Cleon12 is a main character in the Apple TV+ series Foundation. He is the twelfth Emperor of the Genetic Dynasty. At the time of Hari Seldon's arrest and the subsequent founding of the Foundation, he ruled on the middle throne of the Galactic Empire as Brother Day, the most powerful. He is capable of being charming but is also prone to volcanic eruptions of anger. Cleon12 is initially portrayed by Lee Pace, first appearing in the episode "The Emperor's Peace". From "The Mathematician's Ghost", he is portrayed by Terrence Mann.
Biography[]
Cleon12 ruled as Brother Day at the time the Foundation was proposed and established. He and the elder Cleon11 helped to educate the young Cleon13 on the subtleties of ruling the Galactic Empire, along with their aide Demerzel. Cleon12 sat on the middle throne when he met with delegates from Thespis and Anacreon, having to maintain the peace when Imperial appraisers were caught in the crossfire during their mining dispute. After the trial of Hari Seldon and Gaal Dornick, he met with Hari and granted him the resources needed to establish the Foundation. However, fearing the consequences of emboldening his followers, he exiled them the planet of Terminus, a barren world at the edge of the galaxy.[2]
After the Star Bridge was destroyed in a terrorist attack, Cleon12 ordered Anacreon and Thespis to be bombed. He had images of the orbital bombardments broadcast on Trantor, forcing the ambassadors to watch as members of the diplomatic delegations from both worlds were executed in a show of the Empire's strength. He allowed the ambassadors to live and return to their homeworlds with word of their failures.[3]
In 12,086 Era Imperial, Cleon12 saw to the ascension of Cleon11, with the dying Emperor proclaiming Cleon12 to be the new Brother Dusk. Cleon14 was presented to Cleon11 as a newborn, and becomes the new Brother Dawn, with Cleon13 becoming the new Brother Day on the middle throne of the Empire.[1]
In 12,102 Era Imperial, the Empire is informed of the death of Proxima Opal, who Cleon12 once helped to install as the head of Luminism. Her death caused a potential crisis for followers of Luminism in the Empire, as a potential successor, Zephyr Halima, championed a return to the Primary Octavo, which considered clones to be incapable of individuated sentience, as in its belief the soul only cleaves to one body. Dusk proclaims he will travel to to Opal's funeral on the Maiden and address the conclave. However, Day blames Dusk for the problems plaguing the Empire, such as his handling of the Seldon crisis and the bombing of Anacreon and Thespis. He orders him to remain on Trantor, while he travels to the Maiden for Opal's funeral. As Day departs Trantor, Dusk orders Kray Dorwin to head to Terminus and remind the Foundation they are still Imperial citizens after a communications buoy in the Arcturus Sector goes offline.[4]
While Day is away, Dusk introduces Dawn to the pastime of hunting Ghillie raptors, which are difficult to see because they blend in with the environment. Dusk is impressed to see that Dawn has caught three, the same as his own record. He later introduces Dawn to the sexual pleasures of the Gossamer Court. Before the memories of the woman Dawn chose are to be wiped, Dusk meets with her, and learns that he did not sleep with her. He orders the woman to tell him everything Dawn said to him.[5]
Appearances[]
- Season One
- "The Emperor's Peace" (First appearance)
- "Preparing to Live"
- "The Mathematician's Ghost"
- "Barbarians at the Gate"
- "Death and the Maiden"