tyrell. As a member of House Baratheon, Tommen becomes King after Joffrey gets killed at his wedding. Though unprepared for ruling as King, he gradually grows as Margaery encourages him. Cersei, jealous that her role would get stolen by Margaery, try making Margaery get arrested, but everything backfires on her.
Tommen Baratheon Personal Details
- Name: Tommen I Baratheon.
- Alias: The Boy King, Tommen-called-Baratheon.
- Year of Birth: 291 AC.
- Culture: Andal.
- Religion: Faith of the Seven.
- Parents: King Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister.
- Biological Father: Ser Jaime Lannister.
- Titles: King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Lord of Storm’s End.
- Predecessor: King Joffrey I Baratheon.
- Wife: Margaery Tyrell.
- Eye Color: Green.
- Hair Color: Blond.
Appearance and Personality
Tommen is a plump boy of 8. He has long curly white-blond hair and the green eyes of his mother. Though only 7 when A Song of Ice and Fire begins, Tommen is a kind-hearted boy who loves music, reading, and watching plays. As he is not as cruel as his older brother Joffrey, many believe he will be a good king.
Though Tommen is kind, he is naive and easily swayed by others because of his kindness and age. When he was younger, Joffrey would hurt him emotionally by killing his pets. Tommen is also a mildly great dancer and is intensely scared of Sandor Clegane, the Hound.
Relevance in A Song of Ice and Fire
A Game of Thrones
When Lord Jon Arryn dies, King Robert Baratheon takes an entourage and heads to Winterfell. He meets his old friend, Lord Eddard Stark, and asks him to become the Hand of the King. At Winterfell, Tommen spars with Bran Stark, and Ser Rodrik prevents Robb Stark and Joffrey Baratheon from sparring with real steel.
Upon traveling back to King’s Landing, Tommen and his sister Princess Myrcella meet a dirty Arya Stark chasing after cats after she gets given a task by Syrio Forel. When he tries to apprehend her, she escapes.
Later, Eddard discovers that Tommen and his siblings are illegitimate and confronts Cersei. He learns Jaime fathered Tommen, Joffrey, and Myrcella. Eddard gives Cersei a chance to leave King’s Landing. However, Cersei orchestrates her husband’s death and makes Joffrey King. Eddard gets arrested and is sentenced to death by Joffrey on the Great Sept of Baelor.
A Clash of Kings
Tommen attends Joffrey’s name day tourney. At the event, he gets hit by a quintain, and his brother laughs at him while Sansa watches. Upon getting Eddard’s letter stating Cersei’s children were illegitimate, Stannis Baratheon raises his banners and declares himself King.
With Tommen’s grandfather, Lord Tywin Lannister, waging war in the westerlands, Robb gets crowned King in the North, Balon Greyjoy crowns himself King of the Iron Islands, and Renly Baratheon crowns himself King of the Seven Kingdoms. Stannis sends a letter out stating Cersei’s children are bastards.
With the War of the Five Kings intensifying, Tywin sends his son, Tyrion Lannister, to King’s Landing to act as the Hand of the King. To gain the aid of Dorne, Tyrion sends Myrcella to Sunspear. During her send-off, Tommen cries, and later, he witnesses the rioting of the people against Joffrey.
When Cersei tries to send him to Rosby, Tyrion intercepts her plan and sends Ser Jacelyn Bywater to take Tommen to Rosby. Later, Tyrion threatens to harm Tommen if Cersei hurts Alayaya, his alleged mistress. Later, Tyrion destroys Stannis’s fleet in the battle of the Blackwater.
A Storm of Swords
After the Lannisters’ success, Tywin Lannister resumes his duties as the Hand of the King. To control the North, Tywin forces Tyrion to marry Sansa Stark. During the wedding, Tommen dances with Megga Tyrell and Sansa. Later, Joffrey and Margaery get married, but during the wedding feast, Joffrey chokes to death. Witnessing the horror of his brother’s death, Tommen screams and cries.
Cersei accuses Tyrion of Joffrey’s murder, and he gets arrested. When Shae lies during Tyrion’s trial, he demands a trial by combat, and Cersei chooses Ser Gregor Clegane as her champion. Though Tyrion’s champion, Oberyn Martell, fights well, he gets killed by Gregor. Before fighting Gregor, Oberyn tells Tyrion that according to Dornish law, Myrcella is supposed to assume the Iron Throne instead of her brother, Tommen.
With Joffrey’s death, Ser Kevan Lannister brings Tommen some documents to sign. Later, Tyrion gets freed by his brother Jaime. He then kills his father and Shae, who he finds together in the Tower of the Hand.
A Feast for Crows
With King Tommen I, the Young King, in charge, his mother becomes regent against the advice of her uncle, Kevan. With the rising threat of the Others and wights, Jon Snow sends a letter to Tommen asking for aid. When Cersei refuses to give up being Queen Regent, Kevan travels back to Casterly Rock.
Lord Mace Tyrell insists that his daughter, Margaery, marry Tommen, and though Cersei distrusts him, she agrees to their marriage. Tommen witnesses his mother burn down the Tower of the Hand. In Tommen’s name, Cersei appoints new people to the small council and permits the High Sparrow to re-establish the Faith Militant, even though it got banned.
Meanwhile, in secret, Margaery begins encouraging Tommen to make decisions. To stop the young queen from influencing her, Cersei makes Grand Maester Pycelle confess to giving Margaery Moon Tea and has her arrested by the Faith Militant. Later, Cersei gets arrested when Ser Lancel reveals he aided her in killing King Robert.
A Dance with Dragons
When Ser Balon Swann arrives at Dorne, he gets welcomed by Prince Doran Martell of Dorne. When the Sand Snakes talk about killing Tommen, Ellaria Sand objects to their plan. After Cersei gets arrested, Tommen gets hidden in the Red Keep as his mother makes the walk of atonement.
Ser Kevan returns as Lord Regent, and the small council gets revamped. Ser Kevan learns of Jon Connington’s arrival in Westeros with Aegon Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen’s alleged nephew. He tries to steer King’s Landing in the right way but gets killed by Lord Varys, who reveals he has been working for House Targaryen.
Appearance in Adaptation
In HBO’s Game of Thrones, Tommen got portrayed by Callum Wharry and Dean-Charles Chapman. He appeared in seasons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and starred in 24 episodes. Bran slips into a coma when he gets thrown off a tower by Jaime. However, Tyrion later tells Myrcella he will live to Cersei’s horror. At the battle of the Blackwater, Cersei takes Tommen to the Iron Throne Room and almost gives him a deadly poison to take. However, Tywin saves the city.
After his brother’s death, Tommen’s grandfather, Tywin, tells him that the wisest Kings listen to the council of great men. When the Great sept gets destroyed by wildfire, Tommen realizes the woman he loves and thousands of innocent people got killed by his mother. He jumps from a window of the Red Keep. Tycho Nestoris offers condolences to Cersei.
Tommen Baratheon: The Kind Boy
Tommen Baratheon is one of the kindest characters in A Song of Ice and Fire. As he was the opposite of his brother, Joffrey, he was much more likable. Tommen was a sheep caught among wolves. With a mother who cared more for her viciously-cruel son than him, he became a puppet used for his mother’s nefarious deeds.
FAQs
Did Cersei love Tommen?
Though he was her son, Cersei was not as interested in Tommen as she was in Joffrey. She only saw Tommen as the key to her rule and used her regency to enact her ideas, almost ruining Westeros.
Was Tommen a better person than Joffrey?
Yes. Though Tommen was young, he was compassionate and had the characteristics synonymous with great kings. However, his mother ruled as Queen Regent; this made his reign terrible.
Was Tommen killed in A Song of Ice and Fire?
Unlike HBO’s Game of Thrones, Tommen is alive in the books. After he became King, his mother restored the Faith Militant. However, she got arrested. Upon getting arrested, Ser Kevan Lannister became Lord Regent for Tommen.
Why did Cersei love Joffrey more than Tommen?
Cersei loved Joffrey more than his brother because she and her firstborn son were alike. Joffrey was strong, cruel, and fierce, characteristics Cersei loved.
