Lu Ten

Prince Lu Ten was the son of General Iroh, grandson of Fire Lord Azulon, and great-grandson to Fire Lord Sozin. He was the nephew of Fire Lord Ozai and Princess Ursa, and cousin to Prince Zuko and Princess Azula. He was killed during his father's famous 600-day Siege of Ba Sing Se.

History


A Prince of the Fire Nation and soldier in its war against the Earth Kingdom, and only son of General Iroh, Lu Ten died in combat against the Earth Kingdom several years before the start of the series proper during the Siege of Ba Sing Se. When he learned of his son's death, Iroh was so heartbroken that he abandoned the siege of the city, claiming that he and his men were tired from the extensive time away from home. Within the Fire Nation, after Ozai learned of Lu Ten's death and Iroh's subsequent actions, Ozai petitioned their father Fire Lord Azulon to crown him heir to the throne, claiming that Lu Ten's death meant that the royal bloodline would end with Iroh, since he had no further heirs. Azulon was enraged at such a request, but because of his death soon after, Ozai took the throne. Iroh himself did not challenge Ozai's claim, even though he was the elder brother, and did not attempt to secure the throne for himself.

As revealed in flashbacks during "Bitter Work", Lu Ten and Iroh had a strong relationship during Lu Ten's childhood, and they remained close during his adulthood. His death had a profound effect upon Iroh, whose personality shifted more towards a hedonistic enjoyment of life, rather than continuing to participate in the current war.

Trivia

 * The picture on the altar that his father Iroh set up in "The Tales of Ba Sing Se" has his name as 路騰 ( Lù T'éng ) which translates as "road to gallop over."
 * Lu Ten was first mentioned in The Siege of the North when Iroh informs Zuko that after Lu Ten's death, Iroh began treating Zuko like his own son. A younger Lu Ten was then seen in Bitter Work and a picture of an older Lu Ten was displayed at Iroh's altar for him during "The Tales of Ba Sing Se".
 * It is speculated that Lu Ten's face is one of Koh's faces, because one of them resembles Iroh. Koh did say he would meet Aang again, so this could be why. As well, Iroh was seen by Lu Ten's grave by a tree resembling that of Koh's. If Iroh and Lu Ten had been going to Koh for advice as did Aang then that could be when Lu Ten was lost.

Relatives
See Fire Nation Royal Family Tree.