Editing Luthadel

{{settlement
|image=Luthadel by Ricky Ho.jpg
|dominance=Central
|nation=Final Empire
|world=Scadrial
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[Mistborn Era 1]]
}}
'''Luthadel''' is the capital city of the [[Final Empire]] on [[Scadrial]].

== Geography ==
{{image|TFE PT cover art.jpg|side=left|width=200px|[[Vin]] looking over the city}}
{{for|/Gallery|more images}}
Located in the center of the [[Central Dominance]], Luthadel was the cultural and political center of the Final Empire during the [[Lord Ruler]]'s reign. Interestingly, Luthadel was not particularly advanced technologically, likely due to the Lord Ruler's continuing efforts to suppress technological development.{{cite}}

Luthadel was also unique in the Final Empire in that it was the only city allowed to have a city wall. While a few other cities had natural fortifications ([[Fadrex City]], for example, was surrounded by rocky outcroppings that acted as a natural barrier against attack), the Lord Ruler only allowed man made fortifications around his city.{{book ref|mb3|25}} Interestingly, this wall seems to have acted more as a status symbol than actual defense, since the 8 gates were spaced roughly equidistant around the perimeter, and the height of the wall was not sufficient to prevent [[koloss]] from scaling the wall once enough of their bodies lay at its base.{{book ref|mb2|52}}

Like all major cities in the Final Empire, Luthadel was built near a number of mines, thus hampering the ability of [[Ruin]] to monitor the establishment of the Lord Ruler's stockpiles.{{book ref|mb3|63}}

Luthadel also sits next to a lake bearing the name of [[Lake Luthadel]].{{map ref|Final Empire}}
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== Organization ==
{{expand}}
{{image|Luthadel-color.jpg|width=300px|side=right|Map of Luthadel}}
=== Districts ===
{{columns|
* The Twists
* Ashwarrens
* Aspen Row
* Hotel District
* Old Gate
* Commercial District
* The Cracks
* Southbridge
* Brassgate
* Industrial District
* Blockstreet
* Sootwarrens
* Grainfield{{book ref|mb2|42}}
}}

=== Gates ===
{{columns|
* Steel Gate
* Iron Gate
* Bronze Gate
* Copper Gate
* Brass Gate
* Zinc Gate
* Pewter Gate
* Tin Gate
}}

=== Other Locations ===
{{for|:Category:Luthadel|a full list see}}
* [[Fourwell Crossroads]]
* [[Kenton Street]]

== History ==
{{image|Pewter Gate by Kelly Mai.jpg|width=300px|side=right|The Pewter Gate}}
[[Rashek]] initially conceived of the idea of Luthadel while he held the power of the [[Well of Ascension]].  During those moments of enhanced consciousness, Rashek learned the full extent of the danger posed by Ruin, and learned that he would be unable to truly defeat Ruin using the power of the Well of Ascension.  He therefore devised a plan to control the power of the Well of Ascension, making himself an immortal protector of mankind from the full force of Ruin.  In order to guarantee the security of the well, Rashek significantly changed the geography of the area, and eventually built his palace on top of the only entrance to the cave complex that housed the well.

There is significant evidence to the fact that Luthadel was not perfectly planned from the beginning, from the unique, piecemeal construction of [[Kredik Shaw]] to the presence of the "[[Old Gate]]" district.  Interestingly, there is no mention of old city walls being built around (Jerusalem is a classical example of a city outgrowing its wall, and subsequently building out).  Whether this is due to a relatively late entrance of the city wall, or if the Lord Ruler merely mandated tearing down old sections when new walls were added is unknown.  Given the relative abundance of [[skaa]] manpower, either option is possible.

{{image|Vin by Morgan Weber.jpg|side=left|width=300px|[[Vin]] flying over the city}}

There were no recorded attacks on Luthadel during the Lord Ruler's tenure there. Whether there actually were any attacks is unknown, given the Lord Ruler's tendency to hide the shortcomings of his rule. The only known assault of the city occurred approximately one year after the Lord Ruler's death.  At the time, the city was ruled by [[Elend Venture]], in his capacity as King of the Central Dominance. Luthadel was besieged by three armies simultaneously, including one army of koloss.{{book ref|mb2|37}} The siege culminated with the koloss army attacking, representing the only time that the walls of Luthadel were successfully breached by an opposing army.  

Following Lord [[Ferson Penrod|Penrod]]'s installation as a subject king under Emperor Venture, Luthadel experienced a brief period of relative stability and prosperity. This period ended when [[Marsh]], the head [[Steel Inquisitor]], implanted a hemalurgic spike into Lord Penrod. Between the whisperings of Ruin and the increasing disasters, Lord Penrod was unable to effectively maintain order in Luthadel. Eventually, Lord Penrod realized the extent of the problems, and ordered the evacuation of Luthadel to the nearby [[Pits of Hathsin]], where the [[Terris]] people had established themselves.

Luthadel was subsequently destroyed by a combination of volcanic activity and extreme fires when [[Vin]] gained the power of [[Preservation]]. The last remnants of the city, except for a portion of Kredik Shaw which was forced underground,{{book ref|mb5|20}} were erased during the remaking of the world that followed.

== Politics ==
{{image|Luthadel by GuiFerr.jpg|side=right|width=250px|The keeps of Luthadel}}

In the Final Empire, Luthadel was the seat of not only the Lord Ruler, but also the most powerful noble houses. The mark of a "Great House" was  the ability to maintain a keep in Luthadel. At the time of the events in Mistborn, 10 such keeps existed. Whether this number was established by the Lord Ruler, or arose naturally, is unclear. It is clear, however, that these keeps frequently changed hands, due both to the tremendous taxes levied by the Lord Ruler against the Great Houses, and the general unrest that the Lord Ruler fostered.  

Before [[Kelsier]] escaped the [[Pits of Hathsin]], House standings were relatively stable, and had been for some time. In order of standing, the ten Great Houses were these:{{book ref|mb1|9}}

{{columns|
# [[House Venture|Venture]]
# [[House Hasting|Hasting]]
# [[House Elariel|Elariel]]
# [[House Tekiel|Tekiel]]
# [[House Lekal|Lekal]]
# [[House Erikeller|Erikeller]]
# [[House Erikell|Erikell]]
# [[House Haught|Haught]]
# [[House Urbain|Urbain]]
# [[House Buvidas|Buvidas]]
}}

Following the death of the Lord Ruler, all of the members of the Great Houses fled Luthadel, with the exception of Elend Venture, who established a new government, a constitutional monarchy. The King held the executive power, as well as commanding the armies and having power of treaties. The 24-man parliament (which initially included Elend, even though he was also King), acted as a legislative branch, and had the power to invoke a no-confidence clause to depose the sitting king. This clause was successfully invoked during the siege of Luthadel, when Lord Penrod was elected as king in place of Elend Venture.

== Notable Residents ==
{{for|:Category:Residents of Luthadel|a full list see}}
* [[Elend Venture]]
* [[Vin]]
* [[The Lord Ruler]]
* [[Kelsier]]

== Trivia ==
* Luthadel was located at the magnetic North pole, and all compasses pointed to it.{{wob ref|8042}}
* The city of Luthadel and the [[Luth-Davn Canal]] are named for a person, likely Lutha, but Brandon has been non-committal about whether their story will be mentioned in future books.{{wob ref|6760}}{{wob ref|3409}}

== Notes ==
<references />
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{{Mistborn|Era 1}}
[[category: list articles]]