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This article or section refers to elements from The Dune Encyclopedia |
Emperor Saudir I was the fourth Emperor of the Known Universe (r. 12 BG–70 AG), succeeding his father Corrin I Palaigo as ruler of the Corrino Imperium.[1] Saudir was remembered as a wise and canny ruler.[2]
In Saudir's reign, the essential elements of the Imperium as they would stand for the next ten millennia came together, a process the emperor himself was intimately involved in. He is for this remembered as Saudir the Great[3][4] and Saudir Akbar.[1][n 1][n 2]
Reign[]
Early reign[]
Saudir I inherited the throne from his father, Corrin I Palaigo, in 12 BG.[1] By the time of Saudir's accession, the Corrinos had ruled for 76 years and were eager to transform their empire into a "true Imperium" with a basis of rule more stable and long-lasting than the might of their Sardaukar.[2] The military power of the emperor was equal to the combined forces of the Landsraad in some respects (including atomics) and levy funds and other taxes made Saudir an economic power equal to about half of the states in the Landsraad.[5]
Saudir quickly involved himself in touchy dealings with the Landsraad over the form of a government that could permit both parties to thrive.[2] Saudir succeeded in delicately balancing the feudal structure of the Imperium, though tensions continued to exist.[4] Saudir most importantly sought an agreement from the Houses Major that warfare be strictly regulated; for instance that once the decision of victory of defeat was proclaimed, hostilities had to cease immediately and that survivors would be free form the threat of extermination.[4]
Creation of CHOAM[]
In 10 BG, the Corpus Luminis Praenuntiantis (the future Spacing Guild) began negotiations with the Imperium.[1] The Guild offered safe and reliable interstellar travel, absent since the days of the Butlerian Jihad (200–108 BG) and revealed the geriatric properties of the Spice Melange. In return, they asked for total monopoly on hyperspace transport and a promise from the Imperium to respect their secrecy, while they themselves swore absolute abstention from politics.[4] Saudir quickly realized that the only way to deal with the Guild was on a basis of mutual advantage and called a Financial Synod on Aerarium IV in 10 BG, which included representatives of the Guild, the Imperial House and the Landsraad.[5]
The Synod lasted for five years,[2] in large part due to the ambitions of the Houses Major. Many of the houses pre-dated the rise of House Corrino in 88 BG and still regarded the success of the "barbarian" Sardaukar as a "freak of history". Since such houses wished to elevate themselves instead, something possible if they were supported by the Guild, the Guild refused to deal with many of the houses.[5] In the third year of negotiations, the deadlock was broken by Saudir himself and his chief financial officer, Dioicetes Asetirides, who presented the delegates with the plan for the formation of CHOAM; a development organization that would have a monopoly on interstellar trade. Through shares, gross profits from trade would be distributed to the various noble houses.[5] The emperor, given 20% of the shares, was intentionally placed in a position in which he would have to rely on many of the other houses for support.[5]
The creation of CHOAM marked the true beginning of the Imperium. The corporation became inseparable from the empire as an institution.[5] The creation of CHOAM and the beginning of the Spacing Guild monopoly allowed the Imperium to rapidly expand.[6] In 0 AG, the Imperial House under Saudir, the Spacing Guild, and CHOAM (as the arm of the Landsraad) combined to establish the form of human society that would last for next ten thousand years.[3]
Late reign[]
In 55 AG, Saudir was approached by an ambassador from Ix. The Ixians spcialized in complex machinery, coming close to defying the Bulterian Jihad. The resumption of interstellar travel under the Spacing Guild thus presented a threat to them. Although initially shocked by their revelation, Saudir realized that a controlled source of technology, available to House Corrino, the Spacing Guild, and the Houses Major, could bring considerable advantages. An arrangement was thus made with the Ixians; Ix would remain isolated (with the Guild making sure no unapproved visitors reached the planet), while the Ixians continued their work. This state of affairs continued to last through the millennia of Corrino rule.[7]
Saudir ruled until 70 AG, when he was succeeded on the throne by his son Henoor II Negara I.[1]
Discrepancies with other continuities[]
The Prelude to Dune series (part of the Expanded Dune canon by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson) names the fourth emperor of the Corrino Empire as Roderick Corrino, brother and not son of his predecessor, Salvador Corrino.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The Dune Encyclopedia, "EMPERORS OF THE KNOWN UNIVERSE"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The Dune Encyclopedia, "SPACING GUILD, FOUNDATION"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Dune Encyclopedia, "A CHRONOLOGY OF SOME IMPORTANT EVENTS IN HUMAN HISTORY"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 The Dune Encyclopedia, "TUPILE"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 The Dune Encyclopedia, "CHOAM"
- ↑ The Dune Encyclopedia, "IMPERIAL ADMINISTRATION"
- ↑ The Dune Encyclopedia, "IX"
Notes[]
- ↑ Akbar means "greater" or "greatest" in Arabic.
- ↑ Although "Akbar" is just a nickname for the emperor, the regnal number of the much later emperor Akbar II Avelard XX counts Saudir as "Akbar I".
| Preceded by Corrin I Palaigo |
Emperor of the Known Universe 12 BG–70 AG |
Succeeded by Henoor II Negara I |