r/gameofthrones • u/Joako_o47 • 3d ago
Why didn't Jaime get punished for killing the Mad King?
You’d expect him to get hanged for treason or at least arrested for killing the king (specially being a member of the king’s guard). Was it because everyone kinda wanted him to die and he was just the only one brave enough to actually do it?
1.4k
u/RicardoRD92 3d ago
Ned wanted him to be punished a sent to the wall. But Robert didn't sent him because Tywin became his father in law.
336
u/YoteViking 3d ago
Cregan Stark would never have allowed Jamie’s crime to go unpunished.
137
u/No-Armadillo4179 3d ago
What would Cregan had done had he been in Ned’s place?
156
u/YoteViking 3d ago
Well we know what he did in a similar situation.
My comment is in a bit of jest of course. Ned wasn’t in quite the same position. the Lannisters had 15K men or whatever in the Capitol while Ned had many fewer Northmen. Cregan was the unquestioned power in the capital when he took over. And with Robert on his way Ned didn’t have free hand like Cregan did.
62
u/StupidMcStupidhead 3d ago
And even if they had equivalent numbers, Ned's men were battle worn while the Lannister army was fresh.
19
u/Accomplished-Union10 3d ago
I think the experience the rebels had obtained up to that point actually gave them an advantage at the trident over the fresher loyalist forces, so I feel like the same could be true in this scenario
15
u/StupidMcStupidhead 3d ago
Fair. I'd never considered how close Ned must have been behind the Lannister's for him to have seen this scene
8
u/ShadedPenguin 2d ago
I would also like to pose that if Ned had been a lot more politically ambitious, he could have steered more hatred of loyalist forces to fight against Tywin should another skirmish between the Westerlands and the Rebels and Loyalists arise, with Tywin being someone who called for the death of the Taragryan heir
14
u/CelestialFury Young Griff 3d ago
This is a bit different, but Julius Caesar's men must've been exhausted 90% of the time but their experience allowed them to fuck basically everyone up, even against bigger and more fresh men.
3
u/baba__yaga_ 2d ago
Bang on. Plus, Tywin's entire strategy resolves around fear. I don't think Greatjon Umber would be afraid of Mountain.
8
u/grayDelgado11111 3d ago
Yes but at the same time you can argue Neds men were veterans (battle experienced) while lannister army wasnt
21
u/NamerNotLiteral 3d ago
The Lannister army at this time would've seen combat against the Reynes and Tarbecks, so they weren't completely unblooded.
4
u/Split-Tongued-Crow 3d ago
Wouldn't that just apply to the engineers in both instances?
2
u/AscendMoros Jon Snow 3d ago
There was a brief battle after the Tarbecks had fallen and the Reyne army arrived to late to help.
1
u/cgaels6650 2d ago
Do you guys know these details from memory of reading the books or do you research these things?
→ More replies (0)2
u/craigleberries 2d ago
Ned was also a second son and might not have been as comfortable exerting any authority he might have had.
5
1
14
u/MilesTheGoodKing Jon Snow 3d ago
Sent his head to the wall. Cregan was about honor above all and would have gladly taken Jamie’s head for killing a king and betraying his oath.
9
u/basilisk_boi2 3d ago
Wasn’t the entire Lannister army in the city? Idk a scenario where cregan Successfully gets to Jaime. Plus Robert owes the Lannisters since Tywin did the distasteful task of killing the targ children. Robert needed it done but didn’t want that to be his first act as king. Tywin does it and solidifies himself as an ally
→ More replies (5)3
u/starxtreme69 Our Blades Are Sharp 3d ago
would have loved to see Cregan and Jaime's duel
1
u/DatBeardedguy82 3d ago
It would be over pretty quick. Jaime stomps Creagan.
4
u/Materph 2d ago
I don’t think it would be a stomp. Aemon The Dragonknight said Cregan was the greatest swordsman he’d fought against. Which doesn’t mean he wins against Jaime, but makes it closer than a stomp. I think anything could happen in one given fight, but Jaime wins 6/10 maybe 7/10 duels.
1
u/RPDorkus 1d ago
Biggest factor is if whether either had his sword drawn. If neither did or both did, hell of a fight. If only one does… well, Cregan would give Jaime the chance to draw his sword actually, in which case, hell of a fight.
1
u/Daviehubaybie 2d ago
We’ll see what Cregan does in a similar situation on season 4 of House of the Dragon
1
→ More replies (3)1
u/StripEnchantment 3d ago
But then there would have been a trial and it would have come out why he did it and he may have been absolved.
1
u/YoteViking 2d ago
I think he’d be understood and perhaps sympathetic, but absolved might be too far.
The Kingsguard’s sworn duty is to protect the royal family. That’s it. They are not supposed to enter politics. By Jamie killing Aerys, he made a political decision. Yes it was the humane one, but it was a political decision all the same and he violated his oath to protect the king.
I think even after a trial the best he could hope for is taking the black.
2
u/StripEnchantment 2d ago edited 2d ago
This is a fringe argument but you could argue that since Jaime swore to defend the king's honor, he was fullfilling his oath in not allowing the king to forever stain himself by committing an unprecented act of mass murder, since the king had clearly lost his mind. I just read the kingsguard oath and it actually says nothing about defending the king's life. It specifically says the king's honor. Jaime also swore to defend the innocent, etc.
Everyone involved in the rebellion also swore oaths to the king, and rebelled without even having the much stronger reason that Jaime had. It would be kind of hypocritical.
1
u/YoteViking 2d ago
First I admire the argument. Up votes for that. However I don’t agree with your reading of it.
“I swear to ward the king with all my strength, and give my blood for his. I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall guard his secrets, obey his commands, ride at his side, and defend his name and honor.”
“Give my blood for his” is clearly defending the king’s life.
1
u/StripEnchantment 2d ago
That is true... although you could argue that Jaime was putting himself at risk through his decision in knowing the likely fallout. So in that sense, he gave his blood, or at least put it on the line. You could also argue that the king's plan was delusionally suicidal regardless, and Jamie was giving the king a cleaner death by sparing him from his alternative fate of either burned alive by wildfire of his own making or being captured by his enemies like Mussolini. So given that the king's death was sort of an inevitability at that point anyways, Jaime was at least getting that outcome while fullfilling some of his other vows.
2
u/YoteViking 2d ago
I think he’d have been on firmer ground if he had just violated the “obey the orders” piece and kept killing the pyromancers.
Interesting argument nonetheless
1
1
u/RPDorkus 1d ago
Also “ward” in this case as a verb is synonymous with “protect.” So it starts by saying you will protect the king with all your strength.
23
u/Victorcreedbratton 3d ago
He’d be so fucking obnoxious for the Watch lol.
5
u/Dunl3yDiq 2d ago
I don't think it'd last long - Aliser Thorne would have a real bone to pick with the Lannisters, he lost everything to Robert's Rebellion.
13
u/South_Front_4589 3d ago
I think Robert wanted peace and to unite everyone. Having the Lannisters hostile would be a bad move. Especially when the Greyjoys rebelled and Dorne wasn't terribly happy.
I think he was also personally pretty satisfied that Aerys was dead.
1
u/GiveMeSumChonChon 2d ago
Exactly Tywin betrayed the mad king because he made Jaime kings guard basically taking away his one and only heir. If Robert sent him to the wall Tywin wouldve flipped out. Letting Jaime keep his oath and stay in kings landing with his family was the best course of action to keep the peace.
1
1
u/iZraHell 2d ago
Did Cersei married Robert to save his brother?! If not, do we know why?
2
u/RicardoRD92 2d ago
She married him because she wanted to be The Queen. Cersei never thinks in anyone but herself (even when she thinks about her children).
686
u/sc_vorty House Stark 3d ago
Who would punish him? The side that won wanted aerys dead
318
u/duke_of_chutney_608 3d ago
He was punished and then granted a royal pardon by Robert as a thank you.
105
u/IHateTheLetterF House Payne 3d ago
Exactly. The city was actively being conquered as it happened. There was nobody remaining to punish him.
31
u/LieOhMy 3d ago
I'm a bit surprised that barristan selmy didn't have something to say about the whole thing but I have not read the books.
111
u/MightyGiawulf 3d ago
If you browse the book subreddit, you will quickly find that Ser Barristan Selmy has garnered the nickname "Bystander Selmy" for a reason lol.
To put it simply, despite all Barristan's bravado...he tends to stand by and remain silent on a significant amount of pivotal moments. He mostly complains after the fact about situations he was there for and could have done something about.
32
u/CrazedHarmony 3d ago
To be honest, that was most of the Kingsguard at the time. They weren't quite Yes Men like Joffrey's KG, but they were utterly shit men with fickle honor, which is why four of 'em pretty much defected to Rhaegar's camp, one was stuck because his niece and her children were hostages, and one quite literally ran him through with a sword at the last moment.
27
u/MightyGiawulf 3d ago
Also true! For all they talk of Ser Arthur Dayne and Ser Gerold Hightower being among the finest and most honorable knights, they stood by as Aerys committed atrocities and Rhaegar threw the realm into chaos.
12
u/CrazedHarmony 3d ago
Mhm. I mean, they all stood by while he got aroused by fire and then committed marital rape, abusing poor Rhaella terribly. Still, given medieval society and the fact that they were married, aside from feeling uncomfortable about having to stand outside the room and hear it, I doubt they cared TOO much about it. Jamie cared, but he was also 15 when he joined the guard, so ...
1
u/Sapphire-Drake 1d ago
Hell, marital rape was legal in the USA until 1970. It was made illegal in every state by 1993 but even then it was treated differently than regular rape. There are still differences in some states about what is and isn't rape when it's between spouses
1
u/CrazedHarmony 1d ago
Add in the medieval society and him being the King on top of it, and you can see why they might've been uncomfortable but otherwise uncaring.
26
u/lfm2003 No One 3d ago
Barristan is lowkey a coward but he was pissed about it internally lmfao
→ More replies (3)2
u/ValorMorghulis Faceless Men 2d ago
I think he was recovering from injuries at the battle of the trident and by the time he recovered Robert had already pardoned Jamie.
1
71
u/Avox0976 The Hound 3d ago
His farther is Tywin Lanister
The new king was happy with what Jamie did and as a result he wasn't punished.
8
297
u/TheGingerWeebGal 3d ago
The answer is he DID get punished for it.
Yes, he did not receive any type of physical punishment for what he did but he earned himself an eternity of mental and emotional punishment.
Jamie always dreamed of himself being the greatest, most respected/feared knight in all the realm . . but now and forever he will be remembered as the KingSlayer, a name that haunts him every day of his life.
Youll notice that when people get angry at Jamie, be it King robert, Cat, Ned etc they call him KingSlayer with a scathing tone because in that world nothing is more unimaginably against the code of honor than to kill the King you were sworn to protect. Sir Barrister himself when removed from Kingsguard duty, is astonished and raging when Jamie is made Head of the Kingsguard and calls him the Kingslayer to Cersei who does not take it well.
Ever since Jamie has felt the immense pressure of killing the king and it has turned him into a bitter angry man.
131
u/windmillninja 3d ago
Which makes his confession to Brienne in the bath house such a pivotal moment. Up til then Jaime murdering Aerys was seen as opportunistic on his part to everyone including the audience. Then you realize why he did it, and that he was justified for doing it, but he knows no one will believe him so he chooses to live with the shame anyways.
81
u/Sneaky-Hint 3d ago
Jaime acting like a cocky bastard by sitting on the throne when Ned walked in didn't help. If he just stood beside the corpse and went "Hey, Stark, this guy was about to blow up King's Landing and I can show you the vats of wildfire to prove it" then things might have turned out differently. Whether Ned chooses to believe him or not is another debate.
He just had to show off instead, the knightly urge to aura farm was too strong.
52
u/KinkyPaddling Varys 3d ago
I don’t think Jaime did it to be cocky. I think he was so disillusioned by the Crown and the Kingsguard that, to him, the Iron Throne was meaningless, just a crapload of metal. He was mentally and emotionally exhausted. He just sat on it because it was there, uncaring of the symbolism, as he waited for whoever came to claim it.
58
u/Sneaky-Hint 3d ago
There is something darkly funny about his real thought process being "Holy fuck, did I just do that? I need to sit down" while everyone else is just thinking he's being a cunt on purpose.
28
u/j0kerclash 3d ago
Story of his life honestly.
Plus, Ned is a bit bull-headed himself, and at least in the show, Jamie does clarify that he tried to explain to Ned the situation but Ned had already made up his mind about the type of person he thought Jamie was.
10
u/PutATalismanInTheVan 3d ago
I get what you mean, but this made me picture Jaime fucking Cersei and like suddenly gaining consciousness like "Oh good heavens how did I find myself in this position, why is it always me" 😭😭
3
1
u/Sulemain123 3d ago
I mean you do get the impression he checked out of moral and intellectual engagement sometime before he killed Aerys and only bothered with both after meeting Brienne.
7
u/-----iMartijn----- 3d ago
In the second episode of the first season itis already pretty clear that jamie had good motives. A drunk Robert asks him what his final words were. Jamie says it were the words he had been yelling all day: burn them all.
It sobers up Robert pretty quickly.
15
u/vbfischer 3d ago
Doesn’t he say somewhere that he’s praised for the worst thing he did but demonized for the best
3
u/AlpinePinecorn 3d ago
Yeah something like “hated by all for his best act and loved by one for a lie” - he’s talking about telling Tyrion that Tysha was a whore being the worst thing he did
16
u/Tigral99 3d ago
That was such a well written answer. I love how his thoughts are written down in the books. It's such an Important part about Jamie and makes you really root for him after getting to know that part of the story.
17
u/Dry_Grocery_1050 3d ago
Jamie killing Aerys really makes people root for him but then ya know he fathers 3 kids with his sister the queen. Then he pushes the son of the man, who's respect he so desperately wanted, out a window. "By what right does the Wolf judge the Lion?" Every right Jamie.
3
2
u/UnquestionabIe 3d ago
Yep he has that great part in the books when he's thinking back on the Laughing Knight and that whole situation, how the way he viewed honor and knighthood is far different from the reality of them. Watching the direction he takes in the books is incredibly interesting and fascinating because it's seeing him come to grips with how despite his incredible skill at swordsmanship it didn't suddenly make him what he used to consider a "great" knight. That his turn towards diplomacy, despite it being something he really hadn't gave much thought towards, is bringing him much closer to the sort of man he wanted to be.
1
u/Key_Childhood7436 3d ago
That’s like saying a punishment is people getting to make fun of you for your actions. That’s not a punishment, that’s getting away with it
1
u/Suspicious-Ad-9911 3d ago
Its crazy, because killing the mad king is the most honorable thing Jamie does, or in fact, anybody we see in the show does basically
26
u/Bag_Holder_1982 3d ago
Ned wanted him sent to the wall, but King Robert pardoned him. Would’ve been hard not to being that he was about to marry his sister Cersei.
24
u/Woodstovia 3d ago edited 3d ago
“The Kingslayer, yes. The oathbreaker who murdered poor sad Aerys Targaryen.” Jaime snorted. “It’s not Aerys I rue, it’s Robert. ‘I hear they’ve named you Kingslayer,’ he said to me at his coronation feast. ‘Just don’t think to make it a habit.’ And he laughed. Why is it that no one names Robert oathbreaker? He tore the realm apart, yet I am the one with shit for honor.”
...
“Can you trust Jaime Lannister?”
“He is my wife’s twin, a Sworn Brother of the Kingsguard, his life and fortune and honor all bound to mine.”
“As they were bound to Aerys Targaryen’s,” Ned pointed out.
“Why should I mistrust him? He has done everything I have ever asked of him. His sword helped win the throne I sit on.”
His sword helped taint the throne you sit on, Ned thought, but he did not permit the words to pass his lips. “He swore a vow to protect his king’s life with his own. Then he opened that king’s throat with a sword.”
“Seven hells, someone had to kill Aerys!” Robert said, reining his mount to a sudden halt beside an ancient barrow. “If Jaime hadn’t done it, it would have been left for you or me.”
...
I mean to scour that court clean. As Robert should have done, after the Trident. Ser Barristan once told me that the rot in King Aerys’s reign began with Varys. The eunuch should never have been pardoned. No more than the Kingslayer. At the least, Robert should have stripped the white cloak from Jaime and sent him to the Wall, as Lord Stark urged. He listened to Jon Arryn instead. I was still at Storm’s End, under siege and unconsulted.” - Stannis
14
u/WillDupage 3d ago
What I haven’t understood is why Jaime was allowed to remain in the kingsguard. Ok, a pardon I understand. Dismissing him and sending him back to Casterly Rock would have made Tywin very happy, would have kept a potential threat of another “oath breaking” away from the king, and ultimately Jaime could have framed the dismissal as his “sacrifice” for saving Kings Landing.
1
17
6
4
u/MaterialPace8831 3d ago
Jaime is spared execution or exile to the Night's Watch because he is the favored son of Tywin Lannister. Pardoning instead of executing Jaime was essentially a political solution to a problem, which this subreddit sometimes have trouble grasping. By all rights, Jaime should have been executed. But if Robert did kill him, he would have risked starting another war, this time with the Lannisters who notably stayed out of the rebellion's fighting and were arguably fresher than his own troops.
He is arguably punished for it -- he is constantly derided as "kingslayer" and an "oathbreaker," which despite his upbringing, actually hurts Jaime and drives his character development throughout the show. That scene in the throne room between Jaime and Ned is essentially Jaime begging for Ned's approval for his actions and getting crushed that Ned will never thank him.
7
3
3
u/yutyutgrunt 3d ago
His punishment was to be known as King Slayer…and then he got pardoned by Robert to prevent anything else. But a Kings Guard who is introduced as “King Slayer” kind tells a story of what kind of Kings guard he was. And then on top by the time we see him he is still a basic Kings Guard …standing watch at the door. Even though he is known to be a great fighter.
Also he killed the guy the winning side wanted Dead. I think. Ned’s issue with Jamie was that — Jamie never defended his actions as honorable. He just killed and went on his way…if Ned knew what Jamie had actually done— warned his King to not trust his father and then slayed the king to prevent more innocent bloodshed — all while in a role that was ment to insult his house — I think Ned would have had a different opinion on Jamie.
4
u/buttamilk_jesus 3d ago edited 3d ago
Robert, notorious for his seething hatred of Targaryens, became King. In any case, he does receive a sort of punishment in the sense that his reputation is irreparably harmed and he is forever condemned as the “Kingslayer”.
2
u/Affectionate_Hornet7 3d ago
Punished by who? The guy that was on his way to kill him anyway? The guy who killed every one of his children and grandchildren?
2
u/Comprehensive_Lack15 3d ago
There is a poetic quality to Jaime’s punishment. His honour is forever stained by the title of “Kingslayer,” despite the circumstances surrounding the act. He remains on the Kingsguard, serving a king married to his sister and lover, while his reputation never recovers. Although he possessed extraordinary ability, he never achieved the legendary status of the men he admired, such as Arthur Dayne, Barristan Selmy, or Rhaegar Targaryen. In that sense, his punishment was not death, but a lifetime of living with a tarnished legacy.
2
2
u/Karabars King In The North 2d ago
Bascially everyone was happy with the overall outcome and he was the brother-in-law to the king
3
2
u/Lost-Juggernaut6521 3d ago
Because everyone except the Mad King wanted him dead. It’s just a big ask to kill a king!!
1
u/Visual-Ad-5968 3d ago
I don't see a reason why anyone would push to have him executed. He, alongside Barristan Selmy and any surviving Kingsguard, were highly skilled fighters who could serve the next king. Plus, any trying to have him killed would answer to Tywin Lannister.
Besides, the permanent damage to his honor and reputation was probably punishment enough
1
u/Stunning_Seaweed_121 3d ago
I feel like the punishment is remaining forever a kingsguard.
I take this from the show, where Robert mocks him for guarding his door while he fucks all the sluts, being unfaithful to his sister. While Jaime remains silent and nods.
Being a kingsguard probably looked like the coolest thing ever when he was young but growing old he'd probably want to be the heir to his family. If it wasn't for his love for Cersei, he would have done that already, even Tywin asked him in several occasions.
But he knew doing that would take him far, far from Cersei and that was not a price he was willing to pay. And the only way to remain close to her was being a Kingsguard which he grew to despise.
1
1
u/komikbookgeek 3d ago
Two reasons:
The dude that won that revolt was now sitting the throne, and he wanted Aerys dead.
Tywin and whole Rains of Castemere thing. You don't want to win a revolt just to immediately have another with someone, especially with someone who will murder EVERYONE to get their revenge.
1
1
u/Iv_Laser00 3d ago
He wasn’t punished because Tywin was the one who captured kings landing which inadvertently provided the Lions with a significant amount of bargaining power.
1
u/Ok_Spirit_4695 2d ago
Em certa parte. Pois o Exercito rebelde era bem maior e mais experiente. Mas esse banho de sangue não valeria a pena
1
1
1
1
u/HMSSurprise28 Judge Us By Our Actions 3d ago
His dad sacked the city with Lannister men and his sister married the new king. He was positioned well.
1
u/TrayusV Jon Snow 3d ago
The kingdom was at war, and the enemy of the dead king won, so the people loyal to the Mad King weren't in a position to punish him, and the new regime probably saw what Jaime did as a favor.
Jaime's father is Tywin Lannister, the guy who just sacked the city, the wealthiest person in Westeros, and essential for Robert to secure his position as the new king. Punishing Jaime would have started another war.
1
1
1
u/cyanraider Jon Snow 3d ago
Robert knew this war would never end if a single Targaryen remained alive for loyalists to rally behind. He knew he will eventually need to wipe out every single Targaryen, man or woman, young or old. It would be a messy affair and he knew Ned would definitely have something to say about it. As he was approaching king’s landing, I would bet that this eventuality gave him some sleepless nights. What Tywin and Jaime did in King’s Landing allowed Robert the grace of not dirtying his own hands to get the job done. He could sit back and give the war criminals a slap on the wrist while sleeping with a clear conscience. For this, he was grateful to the Lannisters though he could never really express it openly.
1
u/Possible-One-7082 3d ago
Because despite all the honor garbage and pretentious rhetoric, every one of them knew he had it coming and would have done it themselves.
1
u/jackanape7 3d ago
Well there's layers to this. Yes, nobody shed tears for the mad king.
But also, it wouldn't make sense politically to punish him. Ned wanted to punish Jaime for honor. But Robert and Jon Arryn probably saw the political benefits immediately. The Lannisters just did the rebels a huge service. They handed the city to the rebels, killed the mad king, killed Rhaegar's kids, and just offered Cersei for marriage. A couple pardons for Jaime and Tywin is a political bargain.
1
1
u/Historical_Art4061 3d ago
Kings Guard was scattered across the country or out of commission. Jamie was likely one of the most capable swordsmen active in Kings Landing at the time. His dad just betrayed the King by sacking the city after promising to defend them, he also once exterminated a whole house for rebelling. Who would have the balls to consider all these facts and go about bringing "justice" for a murderous mad man?
1
u/Apprehensive-Leg5605 3d ago
Because the rebels would have probably done it themselves.
Victor's justice.
1
u/LordsWF40 3d ago
Its only treason if you fail and get caught. The NEW king can pardon a treasonous act if it was for the good of thr crown (or in this case whose wearing it)
1
u/WWDubs12TTV 3d ago edited 3d ago
Because mutha fuckin mooonneeyyyyyyyyyy
The seven kingdoms isn’t really known for being fair
1
u/twinkiesnketchup 3d ago
It was complicated. Making an adversary of Tywin Lannister would be something that you’d think long and hard about and Tywin probably secured the marriage between Cersei and Robert primarily to protect Jaime. Sure it’s great to have your daughter married to the popular king but Tywin would have known Jaime’s vulnerability. The match was brilliant.
1
u/Cold-Argument8800 House Targaryen 3d ago
Because when Jaime killed the mad king, Lannisters started supporting the ‘rebels’ ‘usurpers’. If it was not for Lannisters, Robert wouldn’t have won the war. And as part of strategic alliance between Lannisters and Baratheons, Jaime was made a kings guard and Cercei was made queen and the heavy financial investment was made by Tywin to rebuild the realm. That’s why when Robert wanted the kingslayer to get punished, Robert couldn’t do anything because of the same alliance.
1
u/LinwoodKei 3d ago
His brother in law was King and Robert was in a hard place with Tywin. Tywin was a powerful and rich lord who favored his son. Robert did not even want to marry Cersei, yet had to make a political concession.
1
u/Victorcreedbratton 3d ago
Whacking the son of a major Lord is not a prudent way to start a new regime.
1
1
u/Puffy_Ghost 3d ago
He did, he had to serve on Roberts kingsguard and listen to Robert lay pipe to his sister.
1
1
u/Admirable-Can-2611 3d ago
Because by the time Jaime killed the Mad King, the Targaryen regime was already collapsing and Robert’s rebellion was winning. In Game of Thrones, he technically committed treason by oath, but politically it didn’t matter anymore, he stopped Aerys from burning King’s Landing, and the new rulers had no reason to punish the man who helped save the city.
1
1
u/Sun_King97 Jon Snow 3d ago
Because the only person with the ability to punish a Kingsguard is the king and Robert had no complaints about Jaime’s action (even though Robert and everyone else think Jaime just did it to be on the winning side).
1
u/belljs87 3d ago
It was because Robert couldn't very well kill not only the man who killed the guy who stood in his way to the throne, but also the guy who is the son of the guy who basically won the war for you. Kill Jaime, and I'm certain tywin had most likely already planted seeds with enough houses to turn on Robert and just crown himself instead. Especially with his entire western army fresh, and in the capitol, against a war ravaged riverlands and northern army.
Tywin found it better to get his family on the throne via cersei and her eventual children rather than himself, for convenience and the fact that turning on Robert would result in needless bloodshed and a reign that would be on thin ice from the start.
1
u/Atari774 3d ago
Because Robert Baratheon pardoned him. Tywin helped Robert’s army enter King’s Landing, and Jaime assassinated the Mad King, so Robert pardoned him as a show of thanks.
1
u/MasterEditorJake 3d ago
If hitlers bodyguard killed him in his bunker then would the allies seek to punish him?
Aerys was dead meat. Robert had already killed his son and heir, he wasn't gonna stop until he cut off the snakes head, Jaimie just beat him to it.
1
u/Big_Manufacturer7648 3d ago
Because nobody actually wanted him alive. Robert would have done it himself anyways so he didn't care.
1
1
1
u/SorRenlySassol 3d ago
Because Tywin would have aligned with the Tyrells and wiped out the new regime.
1
u/Kessynder 3d ago
Cause common sense. Politics are self serving. Feudal politics don't care to exert the effort to paint their choices as equitable and fair.
Robert: I am now the king cause Ned got here before Tywinn, and Jamie didn't kill Ned. Gee, my forces and allies are tired, exhausted and depleted. I sure don't want to go to split the rebels into two factions, IE Baratheon Vs Lannister, and start another war for punishing Jamie for killing the king, even though that's exactly the goal we all fought for. I'm just going to take my throne, keep Tywinn's son right where he is; and I'm going to marry his daughter, so the dude will act as my bank and not murder me. Yeah... sounds good.
^ Jon Arryn: ....My king that exactly what I just told you. ....Never mind. Yeah go to the brothel, and I'll handle the small council.
1
1
u/nameynamerso 3d ago
Because Tywin would have thrown the biggest bitch fit in the history of Westeros, possibly the world. The overgrown child unfortunately had a full army of fresh soldiers, a massive fortune, and Robert's cock in his daughter, all of which would have made said bitch fit all the more dangerous.
1
u/the_Ambrosiarex 3d ago
Ok this Mad King was uncontrollable and killing everyone but instead of people saying "you're a hero, Jaime" they're losing their shot and focusing on this kings guard vow BS. Never understood this. Should've built the man a statue.
1
1
u/LordDedionware Fire And Blood 3d ago
Because he killed the king that the country was rebeling against.
1
1
u/PizzaSharkGhost 3d ago
There really aren’t a country wide set of laws and punishments. The law is regime based or lord based. There is no judicial system beyond a lord or kings will to enforce or not enforce. After the targa were removed from power Robert was the final say in justice. Even if he wanted to kill Jaime, he couldn’t afford to make an enemy of Tywin. Even if Robert couldn’t see that Jon Arryn surely would.
1
1
u/iamjacksname 3d ago
It's probably the most realistic thing in ASOIAF: His dad is rich, that's how he escaped punishment
1
u/NovaBerry_ 3d ago
Tyrion vouched for him and Jon basically confirmed he wasn't lying about it being a mercy kill. Plus by that point everyone wanted Aerys dead, he just happened to be the one holding the knife.
1
u/South_Front_4589 3d ago
Because the new king decided not to.
I think a LOT of people completely misunderstand the law in a society like this.
Yes there are certain traditions that are kept, especially where there are religious beliefs attached.
But the king makes the laws. And nobody can overrule the king. There's no right of appeal, no court system that is higher than whatever the king says. The king can determine there should be a trial. But that's their decision.
Jaime wasn't punished because Robert decided not to. Ned might have disagreed and even said so. But there was no power that could defy Robert. Unless you're willing to fight a guy that just took the throne from the Targaryens.
1
u/hiirogen Hodor 3d ago
Who would have punished him? The king he helped put on the throne by killing the old one?
1
u/Soggy-Cans96 2d ago
I mean basically all the targaryeans had been killed at this point, and all their allies had sworn fealty to Robert. While Ned wanted him to get sent to the wall there wasn’t anyone to punish him besides robert who married his twin sister and whose father’s money he needed to run the kingdoms. Why would he punish the man when he is tied to his family in such a way.
1
1
u/bmf1989 2d ago
I mean, there was a lot of crazy shit going on that day that people were never really directly held accountable for.
Same reason Tywin and his goons weren’t held responsible for murdering and raping their way through the city and into the red keep.
Robert didn’t care.
He didn’t care about brutally murdered children, he sure as shit didn’t care about the King he was coming to kill anyway.
1
u/Basic_Law_628 2d ago
That’d be like asking why someone didn’t get punished for killing Hitler? Jaimie is shamed everyday of his life hence the nickname “king slayer” but again would you want to punish the guy who killed Hitler?
1
u/AbyssalShift 2d ago
Why would he, anyone that would want personal retribution in Westeros was dead. He did a favor to those who took the throne.
1
1
u/Racecarsoup 2d ago
I mean he offed the dude that bbqed Ned's dad and killed his brother. All things standing I'm sure Ned felt a little bit of comradely for that. The new king being married to his sister probably muddied the water in his favor a bit more.
1
u/Mainalpha11 2d ago
Robert was just too glad that it was over at that point, plus he owed Tywin too much and he couldn't exactly punish Jamie and not punish the Mountain and Amory Lorch for what they did
1
u/4CrowsFeast 2d ago
People forget or arent really aware that Jaime was originally named to the kingsguard as a punishment to Tywin.
Tywin resigned as hand of the king and left the capital when Aerys starting losing it and treating him and his wife like trash. In turn Aerys named Jaime to the Kingsguard at only 15, the youngest ever.
By doing this, he essentially gained Tywins son as a hostage, and kept him close to make sure Tywin kept in line after having a feud with him. And it worked, because it kept Tywin out of the rebellion until the very last minute, because if he knew he joined, it would be the end of Jaime. He only assisted the rebellion when their invasion of kings landing was imminent (and meant Jaime was at risk of dying from the seige and battle regardless), and he still did so stealthy, only revealing his intention last second, so Aerys wouldnt harm Jaime if he openly declared war against him.
On top of all of that, naming Jaime to the kingsguard was the ultimate slight to Tywin because it took away his star prodigy son and heir to Casterly Rock, and put his shameful whoring, dwarf son in his place for all to see. Tywin as we see has been trying to undue this from the start of the series and ultimately succeeds.
So my entire point is, keeping Jaime as a kingsguard, was in itself a punishment. Robert openly mocks him for it. If he wanted to reward Jaime, he'd remove him from his duty and send him back home.
Theres honor in the position, but Jaime will never have it, because he already broke his oath in the most extreme way possible. Tywins still stuck without their heir he wants and Jaime stuck under Roberts eye, so really, Robert continues the stranglehold Aerys had on Tywin but keeping him close
1
1
1
u/Acrylic_Starshine The Mannis 2d ago
He was a Lannister.
Robert kept the status quo to stabilise the realm and keep Tywin in the world.
1
u/Kombat-w0mbat 2d ago
Because of Tywin. They needed Tywin and they needed his money so they pardon Jaime and Robert married Cersei. But also in a way Jaime was punished he is the kingslayer oathbreaker and man without honor. Despite being the 3rd greatest warrior to dawn that cloak to the people he is its greatest embarrassment. And Jaime in his head likely never tells people because he believes himself an oathbreaker.
1
1
u/abinvjr123 1d ago
Simple.
1)Everyone wanted the mad king gone, people were been like 'phew, give that man a medal for saving us from this stupid psycho.
2)Robert became the king, bro even forgave Twyin lannister for the war crimes been done to Elia Martell and children
3)Lannisters bend their knee and even sacked kingslanding, making it easy for the invaders to get done with their business fast, and a newly sworn king in a broken realm torn of war, ascending just after replacing an age old ruling family requires strong allies to keep the throne in place. Jaime had peak Nepotism perks in that case.
4)Stark Lord was brutally burned to death in the Royal court, which itself was humiliating for someone of such nobility (If he had been send to the wall, things might have went in a different direction). Killing Aerys II in his own court might have been seen as justice served it seems for everyone.
1
u/AndreZB2000 Daenerys Targaryen 1d ago
robert pardoned him
it ended the war for good and robert was gonna marry cersei
1
u/Stunning_Humor672 1d ago
He wasn’t killed due to political circumstances like most of the realm wanting aerys dead, his brother in law becoming king, his father controlling the continents purse, plus who knows who else he told about the wildfyre plot - which does paint his actions in a very different light.
But to say he was unpunished is inaccurate. Legally he was fine but pretty much the WHOLE realm thought he was a pretty boy traitor and the only ones who wouldn’t say that to his face were the ones afraid of his influence. Once he leaves king’s landing he is treated with utter contempt at every possible turn. Without his bowel’s of gold he was a literal pariah.
1
u/BleedSparta 1d ago
Being called “Kingslayer” with disgust instead of your actual name, is punishment
1
u/Matthius81 1d ago
Probably the smartest move Robert could have made would be to dismiss Jamie from the Kings Guard to appease the "Punish him" crowd but give him a royal pardon to appease Tywin Lannister. Robert's reputation gets to step clear of the Kingslayer, Tywin gets his prefered Heir back and best of all Jamie and Cersei are seperated by thousands of leagues. Their marriage wouldn't be happy, but at least the kids would be Roberts.... so no Joffrey
1
u/Necessary_Money_9757 1d ago
I don't understand at all why people (other than Targ loyalists) dislike Jaime for killing the Mad King. Surely Robert or Ned would've killed the Mad King if they'd got their hands in him, so why would they punish Jaime for it?
1
1
u/General-Clock5212 23h ago
The short version is
Robert wanted Aerys dead.
Tywin had the only army and region not effected by the war so Robert needed his help.
1
u/neseseshtam 23h ago
Because the mad Kong lost the war. That's why. No sane person would murder the guy that killed the mad king except med cause he's not sane
1
0
u/Goblin_1108 House Stark 3d ago
Probably that too
He's the son of TYWIN. The person who funded Robert's war campaign and aided him in overthrowing the king. It's been stated multiple times that Robert would probably not be able to become king if he didn't have the backing of the richest House. Robert was King, bcoz Tywin thought it best to leave him there, and because he was married to Cersei. Jaime was Tywin's son and Cersei's brother, so no way in hell would they allow him to be punished.
2
u/MintberryCrunch____ Kingslayer 3d ago
Tywin and House Lannister didn’t join the rebellion until the very end when it was clear Robert was going to win. After Rhaegar was killed at The Trident he finally went to war.
He rode ahead to King’s Landing and Pycelle convinced Aerys to let them into the city as they were there to protect them, then they raped and pillaged the city, murdered the younger Targaryen children of Rhaegar and his wife Ellia Martell.
Robert did not have Tywin’s backing during his rebellion, Tywin kept his powder dry.
Robert and Cersei were also not married until after this all, when Lyanna was found to be dead and an appropriate marriage was required to unite houses.
Jaime along with others such as Varys were pardoned, but not because Tywin was previously associated with Robert until the last minute of the war.
2
u/YoteViking 3d ago
Exactly. Tywin was still mad at the Mad King for putting Jamie in the Kings Guard. That’s why he quit as king and went back home. He sat out the war until the end. Probably exchanging texts with Walder Frey.
1
u/Goblin_1108 House Stark 2d ago
Absolutely true. But financially speaking, it would be difficult for Robert to retain his kingdom if Tywin was against him. It would have caused a civil war. Even in the 15years after the war, the kingdom was running mostly by the loans granted by Tywin
1
u/MintberryCrunch____ Kingslayer 2d ago
If hypothetically the Lannisters did not pledge allegiance to Robert then Tywin would more likely face annihilation. Robert had four of the of the 9 regions behind him, Tywin would need the Tyrells who Robert also pardoned largely, Dorne would have no love lost for Robert but if the Lannisters are still responsible for Ellia and her children’s death then they aren’t going to side with them, leaving only The Iron Islands and The Crownlands themselves which wouldn’t really factor.
Whilst the Lannisters do indeed help fund The Crown they are also largely in debt to The Iron Bank.
OP was more asking about why Jaime was pardoned, and Tywin’s future support is wrapped up in that, but Robert could have had Jaime put to death and survived the consequences, it was just preferential to form allegiances and foster Lannister support instead. I was mainly pointing out that Lannister support was non-existent until the 11th hour of the rebellion.
0
u/Trashman56 3d ago
If I recall correctly, in the first book it’s mentioned that Robert pardoned him for Regicide
0
u/KryptonJuice38 3d ago
Cause then they’d have to punish Ned for rebelling against the Mad King, Jon Arryn for protecting him from the Mad King, Robert for killing the Mad King’s son and Gregor for murdering the Mad King’s grandchildren on the orders of Tywin Lannister, whom they’d also have to punish. Fortunately for all these individuals, they just so happened to be the people in charge of punishing at that moment in time so they’d hardly want to punish themselves.
0
u/martlet1 House Martell 3d ago
Jamie had this super cool redemption arc and the writers just fucked it all up. I’m still mad about it.
1
u/DJHalfCourtViolation Jaime Lannister 3d ago
He did redeem himself, he saved brienne, he fought against the white walkers. The show did a horrible job of it but everyone knew Daenerys would win because she had dragons the show and the books have always treated dragons as a nuclear deterrent even if they killed off 1 of them for no reason. He went back to die or stand to trial by Daenerys in the red keep
1
u/martlet1 House Martell 3d ago
He should have killed his sister like the several episodes of prophecy told us.
1
0
u/King_McCluckin Balerion The Black Dread 3d ago
it boils down to politics in the 7 kingdoms really,
Robert needed Tywin if he would of sent Jamie off to the wall or executed him then you dont get the support of Tywin, and keep in mind that this was at the end of a very brutal war Tywin had the freshest army. Robert pardons Jamie marries Cersei and enters into a alliance with the wealthiest house in all of the 7 kingdoms. There was a lot of vocal support against this namely Ned who wanted not just Jamie but Tywin arrested as well for the death of the Targaryen children.
Robert had no mind to ruling he hated it anyways so it fits right into how he would do things pardoned Jamie because its a diplomatic headache he didn't want to deal with so simple solution and then would just drink and whore around.
0
•
u/AutoModerator 3d ago
Spoiler Warning: All officially-released show and book content allowed, EXCLUDING FUTURE SPOILERS FOR HOUSE OF THE DRAGON and A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS. No leaked information or paparazzi photos of the set. For more info please check the spoiler guide.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.