Unraveling the Mystery: Who Was Tyrion Lannister's First Wife in Game of Thrones?

Article Key Points

Game of Thrones received criticism for leaving out crucial details about Tyrion Lannister's backstory, particularly regarding his former wife, Tysha.

Tyrion and Tysha's marriage was portrayed as a true love story in the books, until Tywin, Tyrion's father, schemed a cruel betrayal that resulted in her being attacked. The destiny of Tysha remains unknown, but there is a fan theory suggesting that she might be the renowned courtesan referred to as the Sailor's Wife. The resemblance between their stories and a potential link to Tyrion lend credence to this theory.

HBO's Game of Thrones received criticism for straying from the original material, particularly in regards to Tyrion Lannister's character development. One significant complaint was the omission of an important aspect of his backstory involving his ex-wife, Tysha. While it is known that Tyrion copes with his insecurities through drinking and casual encounters, the exact role Tysha played in his life and the pain she caused him remains undisclosed in the show. In the novels, Tyrion bitterly refers to her as "Lady Tysha of House Silverfist," symbolizing the tragic conclusion of their marriage with a sigil depicting a gold coin and a hundred silver ones on a bloody sheet.

The Backstory of Tyrion’s First Wife

In Game of Thrones, Tyrion reveals his past marriage to Ser Bronn and Shae, admitting that he was only sixteen years old when he first encountered Tysha, a wheelwright's daughter who had lost her parents. Tyrion and his brother Jaime came across Tysha being harassed by two men, prompting Jaime to intervene while Tyrion took her to a nearby inn for safety. As the night progressed, their connection deepened, leading Tyrion to propose marriage to Tysha the following morning. All other concerns and insecurities faded away, leaving only his love for her.

After stumbling upon an intoxicated septon to officiate their wedding, the couple indulged in a blissful two-week period together. However, once the septon regained sobriety, he promptly informed Lord Tywin about the marriage. Outraged by the audacity of a commoner joining the esteemed House Lannister through marriage, even if it was Tyrion, Tywin instructed Jaime to deceive his brother by claiming that Tysha was nothing more than a hired prostitute arranged by him to "toughen up" Tyrion. In a shocking turn of events, Tywin forced Tyrion to witness a group of his soldiers engaging in sexual assault against Tysha, compensating her with silver coins as payment. "By the end," Tyrion recounted, "she had accumulated so much silver that it began slipping from her grasp and rolling onto the floor."

This retelling diverges slightly from the narrative presented in the novels: Tyrion discloses the details of his first wife to Bronn and Shae separately, his encounter with her occurring when he was just thirteen years old, and Tysha being the daughter of a simple crofter. However, the most significant alteration lies in Tywin's reprehensible demand for Tyrion to also violate Tysha after his men did so: "He handed me a gold coin to pay her, for I was a Lannister and therefore deemed more valuable."

Does Tyrion Kill Tywin Because of Tysha?

The truth about Tysha remains undisclosed in the show, which is particularly surprising considering that in the books, it serves as the main impetus for Tyrion to kill his own father. When Tyrion is imprisoned, falsely accused of Joffrey's murder, Jaime aids in his escape and they share a heartfelt moment. Instead of fleeing immediately with Varys, the Master of Whisperers, Tyrion goes to Tywin's chambers and discovers Shae in his bed. In a struggle that ensues, Tyrion manages to strangle her. Distraught, he takes Joffrey's crossbow and confronts Tywin in the privy. Initially attempting to appease him, Tywin's repeated insults towards Shae, referring to her as a "whore," lead Tyrion to shoot him two times in the chest.

In A Storm of Swords, Tyrion seeks revenge for Tysha rather than his own sake. After freeing him from his cell, Jaime eventually confesses that he had lied about Tysha because Tywin felt Tyrion needed "a harsh lesson" for marrying someone of lower status. Jaime believed Tywin only wished to annul their marriage and was unaware of his true intentions. Infuriated, Tyrion strikes Jaime and even reveals Cersei's infidelity towards him. In order to provoke Jaime further, Tyrion falsely claims to have poisoned Joffrey before embarking on his quest to find Tywin.

While Tyrion does kill Shae in the books, it's not in self-defense but rather driven by sheer rage, despite her pleas for mercy. In the confrontation with Tywin in the privy, Tyrion confronts him about Tysha, but Tywin initially fails to recognize her name or pretends not to. Eventually, he recollects, saying, "Ah yes. Your first whore [...] She'd learned her place." In an interview with EW, George R.R. Martin clarifies that although Tysha wasn't actually a prostitute, Tywin still perceives her to be one. According to Martin, Tywin strongly believes that since he doesn't love Tyrion, no one could possibly love him. In Tywin's eyes, Tysha is seen as nothing more than a lower-class girl attempting to seduce the dwarf solely because of his Lannister status, effectively equating her to a whore.

Tywin once again insults Tysha, saying "Wherever whores go," when asked about her whereabouts. This infuriates Tyrion, leading him to impale Tywin with a crossbow bolt. Earlier, Bronn tells Tyrion that he would have done the same if someone had treated him that way.

In A Dance with Dragons, while journeying through Essos, Tyrion repeatedly asks people, without providing any backstory, "Where do whores go?" He is haunted by Tywin's words and desperately holds onto the hope of being reunited with Tysha someday.

Is Tysha the Sailor’s Wife?

The fate of Tysha remains a mystery, but a popular fan theory suggests she may be the Sailor's Wife, a courtesan introduced in A Feast for Crows. In Braavos, Arya Stark encounters this woman, who goes by the title of the Sailor's Wife due to her requirement that men must marry her before sharing her bed. This rule supposedly honors her first husband, who was supposedly lost at sea. At the Isle of the Gods, she prays for his return, hoping that the right god will send the winds to bring her lost love back.

Speculation arises that the Sailor's Wife may be concealing Tyrion's identity by claiming he was lost at sea. If she used the money given to her on that fateful day to escape Westeros, there may be some truth to this theory. Furthermore, her insistence that men must marry her for her services may be a veiled reference to her marriage to Tyrion. This suggests she still longs for Tyrion's return and remains devoted to him.

The primary evidence for this theory is that the Sailor's Wife has a fourteen-year-old daughter named Lanna (possibly from the Lannister family name). Lanna not only possesses the distinctive Lannister trait of fine, golden hair but is also the same age as her mother when she gave birth to her. This suggests that the Sailor's Wife is in the same age range as Tysha when she married Tyrion.

However, some counterarguments exist, such as Yna, who practices blood magic, believing that her first husband is deceased.

Game of Thrones is an epic television series that is based on the remarkable Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin. It beautifully portrays the intricate and massive tale of feuding families in the fictional realm of Westeros, such as the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, and the Targaryens. In addition to the gripping human conflicts, the kingdom of Westeros faces the imminent threat of dragons making a comeback and an army of undead creatures from beyond the Wall.

First Episode Air Date April 17, 2011Where to watch HBO MaxSpin-offs House of the Dragon

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of Game of Thrones, I was intrigued by the unexplored storyline involving Tyrion Lannister's first wife, Tysha. The show left viewers with many unanswered questions regarding Tyrion's past, and Tysha's role in it.

The theory suggesting that Tysha may be the renowned courtesan known as the Sailor's Wife adds an exciting layer of mystery to the narrative. The parallels between their stories, including their shared experiences of hardship and their connections to Tyrion, make this theory plausible. If true, it would provide a deeper understanding of Tyrion's character and motivations.

Overall, I believe that delving into Tyrion's backstory, particularly his relationship with Tysha and the devastating betrayal he endured, would have enriched the overall narrative of Game of Thrones. It would have added depth to Tyrion's character and provided a more nuanced exploration of the themes of love, betrayal, and revenge that are central to the series.