Elrood Corrino IX/XD

Expanded Dune

This article or section refers to elements from Expanded Dune.

"Blood is thicker than water, but politics is even thicker than blood."

―Elrood IX, Memoirs of Imperial Rule

Elrood Corrino IX (9999 AG - 10156 AG) was the 80th and penultimate Padishah Emperor in the Corrino Dynasty. He succumbed to chaumurky and was succeeded by his son, Shaddam Corrino IV. He was nicknamed "The Hunter".

Marriages and Heirs

Elrood was the son of Fondil Corrino III, and ascended to the Golden Lion Throne at the age of nineteen. During his reign of 138 years, Elrood married into many royal houses, including House Mutelli; in 10,1019 A.G. he married Barbara Mutelli, with whom he initially had a daughter named Wensicia, and a son named Elliott. Elrood also married into House Hagal and House Ecaz.

When his son was only a year old, Elrood murdered him, after which Barbara went insane. However, Elrood continued to impregnate her repeatedly, and placed the fertilized embryos in storage for later use, should he need them. Barbara died in 10,026, and Elrood's subsequent married Yvette Hagal in 10,036 A.G., with whom he had three daughters: Crystane, Tara and Edwina. Edwina later married Count Ilban Richese, the grandfather of Paul Atreides.

Yvette died in 10,075 A.G., and Elrood next married Alexandra Ecaz in 10,079. She gave birth to the Crown Prince Fafnir, but disappeared in 10,098. After a fruitless marriage to Habla of Hassika V in 10,100, Elrood used one of Barbara Mutelli's frozen embryos and impregnated Habla. She gave birth to his third son, Shaddam, who never knew that his genetic mother was Barbara.

In 10130, Elrood had to cope with the Ecazi Rebellions, where Paulus Atreides and Dominic Vernius fought on his side and a great friendship started with those men. Around that time, his concubine Shando Balut gave birth to an illegitimate son of his, Tyros Reffa who was given for adoption to House Kaligari. Eventually his friend Vernius and Shando, fell in love, and they married, after the woman left his service. This was the beginning of a feud against House Vernius.

Rule

In his later years, Elrood had a sceletal body and long-nailed fingertips.

He granted the siridar-governorship of Arrakis to House Harkonnen. He also created the title "Imperial Planetologist of Arrakis", and appointed Pardot Kynes to find out exactly how the spice melange was created.

In 10,154 A.G. Elrood authorized the Tleilaxu takeover of the planet Ix, and established the Project Amal program to create synthetic melange, so as to remove the Empire's dependency on Arrakis and exclusively control spice production himself. His long rule ended in 10,156 when he was assassinated via slow acting poison administered to him by Count Hasimir Fenring, with the unofficial approval of Elrood's aspiring son Shaddam.

Elrood's remains were interred in the Imperial Necropolis. His bloodline continued on through Paul Atreides, Ghanima Atreides, and her countless descendants.

Behind the Scenes

According to the back matter of Dune: House Atreides an unofficial biography of Elrood recounted that the chaumurky was put in his drink by Count Hasimir Fenring. There was, however, no evidence of this.

Elrood is mentioned briefly in the appendices of the original Dune novel by Frank Herbert.

Appearances

• Dune: House Atreides

References

Preceded by Fondil Corrino III

Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe 10018 AG - 10156 AG

Succeeded by Shaddam Corrino IV