Dagobert VIII is a character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series.
About Dagobert[]
Dagobert was the Crown Prince of the so-called Neotrantor Empire during the reign of his aged and senile father, Dagobert IX. As the effective regent due to his father's mental decline, he controlled what little remained of the Galactic Empire's authority, which by 295 F.E. was confined to a single planet and a handful of nearby worlds. He was the intended successor to the throne and would have reigned as Dagobert X had he outlived his father.
The Prince was a weak and corrupt figure, easily manipulated by the ambitious and treacherous Jord Commason, the Governor of Neotrantor. Together, they conspired against visitors from the Foundation, Ebling Mis, Toran Darell, and Bayta Darell, seeing them as pawns in their petty political games.
His fate was sealed when he directly attacked Bayta Darell. In response, Magnifico Giganticus, the Mule who was present in disguise, used a Visi-Sonor to kill the Crown Prince instantly. This act was not one of defense of the Empire, but a calculated move by the Mule to eliminate an obstacle and ingratiate himself with the Foundation party.
Dagobert's death had profound historical consequences. As the last viable heir, his death ensured that the line of Galactic Emperors, which had stretched back for over 12,000 years, would end with his father. He died as he lived: a footnote to history, whose only significance was to mark the final, irreversible extinction of the Imperial dynasty he sought to inherit.
Appearances[]