Memnon Thorvald

Expanded Dune

This article or section refers to elements from Expanded Dune.

Memnon Thorvald of the planet Ipyr, was the Earl of House Thorvald, and a member of the Landsraad during the end of the Corrino Empire and the Ascension of House Atreides.

He led the first and primary rebellion of noble houses against Emperor Paul Atreides Muad'Dib from 10193 AG to 10198 AG.

History

Firenza and Shaddam

During this time of the Later Corrino Empire, the Earl married his sister, Firenza Thorvald to Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV in 10187 AG. Firenza was unable to bear Shaddam any royal heirs in addition to the five daughters that he already had, and in a few years, Frienza fell out of favor with him. She died within one or two years of her marriage to the Emperor, leaving Memnon somewhat embittered.

Rebelling Against Paul

During the Ascension of House Atreides a few years later, Memnon took upon himself, the dangerous position of being the leader of the rebellion against the new Emperor, Paul Muad'Dib. When Paul ghave his first speech before the Landsraad in 10194 AG after the jihadi sacking of Kaitain, Memnon walked out of the speech after defiantly yelling at Paul, saying that he "had enough of Emperors!"

Soon afterwards, Memnon organized Houses that were in rebellion to Paul under the leadership of House Thorvald. They put up a guarded defense of Galicia a few years later, against the forces of Gurney Halleck in 10196 AG; although the Emperor's forces eventually won. After the first assassination attempt on Paul's life in 10198 AG at the Great Surrender Ceremony on Arrakis, House Thorvald initially claimed to have orchestrated the complex plot, though it was found out to be Whitmore Bludd.

Elimination of House Thorvald

Later that year, Paul discovered through prescience that Memnon and his allied were planning to attack and destroy Caladan, and kidnap or kill Paul's mother, Jessica. Paul immediately summoned the Guild representative Olar, who took him to the Navigator Beric. It was confirmed that House Thorvald had indeed conspired to destroy Paul's homeworld, and that fighter starships were in heighliners waiting to be transported to the water-world.

Paul ordered that all of the House Thorvald ships, as well as all of Thorvald's allies be stranded in deep space, without any provisions. He further commanded that House Thorvald be eliminated, and their homeworld of Ipyr be sterilized, and House Thorvald ceased to exist.