Londo Mollari

Lore & Background

Londo Mollari is a member of one of the oldest Noble Houses of the Centauri Republic. He is a mercurial personality given to extreme manifestations of anger, sadness, or joviality. An avid hedonist fond of drink and leisure, he is also a devout Centauri patriot who would gladly give his life without hesitation to protect the Republic. A staunch traditionalist, Londo has a profound sense of pride tied to the heritage of Centauri imperial history. He was once a military officer with several heroic accomplishments, which he relishes and often reminisces on when intoxicated. The decline of the expansionist tradition has weakened the prestige of the Centauri Republic, particularly the emancipation of the Narn homeworld from Centauri colonial rule. These developments have wounded Londo's pride, and he is extremely bitter about his people's loss of face. He resents the Narn for their success in establishing themselves as a viable independent power and for what he feels is their part in the increasingly unimportant diplomatic titles he has held. Londo's greatest desire is to see the restoration of the Centauri Republic to its former glory, and it is this desperate longing that proves the undoing of himself and his people. Despite his temperamental nature, Londo is largely devoid of malice; his bigotry towards other races, particularly the Narns, is based on habituation and national identity rather than actual hatred. He is rather fond of humans given the similarities in behavior between them and his own people, and speaks in obvious admiration of the human military's tenacity during the Earth–Minbari war. Londo is averse to violence and is often at odds with himself over his desire for military victory and the horror he feels at the suffering and death of others; when present at the Second Conquest of Narn, he is visibly sickened by the level of destruction and death he has semi-unwittingly caused and later challenges Lord Refa over his use of outlawed Mass Drivers in the planetary assault on Narn. He yearns for honor and respect, but is often uncomfortable with the cost and responsibilities that come with it.

In Their Own Story

Londo Mollari is the Centauri Ambassador to Babylon 5. According to Babylon 5: In the Beginning, he used to be the official Centauri Ambassador on Earth. Considered something of a buffoon even among the Centauri, Londo has been assigned the post to keep him out of the way. At the start of the series, he seems ineffective in his role; his drunken temper tantrums and posturing upon the glories of the 'Great Centauri Past' make him appear a buffoon. However, he climbs Centauri Prime's political ladder through manipulating his people's hatred of the Narn Regime. He has a hatred for the Narn Ambassador, G'Kar when the series begins, though this softens over time. Towards the end of the series, Londo and G'Kar put their differences aside and become friends, of sorts. His cynical political ambition and sincere craving to restore the pre-eminence of Centauri Prime make him the perfect target for the dark and mysterious Morden, who secretly represents the Shadows. Morden asks each major Ambassador one question – 'What do you want?' – only Londo gives the appropriate answer: glory and prestige for himself and the Centauri. Through the course of the series, Morden and his 'Associates' repeatedly give Londo exactly what he asks for, which proves far from what he actually wants. As Narn fleets continue to be wiped out without any survivors to explain how, Londo takes credit and attracts much-desired attention and power, never questioning the consequences of his alliance with the Shadows until it is far too late. Eventually, Morden begins to request favors from Londo. Driven by his own pride and fear that Morden may leave, Londo gives in each time. Despite his conscience bothering him about the nature of these requests, he finds himself unable to sever his connection with Morden. As the Shadow War peaks, Mollari is promoted to advisor on planetary security, requiring him to return to his home world. He is angered by the promotion, understanding it is not a reward but a leash. Upon return to Centauri Prime, he discovers the young Emperor Cartagia, whose ascent he personally endorsed, is insane and has allowed the Shadows to establish a base on Centauri Prime. The Vorlons have begun a campaign to destroy any planet where the Shadows have influence. In his insanity, Cartagia believes the Shadows would elevate him to godhood and insists they stay. Mollari realizes that to deal with the Shadows and save his world from the Vorlons, Cartagia must be killed. Mollari begins a conspiracy to have Cartagia assassinated, with the help of Vir Cotto, a number of high-ranking Centauri, and G'Kar, who is Cartagia's prisoner. They plan to lure Cartagia to Narn, where he will be away from most of his guards. There, G'Kar will create a security threat by escaping, and in the confusion Londo will kill Cartagia by injecting him with a poison that will cause both of his hearts to shut down. The plot succeeds, although as it turns out, Cartagia attacks Londo.

Reader's Guide

Londo Mollari is a member of one of the oldest Noble Houses of the Centauri Republic. He is a mercurial personality given to extreme manifestations of anger, sadness, or joviality. An avid hedonist fond of drink and leisure, he is also a devout Centauri patriot who would gladly give his life without hesitation to protect the Republic. A staunch traditionalist, Londo has a profound sense of pride tied to the heritage of Centauri imperial history. He was once a military officer with several heroic accomplishments, which he relishes and often reminisces on when intoxicated. The decline of the expansionist tradition has weakened the prestige of the Centauri Republic, particularly the emancipation of the Narn homeworld from Centauri colonial rule. These developments have wounded Londo's pride, and he is extremely bitter about his people's loss of face. He resents the Narn for their success in establishing themselves as a viable independent power and for what he feels is their part in the increasingly unimportant diplomatic titles he has held. Londo's greatest desire is to see the restoration of the Centauri Republic to its former glory, and it is this desperate longing that proves the undoing of himself and his people. Despite his temperamental nature, Londo is largely devoid of malice; his bigotry towards other races, particularly the Narns, is based on habituation and national identity rather than actual hatred. He is rather fond of humans given the similarities in behavior between them and his own people, and speaks in obvious admiration of the human military's tenacity during the Earth–Minbari war. Londo is averse to violence and is often at odds with himself over his desire for military victory and the horror he feels at the suffering and death of others; when present at the Second Conquest of Narn, he is visibly sickened by the level of destruction and death he has semi-unwittingly caused and later challenges Lord Refa over his use of outlawed Mass Drivers in the planetary assault on Narn. He yearns for honor and respect, but is often uncomfortable with the cost and responsibilities that come with it.

Did You Know?

• Londo Mollari is played by Peter Jurasik.
• Londo was once a military officer with several heroic accomplishments, which he relishes and often reminisces on when intoxicated.
• Londo's greatest love, other than his people, is the romantic company of Lady Adira, a former slave and dancer.
• Londo's closest friend is his attache Vir Cotto; the two became almost inseparable over the course of The Shadow War, the Earth Civil War, and the rebuilding of Centauri.
• Londo kills Emperor Cartagia by injecting him with a poison that causes both of his hearts to shut down.