The Malaz 1st Army was the original army of the Malazan Empire. It had been established under the command of Dassem Ultor, a disciple of Hood, and cults had flourished among the troops, especially among the marines. Some of the companies of the army had been named after gods. Under the reign of Empress Laseen the army was disbanded and the cults crushed. There was a column in Unta commemorating its soldiers.