House Harkonnen
the Great House of Giedi Prime
House Harkonnen was a Great House of the Landsraad seated on the industrial world of Giedi Prime and the historical enemy of House Atreides. Ruled by a Siridar-Baron, it built its power on the brutal exploitation of Arrakis before being shattered as a political force at the Battle of Arrakeen.
House Harkonnen, also known as the Family Harkonnen, was a Great House of the Landsraad whose capital lay on the heavily industrialized world of Giedi Prime. The historical enemies of House Atreides since the Battle of Corrin, the Harkonnens earned a notorious reputation for underhanded and sinister political tactics, fueled by ambition, malevolence, hatred, and brutality. Typically ruled by a Siridar-Baron, the House was essentially annihilated as a major political entity after the Battle of Arrakeen, though its family line continued on Giedi Prime through the reign of the Atreides Empire.
Rise to a Great House#
After many centuries toiling as a House Minor, Harkonnen influence rose gradually within the Landsraad, owing mostly to shrewd manipulation of the whale fur market, accomplished chiefly by the Baron and his son Vladimir. The House built its power by maximizing production output while minimizing expense, ignoring economically ethical behavior. Harkonnen governing rested on a simple foundation of fear and terror, applied in the running of the household, in governance, and in the control of the Harkonnen armies. Within a social order based on treachery and punishment, soldiers rose through the ranks by deceit, trickery, and, where necessary, assassination.
Rule over Arrakis#
In 10111 AG, House Harkonnen won the siridar fief of Arrakis, charged with mining the spice melange and supplying it to the universe. Through persecution of the Fremen and through minimal outlay on infrastructure and pay, the Harkonnens paid the tithe owed to the Padishah Emperor while keeping a substantial quantity of melange for themselves. By 10191 AG they had amassed considerable wealth from the spice trade.
The plot against the Atreides#
Despite the House's relative power before the end of the Corrino Imperium, Vladimir Harkonnen sought the ultimate achievement of usurping the Corrinos and forming a Harkonnen Empire. He secretly plotted against both House Atreides and House Corrino, hoping to destroy the former and overpower the latter through force and marriage. When Duke Leto Atreides I was given the fief of Arrakis, the Baron sprang his trap, but his plans were ultimately unraveled by the rise of Paul Atreides on Arrakis.
Demise#
Following the Baron's death at the hands of Paul's younger sister, Alia Atreides, in 10193 AG, the title of Baron passed very briefly to his nephew Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen before Feyd was killed by Paul Atreides in an act of kanly. With the ascent of House Atreides, what little remained of House Harkonnen saw its power and resources quickly vanish. Control of Giedi Prime was given over to the people of Caladan, and under the direction of Gurney Halleck, once a slave on that world, its machines of industry were dismantled, its name and the names of its cities were changed, and its forests and greenery were replanted.
A surviving bloodline#
House Harkonnen ceased to be during the time of Muad'Dib's Jihad, yet the Harkonnen bloodline endured. It continued through Bene Gesserit breeding programs for more than fifteen hundred years thereafter, and, through its mingling with the Atreides line, lived on most directly in Paul Atreides, who was the grandson of Vladimir Harkonnen. Surviving Harkonnen family members continued to live on as remnants.
Frequently asked questions
- What was House Harkonnen?
- House Harkonnen, also known as the Family Harkonnen, was a Great House of the Landsraad whose capital lay on the heavily industrialized world of Giedi Prime. It was the historical enemy of House Atreides since the Battle of Corrin and earned a notorious reputation for underhanded and sinister political tactics.
- How did House Harkonnen rise to power?
- After many centuries as a House Minor, Harkonnen influence rose gradually within the Landsraad through shrewd manipulation of the whale fur market, accomplished chiefly by the Baron and his son Vladimir. The House built its power by maximizing production while minimizing expense and governed through a foundation of fear and terror.
- When did House Harkonnen gain control of Arrakis?
- In 10111 AG, House Harkonnen won the siridar fief of Arrakis, charged with mining the spice melange and supplying it to the universe. Through persecution of the Fremen and minimal investment in infrastructure and pay, the Harkonnens kept a substantial quantity of melange for themselves and had amassed considerable wealth by 10191 AG.
- How did House Harkonnen fall?
- Baron Vladimir Harkonnen died at the hands of Alia Atreides in 10193 AG, and the title passed briefly to his nephew Feyd-Rautha before Feyd was killed by Paul Atreides in an act of kanly. With the ascent of House Atreides, the House lost its power and resources, and control of Giedi Prime was given to the people of Caladan.
- Did the Harkonnen bloodline survive?
- Although House Harkonnen ceased to be during Muad'Dib's Jihad, the Harkonnen bloodline endured for more than fifteen hundred years through Bene Gesserit breeding programs. Through its mingling with the Atreides line, it lived on most directly in Paul Atreides, who was the grandson of Vladimir Harkonnen.
Sources
- WikiHouse Harkonnen — Dune Wiki entry
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Related entries
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
Siridar-Baron Vladimir Harkonnen was the penultimate ruler of House Harkonnen and the chief architect of the downfall of Duke Leto Atreides. A gluttonous and cruel schemer, he conspired to seize Arrakis and the Golden Lion Throne before his House was destroyed in the Desert War.
Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen
Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen was the na-Baron and heir of Vladimir Harkonnen. Charismatic, cunning, and vicious, he was groomed to inherit House Harkonnen and to win the Imperial throne, but was killed in a duel with Paul Atreides shortly after the Battle of Arrakeen.
Giedi Prime
Giedi Prime, later renamed Gammu, was the industrial homeworld of House Harkonnen, orbiting the star Ophiuchi B. A planet of factories, arenas, and an oppressed populace, it later passed to Atreides administration and eventually became a Bene Gesserit base.
House Atreides
House Atreides was a respected House Major of the Galactic Padishah Empire, ruled by a Duke and seated for twenty generations on the ocean world of Caladan. Through Paul Muad'Dib and his son Leto II, the Atreides line rose to rule the Known Universe before passing into a bloodline scattered across the millennia.
House Corrino
House Corrino was the imperial House of the Known Universe, ruling family of the Padishah Empire for ten thousand years from the Golden Lion Throne. Seated at Kaitain and rooted on Salusa Secundus, it fell to House Atreides after the Battle of Arrakeen.
Alia Atreides
Alia Atreides was the preborn daughter of Duke Leto Atreides and Lady Jessica, sister to Paul. Granted full ancestral memory in the womb, she ruled the Atreides Empire as Regent before succumbing to possession by her Harkonnen grandfather and taking her own life.
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Abulurd Harkonnen
Abulurd Harkonnen was a decorated commander of the Butlerian Jihad and the grandson of Xavier Harkonnen who, after refusing to cross the Bridge of Hrethgir at the Battle of Corrin, was branded a coward and exiled to Lankiveil, beginning the ten thousand year feud between the Harkonnen and Atreides.
Alia Atreides
Alia Atreides was the preborn daughter of Duke Leto Atreides and Lady Jessica, sister to Paul. Granted full ancestral memory in the womb, she ruled the Atreides Empire as Regent before succumbing to possession by her Harkonnen grandfather and taking her own life.
Armand Ecaz
Armand Ecaz was the Archduke of House Ecaz and sovereign of the planet Ecaz, a high noble of the Landsraad and an avowed enemy of House Moritani who fought two Wars of Assassins against Grumman and stood as an ally of Duke Leto Atreides.
Arrakeen governor's palace: the Residency of Arrakis
The Arrakeen governor's palace, known colloquially as the Arrakeen Residency, was the largest building in Arrakeen and the seat of planetary power on Arrakis. It passed from the Fenrings to House Atreides, fell to the Harkonnens in the Siege of Arrakeen, and was retaken by Paul Atreides.
Arrakis
Arrakis, known as Dune and later as Rakis, was a harsh desert world in the Canopus system and the only natural source of the spice melange. Home to the Fremen and the sandworms, it became the seat of the Atreides empire and the center of the known universe.
Arrakis Revolt
The Arrakis Revolt was the uprising of the Fremen of Arrakis under Paul Atreides during the latter events of the Desert War. Waged as a guerrilla campaign against the Harkonnen occupiers, it crippled spice production, drew in the Padishah Emperor, and ended with the fall of House Corrino.
Atreides-Harkonnen feud
The Atreides-Harkonnen feud was the ancient blood vendetta between the two Houses, born of a betrayal at the Battle of Corrin and ended ten thousand years later with the annihilation of the Harkonnens on Arrakis.
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen
Siridar-Baron Vladimir Harkonnen was the penultimate ruler of House Harkonnen and the chief architect of the downfall of Duke Leto Atreides. A gluttonous and cruel schemer, he conspired to seize Arrakis and the Golden Lion Throne before his House was destroyed in the Desert War.
Battle of Arrakeen
The Battle of Arrakeen was the pivotal engagement of the Arrakis Revolt, fought between Muad'Dib Paul Atreides's Fremen and the Sardaukar of Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV. The Fremen routed the Imperial forces, and in the surrender that followed Paul won control of the known universe.
Battle of Caladan
The Battle of Caladan was an attempted Harkonnen and Moritani assault on the Atreides homeworld in 10175 AG. Mentat Thufir Hawat repelled it without a shot, using projectors to fake an overwhelming defensive fleet.
Battle of Corrin
The Battle of Corrin was the space battle of 88 BG from which the Imperial House Corrino took its name. Fought on Corrin near Sigma Draconis, it settled the ascendancy of the ruling House from Salusa Secundus and gave rise to the feud between House Harkonnen and House Atreides.
Bene Gesserit
The Bene Gesserit were an ancient order of women who wielded power from the shadows of the Imperium through a millennia-long breeding program, mastery of body and mind, and the religious engineering of the Missionaria Protectiva. Their goal was the Kwisatz Haderach, and through him the guidance of humanity.
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