Azulon

"fire"

- You dare suggest I betray Iroh? My first born? Directly after the demise of his only beloved son? I think Iroh has suffered enough. But you, your punishment has scarcely begun!

Fire Lord Azulon was the son of Fire Lord Sozin, and the Fire Lord before Ozai. He was husband to Fire Lady Ilah, father of Iroh and Ozai, and thus grandfather to Prince Lu Ten, Prince Zuko, and Princess Azula. His mother is unknown. Like Iroh, Azulon was a general in the war years before becoming the Fire Lord and once searched for the Avatar as his father, second son and grandson did. His granddaughter Azula is named after him.

History
Azulon was the ruler of the Fire Nation for 75 years until he mysteriously died five years before the start of the series at the age of 95. A frightening man who demanded perfection, Fire Lord Azulon ran the Fire Nation much like his father did – with an iron fist. Like every Fire Lord, Azulon was a master Firebender - in his time, he was considered one of the best in the world and no one would dare cross him. His son, Ozai, notes that Azulon had been a Firebending child prodigy, like his granddaughter. Despite his strong leadership, Azulon cared very little for the people of his nation and was more interested in world domination, a quality he passed down to Ozai. However, he did have some sympathy for his family, as shown when Iroh's son, Lu Ten is killed. Some of his greater military successes included the conquest of the Hu Xin provinces in the Western Earth Kingdom and the Battle of Garsai.

Early in his reign, he commissioned the Great Gates of Azulon to protect the entrance to the Fire Nation Capital.

Death
Five years ago, shortly after the death of Iroh's son, Lu Ten, Ozai demanded that Iroh be passed over for the throne and incited his father's fury. Ozai declares Iroh is a quitter and unworthy for letting death get in his way of winning Ba Sing Se. He also said that the bloodline would not continue with the death of Lu Ten. However, Azulon was outraged at the very thought of betraying his firstborn Iroh, as well as his younger son's ambition, and promised to punish Ozai terribly. Azula who spied on the conversation claimed that Ozai was ordered to kill his first born son, Zuko, so that he would know his brother's pain; Azulon died soon afterwards by an unknown cause. Ozai then inherited the throne, supposedly on Azulon's dying wish, although possible that Ozai killed Azulon and then fraudulently pronounced that Azulon wanted him to become Fire Lord.

During the events of "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse", Ozai revealed that Azulon did indeed order Ozai to kill Zuko, and that he had every intention of carrying out the execution. However, Ozai's wife, Ursa, discovered the plan and plotted with Ozai so that he would become Fire Lord while Zuko would be allowed to live. Ursa committed "vicious, treasonous things that night" according to Ozai, and presumably was the one who killed Azulon that night. Ursa was then banished from the Fire Nation, meaning that it is very possible she is still alive. It is unknown how Ursa, or anyone else for that matter presumably killed him, considering he was the most powerful Firebender of his time, although it can be speculated that he might have been killed during his sleep or by poison.

Relatives
See Fire Nation Royal Family Tree
 * Sozin (father)
 * Ilah (wife)
 * Iroh (elder son)
 * Lu Ten (eldest grandson)
 * Ozai (younger son)
 * Zuko (older grandson)
 * Azula (younger granddaughter)
 * Ursa (daughter-in-law)