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Difference between revisions of "Crusader Clans"

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'''Crusader Clans''' were a political alliance of [[Clans]] who believed that [[Aleksandr Kerensky]]'s ''[[Hidden Hope Doctrine]]'' espoused the descendants of the [[Star League in Exile]] returning to the [[Inner Sphere]] to conquer it and, thus, save it from itself. Though members have changed over the years, [[Clan Jade Falcon]] led the bloc along with the traditionally Crusader [[Clan Hell's Horses|Hell's Horses]], [[Clan Star Adder|Star Adders]], [[Clan Smoke Jaguar|Smoke Jaguars]], [[Clan Ice Hellion|Ice Hellions]] and [[Clan Blood Spirit|Blood Spirits]]. The majority of [[Clan Fire Mandrill]]'s [[Kindraa]] are Crusader, so that Clan usually is as well, while [[Clan Wolf]] became a Crusader Clan after it was reborn following the [[Refusal War]]. After the [[Wars of Reaving]], distinctions between [[Warden Clans|Warden]] and Crusader became much less important.
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The '''Crusader Clans''' were those [[Clans]] who supported the Crusader ideology in Clan politics. The essence of the Crusader philosophy was that the Clans would return to the [[Inner Sphere]] and reestablish the [[Star League]] under the ideals of [[Nicholas Kerensky]].
  
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==List of Crusader Clans==
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==History==
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===Origins===
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The Crusader ideology first arose during the mid to late 30th century. Their argument revolved around [[Aleksandr Kerensky]]'s ''[[Hidden Hope Doctrine]]'', namely that the descendants of the [[Star League in Exile]] were to one day return to the [[Inner Sphere]] to conquer it and thus save it from itself. Support for the Crusader philosophy was especially strong within the Clans' civilian castes, who contrasted the harsh lives they lived in the [[Clan Homeworlds]] with the perceived paradises of the Inner Sphere worlds. Several Clans, particularly the poorer and weaker ones, also saw conquest within the Inner Sphere as their only hope of improving their position. Clan merchants were eager to open new markets. Many of the Crusaders also used Kerensky's Hidden Hope Doctrine as an excuse for their desire for battle and conquest.<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 17</ref><ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 16</ref>
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Opposing the Crusaders were the [[Warden Clans|Wardens]], who believed that the Kerenskys had never intended for the Clans to conquer the Inner Sphere. Rather, they were to develop their own culture in isolation, but remain able and willing to aid the Inner Sphere against any threatening 'outside forces'.
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The [[Grand Council]] remained neutral for several years, but by [[2980]] the issue could no longer be ignored. [[Clan Jade Falcon]], who had emerged as the leader of the Crusader movement, presented a formal proposal for an invasion of the Inner Sphere.<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 17</ref>
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===The Drive to War===
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Attempting to stall the Crusaders, the Wardens successfully prevented an immediate invasion by sponsoring a series of intelligence gathering operations. [[Intelser]], a network of spies posing as merchants, was created for this purpose, with members infiltrating various [[Periphery]] realms. However, the second-hand information gathered was often unreliable, resulting in an incomplete picture of the Inner Sphere.<ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 16</ref><ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 24</ref>
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By the year [[3000]], the Crusaders almost held the upper hand and an invasion of the Inner Sphere seemed imminent. Hoping to buy more time, [[Khan]] [[Kerlin Ward]] of [[Clan Wolf]] proposed the formation of a new intelligence gathering force - a mercenary unit that would travel through the Inner Sphere and report on all five of the Great Houses. Despite vocal opposition from the Khans of Clans Jade Falcon and [[Clan Smoke Jaguar|Smoke Jaguar]]<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 18</ref>, the other Clans agreed with Ward's proposal and authorized the formation of [[Wolf's Dragoons]]. Only once the unit was ready did Ward drop his bombshell: to be of any value, the Dragoons' mission would need several years to complete, thus preventing any invasion from taking place before 3030 at least. Though elements within [[Clan Ice Hellion]] attempted to launch a solo invasion of the Inner Sphere<ref>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 77</ref>, the Wardens had successfully stalled the Crusader drive.<ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 17</ref>
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===Operation Revival===
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===The Refusal War===
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===The Great Refusal===
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===Post-Wars of Reaving===
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{{sectionstub}}
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==Membership==
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Though members have changed over the years, [[Clan Jade Falcon]] consistently led the Crusader bloc along with the [[Clan Smoke Jaguar|Smoke Jaguars]] before their Annihilation in 3060. Clans [[Clan Blood Spirit|Blood Spirit]], [[Clan Ice Hellion|Ice Hellion]] and [[Clan Star Adder|Star Adder]] were also historically dominated by Crusaders.
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Other Clans, while pro-Crusader, were not as committed to the cause for various reasons. [[Clan Burrock]], while drifting toward the Crusader ideology, was more of an opportunist and considered an unreliable member of the Crusader cause.<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 123</ref> The majority of [[Clan Fire Mandrill|Clan Fire Mandrill's]] [[Kindraa]] were pro-Crusader, but some were dominated by Wardens.<ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 79</ref> The [[Clan Hell's Horses|Hell's Horses]] were often divided between Crusaders and Wardens, or simply chose neutrality.<ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 84</ref>
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At the time of the Clan Invasion, the [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghosts Bears]], [[Clan Nova Cat|Nova Cats]] and [[Clan Diamond Shark|Diamond Sharks]] were also counted as Crusader Clans. However in the years after Tukkayid all three shifted to the Warden camp. [[Clan Wolf]], in contrast, abandoned its position as leader of the Warden cause after it was gutted in the Refusal War, becoming a fervent Crusader Clan under Khan [[Vladimir Ward]].
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While the [[Clan Steel Viper|Steel Vipers]] were counted as Wardens, their ideology agreed with the Crusaders' call for a return to the Inner Sphere and the restoration of the Star League. Within the [[Clan Cloud Cobra|Cloud Cobras]] the Ka'an and Josian Cloisters favored the Crusader cause.<ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 25</ref> [[Clan Snow Raven]], derided as opportunists, backed Crusader motions in the Grand Council when it suited their purposes.
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[[Clan Coyote]] was once split between the two ideologies. However [[The Blood Scandal]] of [[2967]] saw its most prominent Crusader-minded warriors Reaved and ensured that the Coyotes would shift irrevocably into the Warden camp, becoming its co-leader with the Wolves.
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===List of Crusader Clans in the 3050s===
  
 
* [[Clan Blood Spirit]]
 
* [[Clan Blood Spirit]]
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* [[Clan Burrock]] (Absorbed by Clan Star Adder)
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* [[Clan Burrock]] ([[Trial of Absorption|Absorbed]] by Clan Star Adder in [[3059]])
 
* [[Clan Fire Mandrill]]
 
* [[Clan Fire Mandrill]]
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* [[Clan Ghost Bear]] (Warden after Great Refusal)
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* [[Clan Ghost Bear]] (declared themselves Wardens during the Great Refusal)
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* [[Clan Hell's Horses]]  
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* [[Clan Hell's Horses]] (became pro-Warden after [[3063]])
 
* [[Clan Ice Hellion]]
 
* [[Clan Ice Hellion]]
 
* [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
 
* [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
 
* [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
 
* [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
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* [[Clan Snow Raven]] (a mix of both philosophies)
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* [[Clan Snow Raven]] (officially Warden, opportunistic supporter of Crusader policies)
 
* [[Clan Star Adder]]
 
* [[Clan Star Adder]]
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* [[Clan Wolf]] (Warden before Great Refusal)
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* [[Clan Wolf]] (following the [[Refusal War]] of [[3057]])
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
  
 
* [[Warden Clans]]
 
* [[Warden Clans]]
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==References==
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<references />
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==Bibliography==
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* ''[[Field Manual: Crusader Clans]]''
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* ''[[Field Manual: Warden Clans]]''
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* ''[[Historical: Operation Klondike]]''
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* ''[[Jade Falcon Sourcebook]]''
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* ''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]''
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* ''[[Wolf Clan Sourcebook]]''
  
 
[[Category: Clan Terms]]
 
[[Category: Clan Terms]]

Revision as of 18:21, 29 December 2014

The Crusader Clans were those Clans who supported the Crusader ideology in Clan politics. The essence of the Crusader philosophy was that the Clans would return to the Inner Sphere and reestablish the Star League under the ideals of Nicholas Kerensky.

History

Origins

The Crusader ideology first arose during the mid to late 30th century. Their argument revolved around Aleksandr Kerensky's Hidden Hope Doctrine, namely that the descendants of the Star League in Exile were to one day return to the Inner Sphere to conquer it and thus save it from itself. Support for the Crusader philosophy was especially strong within the Clans' civilian castes, who contrasted the harsh lives they lived in the Clan Homeworlds with the perceived paradises of the Inner Sphere worlds. Several Clans, particularly the poorer and weaker ones, also saw conquest within the Inner Sphere as their only hope of improving their position. Clan merchants were eager to open new markets. Many of the Crusaders also used Kerensky's Hidden Hope Doctrine as an excuse for their desire for battle and conquest.[1][2]

Opposing the Crusaders were the Wardens, who believed that the Kerenskys had never intended for the Clans to conquer the Inner Sphere. Rather, they were to develop their own culture in isolation, but remain able and willing to aid the Inner Sphere against any threatening 'outside forces'.

The Grand Council remained neutral for several years, but by 2980 the issue could no longer be ignored. Clan Jade Falcon, who had emerged as the leader of the Crusader movement, presented a formal proposal for an invasion of the Inner Sphere.[3]

The Drive to War

Attempting to stall the Crusaders, the Wardens successfully prevented an immediate invasion by sponsoring a series of intelligence gathering operations. Intelser, a network of spies posing as merchants, was created for this purpose, with members infiltrating various Periphery realms. However, the second-hand information gathered was often unreliable, resulting in an incomplete picture of the Inner Sphere.[4][5]

By the year 3000, the Crusaders almost held the upper hand and an invasion of the Inner Sphere seemed imminent. Hoping to buy more time, Khan Kerlin Ward of Clan Wolf proposed the formation of a new intelligence gathering force - a mercenary unit that would travel through the Inner Sphere and report on all five of the Great Houses. Despite vocal opposition from the Khans of Clans Jade Falcon and Smoke Jaguar[6], the other Clans agreed with Ward's proposal and authorized the formation of Wolf's Dragoons. Only once the unit was ready did Ward drop his bombshell: to be of any value, the Dragoons' mission would need several years to complete, thus preventing any invasion from taking place before 3030 at least. Though elements within Clan Ice Hellion attempted to launch a solo invasion of the Inner Sphere[7], the Wardens had successfully stalled the Crusader drive.[8]

Operation Revival


The Refusal War


The Great Refusal


Post-Wars of Reaving


Membership

Though members have changed over the years, Clan Jade Falcon consistently led the Crusader bloc along with the Smoke Jaguars before their Annihilation in 3060. Clans Blood Spirit, Ice Hellion and Star Adder were also historically dominated by Crusaders.

Other Clans, while pro-Crusader, were not as committed to the cause for various reasons. Clan Burrock, while drifting toward the Crusader ideology, was more of an opportunist and considered an unreliable member of the Crusader cause.[9] The majority of Clan Fire Mandrill's Kindraa were pro-Crusader, but some were dominated by Wardens.[10] The Hell's Horses were often divided between Crusaders and Wardens, or simply chose neutrality.[11]

At the time of the Clan Invasion, the Ghosts Bears, Nova Cats and Diamond Sharks were also counted as Crusader Clans. However in the years after Tukkayid all three shifted to the Warden camp. Clan Wolf, in contrast, abandoned its position as leader of the Warden cause after it was gutted in the Refusal War, becoming a fervent Crusader Clan under Khan Vladimir Ward.

While the Steel Vipers were counted as Wardens, their ideology agreed with the Crusaders' call for a return to the Inner Sphere and the restoration of the Star League. Within the Cloud Cobras the Ka'an and Josian Cloisters favored the Crusader cause.[12] Clan Snow Raven, derided as opportunists, backed Crusader motions in the Grand Council when it suited their purposes.

Clan Coyote was once split between the two ideologies. However The Blood Scandal of 2967 saw its most prominent Crusader-minded warriors Reaved and ensured that the Coyotes would shift irrevocably into the Warden camp, becoming its co-leader with the Wolves.

List of Crusader Clans in the 3050s

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 17
  2. ↑ The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky, p. 16
  3. ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 17
  4. ↑ The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky, p. 16
  5. ↑ Wolf Clan Sourcebook, p. 24
  6. ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 18
  7. ↑ Field Manual: Crusader Clans, p. 77
  8. ↑ The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky, p. 17
  9. ↑ Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 123
  10. ↑ The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky, p. 79
  11. ↑ The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky, p. 84
  12. ↑ Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 25

Bibliography

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