The Mule

The Mule is a central character in Foundation and Empire and Second Foundation. Foundation's Edge reveals that he originally came from the planet Gaia, but was regarded as an aberration on a world where mental powers were being developed for benevolent ends. His childhood was one of torment and alienation. The Mule becomes aware of his great mental powers in his twenties and develops a desire to compensate for his earlier life by dominating humanity. No indication is ever given of any other names for him besides 'The Mule', a name he apparently gave himself, 'Magnifico Giganticus', an alias he takes up to travel among Foundationers, and his statement as Magnifico that his name used to be Bobo.

The Mule is one of the greatest conquerors the galaxy has ever seen. He is a mentalic and partial telepath, who has the ability to reach into the minds of others and 'adjust' their emotions, individually or en masse, using this ability to conscript people to his cause. Not direct mind-~control per se, it is a subtle influence of the subconscious; persons under the Mule's influence behave otherwise normally ~ logic, memories, and personality intact. ~ Isaac Asimov, Foundation series .... ..