Tommen Baratheonis a fictional character in theA Song of Ice and Fireseries offantasynovels by American authorGeorge R. R. Martin,and its television adaptationGame of Thrones.Introduced in 1996'sA Game of Thrones,Tommen Baratheon is the youngest son ofRobert BaratheonandCersei Lannisterfrom the kingdom ofWesteros.He subsequently appeared in Martin'sA Clash of Kings(1998),A Storm of Swords(2000),A Feast for Crows(2005) andA Dance with Dragons(2011). After the unexpected death of his brotherJoffrey Baratheon,he is crowned king of the Seven Kingdoms, although he soon falls under the warring influences of his motherCerseiand wifeMargaery.

Tommen Baratheon
A Song of Ice and Firecharacter
Game of Thrones
character
Dean-Charles Chapman as Tommen Baratheon
First appearance
Last appearance
Created byGeorge R. R. Martin
Adapted byD.B. Weiss&David Benioff
(Game of Thrones)
Portrayed by
In-universe information
AliasThe Boy King
GenderMale
Title
  • Lord of the Seven Kingdoms
  • Protector of the Realm
  • Novels:
  • King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men
  • Television:
  • King of the Andals and the First Men
OccupationKing
Family
SpouseMargaery Tyrell
Relatives

In theHBOtelevision adaptation, Tommen Baratheon is portrayed by Callum Wharry from seasons one to two and byDean-Charles Chapmanfrom seasons four through six.[1][2][3]

Character description

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Prince Tommen Baratheon is the younger brother ofJoffreyand PrincessMyrcellaand is second in line for the throne. Tommen is QueenCersei Lannister's youngest son and, like his siblings, he is also the son of Cersei's brotherJaime Lannister,but he is unaware of this, as he believes Robert Baratheon to be his father. Tommen is described as handsome and sweet-natured but weak-willed. Many characters in the narrative believe he would make a better, and more pliant, king than his brother Joffrey. He loves his kittens, and keeps several in both the novels and television show.[4]Tommen is seven years old at the beginning ofA Game of Thrones(1996).

Tommen Baratheon is not apoint of viewcharacter in the novels, so his actions are witnessed and interpreted through the eyes of other people, such as his motherCersei Lannister,his uncleTyrion Lannister,andSansa Stark.Tommen is mostly a background character in the novels.[5]

Storylines

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After King Joffrey's death inA Storm of Swords,Tommen is crowned and marries Joffrey's young widow,Margaery Tyrell.Tommen is a submissive child and, as a result, does everything that is asked of him. Thus, Cersei uses him to rule as she likes, though Margaery also begins to manipulate him into resisting his mother.[6]

TV adaptation

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Callum Wharry as Tommen in thesecond season.

Young actor Callum Wharry portrayed Tommen in the first and second season and was then recast withDean-Charles Chapmanfrom the fourth season until his death in the sixth season.[7][8]

Season 2

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When Myrcella was shipped off to Dorne as part of a marriage alliance with the Lannisters, Tommen wept when his sister left, for which Joffrey chastised him. During the battle of the Blackwater, Cersei was prepared to give him nightshade drops for a quick painless death rather than brutality, until Tywin announced that they won the battle.

Season 4

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Tommen is present at Joffrey and Margaery's wedding. He also attended Joffrey's funeral, after which Tywin uses arhetorical dialecticto counsel Tommen on wisdom, the duties of a king and his marriage, ignoring Cersei's angry glares. Margaery visits Tommen (and his pet cat, Ser Pounce) one night. Discussing Joffrey's cruelties to them, helps him and Margaery to bond. Tommen agrees that he'd like Margaery to secretly visit him again. The older and much less naive Margaery departs, kissing his forehead. A ceremony is held in the Red Keep where the high septon officially crowns Tommen as king.[9]At Tyrion's trial Tommen recuses himself from the trial, possibly on Tywin's advice.

Season 5

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During the wake of his deceased grandfather, Tommen is approached by Margaery, who shares a few close words with him and holds his hand briefly. All of this is observed by Cersei from afar. Tommen and Margaery later marry and consummate that same night, whereupon Margaery begins to manipulate Tommen to send Cersei back to Casterly Rock. When he does, Cersei immediately begins scheming to get rid of the Tyrells through theHigh Sparrowand Faith Militant by arranging them to arrest Loras Tyrell for his homosexuality and Margaery for her knowledge of this. However, Cersei's plan backfires and she is also arrested. Tommen falls into a depression, refusing to eat.

Season 6

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Tommen confines Cersei to the Red Keep after her release, in order to protect her from the Faith Militant. However, Tommen is eventually manipulated by the High Sparrow to forge an alliance with the Faith. He also abolishes trial by combat, replacing it with trial by seven septons. Rather than attend her trial, Cersei detonates a cache of wildfire beneath the Sept of Baelor, killing the High Sparrow and Margaery in the explosion. Tommen is barred in his quarters by Ser Gregor Clegane and witnesses the explosion from his window. After a servant informs him of Margaery's death, he commits suicide by jumping from the Red Keep. Cersei orders him cremated and claims his throne as monarch of the Seven Kingdoms.

Family tree of House Lannister

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References

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