The Dune Timeline Has Been a Complicated Mess for Four Decades: Where Does HBO’s Prophecy Fit In?

The Dune universe is so vast that it rivals other fictional creations, like J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, whose timeline begins at the very creation of the world. While Dune doesn’t go that far back, considering that it’s set in a distant future resembling our own, it features a broad narrative arc. In fact, the new HBO series Dune: Prophecy takes place 10,000 years before the adventures of Paul Atreides on Arrakis depicted in Denis Villeneuve’s films. Yet, the plot is intricately connected to what’s to come.

The advent of AI. Dune: Prophecy begins with a scene reminiscent of a Terminator film. In a nocturnal wasteland, an army of humans confronts giant machines. However, this isn’t about Skynet, the neural network system in the Terminator franchise. It refers to the advent of another artificial intelligence that sparked a war, ultimately leading to its prohibition. This is key to the originality of the Dune universe. The plot is set millions of years into the future, but there are no computers or robots. Instead, the setting is more akin to the Middle Ages.

The Empire. The origins of the Dune lore go back to the Old Empire, which is only briefly mentioned in Frank Herbert’s books and their sequels. In a future not too far from ours, a technology emerged that allowed travel to distant points in space, paving the way for the conquest of other planets. In that context, an Empire was born. It was during this time that Arrakis and “the spice,” essential for faster-than-light travel, were discovered. In the year 1287 Before Guild, a genetically altered human named Tlaloc led the Titans to defeat the Empire, resulting in its downfall.

Before Guild? In the Dune universe, the term “Before Guild,” or “BG,” serves a similar purpose as “Before Christ” in our chronological system. It marks a pivotal event that divides history into two distinct parts. This event is the founding of the Spacing Guild, an organization that monopolized space travel, transportation, and space banking. After this, bureaucracy and legality became more systematically organized across the universe, leading to wars that, while still prevalent, became less chaotic.

Butlerian Jihad. Similar to Skynet in Transformers, Dune’s Omnius is a conscious supercomputer that subdued the Titans. This sparked a millennium-long war between humans and machines known as the Butlerian Jihad, or the Great Revolt. Ultimately, humans triumphed, scarred by the effects of artificial intelligence, and adopted the principle “Man may not be replaced.”

A century before the creation of the Spacing Guild, Omnius was destroyed in the Battle of Corrin. Shortly after that, in 88 BG, the Bene Gesserit, the sisterhood that’s central to the narrative of Dune: Prophecy, emerges.

What are the Bene Gesserit? The Bene Gesserit is a pseudo-religious sisterhood and, above all, a female community spread out throughout the galaxy. They influence multiple governments as shadow advisors, which is prominently highlighted in Prophecy from the very first appearance of Emperor Javicco Corrino.

From the beginning, the new HBO series perfectly depicts how the primary purpose of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood is to influence the arranged marriages between various houses connected to the emperor, all in preparation for the arrival of a chosen one known as the Kwisatz Haderach.

The Kwisatz Haderach possesses extraordinary powers, such as the ability to bridge space and time, foresee the future, and access memories of both his female and male ancestors. Although they’re often mistaken for witches, the Bene Gesserit are indeed endowed with remarkable abilities and serve as a significant shadow force in Dune.

The New Age. Following the creation of the sisterhood, the Great Houses, including Harkonnen and Atreides, emerged. They would later clash over Arrakis and control of “the spice.” This period is referred to as the New Age and represents the early years after the establishment of the Spacing Guild. Emperor aside, the Spacing Guild is a crucial power because it’s the sole entity capable of interstellar travel.

Dune: Prophecy is set in the years leading up to this pivotal moment, with some action flashing back to reveal the Harkonnen sisters in their youth, who shape the destiny of the Bene Gesserit. For instance, Valya Harkonnen, one of the sisters, is appointed Mother Superior in 4 BG.

10,000 years of history. The Dune films take place under the rule of Emperor Shaddam IV, 10,000 years after the formation of the New Age. During this time, the universe experiences a period of relative peace. However, the Empire is rife with internal conflicts among the Great Houses, which ultimately leads to the Great Spice War. This war erupts as the houses compete for control over the emperor’s initiative to create an artificial substitute for the valuable spice.

That’s not all. While the Great Spice Wars are the most well-known aspect of the saga, the timeline of the books extends 5,000 years beyond the era of Paul Atreides. This later period is largely centered on his son, Leto II Atreides, known as the God Emperor. The Bene Gesserit continue to play a significant role in this universe, engaging in their own fratricidal war.

Additionally, previously unknown galactic forces emerge, as depicted in stories that Herbert outlined and his son Brian later expanded upon, even though Herbert passed away before he could fully conclude the saga.

Image | Warner Bros. Discovery

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