Know now that these are events as best attested to in the remaining records of the Imperial and Post-Imperial eras, some deviations and misattributations are bound to have occurred as few alive today speak the Old Galach of the Imperium times. However what you see here is our best attempt at putting order to time and building structure for the human story. —Hadi Benotto, Editor The Dune Encyclopedia, 15540.
Before Guild
19000-16500 Early civilizations on Terra.
16500 Aleksandr creates FIRST EMPIRE.
16400-16000 ROMAN EMPIRE arises and conquers the known world, except for China, which resists until 14400.
15800 Imperial Seat moved to Byzantium in retreat before provincial rebellions and minor jihads.
14700-14608 THE GREAT STRUGGLE: The Century Without an Emperor.
14608 Discoveries in America allow Madrid to attain the status of the Imperial Seat,
14512 BATTLE OF ENGUCHANNEL. Seat of Empire moved from Madrid to London.
14500-14200 THE GOLDEN AGE OF INVENTION: Development of radio, television, atomics, rocketry,
genetics, and the computer. ‘
14255 First atomics demonstrated in an intraprovincial war. Seat of Empire moved to Washington.
14100-13600 THE LITTLE DIASPORA: The solar system is colonized, and the population of Terra is eventually outnumbered by 20 to 1.
13402 Ceres gains the Imperial Seat after a planetoid strikes Terra.
13402-13399 THE RESCUE OF THE TREASURES from Terra.
13360 Terra re-seeded and set aside (by Imperial edict) as a natural park.
13004 SUSPENSOR-NULLIFICATION EFFECT discovered.
12200 THE EMPIRE OF TEN WORLDS. Communications becoming strained.
11200 THE EMPIRE OF A THOUSAND WORLDS (an empire in name only, because Imperial power was so diffuse as to be nonexistent).
11105 AGE OF PRETENDERS begins when Ceres is destroyed by rebellion, and the Imperial Seat ceases
to exist as a single entity.
11100-7562 THE AGE OF TEN THOUSAND EMPERORS (sometimes called “The Great Dark Ages”).
7593 I.V. Holtzman born on Liesco II.
7565 Holtzman disabled and cyborged.
7562 Holtzman reveals the “wave-effect” nature of the suspensor- nullification device.
7556 Holtzman severely damaged and thrown into a cometary orbit. Communications with him are lost.
7562-5022 THE WARS OF REUNIFICATION, consequent on the immediate communication made possible by Holtzman Effect.
5022 THE EMPIRE OF TEN THOUSAND WORLDS united under Ladislaus the Great.
5022-3678 THE FIRST GOLDEN AGE.
3832 Holtzman reappears at Liesco, and presents the theory for construction of personal DEFENSIVE
SHIELD.
3678 THE SILICON PLAGUE: the “Death of the Machines.”
3678-2000 THE LITTLE DARK AGES, ending with the development of plague-resistant conductors.
2000-1800 THE RETURN OF THE COMPUTERS (sometimes called ‘The Second Reunification”).
1970 Holtzman reappears, and presents his UNIFIED THEORY.
1800-400 THE SECOND GOLDEN AGE. Circa 700 the first anti-computer pogroms occur.
711-200 Tensions increase between program mites and humanity-firsters, tensions which Jehanne Butler was to exploit.
200-108 THE BUTLERIAN JIHAD.
108 Holtzman returns and is destroyed by forces of the Jihad.
ca. 100 Ixians, refugees from the Jihad, led by Aurelius Venport, discover TUPILE, the Sanctuary
Planet(s).
88 THE BATTLE OF CORRIN.
86 FOUNDATION OF HOUSE ATRETDES when Demetrios Atreides is made Baron Tantalos in
reward for aiding the Corrinos.
84 First MELANGE-guided journey through hyperspace, by Norma Cenva.
12 B.G.- 70 A.G. The Reign of SAUDIR I, “The Great.”
10 Corpus Luminis Praenuntiantis (the future Spacing Guild) begins negotiations with the Empire.
10-5 THE GREAT FINANCIAL SYNOD, on Aerarium IV, creates CHOAM.
0 THE LION THRONE, THE SPACING GUILD, and CHOAM (as the arm of the Landsraad) combine to establish the form of human society for the next ten thousand years.
The Landsraad
The most ancient of those institutions which formed the Imperium. The Imperium did not exist until all of its institutions were combined: CHOAM, the Impend House, the Spacing Guild and the Landsraad. CHOAM and the Guild early became part of the structure of the economy and supporters of the government, but the Landsraad had already existed for more than two millennia. Given this long history, it is not surprising that the nature of the Landsraad changed during the chaotic few centuries which saw the rise of the Butlerian Jihad, the birth of feudal governments on most of the inhabited worlds, and finally the development of the Imperium.
The pre-Butlerian Landsraad was an organization of representatives of governments which was granted certain restricted powers by those governments. The Landsraad collected no taxes and maintained no armed forces of its own. It could call upon the military strength of its members to enforce a decision made during one of its sessions, but even then participation in such expeditions was voluntary on the part of the governments.
Under such conditions, the rise of military and economic entrepreneurs was inevitable. A complete breakdown of all facets of social structure created a void into which personal relationships moved, and when personal ties replaced the normal workings of a state in such matters as military organization, taxation and legal systems, feudalism emerged. This form of government has historically arisen when no state is strong enough to maintain order and protect the weak against the strong.1The Landsraad, The Dune Encylopedia pp 496.
Each house of the Landsraad has a storied lineage, a proud coat of arms, an inspiring banner, and an easily identifiable badge of affiliation worn by all the house’s retainers and troops. Each of those are of course unique within the Landsraad as the would serve no purpose if they could be easily confused with another house.
The Technology of the Imperium
Religion in the Imperium
Secret Notes Within the Guild
Poor old Hadi Benotto did his best, but the Guild records on these events were much more detailed, especially when it comes to the horrors humanity had to endure during the Tyranny of Machines that preceded the Butlerian Jihad, taking Hadi’s summary at face value one would be believe only a few people were needlessly annoyed at machines, not that all of humanity had been livestock, living under the soulless crushing boot of machine intellect for two millennia.
Get the Audible version of the Machine Crusade full book by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Houses of the Imperium
Officially, the “Recognized Houses,” those Houses accorded individual voting status in the Imperial Landsraad, the legislature of the empire. Although all of the noble houses technically belonged to the Landsraad, a practice developed at an early date in the history of the empire of according only certain of the more influential houses separate voting privileges; all other, lesser houses belonged to “Circles of the Empire,” each Circle being accorded a certain number of votes representing each sector or system in the known universe. These circles elected representatives to sit at each session of the Landsraad, representation being rotated on a regular basis. The different circles had differing methods of electing representatives.2Great Houses, Dune Encyclopedia, pp 373.
The Following is a list of the voting houses of the Landsraad at the beginning of the reign of Emperor Paul.
- Abefor
- Alexin ‡
- Alman ‡
- Amminadab
- Andersson
- Atreides ‡±
- at-Tam
- Bagrationi ‡
- Bak (Minor of House Ecaz)
- Barca (Minor of House Alexin)
- Barlevin
- Bendau
- Berreth (Minor of House Atreides)
- Beskid
- Bromeli
- Burgerich
- Cassander (Minor of House Hagal)
- Cephalus
- Chelly
- Chinognia
- Chlemnik ‡
- Chulian
- Clanriearde ‡
- Corrino †
- Costino
- Daryai
- Delambre ‡
- Demavend
- Desnai ¤
- Destrym
- Dupleix
- Edomdred
- Elioz
- Emar
- Est
- Estilon
- Ezharian ‡
- Fenring
- Fidbolgs
- Fluxspear (Minor of House Atreides)
- Forbino ‡
- Genissai ‡
- Ginaz ‡
- Guilford ‡
- Hajns ‡
- Halleck
- Harkonnen ‡±
- Hassenfield ¤
- Hemming
- Hirado ‡
- Hori (Minor of House Ecaz)
- Hybla ‡
- Iasi
- Ichihara
- Idy (Minor of House Ecaz)
- Igal
- Isfahan ‡
- Isonzo
- Ispartha ‡
- Istaivan
- Jerodme
- Jungius
- Kemic ‡
- Khumali ‡
- Kyzyl ‡
- Lassoki
- Latzko
- Lexander
- Lidoping
- Lompok
- Lonsle
- Ludvonsa ‡
- Lynwyck
- Malmusetz ‡
- Masjed ‡
- Medvedev ‡
- Melui
- Menemtahe
- Meyerwal
- Molay
- Moritilai ‡
- Morotai ‡
- Mustami
- Mwami
- Ngara
- Nicolpri
- Niembach
- Noabar
- Opheiion ‡
- Ordos ‡
- Orzaba
- Ossian
- Paligo
- Parakrama-hu
- Pastran ‡
- Penchi ‡
- Phyfe
- Pibeseth
- Pinang ‡
- Polotsvi
- Ptolemy (Minor of House Hagal)
- Qaii ‡
- Raicnur
- Reginaud
- Rejani
- Rhibera
- Rhylme
- Samarama‡
- Seleukos (Minor of House Hagal)
- Shahrukh
- Shi-Lang
- Sikcunri
- Spokan
- Stewart (Minor of House Atreides)
- Sulaimani
- Surakarta
- Talos (Minor of House Alexin)
- Tetram (Minor of House Alexin)
- Thorgod ‡
- Tiiopa’it ‡
- Togramah ‡
- Tombe ‡
- Ttoenne ‡
- Varnax¤
- Vico
- Villish
- Wallach ‡
- Wikkheiset ‡
- Xingus
- Yasu
- Yuzovka
- Zalmunna
‡ Houses Major
† Imperial House
¤ Minor House of special interest to the SG
± Major House of special interest to the SG
After Guild
123–184 Reign of NEGARA II.
207 Thomas Atreides helps restore Elrood II, and is made Duke of Jaddua.
337 THE GREAT CONVENTION is ratified.
385–388 THE USHASH REBELLION, the last significant armed resistance to the Empire.
388 Saudir III designates SALUSA SECUNDUS as PRISON PLANET.
390 Wallach I begins use of Salusa Secundus as a training ground for the SARDAUKAR.
1234 THE ORDER OF MENTATS is founded by Gilbertus Albans, originally on the planet Septimus, and moved to Tleilax a decade later.
1487 The Corrinos shift the Imperial Seat to Kaitain.
2800 Elrood V gives Poritrin, third planet of Epsilon Alangue, to House Maros. Siridar Charles Baron Mikarrol, planetary governor of Terra, sends two million ZENSUNNI to Poritrin, beginning the Zensunni Migration.
4492 Poritrin is given to House Alexin, and the Sardaukar are sent to remove the Zensunni, sending five million to BELA TEOEUSE and five million to SALUSA SECUNDUS.
5122 First FACE DANCERS appear as entertainers at the Court of Corrin XIV.
5295 Ezhar VII releases the Zensunni on Salusa Secundus, sending them to ISHIA, second planet of Beta Tygri:
6049 Zensunni on Bela Tegeuse are transported again, with the majority sent to Harmonthep, and the remainder to ROSSAK, the fifth planet of Alces Minor.
ca. 6600 A. Sayyadina on Rossak discovers a plant whose ingestion unlocks the “voices within.”
ca. 6800 Harmonthep, a satellite ofDelta Pavonis, is destroyed by unknown causes.
7193 Zensunni on Rossak buy passage to ARRAKIS from the Spacing Guild. By this time, all Zensunni from both Ishia and Rossak have reached Arrakis. –
8711 The Atreides family is awarded the Siridar-Dukedom of CALADAN.
9751 ELACCA drug in relatively common use.
9846 Invention of HUNTER-SEEKER.
ca. 10000 Invention of the DISTRANS on Ix.
10092 Semuta extraction process discovered.
10140 LETO ATREIDES (Duke Leto I) born.
10154 LADY JESSICA born.
10155–10165 GURNEY HALLECK a Harkonnen slave on Giedi Prime.
10158 DUNCAN IDAHO (the human) born.
10175 PAUL ATREIDES born.
10179 First successful implant of the distrans in a human.
10180 Where the Dune: Houses on Fire campaign begins. It is possible that events going from this point may be very different than those on the official timeline. For publicly known events from the campaign, please consult the Spacing Guild Information Service.
Get the book Dune on Audible or Film Book.
10190–91 House Atreides moves to ARRAKIS.
10191 The Sardaukar attack on Arrakis kills Duke Leto; Paul and Jessica go into the desert with the Fremen. ALIA ATREIDES
10193 Paul regains control of Arrakis and its spice monopoly.
10196 SHADDAM IV abdicates; Paul becomes Emperor.
10196–10208 PAUL’S JIHAD.
10200 FARAD’N (KENOLA) born to Wensicia and Count Dalak Kenola.
10204 Count Dalak dies suspiciously in ‘thopter accident; Farad’n’s last name is changed to Corrino.
10208 GHOLA HAYT (Duncan-10208) is created and presented to Paul.
10209 LETO II and OHANIMA born. CHANI dies. Paul goes into the desert, and Alia becomes regent.
10210 Alia dissolves the FEDAYKIN, Paul’s Death-Commandos.
10218 Duncan-10208 delivers Lady Jessica to House Corrino.
10219 LETO II ascends to the throne.
10246 HARQ AL-HARBA born.
10271 REVOLT OF THE FREMEN crushed, and its leader, Duncan- 10235, is put to death.
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This is a fan site devoted to running Dune: Adventures in the Imperium by Modiphius Entertainment, based on Dune created by Frank Herbert and owned by the Gale Force Nine, a Battlefront Group Company. No use of eithers’ intellectual property on this page is meant to constitute a challenge to either entities’ rights and is intended under fair use provisions. We encourage you to buy a copy of this fine RPG, if you use one of the links provided on this page we’ll receive a small fee that will help support expansion of the material found here. The planetary illustrations here are mostly from the core book and NASA. Art not coming from Modiphius, or NASA are fan works either from myself or other fans, I credit other artists where I have a source available and would appreciate your help finding the origin of other fan art included without attribution. In many places I cite the Dune Encyclopedia, a collective work released in 1983, which I got from a book of the month club accidentally and was my entry point to the Dune universe, I would love to have a link available so you could get your own, but it appears to be out of print.