30 Sec Answer: King Joffrey is killed by Olenna Tyrell and Petyr Baelish, aided by Sansa Stark and Lord Varys.
Who Kills King Joffrey?
It’s a question that has been asked ever since the epic Battle of Blackwater Bay in Season 2 of HBO’s Game of Thrones. After Joffrey Baratheon was crowned King of the Seven Kingdoms at the end of Season 1, he quickly became one of the most reviled characters on television. His cruelty and malice were unparalleled, so when it finally came time for him to be taken out of the picture, viewers were delighted to see justice served – but who was actually responsible for his demise?
Background on King Joffrey
The son of Cersei Lannister and Jaime Lannister (who was believed to be Robert Baratheon), Joffrey succeeded his “father” as ruler after Robert’s death. He quickly began consolidating power, executing any challengers or opponents with great zeal. Even members of his own family were not immune from his wrath – particularly Sansa Stark, whom he repeatedly abused both verbally and physically throughout their marriage. As he grew older, his cruelty only increased – eventually leading him to become one of the most hated villains in television history.
The Rise of Tyrion Lannister
Though Joffrey’s reign seemed all but certain, another contender had risen to challenge him – Tyrion Lannister, also known as the Imp. A dwarf born into House Lannister, Tyrion sought to prove himself worthy in the eyes of his father Tywin and sister Cersei despite being scorned by them due to his size and intellect. To do this, he offered his services as Hand of the King, often providing valuable advice that ultimately kept Joffrey from destroying everything around him. Though few appreciated his counsel, it was invaluable in keeping Joffrey alive for longer than expected.
Olenna Tyrell: The Queen Of Thorns
As if Tyrion weren’t enough trouble for Joffrey, there was another figure who was plotting against him – Olenna Tyrell, otherwise known as the Queen of Thorns. Representing House Tyrell, Olenna was determined to overthrow Joffrey and put her granddaughter Margaery on the Iron Throne instead. With her sharp wit and ruthless ambition she plotted behind the scenes until finally finding an opportunity to strike against Joffrey during the infamous Battle of Blackwater Bay.
Petyr Baelish: The Mastermind
Petyr Baelish was yet another player in this deadly game who wanted nothing more than to see Joffrey removed from power. Known simply as Littlefinger due to his stature, Petyr had no direct claim to the throne but saw himself as an indispensable advisor who could manipulate events in such a way that would benefit him greatly in the long run. He formed an alliance with Lady Olenna which allowed them both access to resources they wouldn’t normally have had – including a poison that could be used to kill Joffrey without anyone suspecting foul play.
Sansa Stark: The Unwitting Accomplice
At this point we come back to Sansa Stark – whom Petyr convinced to accompany him on what seemed like a routine trip into town while visiting King’s Landing. Little did she know that she was being used as part of an elaborate plot against Joffrey; unbeknownst to her, she was carrying a cup containing poison which she unknowingly gave to her husband when offering it up for him to drink during a wedding feast.
Lord Varys: The Spider
Lord Varys, also known as the Spider due to his many webs of intelligence spread across Westeros and Essos, played an integral role in helping ensure that all pieces were in place for Joffrey’s assassination. Working together with Petyr and Olenna, he gathered information which allowed them access to poisons undetectable even by Maester Qyburn – allowing them complete anonymity when committing their heinous deed.
The Assassination Of King Joffrey
Finally after months of planning and preparation everything fell into place – on what should have been a joyous occasion at a royal wedding between King Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell all four conspirators (Olenna Tyrell, Petyr Baelish, Sansa Stark & Lord Varys) struck simultaneously; poisoning the king before he even realized what was happening. In a matter of minutes he was dead – leaving everyone present shocked beyond belief at what had just occurred under their very noses.
Consequences Of Killing The King
While killing off one’s enemies can provide momentary relief (or satisfaction) those involved must always consider potential repercussions before doing so – something that these four conspirators sadly failed to do when eliminating Joffrey from existence. It soon became clear that such an act would bring terrible consequences down upon those responsible; namely suspicion falling upon both Sansa Stark & Lord Varys who were conveniently absent when the crime took place thus making them prime suspects when it came time for someone else take responsibility for it all…
Who Really Killed King Joffrey?
In the end it turns out that neither Sansa nor Varys were truly guilty; instead it was none other than Olenna Tyrell & Petyr Baelish who orchestrated it all along using their respective resources and influence within court politics in order help themselves gain more power within Westeros (and potentially establish control over much more). This revelation brings us full circle back where we started – with two people primarily responsible for ending one man’s life; thereby setting off a chain reaction that would change everything about how things are done going forward…
