Empress Laseen

Also known as Laseen

Supporting
First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 2

Empress Laseen is a supporting character in Malazan Book of the Fallen (Book 1).

Gender: female
First appears: Book 1 · Ch. 2
Books: 2

Empress Laseen, who seized the Malazan throne by assassinating Emperor Kellanved and his companion Dancer, rules a sprawling empire from the shadows, wielding the Claw and her Adjuncts as instruments of her will. In Gardens of the Moon her past returns to haunt her as the ascended Shadowthrone and Cotillion plot vengeance, while commanders like Dujek and Caladan Brood chafe against her policies and the young noble Ganoes Paran is drawn into her service before ultimately deserting it. By Deadhouse Gates her authority faces open fracture: Dujek has been outlawed in a secret ruse of continued loyalty, the renegade Fist Korbolo Dom rises against her, and the Bridgeburner Kalam Mekhar sets out to assassinate her, even as Tavore Paran steps in as her new Adjunct.

Description

No physical appearance is described in the supplied text. A withered female corpse with wisps of hair, peeled-back lips, and empty eye sockets. Despite her lifeless state, her voice emerges from unmoving lips with imperial authority.

Connections

Family & partnersFriends & mentorsRivals

Ganoes Stabro Paranconflicting source relationships
Paran begins as a subject summoned by the Empress and sent to Lorn, but eventually deserts the Malazan Army, judging Laseen's cynicism earned while dismissing Lorn's as imitation.
LornAdjunct
Lorn serves as Laseen's Adjunct, carrying out missions on Genabackis; though she sees the Empress as another mask, she remains committed to her orders.
DO
Dujek OnearmHigh Fist
Initially a High Fist commanding forces under Laseen while resisting policies that endanger his soldiers, Dujek is later outlawed by her, yet secretly remains loyal to the Empire.
TP
Tavore Paranservant
Tavore succeeds to the role of Adjunct, becoming Laseen's chief servant as the Empire confronts rebellion in Seven Cities.
T
TopperClaw commander
Topper leads the Claw on Laseen's behalf, acknowledging that she remains its true commander.
Kalamtarget
The former Bridgeburner and Claw assassin sets out to kill the Empress.
CB
Caladan Broodopponent
The warlord openly opposes Laseen's campaigns and her restrictions on sorcery.
C
Cotilliontarget
Cotillion joins Shadowthrone in seeking vengeance on Laseen, using the possessed fishergirl as an instrument against her.
KD
Korbolo Domrival
A renegade Fist who rebels and seeks to challenge Laseen's rule.
S
Shadowthronetarget
The ascended former Emperor conspires against Laseen for revenge over her past betrayal, seeking to unsettle her rule.

Story so far

BOOK 1I. Gardens of the Moon
- Summons Ganoes Paran, recalls his earlier encounter with the Bridgeburner commander, and assigns him to Adjunct Lorn
- Directs the Empire's Genabackan campaign through Adjunct Lorn and High Fist Dujek Onearm
- Commands the Claw, with Topper acting as its leader under her ultimate authority
- Becomes the target of Shadowthrone and Cotillion's vengeance, who use a possessed fishergirl as their weapon against her
- Her restrictions on sorcery draw the defiance of Caladan Brood and the resentment of her own commanders
BOOK 2Deadhouse Gates
- Formally outlaws Dujek Onearm and his army, who remain secretly loyal to the Empire
- Appoints Tavore Paran as her new Adjunct
- Becomes the target of Kalam Mekhar's assassination plot
- Faces a challenge to her rule from the renegade Fist Korbolo Dom amid the Seven Cities rebellion