Ethan Riley
The Iron Bank of Braavos is a powerful financial institution in the Free City of Braavos, known for its immense wealth and influence. It has a reputation for always collecting debts and funding the enemies of rulers who default on their payments. The Lannisters, one of the most powerful families in the Seven Kingdoms, are deeply intertwined with the Iron Bank. While the Lannisters are known for their saying, A Lannister always pays his debts, their financial dealings with the Iron Bank are complex and often shrouded in secrecy.
Did the Lannisters ultimately pay their debts to the Iron Bank? And what were the consequences of their financial entanglements? Let's delve into the world of the Iron Bank and the Lannisters to uncover the fate of their debts and the impact on the game of thrones.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Did the Lannisters pay the Iron Bank? | Yes, Cersei Lannister paid the Iron Bank in full, making the single largest debt payment in the Iron Bank's history. |
| Who is the Iron Bank? | The Iron Bank of Braavos is the most powerful financial institution in the known world, with clients across Essos and Westeros. |
| Who are the Lannisters? | The Lannisters are the most powerful family in the country. |
| What is the connection between the Lannisters and the Iron Bank? | The Lannisters were indebted to the Iron Bank, and the Iron Bank is known for funding the enemies of rulers who don't pay their debts. |
| How did the Lannisters pay the Iron Bank? | Cersei Lannister took out the wealthy Tyrell family, acquiring their vast wealth and making the Lannisters the richest family in Westeros once again. |
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What You'll Learn
Cersei Lannister repays the Iron Bank
The Iron Bank of Braavos is the most powerful financial institution in the known world, with clients across Essos and Westeros. It is known for funding the enemies of rulers who don't pay their debts. The Iron Bank's power is such that it can make or break rulers, and its support can be crucial in gaining or maintaining power.
The Lannisters' debt to the Iron Bank is incurred in part due to their deep financial ties with the Crown. When Tywin becomes Hand of the King, he keeps it a secret that Casterly Rock's gold mines have been depleted, and he borrows money from the Iron Bank to fund the Seven Kingdoms. The Lannisters' finances become further intertwined with the Crown when Joffrey marries Margaery Tyrell, uniting the two Houses. However, by the time Tommen Baratheon becomes King, the Crown is in even deeper debt to the Iron Bank.
Fearing that the Iron Bank will fund Daenerys Targaryen's invasion of Westeros, Cersei Lannister promises to repay the debt within a fortnight. She accomplishes this by taking out the wealthy House Tyrell and acquiring their vast wealth, making the Lannisters once again the richest family in Westeros. With the Tyrell gold, Cersei is able to make the massive debt payment to the Iron Bank, freeing her House from financial strain and ensuring the Iron Bank's continued support.
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The Lannisters' finances and the Crown
The Lannisters are the richest family in Westeros, and it is commonly said that "a Lannister always pays his debts". However, the Lannisters' finances are deeply intertwined with the Crown's, and the Crown owes a lot of money to the Iron Bank of Braavos, the most powerful financial institution in the known world.
At the beginning of the story, Eddard Stark discovers that the Iron Throne is six million gold dragons in debt, half of which is owed to House Lannister, and the rest to the Iron Bank, House Tyrell, the Faith, and several trading cartels from Tyrosh. The Master of Coin, Petyr Baelish, has been funding the Iron Throne's budget by borrowing from these sources. When Tyrion takes over as Master of Coin, he is concerned about the Iron Bank's tradition of funding the enemies of rulers who fail to repay their debts.
The War of the Five Kings further increases the Crown's debt to the Iron Bank. Tywin, who becomes Hand of the King, is secretly borrowing money from the Iron Bank to fund the Seven Kingdoms, as the gold mines of Casterly Rock have been depleted. Tywin intends for the union between Houses Lannister and Tyrell to provide some financial relief, but by the time Tommen Baratheon becomes King, the Crown is even further in debt to the Iron Bank.
Ser Harys Swyft, the Master of Coin under Lord Regent Kevan Lannister, attempts to gain a new loan from the banks of Pentos and Myr to pay back the Iron Bank, but is unsuccessful. Cersei Lannister promises to pay back the Iron Bank within a fortnight and takes out the wealthy House Tyrell, making the largest debt payment in the Iron Bank's history and freeing her family from debt.
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The Lannisters' debt to the Iron Bank
The Lannisters are the richest family in Westeros, but even they are not immune to debt. The Iron Bank of Braavos is the most powerful financial institution in the known world, and the Lannisters are not exempt from owing them money.
The Lannisters are known for always paying their debts, and this reputation is important to them. Tywin Lannister says: "One stone crumbles and another takes its place and the temple holds its form for a thousand years or more. And that’s what the Iron Bank is, a temple. We all live in its shadow and almost none of us know it. You can’t run from them, you can’t cheat them, you can’t sway them with excuses. If you owe them money and you don’t want to crumble yourself, you pay it back."
Cersei Lannister promises Tycho Nestoris, the envoy of the Iron Bank, that she will pay the debt within a fortnight. She does so by taking out the wealthy House Tyrell and making the single largest debt payment in the Iron Bank's history, bringing new meaning to the phrase "A Lannister always pays his debts".
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The Lannisters' reputation for paying debts
The Lannisters are known for their reputation of always paying their debts. This reputation is summed up in the common saying, "A Lannister always pays his debts".
The Lannisters are the most powerful family in the country and are one of the main creditors to the Iron Bank of Braavos, the most powerful financial institution in the known world. The Iron Bank is known for its fearsome reputation when collecting debts and is said to often fund the enemies of rulers who don't pay their debts. Despite the Lannisters' power, they are afraid of the Iron Bank and its retribution.
During the War of the Five Kings, the Lannisters' finances became deeply intertwined with the Crown's, and the debt of the Seven Kingdoms to the Iron Bank increased massively. Tywin, who became Hand of the King, was also guarding the secret that Casterly Rock's gold mines had been depleted three years prior, and he was borrowing money from the Iron Bank to fund the Seven Kingdoms. By the time Tommen Baratheon became King, the Crown was in tremendous debt to the Iron Bank.
Cersei Lannister promised to pay back the Iron Bank within a fortnight and did so by taking out the wealthy Tyrell family and making the single largest debt payment in the Iron Bank's history. This brought new meaning to the phrase "A Lannister always pays his debts". As a result, the Iron Bank re-extended credit to the Lannisters and chose not to back Daenerys Targaryen, who was planning to invade Westeros.
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The Iron Bank's power and reputation
The Iron Bank of Braavos is the most powerful financial institution in the known world, with clients ranging from merchants to kings across Essos and Westeros. The Iron Bank is richer and more powerful than all the other Free Cities' banks combined. It is known for its fearsome reputation when collecting debts and its clients fear the consequences of failing to pay back the bank. The Iron Bank is also known for funding the enemies of rulers who don't pay their debts. This is summed up in the common saying, "The Iron Bank will have its due".
The Lannisters, the most powerful family in the country, are also afraid of the Iron Bank. Tywin Lannister sums up the power of the Iron Bank in the following quote:
> "One stone crumbles and another takes its place and the temple holds its form for a thousand years or more. And that’s what the Iron Bank is, a temple. We all live in its shadow and almost none of us know it. You can’t run from them, you can’t cheat them, you can’t sway them with excuses. If you owe them money and you don’t want to crumble yourself, you pay it back."
The Lannisters' finances are deeply intertwined with the Crown's, and the Iron Bank has lent money to both the Iron Throne and rival throne seekers. During the War of the Five Kings, the debt owed to the Iron Bank by the Seven Kingdoms increased massively. Tywin, who became Hand of the King, was also borrowing money from the Iron Bank to fund the Seven Kingdoms. By the time Tommen Baratheon became King, the Crown was in tremendous debt to the Iron Bank.
Cersei Lannister promised to pay back the Iron Bank within a fortnight and did so by taking out the wealthy Tyrell family, making the single largest debt payment in the Iron Bank's history. This brought new meaning to the phrase, "A Lannister always pays his debts".
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Lannisters did pay the Iron Bank. Cersei Lannister promised to pay back the debt within a fortnight and did so by taking out the wealthy Tyrell family. This payment was the single largest debt payment in the Iron Bank's history.
Cersei Lannister pulled the bulk of the Lannister army from Casterly Rock and united them with the army of Randyll Tarly. The Lannister and Tarly force overwhelmed the Tyrell army and easily took Highgarden. By wiping out what was left of House Tyrell, the Lannisters acquired the Tyrell's vast wealth, making them once again the richest family in Westeros.
The Iron Bank of Braavos is a bank in the Free City of Braavos. It is arguably the most powerful financial institution in the known world, with clients across Essos and Westeros, including royalty. The Iron Bank is known for always collecting its debts and funding the enemies of rulers who don't pay their debts.
