Dune depicts a feudal future that passes most positions of power down family lines. The Emperor is the latest in a 10,000-year dynasty, but that genetic lineage is far from the only one ruling the galaxy. The feud between House Atreides and House Harknonnen dominates the story. That ancestral animosity is also more than 10,000 years old. The Atreides and Harknonnen lines are two of the many Great Houses that rule most planets.
Dune is a story told on several scales. The tale of Paul Atreides, guerrilla war hero and unwilling messiah, is the lens through which readers view a universe rife with opposing power structures. The average person in Dune's universe exists under several jurisdictions with unique systems of law and tradition. The Empire is the overarching government, but much of its authority comes through the Great Houses.
Dune: Caladan, Explained
Before they migrated to the unforgiving deserts of Arrakis, House Atreides spent 10,000 years on the beautiful world of Caladan.
What are the Great Houses?
Great Houses are genetic dynasties that exercise power in the Dune universe. Each operates with unimaginable resources, commanding seemingly endless supplies of wealth and military might. Most Houses have ancient origins, but their station can change consistently. Houses routinely fight for dominance, and they are not all created equal. Most Houses operate out of a single planet, but some dynasties are massive and savvy enough to dominate solar systems and beyond. They're divided into Houses Major and Houses Minor. The former controls greater portions of the universe, while the latter typically earns its place through money. Houses Minor can earn their way to a higher rank with sufficient profit. With the power of a House Major comes the responsibility of carrying out Imperial laws on their planetary fief. Though they all seem to have a lot going on, the overwhelming majority of a House's time and resources goes toward carrying out petty vengeance in age-old feuds. They even have formal rules that govern conducting vendettas.
What is the Landsraad?
The Landsraad is the governing body assembled from all Houses. Though the Great Houses consistently fought one another, they met regularly to maintain mutually beneficial alliances. All trade negotiations, arranged weddings, and declarations of vendetta go through the Landsraad. The Landsraad was established thousands of years before the Butlerian Jihad, but it held little power until after House Corrino claimed the Imperium. Under the Padishah Emperor, the Great Houses feared a mad power grab that could unseat them from their thrones. They put aside their quarrels and forged the Landsraad to maintain their claims. The Emperor assigned Great Houses their fiefdoms, but their assembled might guaranteed their prominence. With every Great House's army working together, they could overrun the Emperor's Sardaukar army and unseat him.
The Landsraad is a democratic body, awarding proportional votes in the Grand Council. When one House swore vengeance on another, they declared kanly, officially setting the terms. If one House had a more egregious dispute with another, they could file a Bill of Particulars with the Grand Council. The Landsraad, the Spacing Guild, and the Emperor are the Three Powers that control the galaxy. The Landsraad is the most direct of the three, governing planets individually. They hold the Houses to specific standards, most prominently the Great Convention, which bans atomic bombs. Its prominence has grown and faded over the years, but its purpose keeps it in place.
Notable Great Houses
The most notable Great Houses are Atreides, Harkonnen, and Corrino. Houses Atreides and Harkonnen are involved in the endless feud that propels the narrative. Their conflict began some 10,000 years ago, during the Butlerian Jihad, a galactic war against thinking machines. That flashpoint event established most of the long-running Houses. House Corrino claimed the Imperium after their performance in the Jihad. Though they enjoy most of the spotlight and make most of the critical decisions throughout the story, there are at least 30 Great Houses in the galaxy. Here are a few notable examples:
- House Fenring: The patriarch of this family was Emperor Shaddam IV's best friend. He took over the Atreides' home planet, Caladan, while they moved to Arrakis. He also paid off most other Great Houses to ignore the Emperor's blatant attempt to eliminate House Atreides. His work caused the Landsraad to fail its original duty.
- House Ginaz: Known for its elite Swordmaster School, this House trained Duncan Idaho and countless skilled warriors like him.
- House Halleck: Gurney Halleck's family ascended to financial prominence through minstrel work and musical instrument construction. They became a House Major after Paul Atreides took the Imperium and handed Gurney control of Caladan and Giedi Prime.
- House Vernius: This ancient House was a titan of industry, building the first Heighliner space ships that could travel faster than light.
The Great Houses of the Dune universe keep power constrained in endless dynasties. Like most of the galaxy, their position is in constant flux. One of the fascinating things about the franchise is its long history, leading to a sudden disruption in the form of Paul Atreides. The Great Houses are one of the many moving pieces that frame Muad'Dib's journey.
February Is Your Last Chance To Watch Dune On Netflix
Denis Villeneuve's Dune is still on Netflix, but not for long. With Dune Part 2 arriving soon, now is the perfect time to watch it.
