House Richese
the machine house in decline
House Richese ruled the machine world of Richese, a Great House classed with Ix as supreme in machine culture. Its ruinous trade war with House Vernius of Ix broke its fortunes and left it making copies of Ixian invention.
House Richese was the Great House that ruled the planet Richese, the fourth planet of Eridani A. Frank Herbert's Dune classes Richese with Ix as supreme in machine culture, notes it for miniaturization, and mentions that both worlds escaped the more severe effects of the Butlerian Jihad. The ruling House, which drew its wealth and standing in the Landsraad from the technology of its homeworld, comes from the expanded-universe novels of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. (Dune; Dune: House Atreides)
The machine world#
Richese was classed with Ix as supreme in machine culture, both planets having escaped the worst of the Butlerian Jihad, and was noted for miniaturization. (Dune)
In the expanded-universe novels, as the ancestral world of House Richese, it became at one point a chief source of heighliners for the Spacing Guild, and the planet and its moon Korona were famous for technological innovations that included Richesian mirrors and the no-ships that could pass undetected. The House traded on this reputation for invention as the foundation of its place among the Great Houses. (Dune: House Atreides; Dune: House Harkonnen)
Decline before Ix#
House Richese made an ill-advised decision to engage in full-scale economic warfare with House Vernius of Ix. The contest led to the slow demise of Richese and gave rise to the popular opinion that the House merely made copies of Ixian inventions. Part of the loss was attributed to Count Ilban Richese, who spent more time with his family than with his businesses. As a result of this failure, Ix took over the lucrative construction of heighliners, and Richese never recovered the commanding position in machine culture it had once shared. (Dune: House Atreides)
It was through House Richese that the line of the Atreides was joined to that tradition: Helena Atreides, wife of Duke Paulus Atreides and mother of Duke Leto Atreides, was born Helena Richese. (Dune: House Atreides)
Korona and the fall of Richese#
Years after its commercial decline, the artificial moon of Korona was destroyed by Imperial Sardaukar forces because it was being used to store spice illegally. (Dune: House Corrino)
The House and its world survived into a later age, and after the ascension of House Atreides and the Scattering that followed the death of Leto Atreides II, Richese still maintained facilities producing starships and weapons for humanity. Mother Commander Murbella of the New Sisterhood contracted with Richesian authorities to build ships and weapons for the coming battle against the Enemy. (Hunters of Dune; Sandworms of Dune)
Before many of those weapons could be delivered, however, a rebel group of Honored Matres led by Hellica, who refused to merge with the Sisterhood, attacked Richese with Obliterator weapons and reduced the planet to slag and rubble, ending the long history of the machine world and its House. (Sandworms of Dune)
Frequently asked questions
- What was House Richese?
- House Richese was the Great House that ruled the planet Richese, the fourth planet of Eridani A, which Frank Herbert's Dune classes with Ix as supreme in machine culture. The House itself, its rivalry with Ix and its fall belong to the expanded-universe novels of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
- What was House Richese known for?
- Dune notes Richese for miniaturization. In the expanded-universe novels the planet and its moon Korona were famous for innovations including Richesian mirrors and no-ships that could pass undetected. The House became at one point a chief source of heighliners for the Spacing Guild.
- Why did House Richese decline?
- House Richese made an ill-advised decision to engage in full-scale economic warfare with House Vernius of Ix and lost, leading to the slow demise of Richese and the popular opinion that the House merely copied Ixian inventions. Ix took over the lucrative construction of heighliners, and Richese never recovered its former position.
- How was House Richese connected to House Atreides?
- Helena Atreides, wife of Duke Paulus Atreides and mother of Duke Leto Atreides, was born Helena Richese. Through her, the line of the Atreides was joined to the Richese tradition.
- What happened to the moon Korona and to Richese?
- The artificial moon of Korona was destroyed by Imperial Sardaukar forces because it was being used to store spice illegally. After the Scattering, a rebel group of Honored Matres led by Hellica attacked Richese with Obliterator weapons and reduced the planet to slag and rubble.
Sources
- BookDune, Frank Herbert, Chilton Books, 1965
- BookDune: House Atreides, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, 1999 (expanded universe)
- BookDune: House Harkonnen, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, 2000 (expanded universe)
- BookDune: House Corrino, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, 2001 (expanded universe)
- BookHunters of Dune, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, 2006 (expanded universe)
- BookSandworms of Dune, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, 2007 (expanded universe)
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
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