Mad Max Codexery

The Citadel

Immortan Joe's rock fortress, built on one of the last sources of fresh water.

The Citadel is Immortan Joe's rock fortress in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024). Built on an aquifer, it is one of the only remaining sources of fresh water in the wasteland, and Joe's control over it lets him dominate the regional economy.

Quick Facts

Leader
Immortan Joe
First appearance
Mad Max: Fury Road

Lore & Background

According to the 2015 prequel comic, the war veteran Joe Moore learned of a heavily defended aquifer from a captive, besieged it and turned it into his base, the Citadel. Joe lets his War Boys live in the fortress, while his regular citizens live in squalid tunnels.

Reader's Guide

In Furiosa, Dementus tries to lure Joe into an all-out attack on Gastown so that he can strike the undefended Citadel, but Furiosa recognizes the ruse. In Fury Road, Max persuades Furiosa's group to return to the now-undefended Citadel, which has ample water and crops, and after Joe's death its people rejoice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Citadel in the Mad Max universe?

This fortified stronghold serves as a central hub for survival within the post-apocalyptic wasteland. It first appears in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).

Is the Thunderdome in the Citadel?

No: Thunderdome is the arena of Bartertown in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome; the Citadel is Immortan Joe's fortress.

More in World & Setting

Elsewhere in Mad Max

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