Editing Rasalhague Dominion

{{Update Needed|[[Era Report: 3145]], [[Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers]], [[Shattered Fortress]]}}
{{InfoBoxFactions
| crest = [[Image:Rasalhague_Dominion_Logo.png|160px|center|Crest of the Rasalhague Dominion]]
| factionname = Rasalhague Dominion
| timeperiod = [[3060]] - present
| systems = 110 (as of [[3151]])
| capital = [[Rasalhague]] (Executive);<br> [[Alshain]] (Clan and Governmental Council)
| rulertitle = [[Prince of the Rasalhague Dominion|Prince]], [[Khan of Clan Ghost Bear|Khan]]
| military = [[Clan Ghost Bear Touman|Clan Ghost Bear ''touman'']]
| secretservice = [[Clan Watch#Clan Ghost Bear|Clan Ghost Bear Watch]], [[Mimir]]
}}
An amalgamation of the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] and [[Clan Ghost Bear]], the '''Rasalhague Dominion''' is a blend of the political, military and cultural styles of [[Inner Sphere]] and [[Clan]] societies. Founded in [[3060]] as the '''Ghost Bear Dominion''' the new state was isolationist by inclination, only waging war against the [[Combine-Ghost Bear War|Draconis Combine]] and [[Jihad|Word of Blake]] due to external factors. Following the final victory over the Blakists, the Bears spent the next two decades attending to the integration of their Clan and Spheroid populations, and in [[3103]] the state was renamed the Rasalhague Dominion to reflect this.

The Dominion maintained its isolationist stance throughout the turbulent years of the mid-32nd century, though external circumstances — notably the [[Republic of the Sphere|Republic of the Sphere's]] implosion and [[Clan Wolf|Clan Wolf's]] migration deeper into the Inner Sphere — led to the Dominion significantly expanding its borders.

==Fact Sheet (3130)==
* Founding Year: [[3060]]<ref>''Touring the Stars'', p. 47</ref>
* Capital: Asgard, [[Rasalhague]]
* National Symbol: A white, roaring bear's head, set against a dark blue triangle
* Location (Terra relative): Coreward, between the Wolf Clan Occupation Zone and the Draconis Combine
* Total (Inhabited) Systems: (as of [[3130]]) 71
* Estimated Population (as of 3130): 280 billion
* Government: Republic (with Clan warrior-caste trappings)
* Ruler: Prince [[Hjalmer Miraborg]] (Khan [[Dalia Bekker]])
* Dominant Language(s): English and Swedish (official), Swedenese, Japanese, German
* Dominant Religion(s): Christian (Lutheran, semi-official), Shinto, Atheism, Neo-Norse
* Unit of Currency: [[Bear-Krona|Bear-''Krona'']] (1 Bear-''Krona'' = 2.83 C-bills)

==History==
===Ghost Bear Dominion===
The immigration of [[Clan Ghost Bear]] to the [[Inner Sphere]] resulted in the founding of the [[Ghost Bear Dominion]] in [[3060]], in a region of space formerly possessed by the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] and the [[Draconis Combine]].  During the [[Word of Blake]] [[Jihad]], relations between the Ghost Bear Dominion and the remaining Free Rasalhague Republic worlds became increasingly cordial, and in [[3103]], the two realms officially united as the Rasalhague Dominion.

The key negotiations between the Ghost Bear Dominion and the Free Rasalhague Republic began on 21 August [[3070]], when [[Ragnar Magnusson]] spoke to the Free Republic's government on [[Orestes]], beginning negotiations on an accord it was hoped would cover "all Rasalhagian peoples."<ref name="J:FRp48">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 48: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

In March [[3076]] the Ghost Bear Dominion suffered four raids on worlds close to or bordering the [[Periphery]] from [[Clan Ice Hellion]] left straggling after the failed Ice Hellion invasion of the [[Clan Jade Falcon]] Occupation Zone earlier in the Jihad. The Hellion units successfully raided [[Holmsbu]], [[Constance]], and [[Pinnacle]] before being pinned down on [[Damian]] by [[KungsArmé]] forces.<ref name="JHS:Tp21">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 21: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp55">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 55: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

The Dominion suffered from a degree of internal turmoil in October 3076 when resentment over the Clan protocols and Trials process implemented as a part of integrating the Rasalhague and Ghost Bear militaries into a Dominion defense force resulted in two Clusters, the [[2nd Freemen]] and [[1st Kavalleri]] [[Cluster]]s refusing to join in the [[Trial of Position|Trials of Position]] and instead mutinying.<ref name="JHS:Tp22">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 22: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp56">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 56: "The Jihad in Review"</ref> The Ghost Bears responded by stalling their combat actions against the [[Word of Blake Protectorate]] to allow them to return all of the deployed units that were ethnically Rasalhagian commands back to Dominion space to deal with the mutiny. The various units departed for Dominion space on 5 November, and by the end of December the revolt had failed, with the various Free Rasalhague resistance groups in Dominion space going dormant.<ref name="J:FRp56"/><ref name="JHS:Tp23">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 23: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

The Dominion world of [[Alshain]] was rocked by a terrorist bombing on 31 December [[3078]], for which the [[Motstånd]] terrorist group claimed responsibility. The explosion killed several hundred Rasalhagian and Ghost Bear civilians, several members of the Unity Council, and the former First Prince, [[Christian Månsdottir]].<ref name="J:FRp60">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 60: "The Jihad in Review"</ref>

At the end of the Jihad, the Ghost Bear Dominion represented the strongest of the Clan militaries within the Inner Sphere, although this was due in large part to the Ghost Bears having absorbed the Rasalhagian [[KungsArmé]]—the actual Ghost Bear element of the ''[[touman]]'' were considerably depleted—and the Ghost Bears were able to demonstrate the strength of the Dominion by loaning four Galaxies of troops to the newly formed [[Republic of the Sphere]] as garrison troops.<ref name="J:FRp112">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 112: "Ghost Bear Dominion"</ref>

While the Ghost Bear forces had seen a lot of heavy fighting during the Jihad itself, in [[3080]] and [[3081]] the Watch actually saw more combat than the regular forces did. This was driven by a combination of activities within the Dominion and outside; while the Watch were actively engaged putting down Blakist cells and Motstånd activities within the Dominion. [[Mimir]] was engaged across the area which had formerly been the Free Rasalhague Republic, particularly the region now occupied by [[Clan Hell's Horses]]. While the Watch denied that Mimir were engaged in any such activities, nationalist sentiment within the ethnic Rasalhagian population called increasingly strongly for an aggressive foreign policy, which resulted in probing raids from the Dominion into the [[Irece Prefecture]] in response to Draconis Combine raids.<ref name="J:FRp112"/>

During the final years of the 31st century cross-border raids between the Dominion and [[Clan Nova Cat]] became increasingly common, culminating in the [[Second Combine-Dominion War]] of [[3098]] - [[3101]].<ref>''Historical: Wars of the Republic Era'', pp. 18–20</ref> That conflict resulted in a favorable outcome for the Dominion, with three Combine worlds annexed and the Ghost Bear warrior caste agreeing to reforms to the Dominion's government. Two years after the war's end, these changes had led to the nation being renamed the Rasalhague Dominion and civilian representatives governing the Dominion on an equal footing with their warrior counterparts.<ref>''Historical: Wars of the Republic Era'', p. 15</ref><ref>''Historical: Wars of the Republic Era'', p. 39</ref>

===Rasalhague Dominion===
Over the next three decades the Dominion focused inward as the Clan warriors and civilian leaders adjusted to sharing power over their nation. Its main conflicts during that time were internal as two dissident groups challenged the government in separate ways. The [[Motstånd]] resistance organization's anti-Clan activities peaked with a brief and failed uprising in [[3125]]; following the crushing of the rebels by both Clan and native troops, Motstånd sank into irrelevance as a fringe group. The pacifist [[Freeminders]], on the other hand, did not fade away despite being forcibly rebuffed by the Dominion government, and grew in influence over time.<ref name=ER3145p72>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 72</ref>

The [[HPG]] [[Blackout]] affected the Dominion less than most other states, due to its isolationism and relatively large [[JumpShip]] fleet.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 152</ref> While the Dominion refrained from attacking the disintegrating [[Republic of the Sphere]] as others did, its [[Omega Galaxy (Rasalhague Dominion)|Omega Galaxy]] and accompanying Freeminder dissidents established the [[Vega Protectorate]] in [[3136]], bringing order to [[Prefecture I]] worlds cut off from the Republic government by [[The Wall|the Wall]]. The Dominion's post-Blackout territorial gains derived instead from Clan Wolf's abandonment of its Occupation Zone in [[3137]], as the Bears secured fifteen systems while clashing with the Hell's Horses and Jade Falcons.<ref name=ER3145p72/>

The Dominion continued to expand its borders in [[3144]], first absorbing eleven [[Lyran Commonwealth]] worlds left isolated by the Jade Falcons' advance into the Commonwealth and then, albeit reluctantly, incorporating the Vega Protectorate as an autonomous region.<ref name=ER3145p72/><ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 25</ref> During the tumultuous latter half of the 3140s the Dominion remained quiescent, save for two minor conflicts. In [[3147]] it was the first target of Clan Hell's Horses' [[Operation NOYAN]], losing three worlds to the Horses, while later claiming two from the Combine in [[3150]].<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 47</ref><ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 83</ref>

====The Dominion and the IlClan====
Nonetheless, the Dominion's leadership did not remain idle while the Wolves and Jade Falcons contested [[Terra]] and the [[IlClan|ilClanship]]. Units were transferred to stations nearer to Terra, ''[[Sibko|sibkos]]'' were graduated a year early, and [[Yorii]] and [[Imbros III]], the last two worlds standing between the Dominion and Terra, were annexed.<ref>''IlClan'', pp. 125–126</ref> Ultimately, despite covertly receiving the means to travel through the Wall, Khan [[Dalia Bekker]] chose not to commit her Clan's ''touman'' to the [[Battle of Terra (3151)|battle raging on Terra]].<ref>''Hour of the Wolf'', Interlude (PDF pp. 378–381)</ref>

In the end, Clan Wolf emerged the victor and its Khan [[Alaric Ward]] declared himself the new [[ilKhan]] of the Clans. The Ghost Bear Khans met with Alaric on Terra and, after satisfying themselves that the [[IlClan Trial|ilClan Trial]] had been conducted honorably, did not openly contest Ward's claims, though they did not actually acknowledge him as their overlord either.<ref>''IlClan'', p. 107</ref> To outside observers, the Dominion's leadership appeared to have allowed somebody else the 'honor' of becoming ilClan so as not to take on the downsides of that position themselves, and with its large Clan-based military the Dominion was poised to play a key role in determining whether the ilClan would become a conquering force or ended as a threat to the Inner Sphere.<ref>''IlClan'', p. 126: "Incredible Restraint"</ref><ref>''IlClan'', p. 126: "The Key to the Future"</ref>

==Politics==
The executive capitals of the Dominion are located in [[Asgard]] on [[Rasalhague]], while the Clan and Governmental Council capitals are located in [[Silverdale]] on [[Alshain]].

The national symbol of the Rasalhague Dominion is a white roaring bear head, set against a dark blue triangle.  The government is a republic, with [[Clans|Clan]] warrior-caste styling. The legislative body of the government, [[Dominion Council]], is composed of equal portions of freeborn, trueborn, and civilian caste representatives to maintain a balance of power. With civilian oversight cemented via ability to invoke [[Trial of Refusal|Trials of Refusal]] against controversial policies (via direct combat or proxy champions) as well as the ability to dismiss the executives if they are deemed incompetent, it works with the executives, the Prince (who directs civilian affairs but comes from a military background), and the Khan of Clan Ghost Bear (who remains in charge of the Dominion's ''touman'' while answering to the Prince and Council). As of [[3150]], Prince [[Hjalmer Miraborg]] and Khan [[Dalia Bekker]] are the current executives of the Rasalhague Dominion.

==Manufacturing Center==
A detailed list of some Dominion manufacturing and company centers.

===Heavy Aerospace Industry===
====3067====
* [[Alshain Naval Yards]]<ref>''Strategic Operations'', p. 15</ref>

===Major Defense Industries===
====3067====
* [[Alshain Weapons]]<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 15</ref>
* [[Benson and Bjorn]]
* [[Bergan Industries]]
* [[Joint Equipment Systems]]

==Culture==
The official languages of the Rasalhague Dominion are English and Swedish, with Scandinavian, Japanese, and German influences.  Lutheran Christian, Shinto, and Neo-Norse are the major religions practiced in the Dominion, though atheism is also influential.  The Dominion currently uses the Bear-''Krona'' as its unit of currency.

Sometime after the Jihad, Clan Ghost Bear's Khans and ''touman'' had integrated itself into Dominion deeply after relinquishing control of its civilian castes (with the exception of the Technician and Scientist Castes, which were embedded into the Warrior Caste as Warrior-Technician and Warrior-Scientist subcastes in the Clan ''touman'') and handing civilian affairs over to the First Prince and the Dominion Council. By [[3145]], although groups such as [[Motstånd]] and the [[Freeminders]] maintained some resistance to the Clan overlords, the Dominion had otherwise successfully integrated the two societies.<ref name=ER3145p72/>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Dark Age: Touring the Stars (3130)]]''
* ''[[Era Report: 3145]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
* ''[[Historical: Wars of the Republic Era]]''
* ''[[Hour of the Wolf]]'' (novel)
* ''[[IlClan (sourcebook)|IlClan]]''
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]''
* ''[[Strategic Operations]]''
* ''[[Tactical Operations]]''


[[Category:Nation States]]
[[Category:Factions]]