Sardaukar

Sardaukar
Sardaukar by John Schoenherr, from The Illustrated Dune (1978)
Plot element from the Dune franchise
First appearance	Dune (1965)
Created by	Frank Herbert
Genre	Science fiction
In-story information
Type	Soldiers
Specific traits and abilities	Harshly trained, virtually undefeatable army
Affiliation	Padishah Emperor House Corrino

The Sardaukar /ˈsɑːrdəkɑːr/ are a fictional fanatical army from Frank Herbert's Dune universe, primarily featured in the 1965 science fiction novel Dune, as well as Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's Prelude to Dune prequel trilogy (1999–2001).

The Imperial Sardaukar are soldier-fanatics loyal to the Padishah Emperors of House Corrino, who have ruled the Known Universe (the Imperium) for over 10,000 years at the time of the events of the first novel in the series, Dune. The key to House Corrino's hold on the Imperial throne, the Sardaukar troops are the foremost soldiers in the universe and are feared by all. They are secretly trained on the inhospitable Imperial Prison Planet of Salusa Secundus: the harsh conditions there ensure that only the strongest and most "ferocious" men survive. Sardaukar training emphasizes ruthlessness, near-suicidal disregard for personal safety, and the use of cruelty as a standard weapon in order to weaken opponents with terror. In Dune, a Sardaukar colonel sneers at Dr. Yueh's mere mention of the word "pity".Dune describes the elite fighters as living a life almost "as exalted as that of any member of a Great House". Their uniforms are described as gray with silver and gold trim.

As Dune begins, the 81st Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV has put Duke Leto Atreides in control of the desert planet Arrakis, known as Dune, which is the only source of the all-important spice melange, the most valuable commodity in the known universe. Leto is aware that Shaddam, threatened by the rising power and influence of House Atreides, has sent him into a trap; failure to meet or exceed the production volume of their predecessors, the vicious House Harkonnen, will negatively affect the financial and political position of the Atreides. Further, the very presence of the Atreides on Arrakis inflames the 10,000-year-old feud between Houses Atreides and Harkonnen. A subsequent surprise attack on the Atreides by Harkonnen troops — bolstered by two legions of Sardaukar in Harkonnen colors – and made possible by a traitor on the inside, results in the obliteration of the Atreides forces, and the death of Leto. His concubine, Lady Jessica, and son Paul escape and find refuge with the native Fremen of Arrakis, a fierce people with secretly large numbers and fighting skills rivaling the Sardaukar. The Fremen prove capable of holding their own against the Sardaukar, and are even able to defeat and capture the "undefeatable" Emperor's soldiers. Paul's training in Bene Gesserit martial arts and galvanization of their rebellion under his command makes the newly allied Fremen forces unstoppable.