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 ruler of the Fire Nation from 20 ASC - 95 ASC. He was the son of Fire Lord Sozin and he was the Fire Lord before Ozai. He was husband to Ilah, father to Iroh and Ozai, and grandfather to Prince Lu Ten, Prince Zuko, and Princess Azula.

Azulon's reign was marked by an increased efficiency in the Fire Nation war machine and massive territorial conquests; his leadership in several Earth Kingdom campaigns won him great fame as a general. He was also responsible for the destruction of the Southern Water Tribe, which was nearly annihilated under his orders. Although seen as uncaring and cruel, even toward his own people, he is remembered as one of the Fire Nation's strongest and most effective leaders.

Early life and reign as Fire Lord
Born shortly after the beginning of the Hundred Year War, Azulon was a frightening man who demanded perfection. He was a firebending prodigy since childhood, and as a prince, led the Fire Nation to victory in many glorious military campaigns, including the conquest of the Hu Xin Provinces and the Battle of Garsai. Azulon assumed the title of Fire Lord at age twenty, following the death of his father, and continued to lead his country in the War. Eventually, he married a woman named Ilah, who bore two children: Iroh, his mother's namesake, and Ozai. In his time, he was considered to be one of the best firebenders in the world and no one would dare challenge him. 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.

Azulon secured many victories against the Earth Kingdom during his reign, expanding Fire Nation territory and increasing colonization in the continent. Under his leadership the Fire Nation continued to push the Earth Kingdom forces east toward the capital of Ba Sing Se. Early in his reign, he commissioned the Great Gates of Azulon to protect the entrance to the Fire Nation Capital.



Azulon was also responsible for the near-complete destruction of the Southern Water Tribe. Starting around 40 ASC, he began ordering attacks on the tribe's main city and villages in an attempt to disband its people. The Southern Raiders were created to carry out these attacks. Their main objective was to capture the tribe's waterbenders, who were seen as a threat to Fire Nation dominance in the region. These raids were successful; by the time of his death, Katara was the last remaining waterbender in the Southern Tribe, and the southern waterbending style was effectively extinct.

Death


In 94 ASC, shortly after the death of Iroh's son Lu Ten, Ozai demanded that Iroh be passed over as heir, inciting his father's fury. Ozai declared Iroh was unworthy for the throne by allowing thoughts of his son's death to obstruct victory at Ba Sing Se. He claimed that the royal bloodline no longer continued through Iroh upon his son's death. Azulon was outraged at the suggestion to betray his firstborn son and Ozai's bold ambitions, ensuring he would punish his younger son. Azula, who spied on the conversation, later claimed that Ozai was ordered to kill his firstborn son, Zuko, forcing him to understand his brother's personal grief.

Ozai intended to murder his son, though his wife Ursa discovered the plan and plotted with Ozai to gain the throne while allowing Zuko to live. According to Ozai, Ursa committed "vicious, treasonous things that night." She was subsequently banished from the Fire Nation, and Azulon died that same night of unknown causes.

Trivia



 * Azulon was known to have been Fire Lord for the longest time during the Hundred Year War, for about seventy-five years as opposed to his father, Sozin, who ruled for twenty years during the War, and his son, Ozai, who ruled for five to six years during the War. He was also the second-longest known reigning Fire Lord, after his father.
 * Azulon ruled the Fire Nation for seventy-five years. However, the Fire Sage crowning Fire Lord Ozai during Azulon's funeral mentioned that Azulon reigned for twenty-three years.
 * Azulon was the only known Fire Lord not to have met an Avatar or airbender.
 * In his official portrait, Azulon stood on top of a turtle, an animal that lives both on land and in water, signifying his military successes over both the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes. He also held up two fireballs, reflecting his legendary power in firebending.
 * Princess Azula was named after Azulon.
 * Azulon is the only other person than Azula known to have been named a firebending prodigy.