Elrood Corrino IX
the eightieth Padishah Emperor
Elrood Corrino IX was the 80th and penultimate Padishah Emperor of the Corrino Empire, whose long reign ended in the slow poison of a chaumurky plot that raised his son Shaddam IV to the Golden Lion Throne.
Elrood Corrino IX was the 80th and penultimate Padishah Emperor of the Corrino Empire and one of the last Emperors of the Known Universe. His long reign over House Corrino from Kaitain ended when he succumbed to a slow poison, and the throne passed to his son Shaddam Corrino IV. (Dune; Dune: House Atreides)
Reign#
Elrood Corrino IX was born in 9999 AG and held the Golden Lion Throne as the 80th and penultimate Padishah Emperor of the Corrino Empire, ranking among the last Emperors of the Known Universe. His court at Kaitain was managed in part by his Chamberlain, Aken Hesban, a sallow-faced man with long drooping mustaches who attended the Emperor's audiences, including those granted to royalty such as Earl Dominic Vernius, and who was by all indication intensely loyal to his master. (Dune: House Atreides)
Over the course of his rule Elrood took several wives. His first was Barbara Mutelli, who bore him a daughter, Wensicia, and a son who died in infancy. He later married Alexandra Ecaz, mother of Crown Prince Fafnir. He also kept Shando Vernius as a concubine before she left the court. Through these unions and his many children, the Corrino succession ran down to his heir, Shaddam. (Dune: House Atreides)
The Ecazi Revolt and the rule of Arrakis#
Elrood's reign was marked by conflict with House Ecaz. The Ecazi Revolt drew Imperial forces and allies into a campaign to restore Archduke Ferdinand Ecaz to the Mahogany Throne, a war in which Duke Paulus Atreides of Caladan played a part and during which the young Earl Dominic Vernius lent Ixian forces to the Emperor's cause. (Dune: House Atreides)
In 10153 AG, Elrood appointed the ecologist Pardot Kynes as Imperial Planetologist on Arrakis, a posting that would, in time, set in motion the secret transformation of the desert planet far beyond anything the Emperor intended. (Dune: House Atreides)
The chaumurky plot#
In his final years, Elrood became the target of a patient and deadly conspiracy. His son Shaddam, impatient for the throne, schemed with his close confidant Hasimir Fenring to remove the aging Emperor. The two, together with Elrood himself in matters of policy, also developed secret plans concerning Ix, plans from which the loyal Chamberlain Aken Hesban was deliberately excluded. (Dune: House Atreides)
Elrood was poisoned with N'kee, a chaumurky agent that worked slowly and could not be detected even by his physicians, who attributed his decline to old age. He died in 10156 AG. The frequently discredited Pirate History of Corrino preserved a curious account placing the blame for his death on Count Hasimir Fenring. With Elrood gone, Shaddam ascended the Golden Lion Throne as Shaddam Corrino IV, and the loyal Aken Hesban was removed from court. (Dune; Dune: House Atreides)
Frequently asked questions
- Who was Elrood Corrino IX?
- Elrood Corrino IX was the 80th and penultimate Padishah Emperor of the Corrino Empire and one of the last Emperors of the Known Universe. Born in 9999 AG, he held the Golden Lion Throne from Kaitain until his death in 10156 AG.
- Who were the wives of Elrood Corrino IX?
- Over the course of his rule Elrood took several wives: his first was Barbara Mutelli, mother of his daughter Wensicia; and later Alexandra Ecaz, mother of Crown Prince Fafnir. He also kept Shando Vernius as a concubine before she left the court.
- What happened during the reign of Elrood Corrino IX?
- His reign was marked by the Ecazi Revolt, a campaign to restore Archduke Ferdinand Ecaz to the Mahogany Throne. In 10153 AG he appointed the ecologist Pardot Kynes as Imperial Planetologist on Arrakis, a posting that would later set in motion the secret transformation of the desert planet.
- How did Elrood Corrino IX die?
- Elrood was poisoned with N'kee, a slow chaumurky agent that could not be detected even by his physicians, who attributed his decline to old age. He died in 10156 AG as the target of a conspiracy by his son Shaddam and Hasimir Fenring, after which Shaddam ascended the throne as Shaddam Corrino IV.
Sources
- BookDune, Frank Herbert, Chilton Books, 1965
- BookDune: House Atreides, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, 1999 (expanded universe)
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
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