King Joffrey Baratheon

• Individual Picture Notes
  • Jack Gleeson as King Joffrey Baratheon

• General Notes
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    Joffrey Baratheon is the eldest of the royal Baratheon children, and Robert's heir. He is 12 years old and often accompanied by his sworn shield, the scarred Sandor Clegane.
    
    Joffrey was strong-willed already as a child; he has an uncontrollable temper not unlike his mother's and an unchecked sadistic streak. Like his Lannister relatives, he is tall, blonde, and handsome. Although raised as Robert's son, he is an 'abomination of incest' fathered by the Queen's brother, Jaime.  Although Robert has never questioned Joffrey's legitimacy, he has never been fond or close to the child, and it is suggested that some of Joffrey's cruelty was born of a desire to impress his warrior 'father'.
    
    Along with the rest of the royal family, Joffrey made the trip to Winterfell after Jon Arryn's death. There, he began to court the pretty Sansa Stark, Eddard's daughter, to whom he was betrothed. After an altercation with the fiery young Arya Stark, his true personality showed through his polished manners, which earned him Arya's hatred.
    
    Acting as the new Hand of the King, Eddard Stark discovered that Joffrey, along with his siblings, were actually bastards born of incest between Cersei and Jaime. Cersei protected her children's secret by arranging for Robert's death and then arresting Eddard.
    
    Joffrey took the Iron Throne as Robert's heir, and Sansa pleaded with him to spare her father's life. Joffrey gently promised Sansa that he would be merciful, but his mercy turned out to be Eddard Stark's quick public beheading before Sansa's own eyes. This rash act was against his mother's wishes and was the major trigger that plunged Westeros into the devastating War of the Five Kings.
    
    Joffrey ruled with whim and caprice, proving difficult for even his mother to control. Sansa became imprisoned to his will, and he frequently had his guards beat her for his amusement. When he tried to have her stripped, his uncle Tyrion stopped him and he never tried it again, although he was determined to eventually have Sansa in his bed --whether he married her or not. His cruelty made him an unpopular king, and he was nearly killed in a riot sparked by his temper. Acting as his temporary Hand, only Tyrion stood up to Joffrey's authority, and Joffrey developed a special hatred for his uncle.
    
    After House Tyrell allied itself to his reign, Joffrey discarded Sansa and married Margaery Tyrell -- deciding that he would conduct an affair with Sansa later. During his wedding feast, Joffrey drank poisoned wine and died while the entire court looked on. Cersei blamed the deed on Tyrion and his newly-wedded bride Sansa, but it is later hinted that the plot may have been orchestrated by Olenna Tyrell and Petyr 'Littlefinger' Baelish.
    
    It is later revealed that Joffrey was himself responsible for the attempt on Bran's life.  Overhearing a drunk remark by King Robert, and ever eager to please his 'father', Joffrey stole a dagger from Robert's collection and paid a man to kill Bran. When Catelyn attempted to track the ownership of this dagger, Littlefinger lied and told her that it belonged to Tyrion.  This resulted in Tyriion's capture; as a hostage of Catelyn, even more animosity and bloodshed developed between Houses Stark and Lannister.
    
    

Pictures

• Picture Notes
  • Sophie Williams as Sansa Stark in HBO Game of Thrones