Introduction
Dune is the public record of an empire that runs on ecology, trade, and belief. Seen from chancelleries and guild logs, this is less a saga of personalities and more a sequence of decisions that redirect whole peoples: grants of fief, transfers of planetary stewardship, battles fought over a resource that touches every ship that dares fold space. The calendar of the Imperium anchors these entries in the language of courts and contracts—decrees posted, legates sworn, and troop movements acknowledged by all parties. Arrakis sits at the center because spice does: a desert world whose winds and worms shape economies, faiths, and the tempo of diplomacy.
Each entry on this hub treats well‑known moments as living history. We describe what observers can witness—processions on Kaitain, troop columns at Arrakeen, water tallies in sietch chambers—and why officials consider these moments decisive. Mechanics of prophecy, private vows, and hidden lineages remain off the page; what stays is the record that clerks and ecologists agree on. The tone is present tense so the stakes remain immediate: treaties are still being signed, convoys are still departing, and the dust has not settled.
Start with the heir born on Caladan and the transfer of Arrakis in 10191. Note the Battle of Arrakeen as a fulcrum for control of the desert, then follow the pressure of governance into the early 10200s as reforms and conspiracies proliferate. By the late teens of that century, regency and ecology collide; soon after, an unprecedented ascension announces a centuries‑long program no ministry can fully map. Far ahead, the Imperium encounters a horizon it cannot contain, and peoples scatter into possibilities. Read in order, the list below shows how policy, environment, and belief interlock to move history.
When was Paul Atreides born in Dune? (10175 AG) — Timeline
The birth of Paul Atreides sets the stage for the Kwisatz Haderach prophecy.
Open event →When does Dune take place? (10191 AG) — Timeline
House Atreides takes control of Arrakis in 10191 AG, igniting the struggle over spice and destiny.
Open event →When does the Battle of Arrakeen take place? (10191 AG) — Timeline
Paul leads the Fremen to victory at Arrakeen, toppling the Emperor in 10191 AG.
Open event →When does Dune Messiah take place? (10202 AG) — Timeline
Set years after Paul’s ascent, concluding his reign in 10202 AG.
Open event →When does Children of Dune take place? (10219 AG) — Timeline
Alia’s regency and the rise of Leto II and Ghanima culminate in 10219 AG.
Open event →When does Leto II become the God Emperor in Dune? (10221 AG) — Timeline
Leto II begins the path to the God Emperor in 10221 AG.
Open event →When does the God Emperor’s reign end in Dune? (13725 AG) — Timeline
Leto II’s death ends millennia of rule in 13725 AG, restoring sandworms to Arrakis.
Open event →When does the Scattering in Dune happen? (15200 AG (approx.)) — Timeline
Following the God Emperor’s fall, humanity disperses widely during the Scattering (~15200 AG).
Open event →FAQ
Q: What is the Dune timeline order?
A: In short: 10175 AG (Paul born), 10191 AG (Dune & Arrakeen), 10202 AG (Dune Messiah), 10219 AG (Children of Dune), 10221 AG (Leto II ascends), 13725 AG (God Emperor ends), ~15200 AG (Scattering).