he occupants of the Imperial Chair, hoping in this way to prevent any one person from achieving great power Historians call this period "The Era of the Princes " Atreides economic ascendancy ended in 2191, when Emperor Sidir XIII had Count Maximos Atreides killed during an Imperial audience, within two months Maximos's son, Peleus Atreides, had Sidir XHI poisoned in his own bed The Lasdsraad refused to recognize any Imperial claimants for a period of six years Peleus Atreides signed it truce with Baron Shahnifch Kennc, a cousme of the late emperor, and Shahnikh was named to the Imperial Chair in 2197 As a reward for his services, Peleus received the Imperial Sister as a bride, and was named Siridar Count of Hestia and Duke of Atreus in the year 2201 Duke Demetnos XV0 Atreides (2355-2409) objected to the murder of Emperor Basil III at-Tam by his Sardaukar Commander, Hartn-Kab (who reigned as Menemtahe VI), and made his feelings known to the Landsraad, Harmhab suspended mat body, had Demetnos arrested, and then ordered the Duke publicly whipped, blinded, and gelded, on successive days Demetnos was stripped of his titles and lands, and sent to the Imperial zoo, where he was ordered displayed "as a prime example of that endangered species, Homo perduellioms reus " Harmhab was soon deposed by a revolt of his household staff, the surviving Imperial heir, Kennc in, called al-Kam (the Clever), ordered Harmhab to be planted in the street up to his neck, where passers-by were offered the opportunity of sawing on his neck with a piece of paper Demetnos was released from his public pns-on and restored to his estate and titles In his later years, he became known as gourmet of exotic foods and dnnk, he would spend exorbitant sums merely to sample a dish that had been extraordinarily praised, or would travel great distances to obtain delicacies that could not survive transport He died at the age of 99, his weight exceeded his age at his death by a factor of five Prominent m the middle years of the empire were such Atreides as the poet-Duke Paulos VII (died 2829), Baron Minos Atreides Theseides, the "Great Librarian", Kharalam bos Atreides Pelopides, an expert on ancient weapons, of whom it was said that he could put three shots into one hole at a distance of 100 meters Duke Atreus IV (died 3401), who outlived six wives and died in the arms of a seventh, Count Ansteteles Atreides Aigisthodes, who invented three new knots, was a master of perfumes, concocting one entirely new fragrance, and wrote an epic poem m Homeric Greek on the history of his family, Duke Agis III (died 3977), a master of the epee, a man obsessed with power, who was ultimately accused of high treason by blrood VI, was tned by the Landsraad, and executed, without forfeiture of his titles or estates, Duke Archelaos II (died 4315) the finest gourmet of his time, of whom it was said he had "a palate given by the gods", and Duke Kleomenes VI, executed in 4381 dunng the chaos that inaugurated the First Republic R R Further references HOUSE ATREIDES FOUNDATION OF HOUSE ATREIDES AND IMPERIAL RULE AJVaT HoOHlWll The House of Atretdes m Historical Perspective 22 v (Caladan.