The Satanic Triumvirate is a brief system of shared power in Hell to ensure that chaos did not engulf the Inferno. Originally created by Lucifer Morningstar and two other demon-lords in the aftermath of the return of the Great Darkness, new iterations of the Three succeeded the original version over the years.
History
Pre-Flashpoint
Lucifer's council was eventually overthrown by Etrigan the Demon, but the abrupt lack of leadership caused the latter to dissolve.
Formation
Since the dawn of time, Lucifer had proclaimed himself the King of Hell and ruled as its undisputed monarch for millennia until the Great Darkness was awakened by the Brujería. The Darkness was the antithesis of Light and Creation, and its coming sparked upheaval in Hell, fracturing its inhabitants into two armies; those who welcomed oblivion and those who opposed it.[1][2] Though the Darkness did not bring about the end of existence, Hell was divided and thrown into conflict. To restore order, Lucifer conceded to share power with two other Lords of Hell, Beelzebub the Lord of the Flies and Azazel the Abomination, and so the Satanic Triumvirate was founded.[3]
The Battle for Power
Azazel was replaced by the Arch-Duke Belial and Hell remained stable, but another ambitious Arch-Duke, Asteroth, schemed to gain enough power to claim the throne all for himself. His five-way blood sacrifice ritual was thwarted by Merlin and Etrigan, also unleashing Belial's volatile son to roam the Inferno once more with his own insidious ambitions.[4][5]
Etrigan consulted the Oracle at the River Styx regarding his conquest of Hell,[4] and he found an army of outcasts in Masak Mavdil led by his exiled mother, Ran Va Daath of the Pit.[6] With her allegiance, he persuaded his father to join his cause and promised him shared power only between father and son.[7] The Lord of Deceit secretly waited to see if war fell in favour of Etrigan before committing his armies and, despite Merlin's warnings, Beelzebub was caught off-guard and his castle razed by Etrigan and Abaddon the Destroyer. Hearing of Beelzebub's capture, Belial joined Etrigan's forces and laid siege to Lucifer's palace, only to be greeted by the fallen angel himself at the gates who submitted his unconditional surrender without a fight.[8][9]
The New Satanic Triumvirate
Etrigan held his coronation at the Pit of Masak Mavdil where he announced his new Satanic Triumvirate, Ran Va Daath and Abaddon. Belial was enraged by his son's betrayal and attempted to attack him, but Etrigan was now too powerful with the Crown of Horns that he wore and tore out his father's heart before consigning his weakened body into exile. He continued his display of brutally dismantling the old leadership by tearing off Beelzebub's wings and consigning him also into exile after Belial. Lucifer, on the other hand, had no intention of joining the other two and broke free, abandoning Hell for Earth. The new order was short-lived, however, as Etrigan was foiled by Merlin and Jason Blood even before his coronation dinner could begin. With Etrigan now bound to Blood again and back on Earth, the Satanic Triumvirate dissolved and Hell then fell into feudal chaos.[10]
Post-Flashpoint
Earlier History
Dawn of DC
Some time after the rebirth of the Multiverse, a new version of the Satanic Triumvirate which was composed of the First of the Fallen, Trigon and, as the leader, Lady Blaze, was born in Hell.
At the climax of his rampage across the Godsphere, Darkseid reached Hell, searching for the Spectre. After quickly defeating the legions of Hell, the New God faced the Triumvirate but, before he could slaughter them all, Trigon convinced him that the Wrath of God was not in Hell, so Darkseid opened a Boom Tube and left the Underworld for Heaven.[11]
Paraphernalia
Equipment:
- Crown of Horns (King of Hell)
- Trident of Lucifer (King of Hell)
Notes
- Although it has never been seen or shown, the original version of the Satanic Triumvirate was also created in the past of Earth 0,[15] even before the rebirth of the Multiverse. In the Post-Flashpoint continuity, its first full appearance is in DC All In Special #1.
Trivia
- The Triumvirate of Hell is the Arrowverse Multiverse's version of the Satanic Triumvirate.
See Also
- 11 Appearances of Satanic Triumvirate
- 1 Images that include Satanic Triumvirate
- Organization Gallery: Satanic Triumvirate
Links
- None.
Footnotes
- ↑ Swamp Thing (Volume 2) #49
- ↑ Swamp Thing (Volume 2) #50
- ↑ Sandman (Volume 2) #4
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Demon (Volume 3) #1
- ↑ The Demon (Volume 3) #2
- ↑ The Demon (Volume 3) #3
- ↑ The Demon (Volume 3) #4
- ↑ The Demon (Volume 3) #5
- ↑ The Demon (Volume 3) #6
- ↑ The Demon (Volume 3) #7
- ↑ DC All In Special #1
- ↑ Hellblazer #12
- ↑ Hellblazer #42
- ↑ Hellblazer #50
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 John Constantine: Hellblazer - Dead in America #1
  This character has been an ally or antagonist to either The Demon Etrigan or his counterpart Jason Blood in any of their various incarnations. |
  This character is or was primarily an enemy of Etrigan. This template will categorize articles that include it into the category "Etrigan Villains." |
This character exists under the Vertigo Imprint which is intended for Mature Readers.Their continuity takes place within the context of Vertigo titles although they may cross over into regular DC continuity.