The complex universe of Dune is full of backstories that are not much explored in the movies. Besides all the acting factions, the Fremen are an underestimated people, despite having toppled an entire empire.
What are the Fremen based on? In the Dune movies, we get to know the Fremen as a desert people living on the planet Arrakis under harsh conditions. Before the arrival of House Atreides, the Fremen lived in a poor situation created by the rule of House Harkonnen.
The inspiration for the Fremen came from Frank Herbert, the author of the first Dune novels, drawing from Arab history and culture. Many elements of his world come from there. The Fremen strongly resemble the Bedouins, nomadic tribes that also roamed and lived in the desert. This is also reflected in their past in the Dune universe.
In the upcoming Dune: Awakening, you can explore Arrakis yourself:
A long pilgrimage to Arrakis
How did the Fremen come to Arrakis? The Fremen are descended from the Zensunni Wanderers. This was a people of pacifists who had Islamic and Buddhist inspirations. They maintained their pacifism even during the Butlerian Jihad, a war against thinking machines that changed the technological progress in the universe.
The Zensunni fled instead of contributing to the war. This caused them to be seen as cowards among other peoples and gave them a difficult standing. After that, a long pilgrimage of the Zensunni developed, which began on the planet Poritrin. There, according to visions, they were not like the Fremen. Due to their peaceful nature and past, they faced strong discrimination.
They fled to the planet Salusa Secundus, where they were enslaved by House Corrino for nine generations. After that, there were further migrations to other planets until they eventually landed on Arrakis. This was more than 10,000 years before the events of Dune.
Although the planet was difficult for survival, it also provided good protection against enemies. After a long period of adaptation, the Fremen developed, whose name derives from Freemen
. They were finally free on Arrakis.
A planet full of dangers
What happened next on Arrakis? Arrakis is not a pleasant planet to live on. Not only are the sandworms dangerous, but there is also a scarcity of resources. The Fremen adapted to this over centuries. The most important thing for the survival of the Fremen is water.
Fighting is done for it, and no drop is wasted. This also applies to the dead. In Denis Villeneuve’s second film, you see how fluids are extracted from the dead and filtered into water. They have specific suits that filter water, allowing them to be out in the desert for long periods.
Unlike their pacifist ancestors, there are warriors among the Fremen. One of them is called the Naib, who is always responsible for a tribe of Fremen. However, he is not a classic leader since councils also exist among the Fremen.
Apart from the desert, there are also shelters in places built among rocky structures. There, one is protected from enemies and also the dangers of the desert. In combat, the Fremen are not classic front-line fighters due to the lack of technology and weapons. Their experience in the desert allows them to ambush opponents.
They also use the environment and the sandworms. They know exactly how to lure them, but also how to avoid them. The worms are also used for transportation.
The Fremen and the Spice
What do the Fremen have to do with the Spice? The Spice is the most valuable resource in the universe. It is the only thing that can be traded and used to power ships and other devices. Only the Fremen have a full understanding of Spice and how it is produced.
The Spice also brings the greatest danger to the Fremen: the Empire. The reigning Emperor needs the Spice for control and the survival of his empire, which is why Spice must be harvested constantly. In the past, the Bene Gesserit manipulated the Fremen and used their affinity for spirituality to influence them.
Before the films, House Harkonnen took care of this. The Harkonnen were ruthless and fought against the Fremen, who only hindered the Spice harvest. In the eyes of the Empire, the Fremen were merely barbarians.
This changed when House Atreides was to take care of the Spice harvest. Before his death, Leto Atreides tried to interact more diplomatically with the Fremen. But before a proper agreement could be reached, House Harkonnen and House Corrino attacked Leto Atreides. He was killed, and Paul Atreides and his mother had to flee.
They found refuge with the Fremen, and Paul became the Mahdi or the Lisan Al Gaib: a prophet and the prophesied savior of the Fremen. He became the leader of the Fremen, leading them in the great revolution and making Paul the ruler of Arrakis.
The fight for Paul Atreides also leads to the end of the Fremen
The war of Paul, the Muad’Dib Jihad, lasted 12 years, and ultimately Paul, with the help of the Fremen, became the Emperor. However, Paul, and later his son Leto II, who ruled for over 3500 years, wanted to terraform Arrakis. The desert planet was to become a paradise.
But without the harsh conditions, the customs and traditions of the Fremen became obsolete. Over millennia, this information was lost, and it is assumed that after the death of Leto II, almost all Fremen were killed. One of the most powerful factions of Dune is not even mentioned in the new films, even though they are essential for trade
