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At the beginning of book 1 of Dune, the Duke Leto is appointed by the Emperor as a fief ruler for the planet of Arrakis. We learn that this is really a trap, and the Emperor is conspiring with Baron Harkonnen - the current fief ruler - to eliminate House Atreides once on Arrakis. We also learn that Leto knows this, or at least that he strongly suspects it.

So why does he accept? Couldn't he have said "Thanks, but no thanks, I'm good here on Caladan."?

user2723984
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    Along with what the others have pointed out you have to remember that Arrakis itself was enormously valuable. If Leto managed to circumvent the trap they would gain insane wealth and influence. – just_happen_to_know Jul 07 '21 at 18:10
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    One does not look a gift horse in the mouth. Not when it is given to you by your master, the Emperor of All Space. And there is a tag around its neck that says "or else". And the horse you are currently sitting on (Caladan) has a tag that says "this, too, belongs to the Emperor. It's only yours to rule, not own". Atreides has no option but to obey. – PcMan Jul 08 '21 at 11:10

2 Answers2

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In brief, Leto has received a legitimate order from his Emperor. For all that he suspects that this is a trap, he has no good excuse to refuse and his only other option is to declare his House 'renegade' and to go into exile. Simply remaining on Caladan would put him into direct opposition with the Imperium and, presumably, subject to arrest.

A grin flashed across Piter’s face. It was like a mask grimace beneath those eyes like holes. ”But, Baron! Never has revenge been more beautiful. It is to see a plan of the most exquisite treachery: to make Leto exchange Caladan for Dune — and without alternative because the Emperor orders it. How waggish of you!“

and

“There are several tangential possibilities,” Piter said. “I indicate that House Atreides will go to Arrakis. We must not, however, ignore the possibility the Duke has contracted with the Guild to remove him to a place of safety outside the System. Others in like circumstances have become renegade Houses, taking family atomics and shields and fleeing beyond the Imperium.”

As has also been pointed out, by taking Arrakis, House Atreiedes massively increases its wealth and influence. Duke Leto severely underestimates the attack that will be coming, anticipating that it will be largely based on sabotaging their spice production. If they can prevent this, then he'll be sitting pretty.

In the face of Fremen attacks, the Harkonnen were able to extract "ten billion Solaris out of [t]here every three hundred and thirty Standard days". Duke Leto is anticipating that with the friendship of the locals he can exceed that. Quite the prize.

Valorum
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  • Good point..... – Jiminy Cricket. Jul 07 '21 at 17:35
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    @ARogueAnt. - It's like the military. You either follow the orders you're given or you go to jail. You don't get to debate which ones you do and don't like. – Valorum Jul 07 '21 at 17:36
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    Heh. I have that exact quote in my paste buffer, I'm just too slow. :) Have a vote; this is obviously the exact reason. – DavidW Jul 07 '21 at 17:38
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    I was the first to vote for the record. I need a paste buffer. – Jiminy Cricket. Jul 07 '21 at 17:40
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    @DavidW - Around these here parts, there are only two sorts. The quick, and the dead. – Valorum Jul 07 '21 at 17:43
  • This is the sign that the book calls for a second reading :) thanks. – user2723984 Jul 07 '21 at 18:11
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    @user2723984 - I believe you meant ninth. – Valorum Jul 07 '21 at 18:37
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    The REAL answer is discussed between Paul and Leto. It was because of the possibility of enlisting the Fremen’s help, as a fighting force to rival the Sardaukar — which worked, albeit after Leto’s death. – Wildcard Jul 08 '21 at 09:54
  • There was another option -- to treat it as a direct attack by the emperor. This is blocked by the fact that the order does not look like an attack. – Yakk Jul 08 '21 at 13:38
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    @Yakk - That was discussed. He could have called a special session of the Landsraad and made himself look like a nincompoop by accusing the Emperor without foundation or evidence. – Valorum Jul 08 '21 at 13:55
  • @Valorum I know; but I mean, you might want to include that 3rd option (and why this particular trick bypasses it) in your answer. I guess "legitimate" covers it. – Yakk Jul 08 '21 at 14:01
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    I don't know if we can really say that Leto underestimated the trap or the danger he was walking into, and I don't think he would pass on this opportunity even if it wasn't an order from the Emperor. I believe he says the phrase "feints within feints within feints" a number of times. It's totally in-character for Leto to understand that he will probably die in this trap, but that his house will massively benefit from the way he plays his cards during the trap. I don't have the quotations for a full answer, but that was my impression. – progressiveCavemen Jul 09 '21 at 16:47
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    @popctrl - I think you're wrong. Leto did accept a reasonable element of risk in moving to Arrakis (and knowingly exposed him son to danger), but the attack was of an unprecedented size. The Harkonnen basically bankrupted themselves launching it, and then added the Emperor's crack troops on top of that. – Valorum Jul 09 '21 at 17:45
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    @progressiveCavemen There's a quote by Hawat just after book 1 that attributes their fall almost entirely to the Harkkonen/Sardaukar numbers, noting that he massively underestimated the cost the Baron was willing to spend. Then of course the Baron's words to Raban, "the expense this has cost me. Squeeze, Raban". And Leto about "desert power" with the Freman. Those moments pretty well settle it. Leto was confident in a positive outcome. The only other option was to run, which when considering only himself and Jessica, he wanted a peaceful life with his lover. –  Mar 17 '22 at 18:11
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His only alternative would have been to have gone renegade, moving the whole familly beyond the reach of the Imperium.

Leto suspects a trap, yes, but he doesn't know or suspect its true magnitude. House Harkonnen, an enemy of House Atreides, is expected to have left booby-traps, and to attempt to infiltrate the house-guard and generally mess with spice production operations, but he thinks that he can turn the situation around to the advantage of house Atreides.

The agreement between the Landsraad and the Imperium prohibited the emperor acting against any individual house openly, and Leto trusted that no Emperor would be so bold as to risk censure by the other great houses by acting this way.

Leto only discovers the true monstrousness of the conspiracy between the Emperor and the Baron when the House-shield has already been taken down and it's observed that some of the attacking troops, men in Harkonnen livery - were imperial Sardaukar in disguise.

That's also an explanation for why the Emperor's troops were disguised, so as to attempt to hide the Emperor's hand in the matter, and why Paul proposed to bring a "Bill of Particulars" before the Laandsrad High council, to show the Emperor's hidden guilt.

Jiminy Cricket.
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