House Atreides

From Dune

House Atreides
Status	House Major
Symbol	Hawk
Army	Regular Great House, Fremen
Uniform	Green
Colors	Green & Black
Homeworld	Caladan, later Arrakis
Ruling Title	Duke, Emperor, God-Emperor

House Atreides was one of the Houses Major within the galactic infrastructure of the Imperium. They were ruled by the patriarch of the Atreides family, who took the title of Duke.

Contents 1 Origins of House Atreides 2 Origins of Hawk Symbol of House Atreides 3 Geographic Center of House Atreides 4 End of House Atreides 5 Known Rulers of House Atreides 6 Behind the Scenes 7 The Dune Encyclopedia

[edit] Origins of House Atreides

The legend stated that the Atreides family came from a noble family that originated in Greece on Earth, and that they rose to prominence during the Butlerian Jihad. House Atreides also claimed descent from King Agamemnon, a son of Atreus, in Greek mythology. The descendants of Atreus are called "Atreides" (plural "Atreidai", Latinized as "Atreidae") in the Greek language. This Royal House included many significant figures in Greek myth.

A more detailed account traces the emergence and rise of Vorian Atreides, the biological son of the Cymek Agamemnon. After turning against his father and the AI ruler Omnius, Vorian aligned himself with the League of Nobles, and helped lead them to eventual victory and the destruction of the Thinking Machines. This proved the catalyst for the growth of his personal prestige, and the foundation of House Atreides. ^‡

[edit] Origins of Hawk Symbol of House Atreides

In the prequel novel, Dune: The Battle of Corrin, Vorian Atreides adopts the hawk to be his official isignia on his Army of Humanity. Vorian had just returned to Salusa Secundus after killing the remaining Titans Juno, Dante, and his own father Agamemnon on the ice planet of Hessra. While speaking to BasharAbulurd Harkonnen, Vorian stated now that the Cymek threat had been eliminated he could focus on destroying the CorrinOmnius. The Hawk would serve as a reminder of his duty to humanity.

[edit] Geographic Center of House Atreides

Up until the latter days of Duke Leto Atreides I, House Atreides maintained the planetary fief of and had their center of operation on the planet Caladan, which they had ruled for twenty generations. House Atreides had perfected a form of government that resulted in a well-organized society and a spiritually satisfied people. Little wonder that Caladan was the lush, prosperous paradise for which it was renown. However, the House was also proficient in war; it maintained Swordmasters, Warmasters and Mentats to train and lead their army, and had even developed its own Battle Language.

At the request of Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV, Leto I moved the House to planet Arrakis, to take over mining operations of the Spice Melange from House Harkonnen. However, Leto I was walking into a trap set up by a newly-formed alliance between House Harkonnen and House Corrino.

Arrakis remained the home of House Attreides until its official end.

[edit] End of House Atreides

Leto Atreides II's lack of a direct heir, coupled with his decision to dissolve the Atreides Empire after his 3,500 year-long life came to and end, saw House Atreides cease to exist as a tangible political power. However, the Atreides bloodline continued through Leto II's twin sister (and legal wife) Ghanima Atreides and her concubine Farad'n Corrino.

[edit] Known Rulers of House Atreides

• Vorian Atreides, founder and (possibly) first Duke (non-canon)
• Paulus Atreides, nineteenth Duke (non-canon)
• Leto Atreides I, twentieth Duke
• Paul Atreides, twenty-first Duke and Emperor
• Leto Atreides II, twenty-second (and last) Duke and God-Emperor

[edit] Behind the Scenes

Frank Herbert elaborates only briefly on the origins of House Atreides in his original novels. Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson outline the origins of House Atreides in more detail in their Legends of Dune trilogy.

[edit] The Dune Encyclopedia

The Dune Encyclopedia indicates that the Atreides ruled Caladan for approximately 2000 years. This would seem accurate, considering that Frank Herbert's original Dune (novel) indicated that the Atreides had ruled Caladan for 20 generations prior to Paul. Moreover, since the Dune novel also outlines that an Atreides was present at the Battle of Corrin and was ennobled through his actions there; it would be fair to assume that they maintained other titles, privileges and siridar-fiefs from the Battle of Corrin until their fief of Caladan. However, this timespan of 8000 years is not within Frank Herbert's story arc.

The Dune Encyclopedia attempts to shed light on these missing 8000 years by detailing a rich history for the Atreides, as well as various other titles, including: the House of Pelops, and successively Lords of Tantalos, Counts of Thuestes, Counts of Aramanli,Counts Chalcedony, Siridar Counts of Hoosak Norn, in the Cleo System, Siridar Counts of Hestia, Dukes of Atreus, Siridar Dukes of Gallatin, Siridar Dukes of Caladan, Siridar Dukes of Arrakis, and Emperors of the Known Universe; junior titles include Barons Pelops, Barons Menelaus, Barons Aigisthos, Counts Atreides, Counts Gamnonides; distaff titles include Barons Mukenai, Lords Theseides, and Counts Delos.

Below is an unofficial list of Atreides Dukes of Caladan and Arrakis:

SIRIDAR-DUKES OF ATREIDES CALADANIDES AND ARRIKIDES

1. Paulos XVI (8677)8711-8749

2. Kallistos HI (s) 8749-8799

3. Basilibs 11 (b) 8799-8818

4. Paulos XVII (s) 8818-8820

5. Delos (u) 8820-8825

6. Theseus VIH (n) 8825-8862

7. Demetrios XXX (s) 8862-8904

8. Herakles (b) 8904-8925

9. Basilios III (s) 8925-8961

10. Philippos XI (s) 8961-8977

11. Minos IV (b) 8977-8978

12. Herakles (b) 8978-8989

13. Odusseus IV (b) 8989-9004

14. Nestor VII (b) 9004-9055

15. Philippos XH (s) 9055-9116

16. Perseus VII (b) 9116

15. Philippos XII (restored) 9116-9123

17. Demetrios XXI (s) 9123-9173

18. Philippos Xm (s) 9173-9222

19. Orestes H (s) 9222-9249

20. Meoelaos V (b) 9249-9268

21. Alexandras VIH (b) 9268-9301

22. Orestes III (s) 9301-9355

23. Philippos XTV (s) 9355-9449

24. Arislakes I (c) 9449-9458

25. Pausanias XXII (n) 9458-9541

26. Aristakes n (s) 9541-9567

27. Pleistarchos (u) 9567-9569

28. Konstantinos VII (s) 9569-9584

29. Aristakes III (s) 9584-9652

30. Philodelphos or Minos V (b) 9652-9675

31. Pausanias XXIII (s) 9675-9711

32. Demetrios XXXII (s) 9711-9740

33. Aristakes IV (b) 9740-9744

34. Kuros (2nd c) 9744-9769

35. Elias III (s) 9769-9800

36. Minos VI (s) 9800-9851

37. Orestes IV (s) 9851-9876

38. Minos VII (s) 9876-9913

39. Iakobos II (b) 9913-9929

40. Kalman (b) 9929-9942

41. Minos VIII (s) 9942-9988

42. Philippos XV (s) 9988-10035

43. Minos IX (s) 10035-10077

44. Paulos XVIII (s) 10077-10116

45. Minotauros (Mintor) (b) 10116-10163

46. Leto I (s) 10163-10191

47. Paulos XIX (s) 10191-10218

48. Leto II (s) 10219-13724