Paulos Atreides fled beyond the bounds of the Imperium with the last survivors of the Imperial House, including the recognized heir, a five-year-old grandson of Emperor Wallach II. From the edges of known space they conducted intermittent running battles with the Imperial forces, with very little gain. Paulos was killed in 1044 during a surprise attack on rebel headquarters; his underage son, Alexios, escaped with the Imperial heir, Prince Corrin. Emperor Feyd I died in 1051, as secure on his throne as any previous ruler had been; his son and successor, Estil II, was a weak and indecisive man, although not without intelligence; the Civil War degenerated into stalemate, with the rebels controlling the outer colonies, the Imperial Fleet controlling the main trading worlds and the Spacing Guild selling transport to both sides. Odusseus Atreides escaped his menial existence by enlisting in the Imperial forces under the name Uulavar Treys, commandeering a ship and selling it at Beta Coriolanus. There he bought the assistance of the Spacing Guild for a surprise raid on Ibleam III and IV that remains a classic example of the hit-and-run tactic, and is often cited in military textbooks to this day. Odusseus's raid (1096) was the beginning of the end for the Feyd regime; soon thereafter the Imperial forces began losing ground to the rebel attacks, until, at Estil's death of natural causes in 1099, only a few worlds remained in Imperial control. Estil's son and successor, Feyd II, was murdered by his own officers after two weeks of rule, and Josif I, son of Prince Corrin, was named Emperor, with his father as Regent. Only two Atreides heirs survived: Alexios Atreides was restored to all of his ancestor's titles, and further named Siridar Count of Hoosak Norn; Odusseus Atreides was named Count Chalcedony, and given vast estates in that system.
At the termination of the Regency in 1680, two decades of internecine war were used by Achilleus Atreides to further family interests. The chaos of this period was such that an Imperium-wide economic depression forced many of the Houses Minor, and several of the Houses Major, into bankruptcy or severe economic decline. Achilleus Atreides, sometimes called the "Merchant Count," sold the family estates on Chalcedony, used the money to invest in CHOAM shares of undeveloped worlds, and then developed the raw resources, selling the processed goods back to the Houses at huge profit. By the time of the inauguration of Emperor Corrin IV, in 1701, Achilleus was the richest man in the Imperium; he used his wealth to reduce the power of the Emperor. His grandson, Phillipos III, together with his brother, Markos Atreides, forced a rapid turnover in the occupants of the Imperial Chair, hoping in this way to prevent any one person from achieving great power. Historians call this period "The Era of the Princes." Atreides economic ascendancy ended in 2191, when Emperor Sidir XIII had Count Maximos Atreides killed during an Imperial audience; within two months Maximos's son, Peleus Atreides, had Sidir XIII poisoned in his own bed. The Landsraad refused to recognize any Imperial claimants for a period of six years. Peleus Atreides signed a truce with Baron Shahrukh Kenric, a cousins of the late emperor, and Shahrukh was named to the Imperial Chair in 2197. As a reward for his services, Peleus received the Imperial Sister as a bride, and was named Siridar Count of Hestia and Duke of Atreus in the year 2201.
Duke Demetrios XVII Atreides. (2355-2409) objected to the murder of Emperor Basil III at-Tam by his Sardaukar Commander, Harmhab (who reigned as Menemtahe VI), and made his feelings known to the Landsraad; Harmhab suspended that body, had Demetrios arrested, and then ordered the Duke publicly whipped, blinded, and gelded, on successive days. Demetrios was stripped of his titles and lands, and sent to the Imperial zoo, where he was ordered displayed "as a prime example of that endangered species, Homo perduellionis reus." Harmhab was soon deposed by a revolt of his household staff; the surviving Imperial heir, Kenric in, called al-Kam (the Clever), ordered Harmhab to be planted in the street up to his neck, where passers-by were offered the opportunity of sawing on his neck with a piece of paper. Demetrios was released from his public prison and restored to his estate and titles. In his later years, he became known as gourmet of exotic foods and drink; he would spend exorbitant sums merely to sample a dish that had been extraordinarily praised, or would travel great distances to obtain delicacies that could not survive transport. He died at the age of 99; his weight exceeded his age at his death by a factor of five.
Prominent in the middle years of the empire were such Atreides as the poet-Duke Paulos VII (died 2829); Baron Minos Atreides Theseides, the "Great Librarian"; Kharalambos Atreides Pelopides, an expert on ancient weapons, of whom it was said that he could put three shots into one hole at a distance of 100 meters; Duke Atreus IV (died 3401), who outlived six wives, and died in the arms of a seventh; Count Aristeteles Atreides Aigisthodes, who invented three new knots, was a master of perfumes, concocting one entirely new fragrance, and wrote an epic poem in Homeric Greek on the history of his family; Duke Agis III (died 3977), a master of the epee, a man obsessed with power, who was ultimately accused of high treason by Elrood VI, was tried by the Landsraad, and executed, without forfeiture of his titles or estates; Duke Archelaos II (died 4315), the finest gourmet of his time, of whom it was said he had "a palate given by the gods"; and Duke Kleomenes VI, executed in 4381 during the chaos that inaugurated the First Republic.
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Further references: HOUSE ATREIDES, FOUNDATION OF; ATREIDES, HOUSE, AND IMPERIAL RULE; Alvar Hoomwil, The House of Atreides in Historical Perspective, 22 v. (Caladan: Apex).
ATREIDES, HOUSE, and Imperial Rule
Suffering like the other Houses Major and Minor in the massacres of the Republic, the Atreides withdrew for a time from their home at Hestia to the colony planet of Gallatin: by the year 4400 most of the bloodshed was over, although the revolt of Ezhar V in 4404 caused great concern. Count Atreus Atreides (born 4498), a descendant of Emperor Estil I in the female line, rallied the Sardaukar around his claims, and mounted a coup d'etat in early 4552, proclaiming himself emperor as the first ruler of the House of Atreus Corrino. His Cousine, Duke Pausanias VIII, was created Siridar Duke of Gallatin in the first year of Atreus's reign; other surviving members of the family received lesser titles. Atreus made a serious attempt to reform the federal bureaucracy, and to merge the institutions and reforms of the First Republic with the old imperial structure; his reforms lasted as long as he was personally seated on the throne.
His son and heir, Emperor Mikael II, called "The Depraved," seem to follow his father's direction during the first few years of his rule; but after nearly dying from chaumurky, Mikael began to harass the Landsraad, accumulated personal rule, and began a reign of terror unparalleled in Imperial history. A massive popular revolt forced him to leave the throne in 4670, under the pretext of "retiring to a monastery"; in actual fact, he disappeared before the message was released to general rejoicing and sentiments of revenge, his fate remaining a mystery for hundreds of years. The Republic was restored, and remained in place until 4813, except for the sporadic revolts of various pretenders. Mikael was restored from cryogenic suspension in 4813, and ruled until 4888, when his eldest son of his second reign, having been imprisoned most of his life, deposed his father. There followed the brief reigns of the brother-Emperors, Mikael III, Mikael IV, Mikael V, and Mikael VI. The father, Mikael II, escaped from his prison cell in the spring of 4913, rounded up a handful of guards, and had his surviving sons murdered (one historical account quotes him as saying: "I can always breed new sons"). Two years later, while taking a bath, Mikael was murdered by one of his daughters, who threw a large piece of pure sodium into the water. His remains were left in the sun to rot outside the doorway to his palace. The Corrino heir, Corrin XIII, was proclaimed Emperor in 4935. Thereafter, Atreides Dukes stayed out of Imperial politics for several millennia.
In 7425 the Atreides supported the demi-House of Hajus Corrino against the corrupt line of Irulon Corrino. Siridar Duchess Hippolute Atreides threw her resources behind Fredhrick al-Hajus in 7425, and when several of the other Houses Major followed her lead, Fredhrick was acclaimed Emperor the following year. For her efforts, Hippolute was mad
e Imperial Consort; her children, Fredhrick II and Alia VII, ruled jointly after their father's death in 7456. At Hippolute's death in 7477, her sister, Duchess Clio II, succeeded; she expired childless in 7501, leaving her niece, Empress Alia, to inherit the Ducal throne; at Alia's death in 7519, her son Sidir XVIII became Emperor, and her second son, Saurophon, succeeded to the Duchy. Saurophon's son, Siridar-Duke Prince Nestor IV, was stripped of his Imperial titles when he cast an avaricious eye upon the Imperial Seat; a second such episode cost him his life in 7553. The rivalry between the two sibling Houses continued until 8008, when the Atreides clan supported Tiiopa'il Roonaladh in overthrowing Emperor Fredhrick IX; one historian quotes reigning Siridar-Duke Telemachos Atreides as saying: "If I can't have the bloody throne, neither can my quivering Cousine!" Telemachos was impeached before the Landsraad in 8015, and executed after a trial that lasted just two days. During his defense, he had but one statement to make: "Evidently, I was wrong."
The Atreides redeemed themselves in 8705, when they supported a revolt by the main line of the Corrinos, an action which resulted in the inauguration of Elrood VIII as Emperor in 8708. The Atreides were reconfirmed in all their dignities, and further awarded the Siridar-Dukedom of Caladan in 8711. Siridar-Duke Paulos XVI Atreides sold many of his other estates, and moved his entire family to this singularly beautiful planet (occupying Castle Caladan upon its completion in 8722), establishing his Cousines on nearby planets and systems. The ensuing centuries saw such distinguished soldier-politicians as Siridar-Duke: the Lord High Admiral of the Fleet Agesipolis II Atreides, Count Thomas Atreides-Gamnonides. Baron Platon Atreides Gallatinos, Lord Chrusostomos Atreides-Kallinikes, Bashar Count Klemes Atreides Hestiades, and many others. A complete list of the Siridar-Dukes of Caladan follows.
With the marriage between Siridar-Duke Paulos XIX Atreides and the Imperial Heir, Princess Regent Irulan III, in 10196, the House of Atreides once again became merged with the Imperial fortunes. The succession in 10208 of Emperor-Duke Leto II, 269th Head of the House of Atreides, maintained the Atreides Imperium until 13724.
SIRIDAR-DUKES OF ATREIDES CALADANIDES AND ARRIKIDES
1. Paulos XVI (8677)8711-8749
2. Kallistos III (s) 8749-8799
3. Basilios II (b) 8799-8818
4. Paulos XVII (s) 8818-8820
5. Delos (u) 8820-8825
6. Theseus VIII (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 XII (s) 9055-9116
16. Perseus VII (b) 9116
15. Philippos XII (restored) 9116-9123
17. Demetrios XXI (s) 9123-9173
18. Philippos XIII (s) 9173-9222
19. Orestes II (s) 9222-9249
20. Menelaos V (b) 9249-9268
21. Alexandras VIII (b) 9268-9301
22. Orestes III (s) 9301-9355
23. Philippos XIV (s) 9355-9449
24. Aristakes I (c) 9449-9458
25. Pausanias XXII (n) 9458-9541
26. Aristakes II (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
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Further references: ATREIDES HOUSE, FOUNDATION OF; ATREIDES, HOUSE, PROMINENT MEMBERS; ATREIDES, PAUL MUAD'DIB; ATREIDES, DUKE LETO; ATREIDES, EMPEROR LETO II; Herk Elanus, The Tree of Atreides (Caladan: Apex).
ATREIDES-HARKONNEN, JESSICA
Mother of Paul Atreides and grandmother of Leto II and Ghanima, Lady Jessica is the most important woman in Dune's lengthy history.
One of the most fascinating discoveries of the Rakis Hoard is RRC 13-A700, The Book of Ghanima. Among the document's most revealing entries is Ghanima's study of the roots of her own name. Intrigued by the "anima" aspect of her name, Ghanima set about a systematic exploration of her ancestral memories to discover everything, said of the "anima." As a result she learned that a remote Terran ancestor, perhaps named Seegee Jhung, had outlined a theory which explained her name. By application of the material in Ghanima's records, it now appears that Lady Jessica, Ghanima's grandmother, can best be understood as the fulfillment of Archetypes prophesised by the ancient seer, her ancestor. From the Jhungian perspective Jessica is — in her own right, as in her own person — the long-awaited incarnation of all the major masculine and feminine Archetypes. Thus, even more than the justly famed Jehanne Butler, she is Dune's, indeed the Imperium's, truest hero as well as its greatest woman.
The ancient seer envisioned four feminine Archetypes: the Mother, the Hetaira, the Amazon, and the Medium. Jessica's Bene Gesserit lineage and upbringing fitted her to mother, In fact, as she sometimes complained, she was raised to be a mere brood mare, an instrument of Bene Gesserit eugenics, rather than a person. Herself the product of an eugenic exercise, the one-night mating of a Bene Gesserit (almost certainly Gains Helen Mohiam) with the Siridar-Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Jessica grew up on Wallach IX, the Bene Gesserit home planet, where she endured fourteen years of education in "mothering," Bene Gesserit style. To the Sisterhood destiny was biology and maternal influence the strongest of all lifeforces. Accordingly, Jessica was thoroughly trained for motherhood: she learned to understand and control her own organism so as to be the fittest possible biological mother, and — still more essential to the Bene Gesserit design — she learned to observe, understand, and hence control others, and by this means to keep everybody, men, women, princes, and potentates, psychological "children" to her perpetually dominant "motherliness."
Jessica, however, confounded her teachers by transcending their concept of maternity. The Bene Gesserit thought her a shockingly unSisterly rebel against their careful discipline, but actually Jessica did not so much revolt as evolve into another dimension of selfhood, that of Hetaira. Because she became a true companion to her mate, Duke Leto Atreides, she freed herself for a much fuller, more substantive motherhood than the Bene Gesserit projected; as Hetaira Jessica chose to bear the son her lover wanted, not the daughter planned by the Sisterhood, for as Hetaira Jessica knew that the loving intimacy of equal, free selves was the only true generative force in the universe. Jessica's Hetaira role was emphasized by the fact that Duke Leto made her his Lady concubine but never his Lady wife; few societal sanctions supported (or confined) her Archetypal companionate vitality.
Lady Jessica remained Hetaira all her adult life. She never stopped loving her Duke, not even decades after his death, and she returned to the Atreides' home planet, Caladan, whenever she could. More significantly, she instilled the need to be Hetaira into all her descendants: into Paul Atreides, who welcomed Chani as his "companion;" into Leto II and Ghanima, twin Hetairae to each other; and most notably and tragically into Alia, whose Hetaira nature betrayed her to the Baron Harkonnen's seductive intrapersonal companionship.
Ironically, it was against this Abominable compani
onship that Jessica displayed her fullest, most irresistible Amazonian strength. Lady Jessica first discovered her Amazonian potential when she fled, pregnant, into the Arrakeen wilderness. Fremen women, thoroughly liberated to the world of men, showed Jessica that she, too, could survive Dune's rigors. As Amazon she mastered both the shifting sands of Dune's deserts and the shifting tides of Imperial politics. As Amazon she retired to Castle Caladan during her son's reign, and there, in those familiar surroundings, used the Amazon's resourceful objectivity to outthink and at last outgrow her Bene Gesserit conditioning. The depth and range of her matured Amazonian powers were especially evident during those anxious, almost disastrous years between Muad'Dib's disappearance into the desert and Leto II 's assumption of the Imperial throne: throughout that near-decade Jessica proved herself a formidable diplomat, intriguer, and (mostly psychological) warrior, effectively countering even her own daughter's plots against Atreides ideals.
Alia would not have dwindled into Abomination, nor Paul into Muad'Dib and then The Preacher, had they, like their mother, wholly embraced the Archetypal role of Medium. As Medium Jessica bridged the unconscious world and the human community, mediating these vast collectivities by her perfectly balanced and tuned self-consciousness. Lady Jessica became Medial because the Fremen, seeking a new Reverend Mother, sent her into a perilous spice-trance. Melange catalyzed her evolution, but Jessica's already Archetypal psyche stabilized and vivified it: as Hetaira she infused her Medial wisdom with personal caring, while as Amazon she preserved independent individual selfhood against the onslaughts of the collective unconscious. Conversely, as Medium she maintained a healthily cosmic perspective on her personal and social involvements. Her Medial energies saved Jessica from the centripetal egotism which crushed her children.
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