Editing Canopus

{{Update Needed|[[The Periphery (sourcebook)]]|[[Handbook: Major Periphery States]]|[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]|[[Objectives: Periphery]]}}
{{InfoBoxSystem
| image               = Canopus_3151.svg
| caption             = Canopus [[#Nearby_Systems|nearby systems]]
| name                = Canopus
| coord               = −147.166 : −394.997{{e}}
| stars               = 
| class               = F5IV<ref name=HBP98>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 98: "Planet Profile"</ref>
| recharge            = 176 hours<ref name=HBP98/>
| recharge stations   = Nadir<ref name=HBP98/><ref name="H:RWp103"/>
| planets             = 
}}
The '''Canopus''' system was home to at least one habitable world, '''Canopus IV''', and as of [[3145]] was the capital of the [[Magistracy of Canopus]].<ref name=ER:3145p38/><ref name="FM:3145pVI"/>

__TOC__

==System Description==
Canopus is located near the [[Adherlwin]] and [[Mangor]] systems<ref name=ER:3145p38/><ref name="FM:3145pVI"/> and consists of a class F5IV primary orbited by at least four worlds,<ref name=HBP98/> with a recharge station in place at the nadir [[jump point]].<ref name=HBP98/><ref name="H:RWp103"/>

==System History==
The Canopus system was colonized at some point during before the [[Age of War]].<ref name="HB:MPSp93"/> A recharge station has been in place at the system nadir [[jump point]] for an undetermined period of time.<ref name=HBP98/><ref name="H:RWp103"/> The Canopus system has been home to at least two large orbital naval manufacturing concerns, including the [[Diamond Garter Shipyards]]<ref name="FM:3145p187"/> and [[WarShip]]-manufacturing facilities operated by the [[Athena Corporation]].<ref name="FR2765:Pp10"/>

==Political Affiliation==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[2530]] - [[Magistracy Free State]]<ref name=MW3rdp169>''MechWarrior, Third Edition'', p. 169: "Canopus"</ref>
* [[2531]] - Magistracy Free State<ref name="H:RWp16"/>
* [[2571]] - [[Magistracy of Canopus]]<ref name="HB:HMp24">''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 24</ref><ref name="HB:MPSp93">''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 93</ref>
* [[2584]] - Magistracy of Canopus (occupied by the SLDF from May)<ref name="H:RWp105"/>
* [[2596]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="H:RWp158">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 159</ref>
* [[2750]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="HB:MPSp93"/><ref name="ER:2750p37">''Era Report: 2750'', p. 37</ref>
* [[2764]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="FM:SLDFpvii">''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. xi: "Inner Sphere - [2764] Map"</ref>
* [[2765]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="H:LoTv1p11">''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1'', p. 11</ref><ref name="FR2765:Pp35">''Field Report 2765: Periphery'', p. 35</ref>
* [[2767]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="H:LOTV1p96">''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1'', p. 96</ref>
* [[2786]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="FSW(SB)p24-25">''First Succession War'', pp. 24–25</ref>
* [[2822]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name=HB:HLp31">''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 31</ref><ref name="HB:HMp34">''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 34</ref><ref name="H:LOTV2p122">''Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2'', pp. 122–123</ref><ref name="FSW(SB)p112-113">''First Succession War'', pp. 112–113</ref>
* [[2830]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="SSWp18">''Second Succession War'', pp. 18–19</ref>
* [[2864]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name=HB:HLp39">''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 39</ref><ref name="HB:HMp38">''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 38</ref><ref name="SSWp78">''Second Succession War'', pp. 78–79</ref>
* [[3025]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="TP1Ep152">''The Periphery'', pp. 156–157</ref><ref name=HB:HLp40">''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 40</ref><ref name="HB:HMp42">''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 42</ref><ref name="HB:MPSp96">''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 96</ref>
* [[3030]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name=HB:HLp49">''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 49</ref><ref name="HB:HMp51">''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 51</ref>
* [[3040]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="H:Wo3039p133">''Historical: War of 3039'', p. 133</ref>
* [[3050]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="ER:3052p10">''Era Report: 3052'', p. 10</ref>
* [[3052]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="ER:3052p22">''Era Report: 3052'', p. 22</ref>
* [[3054]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="ORp46">''Objective Raids'', p. 46: "Map of Periphery States"</ref>
* [[3057]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="ER:3062p11">''Era Report: 3062'', p. 11</ref>
* [[3058]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name=HB:HLp60">''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 60</ref><ref name="HB:HMp54">''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 54</ref>
* [[3059]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="TP2Ep112">''The Periphery, 2nd Edition'', p. 112: "Magistracy of Canopus & Tortuga Dominions"</ref>
* [[3063]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 29</ref><ref name="ISp97">''Inner Sphere'', p. 97: "Near Periphery Kingdoms"</ref>
* [[3067]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="HB:MPSp96"/><ref name="HB:HLp68">''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 68</ref><ref name="HB:HMp56">''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 56</ref><ref name="J:FRp43">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 43</ref>
* [[3075]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="JS:TBDp64">''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 64</ref>
* [[3079]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="FR:FWLMp17">''Field Report: FWLM'', p. 17</ref><ref name="FR:Pp20">''Field Report: Periphery'', p. 20</ref>
* [[3081]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="J:FRp62">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 62</ref>
* [[3085]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name="FM:3085pvii">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. vii: "Inner Sphere - [3085]"</ref>
* [[3130]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name=DATtSXLV>''Dark Age: Touring the Stars (3130)'', pp. 89–90: "Volume XLV: Periphery Nations, Pt. I—Magistracy of Canopus"</ref>
* [[3135]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name=ER:3145p10>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 10</ref>
* [[3145]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref name=ER:3145p38>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 38</ref><ref name="FM:3145pVI">''Field Manual: 3145'', p. VI: "Inner Sphere - [3145] Map"</ref>
* [[3151]] - Magistracy of Canopus<ref>''Shrapnel'', Issue #4: "Voices of the Sphere: Cryogenics"</ref>
{{div col end}}

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==Canopus IV==
{{InfoBoxPlanet
| image               = Canopus IV Flag.jpg
| name                = Canopus IV
| othernames          = 
| position            = Fourth<ref name=HBP98/>
| distance            = 14.94 Days<ref name=HBP98/>
| moons               = 2 (Cybele, Inanna)<ref name=HBP98/><ref name="H:RWp103"/>
| gravity             = 1.1<ref name=HBP98/>
| pressure            = Standard (Breathable)<ref name=HBP98/>
| temperature         = 25°C (Temperate)<ref name=HBP98/>
| water               = 60%<ref name=HBP98/>
| life                = Fish<ref name=HBP98/>
| continents          = At least 2 (Alinia, Salonika)<ref name=HBP98/>
| colonized           = [[2530]]<ref name=MW3rdp169/>
| demonym             = 
| language            = 
| religion            = 
| population          = 537,000,000 (3025),<ref name="TP1ep102">''The Periphery'', p. 102: "Canopus IV Profile"</ref><br>1,107,200,000 (3067),<ref name=HBP98/><br>1,107,000,000 (3076)<ref name="M&Mp176">''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', p. 176: "Magistracy Key Worlds"</ref>
| ruler               = [[Magestrix of the Magistracy of Canopus|Magestrix]]
| political           = [[Planetary Governor of Canopus|Planetary Governor]]
| commander           = 
| capital             = Delphi (2576),<ref name="H:RWp103"/><br> Crimson (2588)<ref name="H:RWp105"/><ref name="H:RWp104"/>
| hpg                 = B<ref name=HBP98/>
| hpgrep              = [[Precentor]] [[Emiliar Grinn]] (3025)<ref name="TP1ep102"/>
}}
Canopus IV is the fourth planet in the Canopus system and has a pair of moons named Cybele and Inanna. Canopus IV has served as the planetary capital of the Magistracy of Canopus since the founding of the nation, and was heavily industrialized for a [[Periphery]] planet.

===Planetary History===
====Founding====
The world of Canopus IV was settled by [[Kossandra Centrella (26th c.)|Kossandra Centrella]] and her followers in [[2530]].<ref name=MW3rdp169/> An officer in the [[Free Worlds League Military]], Kossandra and her command had been abandoned on the world of [[Highspire]] when her superior officers panicked, and the ineptitude and greed of those above her in the chain of command disgusted her; after she and her unit captured enough transport ships to fight their way back to [[Free Worlds League]] space, Kossandra began gathering like-minded followers into her command, which became known as the "[[Black Brotherhood]]." When the Brotherhood were sent on an attack into [[Federated Suns]] space, they collectively severed ties with the League and set out for the [[Periphery]]. Canopus IV was the world that the unit chose to settle on, and by [[2531]] it became the seat of a new nation, the [[Magistracy Free State]].<ref name="H:RWp16">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 16: "Magistracy of Canopus"</ref> Canopus was captured in [[2584]] during the [[Reunification War]].<ref>''Handbook: House Marik'', p. 23</ref>

====Reunification War====
Canopus was active during the so called "phony war" that was fought between various intelligence agencies throughout [[2575]]–[[2577]]; agents from the [[Magistracy Intelligence Ministry]], the Marik [[National Intelligence Agency]], the [[Hegemony Central Intelligence Directorate]] and the [[Star League Defense Force]] Intelligence Command were all in play on the world, although the MIM operated with a more coherent approach than the other three services, typified in an incident where two rival SLDF teams engaged each other in a gunfight in the mistaken belief that the other team was a Canopian security team.<ref name="H:RWp96">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 96: "The Phony War (2575-2577)</ref>

On 14 May 2577, [[Duke]] [[Brion Marik]] landed on Canopus and informed [[Magestrix]] [[Crystalla Centrella]] that a state of war existed between the two realms. Both sides agreed that the war would be fought according to the terms of the [[Ares Conventions]], which made the war unique among the four campaigns that made up the Reunification War, but the Canopus system itself wouldn't see combat until [[2582]].<ref name="H:RWp97">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 97: "Over the Edge (2577)</ref><ref name="H:RWp101">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 101: "Reversals (2582-2583)</ref>

In 2582, the SLDF task force changed tactics and began raiding Magistracy worlds in imitation of the raids being conducted into Free Worlds League space by the [[MAF]]. An SLDF [[WarShip]] task force raided the Canopus system; the raid wasn't a serious attempt to inflict damage but rather to obtain up-to-date cartographic information on the system, and the raiding party was driven off by the Canopus naval picket, but it was a prelude to the future invasion of the Canopus system.<ref name="H:RWp101"/>

By April [[2583]], Canopus had effectively been encircled, with every major world within thirty light years of the Magistracy capital now occupied by SLDF and [[FWLM]] troops.<ref name="H:RWp102">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 102: "Afarsin, Adherlwin, Megarez and Nobel (March-April 2583)"</ref> As a precursor to invasion, forces from [[VII Corps (Star League)|VII Corps]] stepped up reconnaissance missions in the Canopus system, leading to a squadron of WarShips establishing a presence in the Canopus system when they seized the nadir recharge station in early March [[2584]].<ref name="H:RWp103">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 103: "Endgame (2583-2584)</ref>

As the SLDF began to mount increasingly aggressive patrols throughout the Canopus system the two surviving vessels from the MAF WarShip fleet played a constant game of hide and seek, trying to remain free so that they could evacuate the Magestrix to the redoubt the MAF had established in the outback on [[Kossandra's Memory]]. With the superiority in numbers the SLDF possessed there was little the Canopian picket could do to prevent the SLDF patrols, or the establishment of listening posts and then staging areas on the two moons orbiting Canopus IV, Cybele and Inanna.<ref name="H:RWp103a">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 103: "Canopus (March-April 2584)</ref>

The SLDF buildup in the system continued throughout March, with the commander of the SLDF task force, [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Marion Marik]], arriving aboard her flagship, the ''[[League]]''-class destroyer [[Albert Marik (Individual League-class WarShip)|FWLS ''Albert Marik'']], and taking up a geosynchronous orbit above the capital city of Delphi on the 29th of March. Despite the Magestrix sanguinely dismissing the ship as a "pretty new star," the MAF knew that a full invasion was imminent. After almost fifty years of settlement and economic development Canopus IV was still a largely unspoiled world, with the three largest cities - Astarte, Crimson and Delphi - all located on the largest continent, Salonika. It was an unwritten agreement that the battle for Canopus would be held in the wilderness regions of Salonika, avoiding the various urban settlements, in the same manner that the terms of the Ares conventions had been honored by both sides to date in the war.<ref name="H:RWp103"/>

The [[Star League]] invasion force took three days to deploy, with the last units landing on the 5th of April. Arrayed against the MAF forces on Canopus were three complete brigades from VII Corps - the [[58th Brigade|Fifty-eighth]] and [[60th Brigade|Sixtieth Brigades]] and the [[62nd Royal Brigade|Sixty-Second Royal Brigade]] - supported by the [[35th Royal CAAN Marine Regiment|Thirty-fifth Royal CAAN Marine Regiment]], the [[402nd Independent Regiment|402nd]] and [[403rd Independent Regiment|403rd Independent Regiments]], the [[1st Marik Militia|First]], [[3rd Marik Militia|Third]] and [[Fifth Marik Militia]]s, the [[4th Fusiliers of Oriente|Fourth Brigade]] of the [[Fusiliers of Oriente]], the [[Third Orloff Grenadiers]] and the [[First Defenders of Andurien]]. Although the defending garrison was outnumbered, it consisted of a sizeable number of units - the [[Magestrix Guard]], the [[1st Canopian Fusiliers|First]] and [[Third Canopian Fusiliers]], the [[First Canopian Grenadiers]] and the mercenary unit [[The Red Hand]].<ref name="H:RWp104">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 104: "Canopus (March-April 2584)</ref><ref name="H:RWp149"/><ref name="H:RWp151"/>

Despite being outnumbered more than three-to-one, the defenders had more knowledge of the local terrain than the SLDF, and they put this into use almost immediately, with the Third Canopian Fusiliers attacking the Third Marik Militia and the Thirty-fifth Royal CAAN Marine regiment, pressing both of them hard - particularly the Thirty-fifth, who were heavily beaten before SLDF reinforcements could drive the Fusiliers back. Elsewhere, the Sixtieth Brigade inflicted losses on one MAF regiment while the Fifty-eighth Brigade ground the First Grenadiers against the Thetis River, reducing the First to just two companies of troops before they managed to retreat; while the Thirty-fifth Royal CAAN Marine Regiment was moved into the SLDF reserve force, the survivors from the First Canopian Grenadiers were folded into the [[Canopian Cuirassiers]] to bring them back up to strength.<ref name="H:RWp104"/><ref name="ATW05072011">Ask The Writers Forum, 05 July 2011 at 13:13:19: "Re: RW: Canopian Front"</ref>

The battle between the Fifty-eighth Brigade and the First Grenadiers wasn't the only battle to take place around the Thetis River; The Red Hand made good use of their hovercraft to navigate the unstable terrain of the river delta and the narrow river channels and launch attacks on the Fifth Marik Militia, hit and run attacks that were only stopped when the SLDF deployed fighter squadrons loaded with bombs to hunt the hovercraft, forcing them to retreat.<ref name="H:RWp104"/><ref name="H:RWp105">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 105: "Canopus (March-April 2584)</ref>

A week after the battles had begun, Marik decided that there was one industrial facility that was too important to the Magistracy war efforts to be allowed to remain under MAF control: the [[Majesty Metals and Manufacturing]] complex. The only facility on Canopus capable of producing [[BattleMechs]], the MMM plant would allow the MAF to prolong the conflict if they retained control of it, and despite the tacit agreement that urban combat wouldn't play a part in the conflict between the two forces, the SLDF attacked the MAF garrison at the MMM facility, capturing it on the night of the 12th of April. The MAF forces tried to dislodge the SLDF troops repeatedly over the next few days, but lacked the force of numbers needed; attempts to recapture the facility only ceased when the Magestrix personally called the attacks off.<ref name="H:RWp105"/>

In late April, the pace and tempo of the clashes increased, and by the end of the month the surviving MAF units had been forced into a tight defensive ring around Delphi. The SLDF lines stretched around three sides of the city, with the Bay of Altay blocking any retreat from the fourth side. The Canopians adopted a siege mentality, bolstered by rumors circulating that rationing would be imposed to support a holdout until the summer, when a relief force would supposedly arrive to help them. The SLDF weren't prepared to let false hope lift the spirits of the defenders, and on the 1st of May the SLDF and FWLM troops pressed the attack against the defenders.<ref name="H:RWp105"/>

The battle was a grinding war of attrition that inflicted heavy casualties on both sides, and which might have lasted for weeks if it wasn't for the Thirty-fifth Royal CAAN Marine Regiment. Having been relegated to a reserve role after their losses in the opening days of the campaign, the Thirty-fifth had used the time to study Delphi and its surroundings; the beaches around the Bay of Altay would become a tourist attraction after the war, but they also presented the Thirty-fifth with an ideal opportunity to conduct an amphibious operation. As a Combined Armor, Air and Naval regiment, the Thirty-fifth was designed to operate on water-rich worlds and to perform such tasks as amphibious assaults, and at dawn on the 2nd of May the Thirty-fifth assaulted the city from the Bay. The MAF had only light defenses on that side of the city, and the organized defense of the city collapsed when the MAF discovered they had an attacking force in their rear areas. Although [[Colonel]] [[Adam Buquoy]], the commander of the MAF, managed to escape off-world when the city was finally captured on the 3rd of May, the Magestrix had formally surrendered to [[General]] [[Ian Marik]], the commander of the FWLM auxiliary force.<ref name="H:RWp54">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 54: "Melissa Humphreys"</ref>

Even with the surrender of the Magestrix and the capture of Canopus, the war would continue; Crystalla Centrella famously refused to order the remaining unoccupied Canopian worlds to surrender with the phrase "Darling, you wanted to take all my people away from me, so if they're being naughty then it's for you to deal with them. Do you want to give them a good spanking? Or me?"<ref name="H:RWp105+">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 105: "Mopping Up"</ref>

Ian Marik ruled from Canopus as the military governor of the Magistracy until he was recalled to the Free Worlds League by the FWL parliament in [[2586]],<ref name="H:RWp8">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 8: "Coup de Grace"</ref> and in [[2588]] he was replaced by Duchess Melissa Humphreys, the architect of the Star League reconstruction plan for the Magistracy.<ref name="H:RWp54"/> The city of Crimson was the site of the bulk of the government buildings and infrastructure before and after the Reunification War and during the Star League era it replaced Delphi as the planetary capital.<ref name="H:RWp103"/>

====Star League====
The homeport for the [[9th Fleet (Star League)|Ninth Fleet]] of the SLDF was located at Severance Station, an armed space station near Canopus IV.  While undergunned when compared to other stations, the presence of an aerospace group helped ensure that the drydock facilities were well protected.  Elements of the Ninth Fleet would regularly run military exercises and simulate orbital bombardment maneuvers. These drills were to help remind the populace of Canopus IV that going to war again the Star League would be a dangerous decision.<ref>''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. 124: "Homeport"</ref>

In [[2763]], Canopian mercenaries opened fire on SLDF personnel because of an alleged "miscommunication."<ref name=FR2765Pp7>''Field Report 2765: Periphery'', p. 7: "Magistracy of Canopus"</ref>

====Andurien Crisis====
Towards the end of the Andurien Crisis, Romano Liao dispatched the [[4th McCarron's Armored Cavalry|Fourth Regiment]] of the famed [[McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] on a punitive raid against Canopus itself, in a message to the Magestrix just how far the reach of House Liao could reach.  Under the command of Colonel Leo Hickney, the MAC would reach the Canopus system undetected and then landed and began destroying major industrial and government facilities in their raid.  They also overran Raventhir's Iron Hand and the Canopian Cuirassiers, inflicting significant damage on them.  When Emma Centrella arrived with her personal guard to repel the attackers, it still took two days of fighting before the MAC would withdraw from the planet.<ref>McCarron's Armored Cavalry</ref>

====Jihad====
During the [[Jihad]], Canopus was occupied by forces from the [[Word of Blake]]; on 11 April [[3071]] the [[Forty-first Shadow Division]] fired the capital city of Crimson, setting the city ablaze.<ref name="JHS3076p15">''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 15: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> In August the same year, the mercenary unit [[Ramilie's Raiders]] managed to successfully extract Senior General [[Hadji Doru]] from Canopus, but the price was high; by the 30th of August, the Raiders had been destroyed by the Word of Blake.<ref name="JHS3076p17">''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 17: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp50">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 50: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

Canopus was liberated in August [[3075]] by a combined [[Capellan Confederation|Capellan]]–Canopian force under the command of Magestrix [[Naomi Centrella-Liao]]. The surviving elements of the defending [[34th Division (Word of Blake)|Thirty-fourth Militia Division]] contested the liberation of the world bitterly, but the campaign was over quickly.<ref name="JHS:Tp17">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 17: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp54">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 54: "The Jihad in Review"</ref> The Magestrix engaged in a symbolic restatement of her birthright on the 5th of September when she visited the remains of Crimson,<ref name="J:FRp54"/> and when Naomi Centrella-Liao left Canopus for [[Sian]] in mid-December she left the Capellan [[Red Lancers]] on Canopus to bolster the remaining planetary defenses.<ref name="JHS:Tp19">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 19: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp55">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 55: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

====The Dark Age====
The economy of the Magistracy boomed during the Dark Age, with investment money from both the Capellan Confederation and the [[Duchy of Andurien]] pouring in. The military-industrial complex within the Magistracy saw a period of rapid growth, and the industries in the Canopus system were a part of this; manufacturing rates at the Majesty Metals and Manufacturing plant doubled, and the Diamond Garter Shipyards—nearly destroyed during the Succession Wars—reopened under the management of the [[Alliance Aerospace Group]].<ref name="FM:3145p187">''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 187: "Magistracy of Canopus"</ref>

===Military Deployment===
{{columns-start|num=2}}
====2577–2584====
* [[Magestrix Guard]] ([[2577]]–[[2584]])<ref name="H:RWp150">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 150: "Magistracy of Canopus Front (Jump-Off - 2582)"</ref><ref name="H:RWp151">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 151: "Magistracy of Canopus Front (2583–2588)"</ref>
* [[Chasseurs á Cheval]]
:* [[Fourth Canopian Light Horse]] (2577–[[2581]])<ref name="H:RWp150"/>
* [[Canopian Fusiliers]]
:* [[First Canopian Fusiliers]] (2584)<ref name="H:RWp151"/>
:* [[Third Canopian Fusiliers]] (2584)<ref name="H:RWp151"/>
* [[Canopian Grenadiers]]
:* [[First Canopian Grenadiers]] (2583–2584)<ref name="H:RWp151"/>
:* [[Second Canopian Grenadiers]] (2581–2584)<ref name="H:RWp150"/><ref name="H:RWp151"/>
* [[Canopian Cuirassiers]] (2577–2584)<ref name="H:RWp150"/><ref name="H:RWp151"/>
* [[MAF]] [[1st Fleet (MAF)|First Fleet]] (2577)<ref name="H:RWp150"/>
* [[MAF]] Mercenary Troops
:* [[Buquoy's Bandits]] (2577, [[2582]])<ref name="H:RWp150"/>
:* [[The Red Hand]] (2582-2584)<ref name="H:RWp150"/><ref name="H:RWp151"/>

====2584–2588====
* [[VII Corps (Star League)|VII Corps]]
:* [[58th Brigade|Fifty-eighth Brigade]] (2584–[[2588]])<ref name="H:RWp149">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 149: "Magistracy of Canopus Front (2583-2588)"</ref>
:* [[63rd Royal Brigade|Sixty-third Royal Brigade]] (2584–[[2586]])<ref name="H:RWp149"/>
* [[SLDF]] Independent Regiments
:* [[35th Royal CAAN Marine Regiment|Thirty-fifth Royal CAAN Marine Regiment]] (2584-2588)<ref name="H:RWp149"/>
:* [[402nd Independent Regiment]] (2584–2588)<ref name="H:RWp149"/>
:* [[403rd Independent Regiment]] (2584–2586)<ref name="H:RWp149"/>
* [[Marik Militia]]
:* [[First Marik Militia]] (2584–[[2587]])<ref name="H:RWp149"/>
:* [[Third Marik Militia]] (2584–2588)<ref name="H:RWp149"/>
* [[Fusiliers of Oriente]]
:* [[4th Fusiliers of Oriente|Fourth Brigade]] (2584–2588)<ref name="H:RWp149"/>
* [[Orloff Grenadiers]]
:* [[Third Orloff Grenadiers]] (2584–2588)<ref name="H:RWp149"/>
* [[Defenders of Andurien]]
:* [[First Defenders of Andurien]] (2584–2588)<ref name="H:RWp149"/>
{{column}}
====2764====
* [[219th BattleMech Division]]<ref>''Field Manual: SLDF'', p. 257: "SLDF - Magistracy of Canopus Military Command Map"</ref>

====2765====
* [[Second Canopian Cuirassiers]]<ref name=FR:2765Pp13>''Field Report 2765: Periphery'', p. 13: "Magistracy Royal Guards - Regimental Status"</ref>
* [[Third Canopian Light Horse]]<ref name=FR:2765Pp14>''Field Report 2765: Periphery'', p. 14: "Chasseurs á Cheval - Regimental Status"</ref>

====2786====
* [[First Canopian Cuirassiers]]<ref name="FSWp140">''First Succession War'', p. 140: "Major Periphery States - Magistracy of Canopus"</ref>
* Magistracy Guards<ref name="FSWp140"/>

====2821====
* First Canopian Cuirassiers<ref name="FSWp140"/>
* Magistracy Guards<ref name="FSWp140"/>

====3054====
* First Canopian Cuirassiers<ref name=ORp151>''Objective Raids'', p. 151: "Defending Units (On Planet)"</ref>
* Second Canopian Cuirassiers<ref name=ORp151/>

====3063====
* [[Gregg's Long Striders]]<ref name=FMCC120>''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', p. 120: "Capellan Confederation Deployment Table"</ref>

====3075====
* [[Word of Blake]]'s [[34th Division (Word of Blake)|Thirty-fourth Militia Division]] (until August)<ref name="JHS:Tp17"/><ref name="J:FRp54"/>
* [[Red Lancers]] (from December)<ref name="JHS:Tp19"/><ref name="J:FRp55"/>

====3079====
* Red Lancers<ref>''Field Report: CCAF'', p. 8: "Capellan Hussars Profile"</ref>
:- At this point in time Red Lancers is operating at 85% of full strength, with 100% of their equipment featuring upgraded technology.
* First Canopian Cuirassiers<ref name=FRP10>''Field Report: Periphery'', p. 10: "Regimental Status"</ref>
* Second Canopian Cuirassiers<ref name=FRP10/>

====3085====
* [[Raventhir's Iron Hand]]<ref name=FM:3085p149>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 149: "Deployment Table - 3085"</ref>
* First Canopian Cuirassiers<ref name=FM:3085p149/>

====3145====
* Raventhir's Iron Hand<ref name=FM:3145p200>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 200: "Magistracy Royal Guards"</ref>
{{columns-end}}

===Geography===
[[File:Canopus Planetary Map BW.png|right|450px|thumb|Planetary Map of Canopus]]
Canopus IV has three major continents.{{ref label|continents|See Notes}} The largest of these was named Salonika and was a continent of rolling hills and lush forests prior to extensive strip mining conducted in the [[twenty-ninth century|twenty-ninth]] and [[thirtieth century|thirtieth centuries]], which altered the climate of the continent.{{cn}}

===Planetary Locations===
* Astarte: one of the first cities founded on Canopus IV, located on Salonika<ref name="H:RWp103"/>
* [[Crimson]]: the planetary capital city from 2588 onwards, located on Salonika<ref name="H:RWp104"/><ref name="H:RWp105"/>
* Delphi: the original planetary capital city, located on the edge of the Bay of Altay on Salonika and home to Majesty Metals and Manufacturing<ref name="H:RWp103"/>
* [[Magistracy Institute for Strategic Studies]]: a major military academy<ref name="FR2765:Pp8">''Field Report 2765: Periphery'', p. 8: "Logistical Status"</ref>
* [[Magistracy Military Academy]]: a MechWarrior academy<ref name="FR2765:Pp8">''Field Report 2765: Periphery'', p. 8: "Logistical Status"</ref>
* Majesty Enterprises compound: a sprawling city-sized entertainment and tourist area north of Crimson, newly rebuilt by 3130; formerly the Mindstar Enterprises compound, until it burned down<ref name=DATtSXLV/>
** Grand Triumph: a resort hotel<ref name=DATtSXLV/>
* Mertonia: an urban city on the Bay of Altay with stormy climate<ref name=O:Pp16>''Objectives: Periphery'', p. 16: "Canopus IV"</ref>
* Thetis River: a major river on Salonika and site of a number of significant battles during the Reunification War<ref name="H:RWp104"/>
* Thistletown Fields: a spaceport north of the Majesty Enterprises compound<ref name=DATtSXLV/>
* [[University of Canopus]]

===Companies and Industries===
* [[Athena Corporation]]<ref name="FR2765:Pp10">''Field Report 2765: Periphery'', p. 10: "Infrastructural Integrity"</ref>
* [[Bristol SalvageWorks]]<ref name=TRO:VARp220>''Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex Revised'', p. 220: "RCL-4 Dig Lord MiningMech"</ref>
* [[Canopus Delights Limited]]<ref name=TPp101>''The Periphery'', p. 101: "Corporate Profiles - [Canopus Delights Limited]"</ref>
* [[Canopus Industries Alpha]]<ref name=O:Pp16/>
* [[Diamond Garter Shipyards]]<ref name="FM:3145p187"/>
* [[Majesty Metals and Manufacturing]]<ref name=O:Pp16/>
* [[Mindstar Enterprises]]<ref name=H:MPSp94>''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 94: "Mindstar Enterprises"</ref>

===Image gallery===
<gallery>
Canopus Planetary Map BW.png|Planetary map of Canopus IV
Canopus IV Flag.jpg|Planetary flag
</gallery>

==Notes==
* It was confirmed that the surviving two companies of the [[First Canopian Grenadiers]] were folded into was the [[Canopian Cuirassiers]] during the Reunification War by one of the writers on the [http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,7659.msg175036.html#msg175036 Catalyst Game Labs forum.]

* {{note|continents}} The geography of Canopus IV is unclear:

:* ''[[Historical: Reunification War]]'' states that as of that era the three major cities on Canopus were Delphi, Astarte and Crimson, that all three cities were on Salonika, and that the major battles of the Reunification War on Canopus other than the battle for the Majesty Metals BattleMech plant took place in the Salonikan wilderness. This places the Bay of Altay and the Thetis River as being on Salonika.<ref name="H:RWgen">''Historical: Reunification War'', pp. 103–105</ref> It also states that the capital of Canopus IV was relocated from Delphi (on the Bay of Altay) to Crimson during the SLDF control of Canopus.<ref name="H:RWp104"/>

:* ''[[Handbook: Major Periphery States]]'' and ''[[Inner Sphere (sourcebook)|The Inner Sphere]]'' describe Crimson as the capital of Canopus in 3067. The city of Astarte is placed on the Bay of Altay, and a major Canopian pleasure/entertainment company named Mindstar is described as having a major compound between Crimson and the nearby Thistledown Spaceport; the Mindstar compound gives access to the Thetis River.<ref name="HB:MPsp98">''Handbook: Major Periphery States'', p. 98: "Canopus IV"</ref><ref name="ISSBp116">''Inner Sphere'', p. 116: "Canopus IV"</ref>

:* The map of Canopus included in ''The Inner Sphere'' show Canopus as having three continents of varying size plus at least three major islands.<ref name="ISSBp116"/>

:* ''[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]'' describes Astarte as being on Salonika, but places Crimson on the continent of Alinia, thereby placing the Thetis River on Alinia as well, directly contradicting ''Historical: Reunification War''. ''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'' also describes a notable island named Obio used as a dumping ground for prisoners and undesirables; described as being more than 1200 km away from the nearest continent, Obio is also described as being a "three hundred kilometer square" island. This may mean 300 km<sup>2</sup> or 300 km x 300 km = 90,000 km<sup>2</sup>. 300 km<sup>2</sup> would make Obio approximately one-third the size of Cape Cod; 90,000 km<sup>2</sup> would make Obio of a size somewhere between that of Ireland and Iceland.<ref name="M&Mp177">''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'', pp. 177–178: "Canopus IV"</ref>

:* ''[[Objectives: Periphery]]'' lists the continents of Canopus IV as being Alinia, Salonika, and Obio, and places the capital city, Crimson, on Alinia.<ref name=O:Pp16/> If the continent of Obio and the island of Obio described in ''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'' are one and the same, this generates a potential conflict with the map shown in ''The Inner Sphere'', which shows three major landmasses and a number of minor landmasses; the largest landmass is approximately four times the size of the smaller of the three continents,<ref name="ISSBp116"/> and if the smallest continent is Obio and has a maximum possible size of circa 90,000 km<sup>2</sup>, this would make the largest landmass depicted - Salonika - approximately 360,000 km<sup>2</sup>, somewhere between Honshu and Sumatra in size, or approximately twice the size of Great Britain, or just under half the size of Australia. This would make Canopus a rather small planet.

:* An [http://bg.battletech.com/forums/ask-the-writers/the-geography-of-canopus-iv/ Ask The Writers] question was raised on the official [[Catalyst Game Labs]] forum to attempt to reconcile the conflicting information. It was confirmed by one of the developers that the conflicting descriptions of Canopus are an issue that would remain open unless a future product focusing on Canopus is developed:

{{quote|Not at this time, no. If we see a future product focusing on Canopus IV (a Turning point or the like), that would be when we'll sort out those issues.|[http://bg.battletech.com/forums/ask-the-writers/the-geography-of-canopus-iv/msg1085498/#msg1085498 Adrian Gideon, BattleTech Developer, 22 June 2015]}}

==Map Gallery==
<div class="system-map-gallery"></div>

==Nearby Systems==
<!-- NOTE: This table is automatically generated by BattleTechWiki:Project_Planets/Mapping, and any edits to this section may be overwritten at any time by a bot -->
{|class="wikitable nearby-systems" style="background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 1px solid black;"
! colspan="8" | Closest 20 systems (20 within 60 light-years)<br>Distance in light years, closest systems first:
|-
| class="lessthan30" | [[Mangor]]
| class="lessthan30" | 25.0
| class="lessthan30" | [[Adherlwin]]
| class="lessthan30" | 27.0
| class="lessthan30" | [[Fanardir]]
| class="lessthan30" | 29.4
| class="lessthan30" | [[Megarez]]
| class="lessthan30" | 29.9
|-
| class="over30" | [[Gallis]]
| class="over30" | 30.2
| class="over30" | [[Aspropirgos]]
| class="over30" | 31.5
| class="over30" | [[Manaus]]
| class="over30" | 34.2
| class="over30" | [[Nobel]]
| class="over30" | 37.0
|-
| class="over30" | [[Umka]]
| class="over30" | 37.8
| class="over30" | [[Lockton]]
| class="over30" | 40.5
| class="over30" | [[Vakarel]]
| class="over30" | 43.5
| class="over30" | [[Butzfleth]]
| class="over30" | 44.5
|-
| class="over30" | [[Borgan's Rift]]
| class="over30" | 45.4
| class="over30" | [[Krimari]]
| class="over30" | 46.8
| class="over30" | [[Royal Foxx]]
| class="over30" | 49.1
| class="over30" | [[Gouderak]]
| class="over30" | 50.4
|-
| class="over30" | [[Joyz]]
| class="over30" | 54.6
| class="over30" | [[Bethonolog]]
| class="over30" | 55.1
| class="over30" | [[Eleusis]]
| class="over30" | 56.4
| class="over30" | [[Lindenmarle]]
| class="over30" | 60.0
|-
|}

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Dark Age: Touring the Stars (3130)]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 2750]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3052]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3062]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Capellan Confederation]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: SLDF]]''
* ''[[Field Report: CCAF]]''
* ''[[Field Report: FWLM]]''
* ''[[Field Report: Periphery]]''
* ''[[Field Report 2765: Periphery]]''
* ''[[First Succession War (sourcebook)|First Succession War]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Liao]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Marik]]''
* ''[[Handbook: Major Periphery States]]''
* ''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 1]]''
* ''[[Historical: Liberation of Terra Volume 2]]''
* ''[[Historical: War of 3039]]''
* ''[[Inner Sphere (sourcebook)|The Inner Sphere]]''
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3076]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
* ''[[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]]''
* ''[[McCarron's Armored Cavalry (scenario pack)|McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]''
* ''[[Objectives: Periphery]]''
* ''[[Objective Raids]]''
* ''[[The Periphery (sourcebook)|The Periphery]]''
* ''[[The Periphery, 2nd Edition (sourcebook)|The Periphery, Second Edition]]''
* ''[[Second Succession War (sourcebook)|Second Succession War]]''
* [[Shrapnel Issue 4|''Shrapnel'', Issue #4]]
{{div col end}}

[[Category:Systems|Canopus]]
[[Category: Magistracy of Canopus Systems]]