Fedaykin
the death commandos of Muad'Dib
The Fedaykin were Fremen fighters of Arrakis, first the guerrillas of the Arrakis Revolt and then the personal death commandos of Paul Muad'Dib. By the time of his children they had become the elite of the Jihad army, before Alia Atreides dissolved them and the word returned to its old meaning.
Fedaykin was originally a word for the Fremen guerrilla fighters of Arrakis, used in particular during the Arrakis Revolt against the Corrino Empire and House Harkonnen. It later came to mean the personal guard of Muad'Dib, his death commandos sworn to Paul Atreides. By the time Leto and Ghanima Atreides were born, Fedaykin had become synonymous with the elite of Muad'Dib's Jihad army.
Origin and role#
In its earliest use, Fedaykin named the guerrilla fighters of the Fremen, who fought against the Corrino Empire and House Harkonnen during the Arrakis Revolt. After Paul Atreides rose among the Fremen as Muad'Dib, the word came to mean his personal guard, a body of death commandos founded between 10191 and 10193 AG and sworn directly to him. As his Jihad spread across the known universe, the Fedaykin grew into the elite of his army, and by the generation of his children Leto and Ghanima the name was synonymous with that elite.
Character and decline#
The Fedaykin were highly religious, as were most of Muad'Dib's fighters, and they would often deliver chants or perform rituals before going into battle. Their fortunes faltered after Paul was blinded and vanished into the Arrakis desert. In 10210 AG, Alia Atreides dissolved the Fedaykin, and the term reverted to its original Fremen meaning of guerrilla fighter. By 10219 AG fewer than 200 Fedaykin remained on Arrakis. Among the warriors counted as Fedaykin were Farok, Korba, and Otheym.
Frequently asked questions
- What were the Fedaykin?
- Fedaykin was originally a word for the Fremen guerrilla fighters of Arrakis, used during the Arrakis Revolt against the Corrino Empire and House Harkonnen. It later came to mean the personal guard and death commandos of Paul Muad'Dib, sworn directly to him.
- Who founded the Fedaykin as death commandos?
- Paul Atreides founded the Fedaykin as his personal death commandos after he rose among the Fremen as Muad'Dib. They were established between 10191 and 10193 AG and sworn directly to him.
- Why did the Fedaykin decline?
- Their fortunes faltered after Paul was blinded and vanished into the Arrakis desert. In 10210 AG, Alia Atreides dissolved the Fedaykin, and the term reverted to its original Fremen meaning of guerrilla fighter.
- How many Fedaykin remained after they were dissolved?
- By 10219 AG, fewer than 200 Fedaykin remained on Arrakis.
- What were the Fedaykin like in battle?
- The Fedaykin were highly religious, as were most of Muad'Dib's fighters, and they would often deliver chants or perform rituals before going into battle. By the generation of Paul's children, Leto and Ghanima, the name had become synonymous with the elite of his Jihad army.
Gallery
Images via Dune Wiki
Sources
- WikiFedaykin — Dune Wiki entry
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