Cleon1 is a recurring character in the Apple TV+ series Foundation. He is the last Emperor of the Entun Dynasty and the first Emperor of the Genetic Dynasty, ruling some four hundred years before the events on the series. Cleon1 is portrayed mainly by Terrence Mann, with Cobhan O'Brien, Cassian Bilton, and Lee Pace portraying the character at various younger ages. Cleon1 first appears in the Season One episode "Preparing to Live" as a preserved body, and "The Mathematician's Ghost" in flashbacks.
Biography[]
Birth of the Genetic Dynasty[]
Cleon I reflects on his legacy with Demerzal
Cleon1 was the son of Empress Winoset II[2] and Stanel VI. As a child, Cleon liked counting faces and wandering around the Imperial Palace. During his explorations, he stumbled upon a face on the Mural of Souls which he touched. As he did so, it opened a passageway, revealing Demerzel who had been held prisoner for thousands of years. He kept revisiting her over the years, hearing her stories of the Robot Wars.[3]
One day, Demerzel asked Cleon to set her free but he said no - she would be freer than him as his mother had just died and he would become Emperor soon and would be chained to the throne. He stormed out of the room after she told a story of her past and why she should be set free. Cleon said he would never return, but he came back regardless. Eventually, he freed her from her trapped state, but still kept her imprisoned in the room. He wanted to hear more stories from her and she tells more and more explicit ones to encourage him to desire.[3]
As Cleon grew older, he had not produced an heir to the throne and called off a wedding at the last minute, ending hopes of that heir. He did this as he wanted Demerzel by his side. He had spent years working out how to safely free Demerzel, until he finally figured it out. Cleon brought her a gift from Earth and set her free. She did not harm him, and he placed a chip in the back of her neck, forcing her to serve Empire as part of her programming and circumventing the Three Laws. She is furious and he says it is a fair compromise to give her some freedom. He outlines his plan to her, how to continue the Genetic Dynasty, by planning for himself to be cloned, with an infant version of himself ruling as a successor, rather than choosing to have a spouse or a biological child. After some hesitation, she says she will love him.[3] During his rule, Cleon and Demerzel engaged in a sexual relationship.[4]
During his rule, Cleon established the Gossamer Court, an area of the Imperial Palace where the Emperor could enjoy the company of concubines whose memories were then erased.[5] He also ordered the construction of the Star Bridge.[1] Demerzel supported Cleon's decision to begin the Genetic Dynasty, though told him that he could still produce a natural heir if he wished. She told him that his legacy would live on, and he agreed, though he regretted not being able to live to see the completion of the Star Bridge.[1] Soon after, Cleon died, leaving Demerzel to watch over and serve the next Emperor.[3]
Legacy[]
Cleon1's body was preserved within the Imperial Palace's Principium Tower, and kept as the source of all genetic material for subsequent clones.[6] He set up a system that his exponents could trigger to activate a digitized version of himself that they could ask for advice in moments of crisis.[7] After his death, Cleon1 would be remembered by the epithet "The Dreamer," and his likeness was represented on a pedestal in the Hall of Cleons.[1] A hologram of Cleon1 in his prime greeted arrivals when they docked at Trantor Station.[6]
Appearances[]
- Season One
- "The Emperor's Peace" (First mentioned)
- "Preparing to Live" (First appearance) (as preserved body)
- "The Mathematician's Ghost"
- "Death and the Maiden" (Mentioned only)
- "Mysteries and Martyrs" (as preserved body)
- "The First Crisis" (Mentioned only)
- "The Leap" (as preserved body)
- Season Two
- "In Seldon's Shadow" (Mentioned only)
- "A Glimpse of Darkness" (as preserved body)
- "The Sighted and the Seen" (as a digital projection)
- "Why the Gods Made Wine"
- "A Necessary Death"
- "Long Ago, Not Far Away"
- "Creation Myths" (Mentioned only)
- Season Three
- "A Song for the End of Everything" (Mentioned only)