Why was House Atreides sent to Arrakis?

[dportela]

I have several theories and have heard a few others, but I have not yet read a clear explanation of why the Atreides were sent to Arrakis, that is, under what justification. What did the Emperor hope to accomplish by sending them there? Why did they have to give up Caladan, if the Harkonnens could rule there and still keep Geidi Prime? I'd love to hear what y'all know/think.  ???

[alphabeta4000]

they did not give up caladan and evey now and then the harvesting house on arrakis changes, it was atreides turn

[thomas]

plus arrakis=more money$$$$$$$ :D

[Usul]

The Atradies were sent to Dune because they had started to train soilders who's skill rivaled that of the Sardukar (ie Duncan Idaho) and the emporer planned to use the Harkonnen military to conceal the attack from the Landsraad by making the Sardukar wear Harkonnen livery.

[nemafakei]

Leto was gaining a lot of support in the Landsraad, and so the emperor needed to eliminate him - he considered the Atreides to be a threat. Duncan was a Ginaz swordsmaster - not a good example of the Atreides military. Leto knew there'd be trouble when he got to Arrakis, so he needed to take his military. House Atreides still technically governed Caladan - it's just the Duke's attention had to be turned to the new fief on Arrakis.

[dportela]

Nema, ok I'll buy the threat scenario, but if the Atreides still governed Caladan, why is it listed as Count Fenring's fief in the book? Very weird...  ???

[Mahdi]

The Atradies were sent to Dune because they had started to train soilders who's skill rivaled that of the Sardukar (ie Duncan Idaho) and the emporer planned to use the Harkonnen military to conceal the attack from the Landsraad by making the Sardukar wear Harkonnen livery.

Thats the theory presented by Thufir, and a fairly likley one.  Nema, Duncan was one of the people who trained this elite squadron, not a member of it.  Duncan and Gurney were the men who amde it.

The reason given to the Baron was that Leto was to popular, although I beleive that Thufir was probably right when he said it was because of the elite Atreides soldiers.

[nemafakei]

Yes, that's a better synopsis.

[Digital Guerrilla]

This my be a little off topic but even in the movie, Lynch played it as Duke Leto gaining popularity in the Lansraad and the invention of the weirding modules (which are not in the book) as the reason he plotted with House Harkonnon to destroy House Atreides. Thufir knew it was a trap but failed to see that there was a Judas among House Atreides.

[dportela]

Hey guys, if the emperor wanted to get rid of Leto so bad, why does Irulan say he was extremely angry when he heard of Leto's death, and that he esteemed him?

Weird...  ???

[Mahdi]

Two theories:

1)  There are ways f getting rid of people other than killing them.  As leader of a destroyed great house, he could have probably got asylum from the Guild.

2)  The Emperor respected hm, and while he killed Leto out of necessity, he still didn't like doing it.

[quoudam72]

Both good points Mahdi but having respect for someone and staying in control of the universe do not always sleep well in the same bed. And Duke Leto was a threat to Emperor Shaddam IV.

[Timsvs]

i thought house atreides got sent to dune as a trap yes, because they were becoming so powerfull, and rivaled for rule...?

[nemafakei]

Ther rules of kanly were not really obeyed in full during the actual attack on Arrakis. Specifically in the treatment of the Atreides nobles.

[quoudam72]

No, kanly was not observed but there was treachery involved.

[Mahdi]

Ther rules of kanly were not really obeyed in full during the actual attack on Arrakis. Specifically in the treatment of the Atreides nobles.

I don't think they ever say that Kanly has to be obeyed.  I still think that Kanly was more a "chivilry" type deal.

[nemafakei]

Kanly was meant to be part of the Great Convention when dealing with nobles.

[UsulSK]

About the theory with the elite troops:  I think Thufir was talking about the Fremen, who could become a danger for the Emperor, because the Atreides wanted to train them.  But if the Emperor didnt want them to be trained he shouldnt have sent the Atreides on Arrakis!  The trap was planned before the Atreides got Arrakis, so the Emperor had other reasons for destroying them then the elite force.

[nemafakei]

Either that or your original assumptionwas wrong - that the emperor was not afraid of the At training the fremen, but their own men (which makes far more sense).

[Usul]

Nema I think you're getting me and UsulSK mixed up ???

[daniel]

nonn,,,well acordding to house corino the book leto scrwed u peverything that belonged to te empoeres spice artificial making factory....and he even said that he would get revenge in the end and  this is was the best way.

[nemafakei]

"Nema I think you're getting me and UsulSK mixed up "

I was referring solely to UsulSK's last post

[Mordecai]

The Landsraad see themselves as above petty savages such as the Fremen, and the emperor would expect the Atreides to use their posting on Arrakis to further their own gain, both economically and politically. No-one would ever dream that they would become involved with the Fremen, savages far below the noble houses.

[quoudam72]

And for thinking like that the Harkonnen and Emperor Shaddam IV both never saw it coming. It only made logical sense for House Atreides to ally with the Fremen.

[FeydRauttah]

         The Emperor wanted to take out House Atreides not only because of their elite troops - they were also an ally to Ginaz (Frank Herbert says that explicitly in Dune). Ginaz were enemies to House Moritani and House Harkonnen, both of which had common interests with Shaddam.