Archdevil

* 3e

The **archdevils** were powerful, unique devils. The most powerful archdevils were the **Lords of the Nine**.

## Hierarchy

The position of archdevils in the hierarchy of Baator was clear: archdevils were the most powerful and were, therefore, on top. The most powerful of the archdevils were the archdukes, also called the **Lords of the Nine**. Other archdevils were dukes, ruling portions of a layer, generals, or bureaucrats of various sorts.

## Archdevils by layer

### Archdevils of Avernus

Zariel
The Lord of the First and commander of the diabolical armies in the Blood War, Zariel was a fallen angel and had been appointed to her archdukedom by Asmodeus himself.
Bel
A general under the command of Zariel and a former archduke himself.
Under Tiamat's rule of Avernus, her generals included the archdevils Amduscias and Malphas.

### Archdevils of Dis

 File:Dispater.jpg
Dispater
The Lord of the Second, Dispater rarely left his Iron Tower due to his extreme paranoia.
Lilis
The loyal consort of Dispater.
Titivilus
Although not very powerful personally, Titivilus was Dispater's closest adviser.
Bitru
A duke of Dis in the service of Dispater.
Arioch
A vassal of Dispater who meted out vengeance on those who dared defy his master.
Biffant
The loyal provost of Dispater.
Merodach
A duke of Dis.
Alocer
A duke of Dis.
### Archdevils of Minauros

Mammon
The ruler of Minauros and patron of greed.
Bael
A powerful general in the service of Mammon.
Focalor
The cautious seneschal of Mammon.
Caarcrinolaas
A duke of Minauros.
Melchon
A duke of Minauros.
### Archdevils of Phlegethos

 File:Belial and Fierna.jpg
Fierna
The official Lord of the Fourth.
Belial
The father of Fierna as well as her predecessor, Belial was in part the power behind the throne of Phlegethos.
Chamo
An archdevil who served Belial as legate.
Balan
A duke of Phelgethos who served Belial.
Bathym
A duke of Phlegethos who served Belial.
Gaziel
A duke of Phlegethos who served Belial.
### Archdevils of Stygia

Levistus
The Lord of the Fifth, Levistus, was imprisoned in an iceberg by Asmodeus for past crimes. He was therefore forced to telepathically relay instructions to his minions, even as he also had to deal with his predecessor's continued existence.
Geryon
The deposed Lord of the Fifth, Geryon was a savage archdevil who sought to reclaim his former position.
Cozbi
The consort of Geryon.
Gorson
The bailiff of Geryon.
Herodias
An archdevil who served Geryon as a magistrate.
Amon
A vassal and former duke in the service of Geryon.
Agares
A vassal and duke under Geryon's reign.
Machalas
The weakest duke who served Geryon.
### Archdevils of Malbolge

Glasya
The daughter of Asmodeus, Glasya was the Lord of the Sixth.
### Archdevils of Maladomini

Baalzebul
Also called the Lord of Lies, the Lord of the Seventh was the repulsive fallen angel who was once called Triel.
Baftis

The quiet consort of Baalzebul.

Neabaz
The herald of Baalzebul.
Barbatos
The marshal of Maladomini.
Abigor
A duke of Maladomini.
Zepar
A duke of Maladomini.
### Archdevils of Cania

 File:Mephistopheles - Eric Deschamps.jpg
Mephistopheles
The Lord of Cania, Mephistopheles was always plotting against Asmodeus.
Baalphegor
Consort of Mephistopheles and quite possibly the reason why the Lord of the Eighth was not demoted.
Hutijin
A duke of Cania and powerful general who loyally served Mephistopheles.
Bele
The justiciar of Cania.
Adonides
The steward of Cania.
Barbas
An archdevil who served Mephistopheles as chamberlain.
Bifrons
A powerful duke and vassal of Mephistopheles.
### Archdevils of Nessus

 File:Asmodeus - Eric Deschamps.jpg
Asmodeus

The Lord of the Ninth and King of the Hells, Asmodeus was deity in his own right.

Adramalech
The Chancellor of Hell and Keeper of Records, Adramalech answered only to Asmodeus.
Phongor
The dreaded Inquisitor of Hell.
Buer
A duke of Nessus.
Bune
A duke of Nessus.
Morax
A duke of Nessus.
Rimmon
A duke of Nessus and former Lord of the Eighth.[*citation needed*]
Zagum
A duke in the service of Asmodeus.
## Other Archdevils

Of course, due to the nature of politics in the Nine Hells, archdevils wound up exiled or dead at various times. Some exiles remained in the Nine Hells (such as Geryon and his court, listed above), while others were forced to leave completely.

Additionally, the dragon goddess Tiamat spent some time as an archdevil after her Untheric aspect was killed. She was ruler of Avernus during her time there.

### Exiled Archdevils

Some archdevils, former archdukes, were exiled or imprisoned, but survived. These included:

Gargauth

A once-powerful archdevil who left the Hells for unknown reason.

Malkizid

Also called The **Branded King**, Malkizid was a fallen solar who became an archdevil. He appeared similar to a solar, but with white skin, gray feathered wings, and bird-like talons on his hands and feet. He was exiled after earning Asmodeus' disfavor, and went to reside in the Blood Rift.

Nergal

An archdevil exiled by Asmodeus.

Moloch

Former Lord of the Sixth, Moloch was exiled for rebellion by Asmodeus.
The various vassals and servitors of Moloch, now presumably deposed and possibly exiled as well, included his consort Lilith, his legate Tartach, and the tribune Bileth.

Other exiled archdevils included Armaros, Azazel, Bist, Cahor, Caim, Duskur, Jaqon, Kochbiel, Malarea, Nisroch, and Rumjal, all of whom lived as wandering outcasts in Avernus.

### Deceased Archdevils

Bensozia

The consort of Asmodeus and Queen of the Hells, Bensozia was slain by Levistus.

Naome

The consort of Belial and mother of Fierna.

Beherit

The original Lord of Sixth.[*citation needed*]

## Appendix

### Further Reading

* Cordell, Bruce R, Jeff Grubb, and David Noonan. *Manual of the Planes* (Wizards of the Coast, 2001).
* Greenwood, Ed. "The Nine Hells Part I." *Dragon* #75 (TSR, 1983).
* Greenwood, Ed. "The Nine Hells Part II." *Dragon* #76 (TSR, 1983).
* Greenwood, Ed. "The Nine Hells Revisited." *Dragon* #91 (TSR, 1984).
* Gygax, Gary. "From the Sorcerer's Scroll: New Denizens of Devildom." *Dragon* #75 (TSR, 1983).
* Gygax, Gary. *Monster Manual* (TSR, 1977).
* Gygax, Gary. *Monster Manual II* (TSR, 1983).
* Laws, Robin D., and Robert J. Schwalb. *Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells* (Wizards of the Coast, 2006).
* McComb, Colin. "The Lords of the Nine." *Dragon* #223 (TSR, 1995).
* Pramas, Chris. *Guide to Hell* (TSR, 1999). ISBN 0-7869-1431-9
* Thorn, Alexander von. "The Politics of Hell." *Dragon* #28 (TSR, 1979).

### Connections

The Lords of the Nine
Asmodeus
 **The **Archdevils****
 Baalzebul • Belial • Dispater • Fierna • Glasya • Levistus • Mammon • Mephistopheles • Zariel
 **Other Unique Devils**
Bel • Gargauth • Geryon • Malagard • Moloch • Tiamat

Devils
Fiendish Beings of Evil and Lawfulness
**Baatezu**
**Least:** Advespa • Lemure • Merregon • Nupperibo
**Lesser:** Abishai (Black • Blue • Green • Red • White) • Barbazu • Hamatula • Narzugon • Osyluth • Spinagon
**Greater:** Amnizu • Cornugon • Erinyes • Gelugon • Paeliryon • Pit fiend • War devil
**Miscellaneous Devils**
Alu-fiend • **Archdevil** • Cambion • Fimbrul devil • Hellcat • Imp • Kyton • Seared devil • Succubus • Tar devil

### References

1. ↑ Monte Cook (Oct 2002). *Book of Vile Darkness*. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:143–165|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 0-7869-0672-3.
2. ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (May 29, 2018). *Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes*. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 17. ISBN 978-0786966240.
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 Ed Greenwood (July 1983). “The Nine Hells, Part I”. In Kim Mohan ed. *Dragon* #75 (TSR, Inc.), pp. {{#regex:16–33|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gary Gygax (July 1983). “From the Sorcerer's Scroll: New denizens of devildom”. In Kim Mohan ed. *Dragon* #75 (TSR, Inc.), pp. {{#regex:8–14|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}.
5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 Ed Greenwood (August 1983). “The Nine Hells, Part II”. In Kim Mohan ed. *Dragon* #76 (TSR, Inc.), pp. {{#regex:22–44|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Ed Greenwood (November 1984). “Nine Hells revisited”. In Kim Mohan ed. *Dragon* #91 (TSR, Inc.), pp. {{#regex:18–34|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}.