Control of Giedi Prime was given 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 those of its cities were changed, and its forests and greenery replanted. After Vladimir Harkonnen'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 being killed by Paul Atreides in an act of kanly.Īfter the ascent of House Atreides, what little remained of House Harkonnen saw its power and resources quickly disappear. However, Vladimir Harkonnen's plans were ultimately unravelled by the rise of Paul Atreides on Arrakis. Thus, he secretly plotted against both House Atreides and House Corrino, hoping to destroy the former and overpower the latter through force and marriage. By 10191 AG, the Harkonnens had managed to amass considerable wealth through spice mining.ĭespite House Harkonnen's relative power prior to the end of the Corrino Empire, Vladimir Harkonnen desired the ultimate achievement of usurping the Corrinos and forming the Harkonnen Empire. Through their persecution of the Fremen, and through the minimisation of outlay on infrastructure and pay, the Harkonnens managed to pay the tithe they owed to the Emperor, as well as keep a substantial amount of melange for themselves. Their responsibility was to mine the spice melange and supply it to the universe. In approximately 10130 AG, House Harkonnen won the siridar fief of Arrakis. With a social order based on treachery and punishment, soldiers rose through the ranks through deceit, trickery and, if necessary, assassination. They were used in governance, in the day-to-day running of the Harkonnen household, and in controlling the Harkonnen armies. Indeed, Harkonnen governing was based upon a simple foundation of fear and terror. House Harkonnen had built its power on maximising production output, and minimising production expenses by ignoring economically ethical behaviour. Moreover, the family name Härkönen is derived from the Finnish word härkä which means ox.Īfter many centuries toiling as a House Minor, Harkonnen influence gradually rose within the Landsraad, due mostly to shrewd manipulation of the whale fur market, which was primarily accomplished by Baron Dmitri Harkonnen and his son Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. It has been suggested that the Harkonnen name comes from Sweden as a derivation of Hakkon - but it is likely that it is indeed from Finland, as Härkönen is a 20th-century Finnish name. But, the spice Melange begins to change Paul whom rises and becomes a powerful revolutionary and believes he is the all powerful super being the Kwisatz Haderach and Paul leads an army of Fremen warriors in a campaign to rid Arrakis of the Emperor and Baron Harkonnen and avenge his father.The Harkonnen name was believed to originate in what was northern Europe on ancient Earth, and the region of Earth called Suomi, also Finland. Paul and his mother are taken in by the Fremen, the humanoid natives of Arrakis and Paul takes leadership of the Fremen and decides to lead them in revolt against The Emperor and Baron Harkonnen. The Duke's son and heir Paul and his mother Jessica are forced to flee into the desert. After The Emperor and Baron Harkonnen's plot goes into motion and Duke Leto is assassinated. However, the Emperor sending Duke Leto and his family to Arrakis is in reality a deathtrap as The Emperor has secretly conspired with the evil Baron Vladimir Harkonnen to rid The Emperor of House Atriedes as The Emperor fears The Duke will take the throne and rule the galaxy and The Emperor sends Baron Harkonnen and his loyal Sardukar Terror Troops to Arrakis to destroy House Atreides. Duke Leto Atriedes and his family relocate from the watery planet Caladan to the desert planet Arrakis as the Padisah Emperor Shaddam IV has sent the Duke to take control of the mining operation on Arrakis as Arrakis is being mined for the spice Melange.