WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Dune: Prophecy.
The first episode of Dune: Prophecy features some of the original members of the House Corrino bloodline on the idyllic planet Salusa Secundas. Dune: Prophecy is a six-part series based on the 2012 novel Dune Brotherhoodwhich was written by the original Dune son of author Frank Herbert, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson. The story takes place more than 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreidies, narrated in the book by Denis Villenueve. Dune (2020) and Dune: Part Two (2024). Dune: Prophecy reveals the origins of the powerful shadow brotherhood known as the Bene Gesserit and how they manipulated the destiny of humanity.
Dune: Prophecy features three members of the Corrino family line, with whom the Bene Gesserit formed a close alliance over the 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreides. The current emperor in Dune: Prophecy is Javicco Corrino by Mark Strong who shares the imperial throne with his wife, Empress Natalya (Jodhi May). Their daughter, Princess Ynez Corrino (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina), is among the first of the Corrino royal line to enroll to learn the teachings of the Bene Gesserit. Typically, women who enter the Sisterhood are assigned to a Great House after they graduate, but Ynez would become the first Empress to also be a Sister.
Importance and power of House Corrino in the Dune universe
House Corrino ruled the Empire for 10,000 years before the first Dune novel
House Corrino has sat on the throne of the Dune universe for up to 10,000 years. They are the faces of government and governmental order on the various planets and Great Houses. As the most elite and respected Great House in the known universe, created by Frank Herbert Dune novels, it was thought that it was impossible to take power from the Corrinos. This is why the rise of Paul Atreides becomes such a prophetic event in the world. Dune films and novels, as a shift in power dynamics of this magnitude had not occurred in millennia. Before Paul, House Corrino maintained a firm grip on the Empire.
According to Dune Wiki“Javicco Corrino was an Emperor who lived in the 1st century AD (After the Guild). During his rule, he had to manage a fragile peace within the Corrino Empire..” His government came into being after the end of the war against thinking machines that occurred before the events of the original Dune romance. The Bene Gesserit also established their most secret power over the Empire through their alliance with House Corrino, which is why they were able to secure the House Corrino bloodline for so many years. Emperor Shaddam IV, played by Christopher Walken in Dune: Part Twois a descendant of Emperor Javicco.
What happens to Salusa Secundus after Dune: Prophecy
It eventually became the exiled homeworld of the Imperial Army
Salusa Secundas was the ancient homeworld of House Corrino before finally being transferred to Kaitain. According to Dune Wiki“The headquarters of the empire were moved from the original seat of House Corrino, Salusa Secundus, which became the prison and training ground of Imperial Sardaukar. After the fall of the Corrino Empire in the Desert War, House Corrino left Kaitain and returned to live in Salusa Secunduss..” Although Salusa Secundas is presented as quite idyllic in Dune: Prophecyit eventually became the exiled planet where the Imperial Army, the Sardaukar, trained and maintained its military forces.
There is no clear explanation as to why House Corrino originally migrated from Salusa Secundas to Kaitain, other than the fact that the latter was a more paradisiacal place to live. Dune: Prophecy makes a major change in the canonical tradition of Dune novels in making Salusa Decundas seem like a profitable and desirable home planet, full of peace and life. According to Dune Wiki“Salusa Secundus is an inhospitable place, full of wild beasts, extreme temperatures, and difficult terrain. Due to the harshness of Salusa Secundus, it became Corrino’s prison planet. Those who violated imperial law and were found guilty were sentenced to prison on the planet.”
Dune films show the fall of the Corrino house
Paul Atreides defeats Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen and assumes the throne
Before Paul Atriedes rose to defeat Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen and claim the Emperor’s throne for himself, House Corrino ruled the empire for 10,000 years. It was in the year 10,193 AD that Paul Atreides removed Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV from his reign and demanded that he marry his daughter, Princess Irulan Corrino (Florence Pugh), at the end of Dune: Part Two. Paulo sought revenge on the Corrinos after what they did to his father, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Issac), in the first Dune film. The Emperor had “promoted” Duke Leto to oversee spice production on Arrakispreparing him for the Harkonenn to regain control of their planet.
In Dune: Part TwoHouse Corrino was appointed to extend their rule over the empire and form a new royal lineage with the help of the Bene Gesserit. The Bene Gesserit considered Feyd-Rautha Harkoennen their genetically favorite candidate to marry Princess Irulan Corrino. However, Paul Atreides became an underdog who also proved himself to be the Lisan al-Gaib in the eyes of the Fremen on Arrakis. Mother Reverend Lady Jessica’s mother, Paul summoned Feyd-Rautha and House Corrino after proving himself to be the first known man to use the powers of the Bene Gesseritincluding the power of the voice.
Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV is imprisoned in Salusa Secundus
Paulo banishes him after promising him a throne on the prison planet
Following the events of Dune: Part Two as described in Herbert’s second novel Dune: Messiah, Paul allows Shaddam Corrino IV to return to Salusa Secundus. According to Dune Wiki, “Before assuming the throne, Paul promised Shaddam IV that he would maintain a throne on Salusa Secundus, and that the planet would be transformed into a pleasant and beautiful world. This move was outwardly to show that he held respect for Shaddam, but in truth the move was to rob the deposed emperor of training grounds for his Sardaukar..”
It is unclear whether Shaddam IV will return to Dune: Part Threewhich must adapt Dune: Messiah. Although he didn’t appear much, he was still a central character in Dune: Part Two and his fate could be mentioned even in passing, even if Walken doesn’t return to reprise the role. He may be present at the wedding between Paul and Princess Irulan. Whereas Paul essentially banishes him to his home prison planet in Dune: Messiahhe probably won’t play much more of a role than what’s already been written about in the books. Dune: Prophecy establishes from the beginning the origins of the royal lineage to which Paul Atreides put a violent end.