A tr Tttubat Hetter (ong pub Caladan, rep Kajtam Varna), p 127 3Imelda Vtshyarad, Barren Branches Later Works ed Aubergiae ro'Soca (Saiusa Secundus Gravlak) p 66 'Deezur Astiki, Occasional Poetry ed and tr O B Prthmeis, Studies at Atreidean History 85 (Paseo Institute of Oalacto Fremen Culture) p 145 5Idem, Later Works, ed and tr O B Pithiviers Studies m Atreidean History 87 (Paseo Inst of Galacto-Fremea Culture), p 289 Further references FREMEN POETRY HARQ AL HARBA O B Pithivierb A History of Atreidean Literature (Gnimman Hartley UP) IMPERIUM, FEUDAL PATTERNS OF. While precise details of the relationships among the empire's most powerful forces, the emperor, the Houses Major and Houses Minor the Landsraad, and the Spacing Guild, will have to await the completion ot translations of all documents now available in the Rakis Finds, the fundamental feudalism of the old empire has been established beyond all doubt Feudalism-a political system often regarded today ab primitive-was feasible m that past as a way to most efficiently govern such a widely dispersed empire of established planets-each with the capability to be self sustaining while retaining unique characteristics-and a constantly expanding frontier of new planets For an empire that lacked the technological developments necessary to efficiently offset the distances and differences between such planets feudalism alone had the proper combination of stability and flexibility, centralization and decentralization, to make accommodation under one system possible Even so the feudal empire required the most delicate balance of forces of interlocking loyalties and responsibilities, to maintain itself Political power, civilization itself, rested upon a tripod made up of the emperor, his vassals, and their means of communication and contact-the Spacing Guild All power was centralized in the person of the Padishah Emperor who in name at least owned the entire empire In practice, the term "Padishah Emperor' meant the head of House Cornno from the Battle of Cornn in 88 B G , which established the ascendancy of the Imperial House to the downfall of Shaddam IV and the establishment of the Regency in 10196-an uninterrupted period of 10284 years standard (For the fate of the empire after 10196, see ATREIDES HOUSE ) Although House Cornno could be said to have reigned over the entire galaxy it ruled only a minuscule portion of that galaxy directly-most notabl) Kaitan, the seat of the Imperial Court and Saiusa Secundus homeworld of House Comno, transformed IMPERIUM FEUDAL PATTERNS 344 IMPfcRIUM FEUDAL PATTERNS into the Imperial Prison Planet The rest of the galaxy was held in fief by individual Houses Major, any one of which could hold a large number of planets or even planetary systems in precana from the emperor Such fiefs were normally granted in perpetuity to a Great House, yet they could escheat to the emperor in default of an heir to a House (a circumstance resulting more often from a House being forced into exile than from the failure of a genetic line) or the emperor could declare a fief forfeit owing to the failure of a House to fulfill its feudal obligations Stich reversions of a fief to direct Imperial control were, however, com paratively rare, except m the case of those fiefs that carried with them exceptional wealth and/or political power, such as Arrakis (documented by (War Bruus, The Political History of&utte (Fides Maftfaanj) The granting of a fief to the ruler of a House Major earned with it Imperial protection against violations of the Great Convention in House-to-House disputes, and against the (possible, but never realized) threat of invasion by extra-galactic, non human adversaries An Imperial fief also guaranteed the holder status as a House Major and thus representation in the Landsraad, membership (although not necessarily a directorship) in CHO&M, Guild shaping privileges (contingent upon Guild approval), and immunity from direct Imperial interference Indirect interference, in die form of spies, official' 'visits' by dignitaries, and even sabotage, was constant and expected (as detailed by Zhuura/h Nimku, / Lived Three Lives Memoirs of a Double Agent [Zimaona.