How Olenna Killed Joffrey

Summary Joffrey Lannister's death in Game of Thrones was orchestrated by Olenna Tyrell and Littlefinger, using Sansa Stark as a pawn.

The true culprits were revealed in season 7, with Olenna admitting her role to Jaime Lannister.

Joffrey's death had significant consequences, leading to Tyrion's trial and Oberyn Martell's death, reshaping the political landscape.

There were several Lannisters who sat on the Iron Throne in Game of Thrones, and none of them had a happy ending - but easily the most cathartic of all of their deaths was that of Joffrey. Joffrey Lannister was poisoned in Game of Thrones season 4, episode 2, 'The Lion and the Rose', and it's safe to say that it was a moment that made many (if not all) fans of the show cheer. However, it also created an enduring mystery, and it wasn't revealed who killed Joffrey until much later in season 7.

For several seasons of Game of Thrones, the true culprit behind the death of Joffrey Lannister was kept a secret. There were many suspects, and although Tyrion was blamed for the death by Cersei, audiences knew he wasn't responsible. It wasn't until the third episode of Game of Thrones season 7 that the show finally revealed who had killed Joffrey and why. Olenna Tyrell admitted to being the mastermind behind the plan, a move that cemented her already growing status as a fan-favorite. 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.

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Who Was Behind Joffrey's Death

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

It wasn't revealed who was responsible for the death of Joffrey Baratheon for several seasons of Games of Thrones, though 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 her eldest son's murderer. His tyrannical reign came to an end in episode 2 of season 4, 'The Lion and the Rose,' or 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 Kings 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 motive).

In reality, it was Olenna who had poisoned the wine. She had arranged with Littlefinger to end Joffrey's life and used Sansa Stark in the process. Littlefinger had 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

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Episode 3 of Game of Thrones season 7, 'The Queen's Justice,' ended with quite the revelation for Jaime Lannister: the full truth about Joffrey's death. The one-handed head of the Kingsguard 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 Targeryen 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."

Related Game Of Thrones: Olenna Tyrell's Shadiest Burns Olenna Tyrell had some of the best lines in all of Game of Thrones, cutting down her enemies with her words. Here are her top ten burns.

Why Lady Olenna Helped Kill Joffrey

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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 to 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.