Lyran Commonwealth

(Author: BattleTech 3056 MUSE)

Lyran Commonwealth
Faction Profile
Time period:	2340 – present Part of Federated Commonwealth from 3055 to 18th September 3057 Named Lyran Alliance from 18th September 3057 to 3084
Classification:	Successor State
Controlled systems:	over 300
Capital world:	Tharkad
Ruler title:	Archon
Military:	Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces (LCAF)
Secret Service:	Lyran Intelligence Corps (LIC)

History

The Lyran Commonwealth was formed in 2340 as an amalgamation of three smaller mutual-defense leagues: the Tamar Pact, the Federation of Skye, and the Protectorate of Donegal. The original Lyran capital was Arcturus and the official language is German. Shortly after the outbreak of hostilities between the Commonwealth and the Draconis Combine in 2407, however, the Lyran government moved to its current location on Tharkad. Soon after, leadership of the Commonwealth passed from Alistair Marsden to his only heir, Katherine Marsden Steiner, and remains in Steiner hands to this day.

The Lyran Commonwealth currently consists of about 400 worlds. During the course of the first three Succession Wars, it had been slowly but steadily losing ground to the Draconis Combine, which had taken almost a fourth of the original Lyran territories (including more than half the old Tamar Pact worlds along the Combine border). The Fourth Succession War saw the complete reversal of that trend, however, with the Lyrans capturing 53 Kurita worlds, while losing only 2. That House Steiner retained those worlds during the 20 years between the end of the Fourth War and the invasion of the Clans says much about the strengths of the Federated Commonwealth. However, the Inner Sphere has been hard-pressed to stand up to the Clan invasion, and the Lyran Commonwealth has been second only to the Free Rasalhague Republic in number of worlds lost.

One reason that House Steiner has remained a formidable force in Successor State politics even in the worst of times is that its domain includes some of the most richly endowed planets in the Inner Sphere. These include Alarion, Coventry, Donegal, Summer, Tamar, New Karlsruh, and Hesperus II. The latter is the site of the Star League's greatest surviving supply depots and the largest still-functioning 'Mech manufacturing and repair facility in the Successor States.

Regardless of its military fortunes, the Lyran Commonwealth has consistently maintained its reputation for making money. Until many of its industrialized worlds fell to the Clan invaders, the Commonwealth's overall industrial output, particularly of non-military goods, outstripped of the other Successor States. Even today, only the Free Worlds League surpasses the Commonwealth's GNP per capita. This economic growth has made the Steiner House currency the most stable in the Inner Sphere. Some of this success is due to human ingenuity, and some to the rich natural resources of the average Lyran member-world and to the relatively small amount of war damage sustained by the industrial plants of a few, key remote worlds. Over the years, the Archons of House Steiner have consistently sponsored innovative economic and trade policies, such as major tax advantages for industrial reconstruction projects, awarding land grants to successful entrepreneurs and victorious MechWarriors, and encouraging the activities of free traders. Many of these policies are still presently in force.

Military

Main article: Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces

Since the fall of the Star League, the Lyran Commonwealth's High Command had a reputation for being bloated, inept, and ineffective. Early in its existence, the Commonwealth created the title of "Social General" for those important individuals who lacked other titles. These "Social Generals" decided in time that they possessed military authority and they attempted to oversee actual military operations. Rank and awards were handed out like so many party favors and the structure soon became top-heavy. The problem only began to be reduced during the Archonship of Katrina Steiner, but even then, the command structure was often distrusted by the regular troops that engaged in battle. During the Third Succession War, the Commonwealth lost several worlds to the Draconis Combine due to poor planning, logistics, and support by the Lyran command structure despite strong commitment by ground forces.

Recruits can enter the Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces (LCAF) at the age of sixteen. The LCAF has and does implement drafts to bolster unit strengths, especially in periods of intense warfare (such as the start of the Fourth Succession War in 3028).

Military Ranks

Main article: Lyran Commonwealth Military Ranks

The military ranks for the Lyran Commonwealth were originally established in 2413 by Archon Katherine Steiner's Brandenberg Edicts. They were merged with those of the Federated Suns during the formation of the Federated Commonwealth, but re-established after Katrina Steiner-Davion separated the nation from the FedCom, forming the Lyran Alliance.

Political Structure & Leadership

The head of state of House Steiner is titled 'Archon'. This person must have served in the military before becoming assuming the role. The heir to the throne is named Archon-Designate.

Each providence/theater is lead by a Duke/Duchess.

Rulers

Name	Reign	Descent
Archon Basileus of the Lyran Commonwealth 2346 - 2395
"The Nine Archons"	2346 - 2375
Robert "The Crusher" Marsden	2375 - 2395
Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth 2395 - 2408
Alistair Marsden	2395 - 2408
Steiner Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth 2408 - 2849
Katherine Steiner-Marsden	2408 - 2445	Wife of Alistair
Alistair Marsden-Steiner	2445 - 2467	Son of Katherine and Alistair
Michael I	2467 - 2472	Son of Alistair Marsden-Steiner
Steven	2472 - 2501	Brother of Michael
Margaret Olsen-Steiner	2501 - 2503	Wife of Steven
Robert I	2503 - 2528
Craig	2528 - 2555	Son of Robert
Tracial	2555 - 2570	Cousin of Craig
Viola Steiner-Dinesen	2570 - 2596
Kevin Steiner-Dinesen	2596 - 2647	Son of Viola
Sarah Steiner-Dinesen	2647 - 2672	Sister of Kevin
William	2672 - 2704	Son of Sarah
Jonathan	2704 - 2729	Son of William
Michael II	2729 - 2760	Brother of Jonathan
Robert II	2760 - 2781	Son of Michael II
Jennifer	2781 - 2791	Sister of Robert II
Richard	2791 - 2823	Son of Jennifer
Marcus	2823 - 2844	Nephew of Richard
Melissa Nin-Steiner	2845	Wife of Marcus
Claudius "the Cruel"	2845 - 2849	Brother of Marcus
Triumvirate Regency of the Lyran Commonwealth 2849 - 2859
Rebecca Morgan Steiner		Wife of Claudius
Speaker of the Estates General Henry DeCalidore
Ilysa Aten
Steiner Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth 2859 - 3055
Elizabeth Steiner	2859 - 2895	Daugther of Claudius and Rebecca
Eric	2895 - 2913
Simon Borge-Steiner	2913 - 2914	Son of Eric
Tatyana	2914 - 2937	Sister of Simon
Marco	2937 - 2952	Son of Tatyana
Giovanni	2952 - 2980	Son of Marco
Alessandro	2980 - 3007	Son of Giovanni
Katrina	3007 - 3039	Daughter of Alessandro
Melissa Steiner-Davion	3039 - 3055	Daughter of Katrina
Steiner-Davion Archon-Prince of the Federated Commonwealth 3055 - 3057
Victor	3055 - 3057	Son of Melissa
Steiner-Davion Archon-Prince of the Lyran Alliance 3057 - 3067
Katherine	3060 - 3067	Sister of Victor
Steiner Archon of the Lyran Alliance 3067 - ???
Peter Steiner-Davion	3067 - ??	Brother of Katherine Steiner-Davion
Adam Steiner	?? - ??	Cousin of Peter

References

• Timeline
• House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)
• Handbook: House Steiner