Haut (cetaganda)

The Haut are the ruling and highest class aristocracy of the Cetagandan Empire in Lois McMaster Bujold's sci-fi series, the Vorkosigan Saga.

Who They Are

The Haut are effectively the ruling upper upper class of Cetaganda. While they do not control the military directly, they control the ghem-Lords that do run the army. They are genetically engineered in the most flagrant manner possible: They are trying to perfect humanity.

Haut Lords

The male Haut are called Haut Lords. When referring to a Haut lord (or lady) one says, "That is the haut Lord Kety."

atrap Governors

There are eight planets that comprise the Cetagandan Empire. Each planet is ruled by a Haut Governor. These positions are rotated around in five year terms to prevent the governors from developing a power base.

Haut Ladies

The Haut ladies are completely distinct from the Haut Lords. They run the haut genome and ensure genetic progress is made for the good of the haut.

tar Crèche

This is the haut genome. The Empress of Cetaganda is responsible for it and the Haut as a whole also take care of it. Contracts are reached to determine which constellations cross and how.

Planetary Consort

This is the female counterpart to the Satrap Governors, though their appointments are lifelong instead of every 5 years. Their titles are the "Consort" of their planet, instead of to the governor. They are charged with facilitating contracts for the creation of the haut children for their planets, acting as intermediaries between the haut lords and the Empress and supervision of the yearly shipment of haut children who are created at the Celestial garden on Cetaganda, and sent to each planetary satrap.

ee also

* The Ba of Cetaganda
* The Ghem of Cetaganda