Muad'Dib's Jihad: the holy war that remade the Imperium
Muad'Dib's Jihad was the twelve-year holy war waged by the Fremen legions of Emperor Paul Atreides from 10196 to 10208 AG. By his own estimate it cost sixty-one billion lives and remade the Known Universe.
Muad'Dib's Jihad, also called Paul's Jihad, was the twelve-year holy war that devastated the Imperium from 10196 to 10208 AG after the rise of Paul Atreides as both Fremen messiah and Emperor of the Known Universe. Waged by his fanatical Fremen legions, it subsumed thousands of worlds into a new Atreides Empire.
Origins#
Three years after the defeat of Shaddam Corrino IV and his Imperial Sardaukar on the Plains of Arrakeen, the destruction of House Harkonnen, and his seizure of all spice production on Arrakis, Paul-Muad'Dib Atreides ascended the Golden Lion Throne in 10196 AG. He exiled the former monarch to Salusa Secundus and married Shaddam's eldest daughter, the Princess Irulan, to seal his claim as the eighty-second Padishah Emperor. Even so, he was powerless to restrain his Fremen legions from carrying the fight off-world against any Corrino loyalists who resisted their messianic ruler.
The war#
With the Spacing Guild kept on a short leash through Paul's command of the spice, controlling who entered and left every star system, the opposition fought at a crippling disadvantage as the holy war spread across the Known Universe and pillaged thousands of planets. Its campaigns ranged widely, including the conquest of Naraj and its moons under the Fedaykin commander Farok. Other conflicts included a battle on Tarahell, where Otheym contracted the splitting disease, the conquest of Enfeil, where Farok first saw the sea, the Battle of Molitor, the Battle of Sembou, which ended with a treaty bringing the world into the Empire, and the Zabulon Conquest among the last of the campaigns.
The only world spared the fire of the Jihad was Caladan, the homeworld of House Atreides. Lady Jessica, the mother of Muad'Dib, refused the Fremen any access, including religious pilgrimage.
Cost#
The Jihad ended in 10208 AG after twelve years of bloodshed. By Muad'Dib's own conservative estimate, his legions caused sixty-one billion casualties, the sterilization of ninety planets, the demoralization of five hundred more, and the eradication of forty religions along with their followers. Ten thousand worlds were absorbed into his new Empire, a count proclaimed by his High Priest, Korba.
Frequently asked questions
- What was Muad'Dib's Jihad?
- Muad'Dib's Jihad, also called Paul's Jihad, was the twelve-year holy war that devastated the Imperium from 10196 to 10208 AG after Paul Atreides rose as both Fremen messiah and Emperor of the Known Universe. Waged by his fanatical Fremen legions, it subsumed thousands of worlds into a new Atreides Empire.
- How did Muad'Dib's Jihad begin?
- Three years after defeating Shaddam Corrino IV at Arrakeen, destroying House Harkonnen, and seizing all spice production on Arrakis, Paul ascended the Golden Lion Throne in 10196 AG. He exiled the former Emperor to Salusa Secundus and married Shaddam's daughter Irulan to seal his claim, but he was powerless to restrain his Fremen legions from carrying the fight off-world against any who resisted.
- How did Paul control the opposition during the Jihad?
- Paul kept the Spacing Guild on a short leash through his command of the spice, controlling who entered and left every star system. With travel under his grip, the opposition fought at a crippling disadvantage as the war spread across the Known Universe and pillaged thousands of planets.
- Which world was spared from Muad'Dib's Jihad?
- The only world spared the fire of the Jihad was Caladan, the homeworld of House Atreides. Lady Jessica, the mother of Muad'Dib, refused the Fremen any access, including religious pilgrimage.
- How many people died in Muad'Dib's Jihad?
- By Muad'Dib's own conservative estimate, the twelve years of war caused sixty-one billion casualties, the sterilization of ninety planets, the demoralization of five hundred more, and the eradication of forty religions along with their followers. Ten thousand worlds were absorbed into his new Empire.
Sources
- WikiMuad'dib's Jihad — Dune Wiki entry
Spotted a factual error or a primary source we missed? Email a correction. Every flagged claim gets reviewed.
Related entries
Muad'Dib's Jihad: the holy war of Paul Atreides
Muad'Dib's Jihad was a twelve-year holy war waged from 10196 to 10208 AG by the Fremen legions of Emperor Paul-Muad'Dib Atreides. It carried the worship of the Fremen messiah across the Known Universe, killed tens of billions, and forged the Atreides Empire from thousands of conquered worlds.
Arrakeen
Arrakeen was the first settlement on Arrakis and its seat of power, a city near the northern pole sheltered by the Shield Wall. It served as the governor's seat under the Corrino Empire, the capital of Muad'Dib's empire, and later the festival city Onn before becoming Keen.
Caladan
Caladan was a lush oceanic world orbiting Delta Pavonis, the ancestral seat of House Atreides for more than ten thousand years. Birthplace of Duke Leto I and Paul Atreides, it was a planet of rain, orchards, and fisheries before the family was ordered to Arrakis.
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.
Lady Jessica
Lady Jessica was the Bene Gesserit concubine of Duke Leto Atreides and the mother of Paul Atreides. By disobeying her order to bear a daughter she reshaped the Sisterhood's breeding program, and she became a Reverend Mother of both the Fremen and the Bene Gesserit.
Paul Atreides
Paul Atreides was the last Duke of House Atreides and the prophet Muad'Dib of the Fremen. The long-awaited Kwisatz Haderach of the Bene Gesserit, he toppled Emperor Shaddam IV, founded the Atreides Empire, and unleashed a jihad across the Known Universe before walking blind into the desert.
Mentioned in3 entries
House Harkonnen
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.
Marie Fenring
Marie Fenring was the daughter of Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen and Lady Margot Fenring, raised by the Fenrings as both assassin and Bene Gesserit and intended to seize the Imperial throne from Paul Atreides. Her assassination attempt at age six was cut short by Alia Atreides.
Muad'Dib's Jihad: the holy war of Paul Atreides
Muad'Dib's Jihad was a twelve-year holy war waged from 10196 to 10208 AG by the Fremen legions of Emperor Paul-Muad'Dib Atreides. It carried the worship of the Fremen messiah across the Known Universe, killed tens of billions, and forged the Atreides Empire from thousands of conquered worlds.
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