Farad'n Corrino: the scribe Harq al-Ada
Farad'n Corrino was the grandson of the deposed Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, raised to reclaim the throne but turned instead toward scholarship by the Lady Jessica. Renouncing his mother's ambitions, he became the official scribe of the Atreides Empire under the pen name Harq al-Ada and the concubine of Ghanima Atreides.
Prince Farad'n Corrino, also known by his pen name Harq al-Ada, was the son of Wensicia Corrino and the grandson of the deposed Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV. Although raised on Salusa Secundus to reclaim the Golden Lion Throne, he became best remembered as the official scribe of the Atreides Empire and the exclusive concubine of Padishah Empress Ghanima Atreides. (Children of Dune)
Early life on Salusa Secundus#
Farad'n was the son of Shaddam's daughter Wensicia Corrino. By the time he reached childhood, House Corrino's rule over the Imperium had ended, and he was raised on Salusa Secundus, the home of the dethroned House. His domineering and ambitious mother, intent on using her talented son to reclaim the Golden Lion Throne, pushed him hard in his education, and by adolescence his relationship with Wensicia had grown strained and difficult. (Children of Dune)
His upbringing involved training in the Sardaukar ways under his principal instructor Tyekanik, a Sardaukar Bashar. The Sardaukar hoped Farad'n would restore them to glory despite his bookishness and tendency toward philosophical introspection. For most of his adolescence and young adulthood he preferred his own pursuits, studying law, government, and philosophy. He studied Atreides law closely, hoping to learn how House Atreides had defeated the Corrinos. (Children of Dune)
The teachings of Jessica#
Farad'n was also trained briefly in the Bene Gesserit ways by the Lady Jessica. Her instruction reached the young man and developed his potential in ways his own mother had not, drawing a sharp contrast with Wensicia, whom he increasingly saw as a hindrance to true statesmanship rather than an advantage. Jessica's teachings showed him that his mother's schemes to put him on the imperial throne were clumsy, short-sighted, and distasteful. This was made plain in his anger and disgust upon learning of her plot to kill the Atreides twins Leto II and Ghanima using Laza tigers. (Children of Dune)
Harq al-Ada#
Possessing none of his mother's ambition, vindictiveness, or desire for vengeance, Farad'n refused to cooperate with her plans and had her banished to an isolated area of Salusa Secundus. Through Jessica's Bene Gesserit teachings he found himself an integral part of Leto II's Golden Path. He was designated the exclusive concubine of Ghanima Atreides, so that the two noble bloodlines could be merged to seed future generations and so that the obedience of the Sardaukar, who remained loyal to House Corrino, could be assured. (Children of Dune)
Farad'n became the official scribe of the Atreides Empire, writing under the pen name Leto gave him, Harq al-Ada, meaning the one who changes customs. Although he theoretically superseded his aunt Irulan Corrino, who had devoted much of her life to documenting the histories of the Corrinos and Atreides, her works remained seminal. Among the writings attributed to him were The Book of Leto, Leto's Vow, The Leto Commentary, The Preacher at Arrakeen, The Story of Liet-Kynes, and analyses of the Arrakeen transformation and the Butlerian Jihad. (Children of Dune; God Emperor of Dune)
Frequently asked questions
- Who was Farad'n Corrino?
- Prince Farad'n Corrino was the son of Wensicia Corrino and the grandson of the deposed Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV. Although raised on Salusa Secundus to reclaim the Golden Lion Throne, he became best remembered as the official scribe of the Atreides Empire and the exclusive concubine of Padishah Empress Ghanima Atreides.
- What was Farad'n Corrino's upbringing like?
- Farad'n was raised on Salusa Secundus, the home of the dethroned House Corrino, by his domineering and ambitious mother Wensicia, who pushed him hard in his education to reclaim the throne. He trained in the Sardaukar ways under the Bashar Tyekanik, but was bookish and philosophical by nature, preferring to study law, government, and philosophy.
- How did the Lady Jessica influence Farad'n Corrino?
- Farad'n was trained briefly in the Bene Gesserit ways by the Lady Jessica, whose instruction developed his potential in ways his own mother had not. Her teachings led him to conclude that his mother's schemes to put him on the throne were clumsy, short-sighted, and distasteful, made plain by his anger upon learning of her plot to kill the Atreides twins with Laza tigers.
- Why did Farad'n Corrino become the concubine of Ghanima Atreides?
- Through Jessica's Bene Gesserit teachings, Farad'n found himself an integral part of Leto II's Golden Path. He was designated the exclusive concubine of Ghanima Atreides so that the two noble bloodlines could be merged to seed future generations and so the obedience of the Sardaukar, who remained loyal to House Corrino, could be assured.
- What does the pen name Harq al-Ada mean?
- Harq al-Ada was the pen name Leto gave Farad'n, meaning the one who changes customs. As official scribe of the Atreides Empire, his attributed writings included The Book of Leto, Leto's Vow, The Leto Commentary, The Preacher at Arrakeen, and The Story of Liet-Kynes.
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Sources
- BookChildren of Dune, Frank Herbert, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1976
- BookGod Emperor of Dune, Frank Herbert, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1981
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
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