The Defiance of Duskendale seems to occur shortly after Tywin was refused by Aerys II in his quest to wed Rhaegar and Cersei. According to what we have heard, Aerys did this by calling Tywin his servant, and that seems like the sort of slight Tywin would not care to stand.

Prison as a plot device in the books is huge, a lot of characters get imprisoned and it changes them a lot, besides davos tbh who takes being imprisoned like a champ I swear

Tywin if he was a quiet kid: You aren't a shame to the Lannister name. Don't come to Duskendale tomorrow.

"We have a better king right here." Whereupon he raised a hand to indicate Prince Rhaegar.

I can only imagine the mental storm of curse words Tywin was thinking when Selmy actually managed to rescue the crazy old bastard.

2:50 I think Darklyn was pissed about the decline of Duskendale as a trading hub. It had been the primary port in the Blackwater Bay for merchants coming from Essos for centuries, until King's Landing was built. But since the Targaryens built their capital, most of the trade by the time of Aerys's reign had diverted to King's Landing rather than Duskendale, so Lord Darklyn was only getting a tiny fraction of the incomes that his ancestors used to get.

To be fair, the Dornish had gotten away with (effectively) imprisoning a king centuries prior. It looks like Darklyn was a bit obsessed by "Well the Dornish got away with it..."

One of the main flaws in Tywin's plan for Lannister domination was how much he wanted to be nothing like his father. He obviously had a different personality to start with, but not being laughed at or disrespected was almost as important as building his legacy. In this, he made fear, brutality, stick, and vinegar his building blocks. Somehow not realising, in all his wisdom, that those things are single use only - for him - and will not prop up his cause once he himself is gone. He completely mishandled his children, all three of them. Ignoring their weaknesses and not playing to their strengths. It is a little delusional in thinking that the world and people with morph as he wants them to or needs them to be. A smarter man would've remarried in the 15 years his heir refused to leave Kingsguard and Tyrion not growing another inch (and thus not reshaping himself to be the desired heir). That was actually really strange decision for a calculating lord not prone to flights of fancy. Even if he had loved Joanna, 20 plus years seems like an appropriate mourning period? He also lacked subtlety which didn't make him any friend who genuinely wanted to help his cause "just because" but left plenty of enemies ready to pounce when the wind was right. I wonder what Rhaegar thought about him. Considering that Tywin removed himself after Harrenhall and there's no indication he was angling for another coup with the prince. Which leaves me wondering what he was planning for the whole year before the Rebellion and then through all the months until the sack. There are ways in which he could've won the game, replae Aerys with Rhaegar, and even replace Elia with Cersei to get all he wanted. But he didn't. He waited until it was time to start from scratch with a new regime. And then he mishandled that completely, lol. I wonder if the whole Duskendele incident lasted 6 months because Tywin was testing Rhaegar as Prince Regent? He was 18 and unmarried. Was it a test run before letting go off Aerys and installing Rhaegar in his place with a bride ready to be (Cersei was 11 though...). And was this happening the same year the Tourney at Lannisport took place where Aerys refused Tywin a betrothal and called him a servant, etc. I can see Tywin being miffied after such a rebuke.

it would be tragic if Barristan's coup really does go poorly (though I agree it's likely). he's got such a pathological need to constantly be following someone's orders and now for the 2nd time in his life he finally does something of his own decision and just like last time it backfires miserably

Tywin and Aerys didn't meet during the war of ninepenny kings, they literally grew up together because Tytos had Tywin sent to King's Landing as a page afte Tywins defiance for the Frey betrothal. So they would've met during Egg's reign.

I love the idea of Barristan beaing some kind of Westorosii Guan Yu. Or maybe Zhao Yun.

Charles Dance dominated the screen in every scene as Tywin Lannister. He should've won an emmy

I think Tywin's biggest mistake was mistreating Tyrion. Had he accepted him, most of his problems would have been solved, including his legacy. He could have divorced Tyrion from Tysha without graping her. His Duskendale plot may have failed but he got away with it, and, seriously, who TF would have bet that Barriston would have been such a bad a$$? They should really make a show about Barriston's life.

Can we the asoiaf fandom start referring to Barristan Selmy as Barristan the Badass? He deserves the modern nomenclature.

I always thought it was weird how long Tywin let the King sit in Duskendale...

Tywin is definitely more likeable in the show. You kind of don't mind that he's a villain because he's so cool. In the books it's so much more obvious how much of a monster he is and how much he traumatized all of his kids.

I don't think Tywin and Lord Darklyn were working together. Lord Darklyn was an idiot, but even he couldn't have thought that Tywin would have tossed a royal pardon into a burning city. If Lord Darklyn had been working with Tywin, the captivity wouldn't have lasted half a year; Aerys would have died shortly into his visit and it would have been blamed on an accident or a third-party assassin. That would have been a much more pardonable situation. Lord Darklyn's only hope was Aerys agreeing to his terms quickly and giving the pardon himself, or denying there was ever a kidnapping, to save face.

Can we take a second to think about the plot armor around Aerys the second? Seriously, there were at least three separate times where the world could’ve been rid of him and yet none of them were enough. A fire destroys Summerhall and kills like 80% of house Targaryen? Don’t worry, Aerys came out of it alive. A new petty lord revelion after the last one cost king Maekar’s life? Don’t worry, Aerys will come out of it alive, if only a bit more crazy. A suspicious tourney sponsored by a relatively poor house that might or might not be used to stage a coup? Hey! would you look at that? Varys has decided he wants to ruin everyone’s fun and tell the king to go show himself. Even with the king’s guard he was lucky. Assembling a decent guard was always a problem and yet Aerys had the luck of living at the same time as folks like Arthur Dayne or Barristan Selmy and having them all with nothing better to do than protecting the king.

During the wars of the roses the earl of Warwick tried exactly this, although for somewhat different reasons.

1:43 Correction: Tywin, Aerys and Steffon Baratheon (Robert and Stannis's dad) all met as children when Tywin was a cupbearer at King's Landing. They were childhood friends. Tywin (then a knight) then knighted Aerys during the War of the Ninepenny Kings.

Darkstar was obviously behind the Defiance of Duskendale.

If there is a Harpy I think it's the Green Grace but Hizdahr is certainly involved somehow with the Sons of the Harpy. The Shavepate may not be completely right with his suspicions but he is not completely wrong either.

Charles Dance killed it. Easily the best acting in the show.

Well Denys Darklyn wanted to reduce levies to revive the trade of Duskendale as it declined throughout the centuries. Tywin initially refused his entreaties and THAT was why Denys refused to pay taxes

Baristan is a cryptid or a Kaiju of some sort cuz WTF that’s some Zorro shit

Hayford Castle is the closest to King's Landing.

Huh, that is pretty cool! Fun theory, I dig it. I would love to see your theories on Mereen and the harpy

If there was a conspiracy i dont think Darklyn would have waited 6 months

Tywin did not plan the Defiance of Duskendale and he did not want Aerys dead. If Tywin wanted Aerys dead, he could have had Pycelle poison him whenever he wanted.

So basically, Tywin took a part in creating the Mad King. King Aerys II had potential, even if a bit naive, but in the end.... well, we all know what happens. Same with the likes of Viserys III; some Targaryens aren't born mad or cruel, they're made.

a video on mereen would be a welcome change of pace to be honest

"when winds of winter is released," I think you mean "if." It is a pretty big if now, considering Martin's reluctance, his revealed feelings, and his age.

Someone in the comments pointed out that Tywin’s biggest mistake was mistreating Tyrion, and now I see several parallels that both Tyrion and Cersei mistreat people and gain lots of enemies

I would really be interested in a video about the Harpey and Meereen

I wonder how if Aerys had died would Tywin and Rhaegar had gotten along even though the initial marriage pact was declined. Maybe it would’ve been changed but idk if he was married yet by this point.

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Valyrian steel video!

darklyn may have exchange rash words to king and king became angry then for his safety he kept the king as his prisoner. It was not prplanned. But Tywin use that opportunity for his interests . if Tywin was preplanned in this coup he may inform Darklyn by secret that Barrysten Selmy was coming to Duskendale at night. They can captureor killed Selmy.

Keep up the great work

9:02 is Hizdahr zo Loraq the harpy in the show and not in the books I had it backwards in my head. In my opinion he is the Harpy in the books and not in the show. Is there a detail that I missed?

I would love a video on Meereen

I LOVE Mereen and would love a video.

Sure we are waiting for the video about Meereen!

I would love another video on what’s going to happen to barriston

Should rheanyra be considered as important as visenya and Deanerys?

Tywin is my favorite character in Game of thrones. Charles Dance was amazing as him.

Please make a video about the Harpy!

9:11 I don’t think so when Barriston recounts this memory it’s after Yunkhai tries to convince Hizdah to kill the dragons…… The point of Barriston’s arc in Mereen was to highlight the failures of the Kingsgaurd oaths…. He served a king who ultimately didn’t deserve his service and the situation is repeated in Mereen with Hizdah (a rapist and a slaver who profits of people fighting for sport) had Barriston not deposed Hizdah the dragons would’ve been killed and the freedmen would’ve been re-enslaved Hizdah may not be the Harpy but he’s definitely involved in the conspiracy to depose Dany…. Yunkhai had essentially won the war slavery had returned to slavers bay the fighting pits were reopened and the dragons were caged why not kill Dany?! Barriston did the right thing ending the fake peace in Mereen as Yunkhai was only waiting for Volantis to join the war.. Barriston’s arc is similar with Jamie’s arc both seeing the flaws of blindly following kings how both respond to this revelation is pretty interesting Jaime wants to leave it all behind and live a peaceful life with his son and Barriston decides to follow a person worthy of service Daenerys

Lets goooo

Hizdahr isn’t the harpy. The green grace is. And he’s in league with her. He’s not the puppet master but he is absolutely involved.

A fun theory but I think what more likely happened was when Aerys was face to face Denys Darklyn things got out of hand. A king lacks the caution of common men so when Denys refused to back down on his tax stance Aerys probably threatened him perhaps even ordering his guards to seize him. The Darklyn guards would have then intervened resulting in all but Aerys out of his party being killed. Denys then would be stuck between a rock and a hard place.The damage is done and he is doomed either way hence why he imprisoned Aerys for months as he simply saw no way he comes out of this alive. Tywin threatening to storm the castle was merely Tywin not caring if Aerys lived or died, in his mind he won either way. His reputation reinforced, another ancient House broken beneath his boot and the young seemingly more amiable Prince Rhaegar waiting to be crowned. Everything else relies on circumstantial evidence and even Tywin couldn't prevent a future King Rhaegar executing Darklyn for the kidnap and life endangerment of his father because even the precedent it would set would be too dangerous for himself and his heirs.

3:39 There is nothing really strange about the Lord of Duskendale capturing King Aerys II. instead of killing him. Having the king as your prisoner/hostage is an enormously dangerous but potentially lucrative gamble which you could use for a rich ransom, hugh concessions (like Duskendale being exempted from paying taxes for some decades) or - if one wants to take the Simon de Montfort route - even ruling as the regent with the king as your puppet (tho im pretty sure that wasen't the intention in the defiance of Duskendale). Killing him on the other hand would be regicide and that would've caused probally the whole of Westeros to take up arms against Duskendale, even (then King) Rheagar who didnt even like his owk father, just in order to save face. So yeah, not killing Aerys was the far more sensible thing in this situation.

The Green Grace is the Harpy (in the books). It is a cultural rebellion and the Green Grace is the highest figure in the pre-Daenerys culture of Meereen. The Great Masters were the political leaders, but the Green Grace was the cultural leader.

I have always assumed that the Defiance was a creation of Varys in order to gain control of Aerys.

In the show, Tywin IS my favorite character. I'd have loved for Stannis to keep that spot, but they assassinated his character the second he even considered burning his own daughter at the stake, which was the most un-Stannis thing anyone could have ever done.

Tywin's legacy is one of immense and constant failure. Another comment said this, but Tywin's actions and attitude were short-term. Tywin's biggest flaw (besides his lust for war crimes) was this inability to think more than a few months into the future. Joanna dies and Tywin just accepts his 3 kids are enough. He was in his 30s and could have easily had another kid or at least married into a bigger alliance. He abused and/or neglected all 3 of his kids. He was especially brutal to his son and heir. He wanted Cercei marry into Royalty, but never taught her about court or how to actually govern. He just instilled his misogynistic views into her. Look at almost every single decision Tywin makes throughout the series and you see a man so consumed with grand standing and image and fear that anything beyond his own ego

I never though that Hizdahr wouldn't be the Harpy and now i need a video to be convinced otherwise

I agree bald with chops would have been great, but Charles Dance was awesome in that role...

Duskendale's dispute was with their loss of trade from King's Landing. They wanted to recoup their money.

Please talk about the Mereen plot

I want to see Martin explanation for how old man barristan did all those acrobatics and carried the king out of there

Daenerys in Meereen is great, the more the better

I can imagine Tywin watching Barristan and Aerys riding back to safety, his eye twitching at the incredulity of this random Kingsguard who he had given one night to do the impossible actually pull it off. I can imagine him riding off somewhere private as soon as he could make an excuse and just screaming in rage. What really irked him I’m sure, is that he couldn’t even take any revenge on Barristan….he had begged for Tywins permission and Tywin had granted it.

While I agree it's more than likely that Tywin wanted Aerys to die at Duskendale, it strikes me as more opportunistic than Machiavellian. First of all, the reasons for Lord Darklyn's defiance are well known. He was trying to win a charter of autonomy for Duskendale, in order to revive their sea trade. Which had been on a steady decline since the rise of Kingslanding. If Lord Darklyn were conspiring with Tywin to kill Aerys, why would he have taken Aerys hostage rather than killing him immediately? And if Taiwan had planned Aerys death, why would he have granted Sir Barristan's request to attempt a rescue? He could have easily refused on the grounds that the plan had no chance of success and was more likely to get Aerys killed.

Tywin was behind the Defiance, for sure. He just underestimated Ser Grandpa. Greatest knight in the land. A costly mistake by Tywin.

I wonder why the Darklyns never tried to declare Tywin had encouraged this from the walls or something. I do believe the theory but at some point during the six months Tywin refused to even allow negotiations without the King’s immediate release they really should have realized that he never intended to keep his end of the bargain.

I want a Harpy video!

Didn’t the harpy’s kill hizdar in the show?

Wasn't the whole issue that Kingslanding attacked more trading and the Darkling wanted to reduce taxes to make duskendale more competitive?

This is kind of disingenuous. There is no evidence this is a plot by Tywin and to present it as such you omit the part where Barristan asks Tywin for permission to do this and Tywin gives him 24 hours.

Perhaps if Tywin did a fit of reverse psychology, maybe Aerys would have listened. But I have been wrong before.

I don’t think Tywin planned it but he dragged his feet trying save the king

Who is the harpy

I wouldn’t put it pass Tywin to make Duskendale defiant if it suited his plan to crown Rhaegar as King.

MORE MAREEN VIDEOS

You forgot about Hayford!

Tell us who the Harpy is

Aerys was doing exactly the opposite of what Tywin told him to do and he used it to his advantage just like Cersei tried the same thing with Robert and the melee.

more darklyn knights served in the kingsguard than any other house

A harpy video would be cool

Honestly Tywin in the books is not as smart as his stans wish he was

I'll never understand why people (irl) respect or admire Tywin. Definitely show people have no idea what his real character is like, but book people who admire him scare me. Dude is one of the most despicable people in ASOIAF, and that says a lot.

I wouldn't say that Tywin was behind the King's imprisonment. Chances are lord darklyn's wife who was from myr wanted aerys for some nefarious purpose, like birthing a king. This explains why she had her feminine parts torn out and was burned at stake after the sack. Also lord darklyn did not want arebellion, he wanted to lower taxes for ships making port for duskendale. We read this in a brienne chapter set in duskendale.

One badass

😂 I've always thought tywin was behind duskendale and I do wish barristan had left aerys there and I also think rhaegar was in on it with tywin.

Hizdahr is DEFINITELY not the harpy in the show, unless his plan was to get brutally murdered. Pretty clear that the harpy was the masters of yunkai and astapor.

We don't get to 'see' Tywin's logic/thinking behind his actions. We don't know what is going through his mind, but we get to see inside Cersei's reasoning. I would bet it wasn't much different for Tywin. He kills 300+ peeps for owing his dad money and talking smack. WtF-that is INSANE. Tywin wasn't even lord when he pulls that stunt-we get to see the results of what happens when Tywin loses his shit and with Cersei it is likely that we can understand his reasoning now. Tywin is effed up. Like how Roose is worse than his son, Ramsey, but he is better at hiding it from people who are looking.

I would love to see more videos about Dany's ADWD plotline

I just had a thought of going with that consipiracy: In addition to elevating Rhaegar, he was going to have Rhaegar marry Cersei. Edit: Oh I see another commenter had same thought.

He refused to pay his taxes because he wanted to be able to offer reduced tariffs and tax duties on his port of Duskendale because all the ships were going to kings landing to offload cargo... Again something from the Histories and Lore DVD extras! Have you seriously not watched those?

Tywin as depicted by the show was a man of limited imagination and culture. He was not even a competent Machiavellian. The Prince and the Discourses took instituting a new polity as their objects. That was not Tywin's project. His project was to build a monument (legacy) to his own ego. His method: Cold calculation and a monstrous cruelty. He also was a poor father, as narcissists often are. He sired a Mad Queen, a son besotted with his sister and a son he despised because he considered that son to be a narcissistic wound. He tormented and betrayed that second son, so much so that that son murdered him. House Lannister almost disintegrated after his death. Tyrion, the despised son, the murderer, went on to assist Dany Targaryan in restoring her house to the Iron Throne. When she burnt King's Landing, when she made a Holocaust out of the city, she did more than put an end to the Lannister domination of Westros. She betrayed her better nature and pledged herself, her armies and Westros to a condition of perpetual war or permanent revolution. Her actions and words suggest that she considered herself an enlightened despot. But the despised son of Tywin recognized her for what she had become: A monster. The despised son then convinced Jon Snow to murder Dany, the woman he loved, thus putting an end to House Targaryan. This murder was a just act. It was a necessary act if Westros were to break the wheel. Once Greyworm's mindless need for 'justice' was resolved, the despised son then took advantage of the situation at hand to create a new monarchy, a weakly democratic monarchy (the monarch being elected by the high lords) with a new form of legitimacy (a democratic legitimacy based on a confederal system). Gone at an instance were right by conquest (might makes right), hereditary succession (right by birth) and monarchical absolutism. Neither Tyrion (Hand of the King) nor Bran (king) would be warrior rulers. That was contrary to their nature and capacity. Their rule would be marked by reason, insight and a commitment to the common wellbeing. They would need to rebuild what remained of the realm, a task Dany would not attend to if she she set out to liberate countries by fire and sword. The new Westros would foster communication and nation-building. Nation-building in the aftermath of three catastrophic wars needed to be a common goal for the remaining great houses. Fire, the Unsullied and the Dothraki would have no part to play in this. As Varys once put it: A small man can cast a long shadow." I believe Tywin and Cersi will be all but lost to history, standing as they will be in Tyrion's shadow -- if, of course, Westros does not falter because of the mistakes made during, before and immediately after Tywin's time. Tyrion was the true Machiavellian hero of the story. He founded a new monarchy, one that was nearly a republic. It might last if Westros is lucky -- if fortuna favors it. That's the best the peoples of Westros could hope for. My interpretation is based on the show.

Hisdar died in the show in the harpy attack . Unless he was a very incompetent leader, he was either not the leader or not even working with them.

Why would Tywin need to lay a six-month long siege to Duskendale, not to mention an ultimatum, if they both agreed to F up the mad king, genius?

Hizdar was not the Harpy or even a member in the show, because the Harpies kill him

Were you a history teacher?

meeren vieo pls

I highly disagree with the theories that Tywin was somehow behind Aerys being kindnapped not everything in westeros needs to be a grand scheme or machinations

The Harpy is The Green Grace. FACT!

He gets nerfed by the plot. If he had normal children instead of 3 walking liabilities and was not living during the era of returning magic, he would simply just win.

I think tywin probably was a insecure kid he said his father was laughed at he probably was laughed at or belittled or thought lesser of because of his father. Probably why grows to resent him. Reason of his Bane. The Bully becomes the bully. And with how the Jaime Cersei situation turned out. Tyrion became another reason to be laughed at. Tyrion is the most like Tywin. tywin also was probably the reason the Greyjoys rebelled and attacked the north. Balon lost a lot in the first and other than suicide theres no way balon truly believes they can still win independence. Have to have some backing. And Tywin stays plotting all that man did. Point is he likes having other people do shit for him and then get all fickle and say peace out. Also making this comment 4 minutes in so this might just be me blabbering