Sardaukar
The Sardaukar are a fictional military force from Frank Herbert's , primarily featured in the 1965 science fiction novel Dune, as well as Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Prelude to Dune prequel trilogy (1999-2001).
Background
The Imperial Sardaukar are soldier-fanatics loyal to the Padishah Emperors of House Corrino, who have ruled the Known Universe (the Imperium) for over 10,000 years at the time of the events of the first novel in the series, Dune. The key to House Corrino's hold on the Imperial throne, the Sardaukar troops are the foremost soldiers in the universe and are feared by all. They are secretly trained on the inhospitable Imperial Prison Planet of Salusa Secundus: the harsh conditions there ensure that only the strongest and most "ferocious" men survive. Sardaukar training emphasizes ruthlessness, near-suicidal disregard for personal safety, and the use of cruelty as a standard weapon in order to weaken opponents with terror.
Children of Dune
During the events of Children of Dune (1976), Princess Wensicia, younger daughter of Shaddam IV, initiates a plot for her family and the Sardaukar to return to power. By this time, Paul has allowed the Corrinos to retain only a relatively small Sardaukar force. He has improved conditions on Salusa under the guise of making the planet more hospitable for the exiled Corrinos, but with the intent of rendering it an ineffective training ground for more soldiers. Seeing this motive, Wensicia's son Farad'n has tried to maintain the strict discipline that keeps the Sardaukar at their best. However, Wensicia's efforts fail, and Farad'n voluntarily surrenders the army to the new Emperor, Paul's son Leto II Atreides.
God Emperor of Dune
The text of God Emperor of Dune notes that, during the 3,500-year reign of Leto II after the events of Children of Dune, one of Leto II's many gholas (clones) of Duncan Idaho had led the remnants of the Sardaukar in an unsuccessful revolt. This revolt, the Sardaukar's original defeat on Arrakis, and the general decline of the Sardaukar organization had all finally resulted in Leto II's abolishment of the Sardaukar corps. Their replacements are the all-female Fish Speakers, Leto II's personal army, who had Sardaukar blood in their veins. Leto believes that male-dominated military organizations were essentially predatory and would turn on the civilian population in the absence of an external enemy, and had "a strong tendency toward homosexual activities".
The Dune Encyclopedia
The Dune Encyclopedia (1984), written by Dr. Willis E. McNelly to accompany the Dune books, was authorized by Frank Herbert but somewhat contradicted by him in subsequent works and declared non-canon by his estate. The Encyclopedias two articles on the Sardaukar note that the Sardaukar battle flag is plain black, and that those who became Sardaukar had once been members of a warlike ethnic group on Salusa Secundus called the Sardau. Another article on an "Aramsham, Otto" mentions that, after the fall of the Corrino dynasty, the captain writes books hearkening back to the glory days of the Sardaukar. One is called The Sardaukar Strike! and another is called Sardaukar Victorious; the article goes on to say that he ended his life by suicide, unable to adjust to new realities.
Dune games
In the Dune board game published by Avalon Hill in 1979, the player in control of the Emperor faction had access to several special tokens that were designated as Sardaukar by being imprinted with stars. These tokens could be used to gain an advantage in battle.
The Sardaukar appeared in the Dune RTS games. In Dune II (1992) and Dune 2000 (1998), they served as House Corrino's infantry in the single player campaigns, although, in Dune 2000, they could also be trained by a Harkonnen player in a multiplayer game. In Emperor: Battle for Dune, they are one of the five sub-factions.
Background
The Imperial Sardaukar are soldier-fanatics loyal to the Padishah Emperors of House Corrino, who have ruled the Known Universe (the Imperium) for over 10,000 years at the time of the events of the first novel in the series, Dune. The key to House Corrino's hold on the Imperial throne, the Sardaukar troops are the foremost soldiers in the universe and are feared by all. They are secretly trained on the inhospitable Imperial Prison Planet of Salusa Secundus: the harsh conditions there ensure that only the strongest and most "ferocious" men survive. Sardaukar training emphasizes ruthlessness, near-suicidal disregard for personal safety, and the use of cruelty as a standard weapon in order to weaken opponents with terror.
Children of Dune
During the events of Children of Dune (1976), Princess Wensicia, younger daughter of Shaddam IV, initiates a plot for her family and the Sardaukar to return to power. By this time, Paul has allowed the Corrinos to retain only a relatively small Sardaukar force. He has improved conditions on Salusa under the guise of making the planet more hospitable for the exiled Corrinos, but with the intent of rendering it an ineffective training ground for more soldiers. Seeing this motive, Wensicia's son Farad'n has tried to maintain the strict discipline that keeps the Sardaukar at their best. However, Wensicia's efforts fail, and Farad'n voluntarily surrenders the army to the new Emperor, Paul's son Leto II Atreides.
God Emperor of Dune
The text of God Emperor of Dune notes that, during the 3,500-year reign of Leto II after the events of Children of Dune, one of Leto II's many gholas (clones) of Duncan Idaho had led the remnants of the Sardaukar in an unsuccessful revolt. This revolt, the Sardaukar's original defeat on Arrakis, and the general decline of the Sardaukar organization had all finally resulted in Leto II's abolishment of the Sardaukar corps. Their replacements are the all-female Fish Speakers, Leto II's personal army, who had Sardaukar blood in their veins. Leto believes that male-dominated military organizations were essentially predatory and would turn on the civilian population in the absence of an external enemy, and had "a strong tendency toward homosexual activities".
The Dune Encyclopedia
The Dune Encyclopedia (1984), written by Dr. Willis E. McNelly to accompany the Dune books, was authorized by Frank Herbert but somewhat contradicted by him in subsequent works and declared non-canon by his estate. The Encyclopedias two articles on the Sardaukar note that the Sardaukar battle flag is plain black, and that those who became Sardaukar had once been members of a warlike ethnic group on Salusa Secundus called the Sardau. Another article on an "Aramsham, Otto" mentions that, after the fall of the Corrino dynasty, the captain writes books hearkening back to the glory days of the Sardaukar. One is called The Sardaukar Strike! and another is called Sardaukar Victorious; the article goes on to say that he ended his life by suicide, unable to adjust to new realities.
Dune games
In the Dune board game published by Avalon Hill in 1979, the player in control of the Emperor faction had access to several special tokens that were designated as Sardaukar by being imprinted with stars. These tokens could be used to gain an advantage in battle.
The Sardaukar appeared in the Dune RTS games. In Dune II (1992) and Dune 2000 (1998), they served as House Corrino's infantry in the single player campaigns, although, in Dune 2000, they could also be trained by a Harkonnen player in a multiplayer game. In Emperor: Battle for Dune, they are one of the five sub-factions.
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