Old Duke

The Old Duke (d. 10154 AG), head of House Atreides, was the nineteenth Atreides Duke of Caladan, father to Leto Atreides I, grandfather to Emperor Paul Atreides, and great-grandfather to God Emperor Leto Atreides II.

Biography

The Old Duke ruled Caladan as a siridar fief granted by the Padishah Emperor - most likely Elrood Corrino IX. A public entertainer at heart, his passion for bullfighting eventually cost him his life.

The bull was subsequently killed, and its head mounted in the dining hall of Castle Caladan - later the Arrakeen governor's mansion and eventually Baron Harkonnen's palace - replete with the Old Duke's laminated bloodstains and coupled with an oil painting in his honor.

Legacy

Although Paul Atreides was considered - and indeed considered himself - to be much like his father, Duke Leto and close companions such as Duncan Idaho and Thufir Hawat found Paul's leadership style, mannerisms and speech more reminiscent of the Old Duke.

Thufir Hawat, the Mentat Master of Assassins, was brought into the employ of House Atreides by the Old Duke, where he remained a loyal servant for three successive generations. Along with the unwavering devotion of men like Duncan Idaho and Gurney Halleck, this was a true testament to the Old Duke's ability to inspire loyalty in his Great House - a classic Atreides quality shared by his descendants.

Eventually his late son, Leto I, became known as the "Old Duke" in the years following Paul-Muad'Dib's exile into the deep desert of Arrakis.

Trivia

• There are only scant references to the nineteenth Atreides Duke in Frank Herbert's Dune and its sequel - notably his death, portrait, bull's head, and similar characteristics seen in his grandson. Otherwise nameless, he is only referred to as the "Old Duke" - a moniker passed to his late son in later decades.
• The name of Paulus Atreides and a history of the man were detailed in the Prelude to Dune prequels, while The Dune Encyclopedia names him as Minotauros Atreides and outlines a detailed account of his life, including his upbringing, schooling, ascension and how he came to sire Leto.
• In Denis Villeneuve's 2021 adaptation, a painting of the Old Duke displayed in Castle Caladan bears a resemblance to Patrick Stewart, the actor who played Gurney Halleck in David Lynch's 1984 film. However, the portrait is actually based on Hungarian extra Attila Grád.

Appearances

• Dune (mentioned only)
• Dune Messiah (mentioned only)

Preceded by Unknown

Siridar-Duke of Caladan ? - 10154 AG

Succeeded by Leto Atreides I

v • d • e House Atreides
Dukes	Old Duke • Leto Atreides I • Paul Atreides • Leto Atreides II
Family	Atreides at Corrin • Jessica Atreides • Alia Atreides • Chani Kynes • Leto Atreides II the Elder • Ghanima Atreides • Moneo Atreides • Siona Atreides
Retainers	Duncan Idaho • Gurney Halleck • Thufir Hawat • Wellington Yueh • Fedor • Mattai • Arkie • Stilgar