Caladan
From Dune
Caladan was the third planet orbiting the star Delta Pavonis. It was a lush oceanic world, and the ancestral home of House Atreides for twenty-six generations, prior to their relocation to the planet Arrakis in 10191 AG Rain also appeared to be a common feature of the planet's meteorology. The land was also broken by rivers and mountains. The planet hosted a diverse and complex underwater ecosystem, and presumably an equally rich and complex biology of the land.
Contents |
[edit] The Continents
[edit] History
[edit] Around the Butlerian Jihad
[edit] During the Atreides
Caladan was the birthplace of both of Duke Leto Atreides I's sons, both Victor Atreides and Paul Atreides, and most of Paul's ancestors that had been heads of House Atreides and rulers of the planet.
In 10,191 AG House Atreides was ordered to relinquish the fief of Caladan, which had been the family's home for more than 10,000 years. Instead, they were to take control of the fief of Arrakis, which had previously been managed by House Harkonnen, the ancient Atreides enemy.
After the Atreides moved to Arrakis, Count Hasimir Fenring was named Siridar-Absentia of Caladan.
However, when House Atreides ascended to the Golden Lion Throne in 10,193 following the Arrakis Revolt, Caladan once again came under the direct rule of the Atreides, and Paul installed Prince Xidd Orlaq from Ecaz as temporary ruler there.
After Paul had been Emperor for a year, he and Jessica made a trip back to Caladan to be welcomed as the new ruler of the Known Universe. As Paul visited Cala City, and was to visit the memorial Statues of Paulus Atreides, [his grandfather], and Victor Atreides, [his half-brother], he was told of the Fremen capture of Kaitain. As Paul cut his trip to Caladan short, he realized that he had become Emperor, and was no longer just a Duke.
[edit] Jessica as Duchess
He installed his mother, Jessica, as Duchess of the water world; and she stayed and guided the planet. A year later, in 10,198 AG, Jessica returned to Arrakis to visit Paul, and happened to arrive on Dune on the same heighliner as Gurney Halleck. The two returned to Caladan a few weeks later as good friends, and Jessica continued her just rule.
A few months later, Paul uncovered a plot to destroy much of Caladan, which originated with the rebel Earl Memnon Thorvald, and his forces being transported by the Guild Navigator Beric. Thorvald planned to attack the water world with an immense force of allied houses, decimate Cala City; and if not kill, take Jessica and Gurney hostage. Paul discovered the attack while in a deep prescience trance, and the entire plot was foiled. Paul notified Jessica of the averted attack, and she read the proclamation of Paul's protection to an eager Caladanian populace.
Jessica did not leave again until seven years later, when they secretly left after Paul's "death", and disappearance into the desert. She and Halleck returned soon thereafter, and she did not leave again for eight years, when she desired to meet her young grandchildren on Arrakis.
After Paul's Jihad spread throughout the Imperium, many people desired to pilgrimage to Caladan as part of a holy quest to retrace Atreides travels through history. However, due to the Lady Jessica's insistence, Caladan was spared from the pilgrimage trail, and the subsequent thronging hordes. During that time, the Caladani people, under the initial direction of Gurney Halleck, spent much of their time and energy removing the remnants of Harkonnen rule from planet Giedi Prime, renaming it as Gammu.
[edit] During the Time of Kralizec
In the 5000 years between the events of the Arrakis Revolt and the time the Lost Ones returned from The Scattering, Caladan's name was shortened to Dan, and all things pertaining to Dan were known as Danian.
[edit] Economy & Culture
Caladan maintained a large agricultural industry. Under the Atreides, the planet's economy flourished through orchards (some of which were part of the Atreides family holdings), as well as exports of pundi rice and fine wines. Since much of the planet was ocean, a significant amount of trade on the planet was based on fishing. Indeed, fishing was such a large industry on Caladan that it became ingrained into the culture of its people. Any view of the sea from the coastline would frequently be dotted with fishing trawlers.
[edit] Governance and Military
The Great House of Atreides ruled all aspects of Caladan and maintained it as a Duchy and siridar fief under the Imperium. The Atreides ruled Caladan through dominance of both the sea and the air, while maintaining a regular standing army that was fiercely loyal. However, shortly before leaving for Arrakis, the Atreides had managed to train a small, elite force that was comparable in ability to the Imperial Sardaukar forces.
[edit] Behind the Scenes
The original Dune novels by Frank Herbert specify Caladan as the birthplace of Paul Atreides. The Prelude to Dune novels by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson specify Kaitain as his birthplace. Anderson and the younger Herbert attempt to explain this discrepancy by saying Kaitain was actually Paul's place of birth, but that he was moved to Caladan right afterwards, and that his official naming ceremony took place on Caladan. However, Dune Messiah specifically states that Caladan was Paul's "birthplace".
