Most of Dune occurs on or around Arrakis, one of fictional history's most hostile science-fiction locations. Choosing to live on Arrakis borders on suicide. The stress of seeking and reclaiming the minuscule quantities of water would drive most to madness. The experiential difference between Earth and Arrakis is brutal, but imagine living there after decades on a glorious natural paradise. That was Paul Atreides's life when he moved to Arrakis from Caladan.
House Atreides has a fascinating backstory. They technically date back to Ancient Greece, but their history omits thousands of years. It reached its more notable era when Duke Leto Atreides I's dad died in a bullfighting incident, but they established their place in the galaxy generations earlier.
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What is Caladan?
Caladan is a gorgeous, tropical planet orbiting a star called Delta Pavonis. The world experiences non-stop precipitation, keeping most of its surface waterlogged. Mountains pierce sea level, allowing for human settlements among rocky cliffs and abundant rivers. Its frequent rains and diverse ecosystem make Caladan an agricultural powerhouse. It's relatively free from industry, earning a place in the galactic market by trading fresh fruit, rice, wine, and fish. Fishing is the most common exploit among citizens of Caladan. That constant necessity creates other jobs, like weaving fishing nets and building boats. The planet is visually glorious. Its vibrant blue sea and majestic mountains hold endless natural wonders. The 2021 iteration of Caladan is portrayed on film by the virtually uninhabited Kinn Island off the coast of western Norway. It appears briefly in the first act as House Atreides prepares to leave for Arrakis.
Who rules Caladan?
Caladan has been House Atreides' seat of power for over 10,000 years. Paul and Duke Leto Atreides were born in Castle Caladan, a duchy and "siridar fief" under the Imperium. House Atreides dominated the planet through military supremacy and financial domination. Many of its most profitable orchards sat among Atreides family holdings. House Atreides brought Caladan onto the list of allied planets. It was unincorporated when Vorian Atreides established a military base on its surface during the Butlerian Jihad. Vorian is the first official member of House Atreides. He didn't build Castle Caladan, but he did establish his family's hold on the planet. Vorian met and impregnated a local woman, Leronica Tergiet. She gave birth to Estes and Kagin Atreides. The next four generations of House Atreides would be born, live, and die on Caladan. Willem Atreides, Vorian's great-great-great-grandson, founded House Atreides as a Great House under the Lansraad League. Caladan was their home before, during, and after their acceptance as a House Major.
House Atreides left Caladan in 10,191AG on the orders of the Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV. They left Caladan for Arrakis, leaving their home in the Emperor's hands. He appointed Count Hasimir Fenring to serve as Siridar Absentia over Caladan. Fenring was one of the most gifted assassins in the empire. He was a talented political tactician and a failed candidate for Kwisatz Haderach. Fenring was Emperor Shaddam's closest friend. He rarely stepped foot on Caladan, instead spending most of his time bribing politicians to avoid arousing suspicion after Emperor Shaddam betrayed House Atreides. He retired after two years, spending the last 32 years of his life on Salusa Secundus. After Paul Atreides unseats the Emperor, he retakes control of Caladan and hands the fiefdom to Gurney Halleck.
House Atreides' life on Caladan impacts their new existence on Arrakis. The story juxtaposes the beautiful tropical world with the harsh deserts of Dune. Paul and his mother, Jessica, took water for granted, exposed to never-ending rainfall through the early stages of their life. This leaves them ill-equipped to handle Arrakis. Paul's journey to becoming a Fremen survivor starts with overcoming his need for the comforts of Caladan. Those experiences also allow him to impress and mystify his new people. Paul and Jessica amaze Fremen with stories of a faraway land where water flows freely from the sky. They sum up their home like this:
We came from Caladan—a paradise world for our form of life. There existed no need on Caladan to build a physical paradise or a paradise of the mind—we could see the actuality all around us. And the price we paid was the price men have always paid for achieving a paradise in this life—we went soft, we lost our edge.
Life in the Dune universe is often brutal. The average person is poor, oppressed, and likely addicted to the spice melange. The Fremen on Arrakis struggle for every drop of water. Life on Caladan is considerably less difficult. Caladan is the diametric opposite of Arrakis, providing a geographical indication of Paul Atreides' journey. The beautiful home of House Atreides remains as glorious as it was the day Paul left home. Fans may see glimpses of it again in Dune: Part Two.
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