Bel Riose

Bel Riose was a fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. He is a highly skilled and successful Imperial general, often considered the last great general of the Galactic Empire. Riose appears in the novel Foundation and Empire.

Riose, despite being a loyal servant of the Emperor Cleon II, is portrayed as a man of integrity and honor. He is notable for his military brilliance and strategic thinking, posing a significant threat to the fledgling Foundation. He is dispatched by Cleon II to investigate rumors of a powerful force on the Periphery, which leads him into conflict with the Foundation.

Although Riose achieves several victories against the Foundation, his success ultimately becomes his undoing. Cleon II, suspicious of Riose's popularity and potential ambition, fears a coup. As a result, Cleon II recalls Riose to Trantor on trumped-up charges of treason and has him executed.

Bel Riose's story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of success and the paranoia inherent in decaying empires. He represents a figure of competence and morality within a corrupt and declining system, ultimately destroyed by the very system he served. His campaign against the Foundation is significant as it showcases the Foundation's ability to overcome military superiority through political maneuvering and psychological warfare, despite its relative lack of resources.