Shey Tapani was an Old Republic noble and the man who united the Expanse. In a twenty year civil war, Tapani, the lord of House Melantha, waged a war against the other Noble Houses, which were then independent kingdoms. He finally triumphed over the Rogue Houses at the Battle of Shindra's Veil, where he completely eliminated two rival houses and caused another to collapse on itself. No longer opposed, Tapani crowned himself Emperor of the Tapani sector. Two successors of Shey Tapani were Gorgano IV and Leocald VII.