Padishah Emperor Sheuset I Costin I^[1] (d. 70 BG), also called Sheuset Costin I,^[2] Sheuset Corrino I,^[3] or simply Sheuset I,^[4] was the first Emperor of the Known Universe (r. 88–70 BG) and the founder of both House Corrino and the Corrino Imperium.^[5]

Origin

Sheuset was from the planet Salusa Secundus.^[2] Before his rise as emperor, Sheuset was known as Count Sheuset Ecevit.^[3] Sheuset was the son of Count Costin, and the grandson of Count Palaigo Corrino.^[5]

By the early first century BG, Sheuset had risen to become Burseg of the Sardaukar, powerful tribal soldier-fanatics on Salusa Secundus.^[2] The Sardaukar were widely known as ruthless, elite, and fanatically devoted to their commanders.^[2]

Rise to power

In the aftermath of the Butlerian Jihad (200–108 BG), various noble houses, states, and factions in the Known Universe fought wars of expansion against one another.^[2] During one of these wars, House Megara enlisted the Sardaukar as mercenaries,^[2] bringing them to space for the first time.^[4] This proved disastrous, as the Sardaukar took this chance to leave Salusa Secundus, conquered Megara, and began a wave of fanatic campaigns unparalleled since the Jihad.^[2] Using ships captured from the Megarans, the Sardaukar under Sheuset conquered a wide sector in the vicinity of Megara.^[2]

The Landsraad soon began to see Sheuset's Sardaukar as a threat. Since space travel was still slow in the Jihad's aftermath, the Landsraad had time to prepare their own forces.^[2] The resulting conflict saw constant defeats for the Landsraad^[4] and reached its climax at the Battle of Corrin, a space battle fought in 88 BG in the Corrin quasi-nebula.^[3] Sheuset wished for a decisive victory to cement the power of his family, hoping for a surface battle.^[3] The Sardauakar forces were however ambushed in space by the Landsraad, believed to be due to the treachery of Abulurd Harkonnen,^[3] a relative of Sheuset's and a Colonel Bashar who commanded the main Sardaukar force at the battle.^[5] The Sardaukar achieved a tactical victory regardless,^[2] in part due to the effort of the officer Demetrios Atreides.^[6] Sheuset took the name "House Corrino" for his family, after the site of the battle.^[3] His original branch of the Corrino dynasty would in later times be referred to as the House of Saluso Corrino.^[1]

Although they had been victorious at Corrin, the battle had also resulted in a strategic stalemate, with neither side likely to achieve complete victory without great casualties. The Great Houses were cowed, but the Sardaukar were ill-prepared to fight an extended war. Seeing the wisdom of compromise,^[2] Sheuset presided over negotiations that led to the Treaty of Corrin.^[4] This treaty granted imperial powers to Sheuset and his family^[4] and established the relationship between the new emperor and the Landsraad, founding the Corrino Imperium.^[7]

Reign

During the first years of Sheuset's reign, expansionist campaigns consolidated his power and channeled the battle-lust of his soldiers.^[2] Some Landsraad houses refused to sign the Treaty of Corrin and some independent plantery rulers denied being bound by it, though most were eventually brought to heel using the Sardaukar.^[2]

In 86 BG, Demetrios Atreides was ennobled for his services to the Imperium, named Baron Tantalos and given large estates on Enskog.^[6] Abulurd Harkonnen and his family were banished from the Imperium indefinitely, though the family of Abulurd's demibrother Ivan Harkonnen was spared this disgrace since Ivan had given his life for those he had commanded. Ivan's son, Nikolai Harkonnen, was made Duke of Eluzai in 82 BG and given several lucrative wine monopolies.^[5]

Family

Sheuset had several daughters. One of his younger daughters died in the Battle of Corrin.^[3] He had at least one son, Henoor I Salusa I, who became the second emperor after Sheuset's death in 70 BG.^[1]

References

Preceded by None

Emperor of the Known Universe 88-70 BG

Succeeded by Henoor I Salusa I