Xavier Harkonnen
Encyclopedia
Xavier Harkonnen is a character in the fictional Dune universe
. Xavier's role existed in the Legends of Dune
series, in the books Dune: The Butlerian Jihad
and Dune: The Machine Crusade
. He was also referenced in Dune: The Battle of Corrin
.
Unlike his descendant Vladimir Harkonnen
, Xavier was noble in nature, courageous, and possessed unshakable integrity. In the series, Xavier Harkonnen was born to wealthy nobles, Ulf and Katarina Harkonnen. At the age of six, Xavier's parents were killed by thinking machines
, and he was later adopted by Emil and Lucille Tantor. He received a military commission at age 19.
Xavier courted Serena Butler
, daughter of viceroy Manion Butler, and fathered her son Manion, who was killed by thinking machines in an act which incited the jihad. Manion the Innocent was revered as a martyr.
Xavier was credited for the strategy which overcame the cymek attack on Salusa Secundus
, after which he was awarded the rank of Tercero First Grade. During the attack, he ordered all of the military units to fall back and protect the planentary shield generators which caused much of Zimia to be destroyed. At first many units disregard his orders, but eventually they fell back.
Eventually he orchestrated the destruction of the cymeks by picking them off one at a time. After eight of nearly thirty cymeks have been destroyed, the others retreated, leaving Zimia in ruin, but the planet secure.
After Serena's disappearance from the League of Nobles, Xavier married Octa Butler. Through this union, Xavier became the patron of both House Butler
and House Harkonnen
. At the start of the Jihad, it was Xavier's idea to bombard Earth
with a massive nuclear strike, destroying the primary stronghold of Omnius.
Xavier became a Primero (general) in the Army of the Jihad alongside Vorian Atreides
; while the two initially were rivals for Serena Butler's love, they eventually became good friends and battle comrades. For most of his career, Xavier was highly regarded as one of humanity's champions. Xavier later sacrificed his life and his reputation in order to eliminate the corrupt Grand Patriarch of the Jihad, Iblis Ginjo. However, it was Iblis who came to be revered as a martyr while Xavier was marked as a traitor.
Abulurd's brother Faykan adopted the surname Corrino and became the first Padishah Emperor
.
Dune universe
Dune is a science fiction franchise which originated with the 1965 novel Dune by Frank Herbert. Considered by many to be the greatest science fiction novel of all time, Dune is frequently cited as the best-selling science fiction novel in history...
. Xavier's role existed in the Legends of Dune
Legends of Dune
Legends of Dune is a prequel trilogy of novels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, set in Frank Herbert's Dune universe.* Dune: The Butlerian Jihad * Dune: The Machine Crusade * Dune: The Battle of Corrin...
series, in the books Dune: The Butlerian Jihad
Dune: The Butlerian Jihad
Dune: The Butlerian Jihad is a 2002 science fiction novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, set in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. It is the first book in the Legends of Dune prequel trilogy, which takes place over 10,000 years before the events of Frank Herbert's...
and Dune: The Machine Crusade
Dune: The Machine Crusade
Dune: The Machine Crusade is a 2003 science fiction novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, set in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. It is the second book in the Legends of Dune prequel trilogy, which takes place over 10,000 years before the events of Frank Herbert's...
. He was also referenced in Dune: The Battle of Corrin
Dune: The Battle of Corrin
Dune: The Battle of Corrin is a 2004 science fiction novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, set in the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. It is the third book in the Legends of Dune prequel trilogy, which takes place over 10,000 years before the events of Frank Herbert's...
.
Unlike his descendant Vladimir Harkonnen
Vladimir Harkonnen
The Baron Vladimir Harkonnen is a fictional character from the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. He is primarily featured in the 1965 novel Dune, in which he is the secondary antagonist, and is also a major character in the Prelude to Dune prequel trilogy by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson...
, Xavier was noble in nature, courageous, and possessed unshakable integrity. In the series, Xavier Harkonnen was born to wealthy nobles, Ulf and Katarina Harkonnen. At the age of six, Xavier's parents were killed by thinking machines
Thinking machines (Dune)
Thinking machines is a collective term for artificial intelligence in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. The Butlerian Jihad a human crusade against thinking machines is an epic turning point in the back-story of the Dune universe...
, and he was later adopted by Emil and Lucille Tantor. He received a military commission at age 19.
Xavier courted Serena Butler
Serena Butler
Serena Butler is a character in Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Legends of Dune series, a trilogy of novels set during the Butlerian Jihad, the war against thinking machines only vaguely referred to in Frank Herbert's original Dune series....
, daughter of viceroy Manion Butler, and fathered her son Manion, who was killed by thinking machines in an act which incited the jihad. Manion the Innocent was revered as a martyr.
Xavier was credited for the strategy which overcame the cymek attack on Salusa Secundus
Salusa Secundus
Salusa Secundus is a fictional planet appearing in Frank Herbert's Dune universe. With harsh conditions rivaling those of the desert planet Arrakis, Salusa is used as the Imperial Prison Planet, and is one of two planets on which shigawire is grown .-Dune:In "Terminology of the Imperium," the...
, after which he was awarded the rank of Tercero First Grade. During the attack, he ordered all of the military units to fall back and protect the planentary shield generators which caused much of Zimia to be destroyed. At first many units disregard his orders, but eventually they fell back.
Eventually he orchestrated the destruction of the cymeks by picking them off one at a time. After eight of nearly thirty cymeks have been destroyed, the others retreated, leaving Zimia in ruin, but the planet secure.
After Serena's disappearance from the League of Nobles, Xavier married Octa Butler. Through this union, Xavier became the patron of both House Butler
House Corrino
Imperial House Corrino is a fictional noble family from the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. The Corrinos come to power after mankind's victory against the thinking machines at the Battle of Corrin , and rule until deposed by Paul Atreides approximately 10,000 years later during the events...
and House Harkonnen
House Harkonnen
House Harkonnen is a powerful noble family in Frank Herbert's fictional Dune universe. The Harkonnens are featured prominently in the original 1965 novel Dune, and are also a major presence in both the Prelude to Dune and Legends of Dune prequel trilogies by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson...
. At the start of the Jihad, it was Xavier's idea to bombard Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
with a massive nuclear strike, destroying the primary stronghold of Omnius.
Xavier became a Primero (general) in the Army of the Jihad alongside Vorian Atreides
Vorian Atreides
Vorian Atreides is a fictional character in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. The ancestor of Paul Atreides, Vorian is a key character in the Legends of Dune trilogy created by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.-Family history:...
; while the two initially were rivals for Serena Butler's love, they eventually became good friends and battle comrades. For most of his career, Xavier was highly regarded as one of humanity's champions. Xavier later sacrificed his life and his reputation in order to eliminate the corrupt Grand Patriarch of the Jihad, Iblis Ginjo. However, it was Iblis who came to be revered as a martyr while Xavier was marked as a traitor.
Legacy
The Harkonnen name became tarnished and Xavier's descendants adopted the surname, Butler. It was Xavier's grandson, Abulurd, who after learning the truth from Vorian, decided to revive the Harkonnen name and, to the dismay of the League and the disapproval of his father, Quentin Butler, he changed his name to Abulurd Harkonnen.Abulurd's brother Faykan adopted the surname Corrino and became the first Padishah Emperor
Padishah Emperor
Padishah Emperor is the title given to the hereditary rulers of the Old Empire in the science fiction Dune universe created by Frank Herbert.-Original series:...
.