Sardaukar: the Emperor's prison-world troops
the imperial terror troops
Raised on the penal planet Salusa Secundus and feared across the Known Universe. The Fremen beat them on Arrakis and put Paul Atreides on the throne.
The Sardaukar were the elite military force of the Padishah Emperor, serving prominently throughout the Corrino Empire and later passing to the command of Leto Atreides II when Farad'n Corrino submitted to the Atreides. Founded by House Corrino and headquartered on the prison planet Salusa Secundus, they were renowned and feared throughout the Known Universe for their fanatic zeal, superior fighting abilities, and sheer ruthlessness. (Dune; Dune (appendix); Children of Dune)
Upbringing and training#
Members of the Sardaukar were raised from a young age in an unforgiving natural environment, the Corrino prison planet Salusa Secundus, where almost half of them, six out of every thirteen, died before the age of eleven. Intense training gave them formidable swordsmanship and espionage abilities and built a warrior mystique that bound them to the Imperial House. Their fighting prowess was renowned throughout the Old Imperium. At the apex of their sway it was said that their swordsmanship was comparable to that of a Ginaz Tenth Level and that their cunning at in-fighting matched that of a Bene Gesserit adept. Any one Sardaukar was rated a match for ten standard Landsraad military conscripts. Only the Fremen, raised in the fanatical warrior culture and merciless desert of Arrakis, were capable of matching them. The Fremen scorned Harkonnen soldiers as cowardly and weak, but judged that the Sardaukar fought well and respected them to some degree. (Dune; Dune (appendix))
The fall of House Atreides#
In the year 10,191 A.G., Emperor Shaddam IV entered into a deal with House Harkonnen to eliminate House Atreides, whose popularity had become a threat to the Emperor and to other powerful interests such as the Bene Gesserit and the Spacing Guild. The Emperor compelled Duke Leto Atreides I to give up his fief of Caladan and move to Arrakis, the sole source of the spice melange. He then loaned Sardaukar troops to Baron Vladimir Harkonnen for the attack on the Atreides. For the operation the Sardaukar dressed in Harkonnen uniforms but the Atreides recognised them by their fighting style. What the Emperor and the Baron did not plan on was the survival of Leto's consort Jessica and his son Paul, who were driven into the desert and taken in by the Fremen. (Dune)
Defeat on Arrakis#
Paul rose to a position of leadership among the Fremen and led them in a guerrilla war that all but stopped spice production on Arrakis. During one raid against the Fremen, the Sardaukar killed the firstborn son of Paul and Chani. With the Guild pressing him, Shaddam sent five legions of Sardaukar to Arrakis, but it did no good. The Sardaukar were crushed by the Fremen, and the Emperor was captured by Paul and his Fremen allies. The defeat opened the way for Paul Atreides to ascend to the Golden Lion Throne. (Dune)
Appearance and fighting style#
Their fighting style was distinctive enough that veteran Atreides soldiers could pick them out even in Harkonnen uniform. They were taught from infancy to use cruelty as a weapon and to show a near-suicidal disregard for their own safety. They carried ingeniously concealed weapons on their persons, such as shigawire in their hair or a false toe or two fitted with small stabbing blades, and they were experts at covert operations, able to conceal themselves among groups for extended periods before they attacked. (Dune; Dune (appendix))
Later history#
Following the Arrakis Affair and Shaddam's deposition, the Sardaukar were exiled with the rest of House Corrino to Salusa Secundus. Their numbers were cut back so the Corrinos could not rise against the Atreides, and they became a marginal force. Shaddam's daughter Wensicia Corrino attempted to restore them, hardening a new generation of them on Salusa Secundus with the help of the Bashar Tyekanik. Her son Farad'n shared none of her ambition. He refused to go through with her plans, became the consort of Ghanima Atreides, and with his submission the Sardaukar passed into the service of the new Emperor Leto Atreides II. (Dune (appendix); Children of Dune)
Frequently asked questions
- Who were the Sardaukar?
- The Sardaukar were the elite military force of the Padishah Emperor, founded by House Corrino and headquartered on the prison planet Salusa Secundus. They were renowned and feared throughout the Known Universe for their fanatic zeal, superior fighting abilities, and sheer ruthlessness.
- How were the Sardaukar trained?
- Members of the Sardaukar were raised from a young age in the unforgiving environment of Salusa Secundus, where almost half died before the age of eleven. Intense training gave them formidable swordsmanship and espionage abilities and built a warrior mystique that bound them to the Imperial House.
- How strong were the Sardaukar in battle?
- Any one Sardaukar was rated a match for ten standard Landsraad military conscripts, and their swordsmanship was said to be comparable to that of a Ginaz Tenth Level. Only the Fremen, raised in the merciless desert of Arrakis, were judged capable of matching them.
- How were the Sardaukar defeated on Arrakis?
- Emperor Shaddam IV loaned Sardaukar to House Harkonnen for the attack on House Atreides, but Paul Atreides survived and led the Fremen in a guerrilla war. When Shaddam sent five legions to Arrakis, the Sardaukar were crushed by the Fremen and the Emperor was captured, opening the way for Paul to ascend to the Golden Lion Throne.
- What happened to the Sardaukar after the fall of House Corrino?
- Following Shaddam's deposition, the Sardaukar were exiled with House Corrino to Salusa Secundus, and their numbers were cut back. Wensicia Corrino later attempted to restore them, but her son Farad'n refused her plans, and with his submission to the Atreides the Sardaukar passed to the new Emperor Leto Atreides II.
Gallery
Images via Dune Wiki
Sources
- BookDune, Frank Herbert, 1965
- BookDune (appendix), Frank Herbert, 1965; the appendices and Terminology of the Imperium printed with Dune
- BookChildren of Dune, Frank Herbert, 1976
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
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