Shaddam IV

Shaddam IV of House Corrino is the Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe in Frank Herbert's Dune, his power resting on his Sardaukar troops and his control of Arrakis, the only source of the spice melange. Fearing Duke Leto Atreides' growing standing in the Landsraad, he gives Leto the spice operation on Arrakis and hides his move behind the old Atreides-Harkonnen feud. Baron Harkonnen's forces, secretly reinforced by Sardaukar and helped by a traitor in Leto's household, crush the Atreides; Leto dies and Jessica and Paul escape into the desert.

Years later a Fremen revolt brings Shaddam and his court to Arrakis, where Paul, now a Fremen leader, defeats the Harkonnen and Imperial forces. After Paul kills Feyd-Rautha in single combat and Count Fenring refuses to kill Paul, Shaddam has to give up the throne; Paul takes his daughter Irulan as consort and exiles him. He is the son of Elrood IX, has five daughters with his Bene Gesserit wife Anirul, and was played by José Ferrer (1984), Giancarlo Giannini (2000) and Christopher Walken (2024).