Cleon I is a recurring character in the Apple TV+ series Foundation.
He is the first Emperor of the Genetic Dynasty, ruling some four hundred years before the events on the series. Cleon I is portrayed by Terrence Mann, first appearing in the episode "Preparing to Live".
Biography
Birth of the Genetic Dynasty
Cleon I reflects on his legacy with Demerzal
Cleon I was the son of Empress Winoset.[2]
As a child, Cleon liked counting faces and wandering around the palace, he stumbled upon a face on a mural 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 him to set her free but he said no - she would be freer than him. He would become Emperor soon as his mother died, and he 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. He said he would never return, but he came back regardless. He freed her from her trapped state, but still kept her imprisoned in the room. He wants to hear more stories from her and she tells more and more explicit ones to encourage him to desire.[3]
During his rule, Cleon I and Demerzel engaged in a sexual relationship.[4]
As he 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. He 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. 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. Soon after, he dies leaving Demerzel to watch over and serve the next Emperor.[3]
She supported his decision, 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]
Legacy
Cleon I's body was preserved within the Imperial Palace's Principium Tower, and kept as the source of all genetic material for subsequent clones.[5] 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.[6] After his death, Cleon I would be remembered by the epithet "The Dreamer."[1] A hologram of Cleon I in his prime greeted arrivals when they docked at Trantor Station.[5]
Appearances
- Season One
- "The Emperor's Peace" (First mentioned)
- "Preparing to Live"
- "The Mathematician's Ghost" (First appearance)
- Season Two
- "In Seldon's Shadow" (Mentioned only)
- "The Sighted and the Seen" (as a digital projection)
- "Why the Gods Made Wine"
- "A Necessary Death"