Leto took the reins of power at the age of twenty-three, and it is a tribute to his determination and magnetic personality that he wore the Ducal Ring for twenty-eight of the most turbulent years in the long history of House Atreides, Leto was only partway through his military training, under the general tutelage of the famed household mental Thufir Hawut, when Duke Mintor was killed in the Corrida ill 10163. The new Duke demanded the right to avenge his father's death on the horns of El Mtterte, an act which was not only symbolic, but also politically astute. By this one action, Duke Leto revealed his bravery, won the iiQagmatioa and support of the populace and proved that he was completely prepared-both psychologically and physically-to take over the Dukedom. Leto killed the bull using his father's estoque, thus linking his power with that of his ancestors; he never entered the Corrida again Leto trained as a matador, received combat training in operations on Wallor Tertius, and served on the Atreides flagship Van Atreides as a subaltern. He was granted authority early in life, when then-Duke Mintor sent the sixteen-year-old Leto as the Designated Observer for House Atreides to the revolt at Mask Prime. Leto unilaterally withheld the House contingent from a planetary assault whose strategy he felt was weak. He was proved correct in his assessment when three brigades and at least two cruisers of Houses Harkonnen and Kaastaar were destroyed, and an Imperial Inquest concurred that the attack plan was badly flawed. The Atreides forces were among the only survivors of the carnage at Mask Prime. A new contingent of Imperial levies was sent to their aid, but by the time of their arrival the na-Duke was in the Palace of Mask, in complete control of the rebellious planet. His patient and lifesaving tactics of siege, psywar and sabotage had worked brilliantly. His judgment and strong leadership won him the immediate loyalty of the Atreides forces, a loyalty which was to grow to somewhat legendary proportions over the course of Leto's reign. Soon after ascending the Ducal throne, Leto had the chance to cement the loyalty of his troops forever. By sheer force of personality and evidence of his unbreachable integrity, Leto put down a mutiny within his own troops on the planet Pinskau. Leto took the time and care to uncover the true reason for his troops' holding prisoner their own officers and to ensure that their totally justifiable grievances were dealt with Throughout his lifetime, Leto showed the same faith in and care for his troops and commanders on hundreds of lesser occasions. His fairness and wisdom gained him a House force which was known as the most loyal, trustworthy and honorable in the Imperium. From 10158 until 10174, Duke Leto continued to make a name for himself as one of the most honorable of the nobility. Typical