Game Of Thrones: House Tyrell’s Role In Joffrey’s Murder Explained

Despite being one of the most iconic and crowd-pleasing deaths on Game of Thrones, there is still some question among fans about who killed Joffrey. Joffrey Baratheon was poisoned in Game of Thrones season 4, episode 2, “The Lion and the Rose,” and it’s safe to say it was a moment that made many (if not all) fans of the show cheer. However, while Tyrion Lannister was quickly arrested and charged as the murderer, the real killers were able to keep their identities hidden.

In the episode following Joffrey’s death, it is revealed that Littlefinger had something to do with the assassination of Joffrey and that he was working with some powerful allies. While Olenna Tyrell also subtly confirms her involvement in the murder in season 4, she does not confess to the crime until her death in season 7 in an epic final moment. However, while audiences were simply happy to see Joffrey gone because he was an unlikable sadist, the House Tyrell matriarch had her own complex reasons for wanting him removed from the Iron Throne.

Who Was Behind Joffrey’s Death

Olenna Tyrell And Littlefinger Worked Together To Remove Joffrey From The Throne

Despite allowing Tyrion to take the blame for the murder, it was eventually revealed that Olenna Tyrell worked with Littlefinger to poison the young tyrant. From Game of Thrones season 4 through to season 7, Cersei believed that Tyrion was behind her eldest son’s murderer. Joffrey’s tyrannical reign came to an end in episode 2 of season 4, “The Lion and the Rose,” more fondly known as the “Purple Wedding,” since the event occurs after the marriage ceremony of Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell (Olenna’s granddaughter).

Tyrion was accused of his nephew’s murder because he was the one who had inadvertently delivered the wine that fatally poisoned Joffrey. Dying in his mother’s lap, the awful child points his finger accusingly at his uncle before succumbing to asphyxiation. Cersei latched onto this accusation since she, much like Joffrey, had an irrational hatred of Tyrion and saw him as a stain on the Lannister name.

However, as later revealed by Olenna Tyrell, she and Littlefinger were actually responsible. Littlefinger had smuggled poison into King’s Landing via a hairnet he’d gifted to Sansa Stark. Olenna then used the hairnet to add the poison to Joffrey’s wine. However, since Tyrion had been forced into the humiliating position of being Joffrey’s cupbearer, it was easy for the kingdom to believe he was responsible (and, given Joffrey’s treatment of Tyrion, he certainly would have had a motive). In reality, it was Olenna who had poisoned the wine.

Littlefinger worked with Dontos Hollard to deliver the poison, which was hidden in a stone attached to a necklace given to Tyrion’s wife by Olenna. During the feast, the Tyrell matriarch sneakily took the poisoned stone from Sansa’s necklace and put it in Joffrey’s wine glass while he was mocking his uncle, cutting open his wedding cake with a sword, and just acting the pompous fool in general. The Kingchild drank the toxic alcohol and died — painfully.

When Lady Olenna Revealed Her Part In Joffrey’s Death

Her Dying Words Ensured The Lannisters Knew The Tyrells Were A Powerful Foe

Game of Thrones season 7, episode 3, “The Queen’s Justice,” ended with quite the revelation for Jaime Lannister: the full truth about Joffrey’s death. Jaime took his troops to Highgarden to dispatch the Tyrell threat, and it was during these final scenes that viewers were reminded of just who killed his and Cersei’s eldest son — the one and only Lady Olenna.

The inimitable head of House Tyrell had been working with Daenerys Targaryen to take down the Lannisters since the beginning. However, she only wanted to reveal this to Jaime after Cersei murdered all her family at the end of season 6, to ensure that the Lannisters knew that House Tyrell hadn’t gone quietly.

Prior to Cersei’s actions, there was every chance that House Tyrell could have found their way to the Iron Throne but, after they were all but wiped out, Lady Olenna knew the only thing she had left was her pride — and the chance to inflict one final moment of emotional pain on the Lannisters. She delivers Jaime the truth of his son’s death, brutally, after drinking up the fatal poison meant to cause her death. No doubt Jaime regretted the kindness he proffered Lady Olenna after hearing her final words to him:

”
I’d hate to die like your son. Clawing at my neck, foam and bile spilling from my mouth, eyes blood red, skin purple. It must have been horrible for you, as a Kingsguard, as a father. It was horrible enough for me, a shocking scene, not at all what I intended. You see, I’d never seen the poison work before. Tell Cersei. I want her to know it was me.
“

Why Lady Olenna Helped Kill Joffrey

Olenna Didn’t Trust Joffrey With Margaery

While it may seem obvious to viewers why Olenna murdered Joffrey — he was an utterly despicable character, after all — there were actually several nuanced reasons behind the poisoning beyond Joffrey simply being awful. There’s also the fact that the Lannisters had just made Margaery Tyrell, Olenna’s granddaughter, the Queen, meaning Olenna’s house was closer to the Iron Throne than ever before.

The Tyrells were in a pretty good political position at the time thanks to this royal match and Cersei’s marriage to Loras. However, Joffrey’s cruel reputation had preceded itself far too much and Lady Olenna did not want Margaery to become a victim of his evil and malicious whims. She explains as much two episodes after the Purple Wedding while trying to get Margaery to seduce her late husband’s brother Tommen:

Olenna: The Queen Regent is rather distracted at the moment mourning her dear departed boy and accusing her brother of his murder, which he didn’t commit.

Margaery: Well he could have done.

Olenna: He could have done but he didn’t.

Margaery: You don’t know, grandmother.

Olenna: Oh but I do know. You don’t think I’d let you marry that beast, do you?

Thanks to Olenna, Joffrey’s death immediately led to some devastating consequences. Tyrion was arrested and accused of his nephew’s murder, as was Sansa Stark, but she had already fled King’s Landing with Littlefinger. Tyrion then called for a trial by combat after realizing his real trial would be corrupted by Cersei’s vengeful influence, leading Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne to volunteer as his champion just so he can exact his own revenge on Cersei’s champion, Ser Gregor Clegane (who had raped and murdered his sister Elia), but his arrogance only resulted in his own death.

Despite the loss, Jaime helped Tyrion escape, but before he set sail to the Free Cities, he murdered his own father, Tywin, and traitorous lover, Shae. There were many deaths in Game of Thrones that had far-reaching consequences, but the poisoning of Joffrey by Lady Olenna is definitely one that reshaped the political landscape of the Seven Kingdoms more than almost any other.

Joffrey’s Death Was Further Proof Of Littlefinger’s Power

Littlefinger Was An Unseen Puppet Master Throughout The Series

While Olenna’s confession to Joffrey’s death cements her as the true killer in the minds of fans, Littelfinger’s role in the assassination should not be overlooked, as it speaks to the deadly ambitions of the character. House Tyrell was a rich Westerosi family who served as a genuine rival to House Lannister. They had considerable power themselves, so it was not surprising that they would make a move for the Iron Throne when it benefitted them. However, Littlefinger’s boldness to go after House Lannister is surprising.

Littlefinger’s Biggest Power Plays:

Littlefinger is a figure in Westeros who has had to build power on his own rather than inherit it as a member of a great family. While it would make sense that he would try to ingratiate himself into any powerful house that would have him in their inner circle, Littlefigner is always making moves to improve his position by any means necessary.

Despite having no army or strong support from other houses, Littlefinger has done more than almost any other character to influence the events of the series. It is revealed in the aftermath of Joffrey’s death that he was also responsible for the death of Jon Arryn and used it to ignite the feud between House Stark and House Lannister, ostensibly starting the War of the Five Kings. Just as with Joffrey’s death, Littlefinger uses the chaos of its aftermath to gain a better position and cement himself as one of the most powerful characters on Game of Thrones.