Imperium (Dune)
The Imperium is an empire that features in Dune.
Contents |
History
The Imperium
The Old Empire was an intergalactic civilisation that was formed by humanity as it colonised the galaxy. It stood for thousands of years where it was ruled by a succession of emperors with the last coming from the Boro family. In time, the empire came to depend on artificial intelligences hat rebelled where they attempted to overthrow their creators with this being spearheaded by the Twenty Titans. The Titans came to rule over humanity in a period known as the Time of Titans that lasted a century.
rule for some 100 years (called the Time of Titans) before they are overthrown themselves by the sentient computer network Omnius. Omnius and his Thinking Machines remain in control of the universe for a millennium before humankind defeats them in the Battle of Corrin, ending the Butlerian Jihad. Over 13,300 worlds were under Landsraad influence immediately after the Butlerian Jihad with this consisting of humankind's crusade against computers, thinking machines, and conscious robots.
By 10,191 AG, the Emperor had grown increasingly insecure about the rising influence and popularity of Duke Leto Atreides among the Landsraad council, viewing him as a direct threat to the throne. To neutralize the Duke without incurring the wrath of the other Great Houses, Shaddam IV devised a trap. He issued an Imperial decree that transferred the profitable fief of Arrakis—the universe’s only source of the vital spice melange—from the brutal House Harkonnen to House Atreides. This appeared to be a significant promotion, but it was, in fact, a death sentence. The Emperor had secretly allied with Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, leveraging their mutual hatred of the Atreides family to coordinate a massive, joint attack. The plan involved using the Emperor's elite Sardaukar troops, disguised in Harkonnen uniforms, to annihilate the Atreides forces once they had settled on the desert planet. The Atreides family was aware they were walking into a trap but had no choice but to obey the Emperor's command, thus setting the stage for their betrayal and the eventual war for control of Arrakis.
Over 10,000 years later, Paul Atreides deposes the 81st and last Corrino Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV. Paul's son, the God Emperor Leto II, rules with an iron fist for over 3,500 years. His death effectively abolishes the Imperial throne, and throws humanity into chaos. The breakdown of Leto's empire, severe famine on many worlds and the introduction of Ixian navigation machines causes trillions of people to leave the settled worlds, striking off into unknown space in an event known as the Scattering.
Around 1500 years after Leto II's death, some of the people who had fled into the unknown begin to return. The originating universe, which still revolves around spice production on the planet Rakis, is referred to as the "Old Empire" in comparison to the "Lost Ones" returning from the Scattering.
Overview
In appearance, the Imperium was an government that was ruled by a line of hereditary rulers known as the Padishah Emperor. The Old Empire was said to had operated as a kind of feudal regime.
Leadership of the empire was maintained by holding the Golden Lion Throne that was the previously held by House Corrino.
Political power was balanced precariously between the Emperor, the assembled noble houses of the Landsraad, and the monolithic CHOAM company, which managed the spice trade.
Organizations that operated in the empire included:
- Landsraad : a body that represented all the Great Houses during the days of the Imperium which was ruled by the High Council and overseen by the Padishah Emperor.
- Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles :
- Bene Gesserit :
- Bene Tleilax :
- Spacing Guild :
- Suk Inner School :
A notable Imperial official were the Judges of the Change that was a title given to those in charge of matters over a planetary fief, declarations and forms of kanly or even a War of Assassins.
The empire followed the dictates of a historic treaty known as the Great Convention that was brokered between the Great Houses, the Spacing Guild, and the Imperium shortly after the destruction of the thinking machines. It prohibited the use of atomics against human targets.
The Imperium's economy and stability hinge entirely on melange, a vital spice found exclusively on the desert planet Arrakis; this geriatric drug extends life and, crucially, grants the limited prescience necessary for Spacing Guild Navigators to safely plot interstellar travel by "folding space", effectively giving the Guild a monopoly on transport and banking.
There were over 13,300 worlds under that operated under the Landsraad's influence.
A piece of defensive technology used in the empire were Holtzman shields that were protective energy fields which could surround the person who wore it.
Stone Burners were a particularly powerful type of weapon used by the empire. Upon detonation, it triggered a large explosion and also released massive amounts of J-rays that could blind anyone in the area.
Members
- Tlaloc :
- Emi Chusuk :
- Shaddam Corrino IV :
- Liet Kynes :
Notes
- The Imperium was created by Frank Herbert and featured in the setting of the Dune universe.
In other media
Television
Films
Video games
Appearances
- Dune:
External Link
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