Salusa Secundus: the prison that bred terror
the Corrino prison planet
House Corrino's first homeworld became the empire's penal planet once the court moved to Kaitain. Its cruelty was said to breed the Sardaukar.
Salusa Secundus was the third planet of the Gamma Waiping star system and the designated homeworld of House Corrino during its early history. After the royal court migrated to the paradise world of Kaitain, it became the empire's prison planet, and its brutal conditions were widely suspected of being the true source of the empire's elite Sardaukar troops. It was a harsh world of wild beasts, extreme temperatures, and difficult terrain, and one of only two planets in the universe where shigawire would grow. (Dune)
Environment and the Sardaukar#
Salusa Secundus was a harsh world, full of wild beasts, extreme temperatures, and difficult terrain, and it was one of only two planets known to grow shigawire. Its severity gave rise to the empire's most persistent military secret. Because the Corrinos used the planet as a prison, many across the Imperium suspected that its harshness was responsible for breeding the Sardaukar, the fierce and hardened soldiers who upheld Corrino power. This theory was held most strongly by the generals of House Atreides, who argued that so brutal an environment would forge a fierce people. Their belief was strengthened by their later discovery of the resilience and fighting skill of the Fremen on Arrakis. Before the time of Muad'Dib, however, very little was truly known of the planet's climate, and the origins and numbers of the Sardaukar remained matters of speculation. (Dune)
In Fremen tradition the world was remembered as a temporary home of the Wandering Zensunni, a planet on which nine generations of the Fremen ancestors were said to have lived as slaves, though the truth of that belief remained debatable. (Dune)
Under Shaddam IV#
At the end of the Arrakis revolt, Paul Atreides wrested the Imperial throne from House Corrino. Before taking power he promised Shaddam IV that the deposed Emperor would keep a throne on Salusa Secundus and that the planet would be transformed into a pleasant and beautiful world. Outwardly this was a gesture of respect, but in truth it was meant to deprive Shaddam of the training grounds for his Sardaukar. (Dune)
Shaddam then went into retirement, ruling over Salusa Secundus with the majority of his household in attendance. He lived to see the birth of his grandson, Farad'n Corrino, the son of his daughter Wensicia Corrino and her late husband Dalak, and from there he continually tried to encourage Count Hasimir Fenring to rejoin him so that together they might wrest the Imperium back for House Corrino. House Corrino was still there a generation later, when Wensicia plotted from Salusa Secundus to put Farad'n on the throne. (Dune Messiah; Children of Dune; Paul of Dune)
Frequently asked questions
- What was Salusa Secundus in Dune?
- Salusa Secundus was the third planet of the Gamma Waiping star system and the designated homeworld of House Corrino during its early history. After the royal court migrated to the paradise world of Kaitain, it became the empire's prison planet.
- Why was Salusa Secundus believed to breed the Sardaukar?
- Because the Corrinos used the planet as a prison, many across the Imperium suspected that its harsh world of wild beasts, extreme temperatures, and difficult terrain was responsible for forging the Sardaukar. This theory was held most strongly by the generals of House Atreides, whose belief was strengthened by their later discovery of the fighting skill of the Fremen on Arrakis.
- What happened to Salusa Secundus after Paul Atreides took the throne?
- When Paul Atreides wrested the Imperial throne from House Corrino, he promised the deposed Shaddam IV a throne on Salusa Secundus and the planet's transformation into a pleasant and beautiful world. Outwardly a gesture of respect, this was meant to deprive Shaddam of his Sardaukar training grounds.
- What did Shaddam IV do in his retirement on Salusa Secundus?
- Shaddam ruled over Salusa Secundus with the majority of his household in attendance, and he lived to see the birth of his grandson Farad'n Corrino. He continually tried to encourage Count Hasimir Fenring to rejoin him so that together they might wrest the Imperium back for House Corrino.
- What was special about Salusa Secundus's resources?
- Salusa Secundus was one of only two planets in the universe where shigawire would grow. House Corrino was still based there a generation after Shaddam's fall, when Wensicia plotted to put her son Farad'n on the throne.
Gallery
Images via Dune Wiki
Sources
- BookDune, Frank Herbert, Chilton Books, 1965; including the Terminology of the Imperium
- BookDune Messiah, Frank Herbert, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1969
- BookChildren of Dune, Frank Herbert, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1976
- BookPaul of Dune, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, 2008 (expanded books)
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
Followed from this entry
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