By the time of Frank Herbert's Dune, the Imperium's rulers, House Corrino, are but a fading echo of their former glory. Emperor Shaddam may sit the throne as Padishah Emperor, but true power is in the hands of figures like Paul Atreides and Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. HBO's Dune: Prophecy, set approximately 10,000 years prior, shows House Corrino at the height of its power, with a devious ruling couple, an ambitious princess, and a suave illegitimate son. Dune: Prophecy's take on House Corrino is a group of schemers who are constantly navigating complex relationships both personal and political.