The Haut are the ruling and highest class aristocracy of the Cetagandan Empire

Cetaganda

Cetaganda is the collective name for an 8-planet empire in the Wormhole Nexus of the Vorkosigan Saga novels of Lois McMaster Bujold.-Cetagandan Society:...

 in Lois McMaster Bujold

Lois McMaster Bujold

Lois McMaster Bujold is an American author of science fiction and fantasy works. Bujold is one of the most acclaimed writers in her field, having won the prestigious Hugo Award for best novel four times, matching Robert A. Heinlein's record. Her novella The Mountains of Mourning won both the Hugo...

's sci-fi series, the Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan Saga

The Vorkosigan Saga is a series of science fiction novels and short stories set in a common fictional universe by American author Lois McMaster Bujold. Most of these were published between 1986 and 2002, with the exceptions being “Winterfair Gifts” and Cryoburn...

.

Who they are

The Haut are effectively the ruling upper upper class of Cetaganda

Cetaganda

Cetaganda is the collective name for an 8-planet empire in the Wormhole Nexus of the Vorkosigan Saga novels of Lois McMaster Bujold.-Cetagandan Society:...

. While they do not control the military directly, they control the ghem-Lords

Ghem (cetaganda)

The Ghem are the lower aristocracy of the Cetagandan Empire in Lois McMaster Bujold's science-fiction series, the Vorkosigan SagaThe Ghem are the military caste and the lower aristocracy of Cetaganda. The main way for Ghem males to gain prestige and recognition is to serve with distinction in the...

 that do run the army. They genetically engineer themselves towards the objective of perfecting humanity.

Haut Lords

The male Haut are called Haut Lords. When referring to a Haut lord (or lady) one says, "That is the haut Lord Kety." They can also be known by simpler titles, such as "Haut Pel".

Satrap Governors

There are eight planets that comprise the Cetagandan Empire. Each planet is ruled by a Haut Governor. These positions are rotated by five year terms to prevent the governors from developing a power base.

Haut Ladies

The Haut ladies are completely distinct from the Haut Lords. A select group of them run the haut genome and ensure genetic progress is made for the good of the haut. Less fortunate haut ladies are given as wives to honor successful ghem, usually decorated admirals or generals, as an honor they cannot refuse. Haut women are also genetically augmented to be extremely attractive.

Star Crèche

The Star Crèche contains all haut genetic material. The Empress of Cetaganda is responsible for it, causing her, and the other haut women who run it, to wield enormous power among the haut. Haut, who all have 47 chromosomes, do not reproduce on their own but are given genetically engineered haut fetuses in uterine replicators who will become their children, solely at the discression of the Star Crèche. Contracts are reached to determine which constellations cross and how. Control of reproduction is another way that the Haut leaders on Cetaganda control the Satraps, the other haut and, by extension, the entire empire.

Planetary Consort

This is the female counterpart to the Satrap Governors, though their appointments are lifelong instead of 5 years at a time. Their titles are the "Consort" of their planet, instead of to the governor. They are charged with facilitating contracts for the creation of the haut children for their planets, acting as intermediaries between the haut lords and the Empress, and supervision of the yearly shipment of haut children who are created at the Celestial garden on Cetaganda, and sent to each planetary satrap.

See also

• The Ba of Cetaganda
• The Ghem of Cetaganda
  Ghem (cetaganda)
  The Ghem are the lower aristocracy of the Cetagandan Empire in Lois McMaster Bujold's science-fiction series, the Vorkosigan SagaThe Ghem are the military caste and the lower aristocracy of Cetaganda. The main way for Ghem males to gain prestige and recognition is to serve with distinction in the...