This post contains spoilers For Frank Herbert's Dune novel series.
Caladan's lush greenery and oceanic beauty emerge as our entry point into the rich, expansive world of Dune, with Paul Atreides' home planet acting as a frame of reference for the worlds to come. Denis Villeneuve's Dune epic depicts this ecological bounty in vivid colors.the beautiful planet is synonymous with the Atreides regime and the flourishing economy that accompanies it. The legacy of the Atreides continued for over 10,000 years until Duke Leto demanded that Atreides I give up his possessions on the planet and leave for Arrakis in 10191 AG (after the Guild). This seizure of a desert planet from House Harkonnen changes the trajectory of the Atreides legacy, leaving the fate of Kalada up in the air.
As Frank Herbert's novel Dune progresses (complexly exploring Paul's relationship with the Fremen on Arrakis), the focus shifts entirely away from Caladan, for good reason. The ocean planet is meant to represent the cocoon of security that Paul must shed in order to fulfill his newfound duty as Atreides, while his core identity undergoes radical changes during his time with the Fremen. Twisted visions and intricate threads of prophecy set Paul and the Fremen on a path of no return, where the paradise of Caladan feels worlds away from the struggle to survive what Arrakis has to offer. If anything, Calada's abundance of water, scarce on a desert planet, appears as a desirable milestone in Paul's personal interpretation of heaven (Which he tried to create in the sequel “Dune Messiah”.).
Follow the events that help shape Calada's destiny after Atreides leaves his home planet behind in hopes of controlling a strange world of sand and spice.
How Atreides' absence shaped Caladan in the Dune universe
After the Atreides officially moved to Arrakis, leaving the loyal citizens behind, Count Hasimir Fenring took the name Siridar-Absentia and was to serve as temporary ruler until further instructions from the King Emperor. Fenring, a Mentat political tactician of House Corrino, was known primarily for his brute force, and his close ties to Emperor Shaddam IV influenced the surrender of Caladan to him. As the Emperor's true intentions become clear after Atreides faces betrayal and destruction, Fenring is implied to help ease the seismic shift to some extent. Although his involvement was not direct, his stronghold on Caladan, however temporary, enabled him to manipulate events in favor of the King Emperor.
As the mystery surrounding the Kwisatz Haderach gradually unravels in the books, we learn that several individuals were part of the Bene Gesserit breeding program, which tirelessly created the conditions to breed such a unique heir. Although Fenring was an unsuccessful candidate, he concentrated his efforts on developing his hidden abilities that made him invisible in Paul's mystical visions. Although Fenring was loyal to the Emperor to a fault, helping to avoid the suspicions of the Landsraad (the governing body of all the Great Houses) after the Atreides coup, he defied the Emperor's orders to kill Paul in 10193 AG. As a result, Fenrig was removed from office. Caladan's temporary ruler and exiled to the prison planet Salusa Secundus upon his death.
Although Jaladan's future may have been different after Fenring's departure, the Emperor sent someone else to rule in his place, no one in the Known Universe anticipated a life-changing event: the Arrakis Rebellion.
The desert war and its aftermath completely change Caladan
Paul's rebirth as Muad'Dib fueled the guerilla warfare against the Emperor and allied forces, leading to a significant drop in spice melange production for the Harkonnens, who also lost their men in droves. Things escalated to the Battle of Arrakin, where Paul and the Fremen overwhelmed the Emperor's Sardaukar with bombs and sandworms (!), marking the end of the long-running Desert War. A new era began for the Atreides, which meant that Caladan came under their rule. Paul trusted his friend and mentor, Gurney Halleck, to give him ownership of the planet so that Halleck could rule in his absence. Meanwhile, Paul took the imperial robes and became The new ruler of the Known Universe (which is an unprecedented power if you haven't already guessed).
More than 5,000 years later, after the death of God Emperor Leto Atreides II, a famine struck the Empire, forcing its inhabitants to flee and search uncharted planets in hopes of finding natural resources. This event historically became known as the Scattering, marking a period of unfathomable chaos and upheaval. However, at the same time, the discovery of new habitats and the establishment of new colonies led to significant developments as the boundaries of the Known Universe expanded. Fast forward 1,500 years and some of the migrating people returned to the Empire infusing new ways of thinking and being into the existing culture.
During this time, Caladan took the name Dan and eventually became the headquarters of the dreaded Kwisatz Haderach campaign, which was too confusing to enter. Caladan Castle was rebuilt from scratch (after its destruction) and a new bloodline was developed to carry on the complex and intertwined legacies of Houses Atreides and Harkonnen. Pavel's memory lives on in Jaladan, perhaps more deeply than he wishes.
