Difference between revisions of "Successor States"

(33 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Update Needed|[[Handbook: Major Periphery States]]}}
+
The '''Successor States''' (named as such due to their being the "Successors" of the [[Star League]]) are the major military powers of the [[Inner Sphere]], each governed by one of the Great Houses and with its own customs and culture.  After [[House Cameron]] was wiped out in the [[Star League Civil War]], the five remaining Great Houses spent [[Succession Wars (History)|the next several centuries fighting each other]] to determine who would succeed as the next [[First Lord]].  By the [[31st century]] the Successor States found themselves bloodied and no closer to their original goal when the [[Clans]] invaded.  In response to this new threat the Successor States set aside their differences, eventually forming a [[Second Star League]] to beat back the invaders.  This peace was only temporary though, and with the dissolution of the second Star League the Successor States have continued their struggle for dominance into the [[32nd century]].
  
In the [[BattleTech]] universe, the '''Successor States''' (named as such due to their being the "Successors" of the [[Star League]]) are the major military powers of the [[Inner Sphere]], each governed by one of the Great Houses. Each Successor State has its own culture and customs.
+
==The Successor States==
 +
===Federated Suns===
 +
[[Image:Federated Suns Logo.png|right|150px]]
 +
''[[House Davion]]'' has ruled the [[Federated Suns]] since the nation's founding in [[2317]] by [[Lucien Davion]], Prime Minister of [[New Avalon]], who negotiated a [[Crucis Pact|mutual defense and assistance agreement]] with several nearby star systems.  From their capital of New Avalon, the Anglo-French House Davion led the Federated Suns to become one of the largest and most militarily powerful states in the Inner Sphere.  The Federated Suns traditionally sees itself as the champion of freedom, democracy, and human rights, especially compared to its authoritarian neighbors, although the reality is not so clear-cut.  Additionally, the state's economic growth was uneven, with a small number of overdeveloped worlds making up for the larger number of underdeveloped ones.  To counteract this deficiency and recover [[lostech]], the pursuit of scientific knowledge was strongly encouraged by Davion leadership, and the [[New Avalon Institute of Science]] quickly became the premier research and development center of the 31st century.<ref>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 4</ref><ref name=CBT166>''Classic BattleTech RPG'', p. 166</ref><ref name=MW2-115>''MechWarrior: Second Edition'', p. 115</ref>
  
==The Great Houses of the Successor States==
+
For a brief period of time the Federated Suns joined with the Lyran Commonwealth to form the [[Federated Commonwealth]], a massive super-state spanning the length of the Inner Sphere.  There was internal resistance to this merger of the two realms, particularly in the Lyran half, which bore the brunt of the Clan offensive.  In [[3057]] the Lyran worlds seceded from the alliance, splitting FedCom in two and creating the [[Chaos March]].<ref name=CBT166/><ref name=MW2-115/>  The split was made permanent after the [[FedCom Civil War]].
===House Davion===
 
See also: [[Federated Suns]] and [[Federated Commonwealth]]  
 
  
Strongly influenced by Great Britain, United States, and France.
+
====Notable Personalities====
 
 
Capital world: [[New Avalon]]
 
 
 
The [[Federated Suns]] is an interstellar nation set within the BattleTech game universe, introduced by [[FASA]] Corporation in the 1980s. The Federated Suns have been ruled by the Davion Family, or [[House Davion]], since the nation's founding in [[2317]].
 
 
 
The FedSuns was founded in [[2317]] by [[Lucien Davion]], Prime Minister of New Avalon, when he negotiated a mutual defense and assistance agreement, known as the [[Crucis Pact]], with 20 nearby star systems. Lucien became the federation's first president and [[New Avalon]] its capital. A member of the Davion family has led the Federated Suns in unbroken succession for the past 700 years. Presently on the throne is [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]], youngest sister to the former ruler, [[Victor Steiner-Davion]]. Both are children of [[Hanse Davion]] and [[Melissa Steiner]], whose marriage effectively sealed the Federated Suns' alliance with the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]. The Federated Suns claim approximately 400 inhabited star systems under its aegis, nearly double the number of worlds controlled at the beginning of the [[Succession Wars]]. In addition, uncounted other worlds are claimed and exploited by Davion forces.
 
 
 
Much of House Davion's growth over the past 200 years has taken place at the expense of Liao's [[Capellan Confederation]]. This was particularly true at the end of the [[Fourth Succession War]], when the Federated Suns took more than 100 worlds from [[House Liao]].
 
 
 
An even more serious enemy to the Federated Suns has been the [[Draconis Combine]], ruled by [[House Kurita]], which nearly succeeded in conquering the Davion realm during the [[First Succession War]]. By forging an alliance with the Lyran Commonwealth in [[3022]], Davion forced Kurita to spread its [['Mech]] resources along two frontiers, leaving many worlds thinly defended. Prior to the Fourth Succession War, Davion forces were able to exploit this vulnerability, seizing the Combine worlds of [[Tancredi II]] and [[Galatea]], as well as [[Star League]] storehouses at [[Galtor III|Galtor]] and [[Rowe]], while losing very few units themselves. With the outbreak of war, however, the Federated Commonwealth had to rearrange its priorities. By the end of the Fourth War, House Kurita had managed to seize 15 worlds, including Galtor, along its border with [[House Davion]].
 
 
 
Surprisingly, the [[Clan]] threat has done much to destroy the traditional Davion-Kurita rivalry. There is even rumor of a love affair between [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] and [[Theodore Kurita]]'s daughter, [[Omi Kurita]], although official sources consistently deny the connection. It is known that [[Victor Davion]] led a mission to a Clan-held world to rescue Theodore Kurita's son, [[Hohiro Kurita II|Hohiro Kurita]] (the younger). With the Clan threat diminishing for a time, tensions will no doubt resurface. Clashes, at least minor ones, between Davion and Kurita forces will recur.
 
 
 
Pejoratives: FedRat
 
 
 
====Notable characters====
 
 
* [[Hanse Davion]]
 
* [[Hanse Davion]]
 +
* [[Morgan Hasek-Davion]]
 +
* [[Victor Steiner-Davion]]
 +
* [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]]
  
===House Kurita===
+
===Draconis Combine===
See also: [[Draconis Combine]]
+
[[Image:Draccombine.gif|right|150px]]
 +
''[[House Kurita]]'' is the ruling family of the fearsome [[Draconis Combine]], the only Great House that proclaims unabashedly its right to rule all of the Inner Sphere.  House Kurita has dominated the Draconis Combine since its founding in [[2319]] by [[Shiro Kurita]], who imbued the state with its strong Japanese culture from the capital [[New Samarkand]], which would eventually move to [[Luthien]] in the [[twenty-seventh century]].  Embracing "the way of the warrior," the Draconis Combine has had a long history of antagonism with and aggression against its neighbors.  Personal honor and a self-reliance bordering on xenophobia are also encouraged by House Kurita.<ref>''House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)'', p. 6, 8</ref><ref name=CBT167/><ref name=MW2-120>''MechWarrior: Second Edition'', p. 120</ref>
  
Strongly influenced by Japanese culture.
+
The Draconis Combine suffered significant territorial losses to the Federated Commonwealth during the [[4th Succession War]], mitigated somewhat when it willingly allowed the creation of the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] as a buffer between it and the Lyran state. Greater losses were suffered at the hands of the Clan invaders, but in a historical turn of events Luthien was saved when the Kuritans allied with their traditional enemies against the Clan invaders.  This ultimately resulted in the reconquest of nearly all Combine worlds lost to the Clans thanks to the Second Star League.<ref name=CBT167/><ref name=MW2-120/>
  
Capital world: [[Luthien]].
+
====Notable Personalities====
 
+
* [[Takashi Kurita]]
The [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] (FRR) was once part of the [[Draconis Combine]].
+
* [[Yorinaga Kurita]]
 
+
* [[Theodore Kurita]]
In the '''BattleTech''' universe, [[House Kurita]] is the ruling family of the fearsome [[Draconis Combine]]. The only Great House that proclaims unabashedly its right to rule all of the [[Inner Sphere]], House Kurita has dominated the Draconis Combine since its founding in [[2319]]. Its progenitor was [[Shiro Kurita]], the first Coordinator of the Draconis Combine. The current Lord of House Kurita is Coordinator [[Theodore Kurita]], who succeeded his father [[Takashi Kurita]] in [[3054]]. House Kurita has had a long history of antagonism with and aggression against its neighbors. Though its official symbol is the serpentine Chinese dragon, humorist [[Homer Kellogi]] thought the octopus a more appropriate symbol, since House Kurita's tentacles are everywhere. Though driven by an archaic sense of honor spelled out in the [[Dictum Honorium]], House Kurita is not above using subterfuge and guile to further its goals.
+
* [[Hohiro Kurita (31st c.)|Hohiro Kurita]]
 
 
A massive tome comprising many volumes, the [[Dictum Honorium]] would require several lifetimes to master. It spells out in fine detail the code of conduct for all citizens of the Draconis Combine, from the Coordinator to his Samurai to the lowest Unproductive. Due to its length and general impenetrability, few manage to read more than a few pages, and the Dictum has little actual effect on daily life. Several passages, such as the special rules allowing the taking (instead of summary execution) of prisoners of war valuable to military intelligence and ransom are kept secret from the public.
 
 
 
Common Nicknames: Kuritan
 
 
 
Pejoratives: Drac, Draco, Snake
 
 
 
====Notable characters====
 
* [[Minoru Kurita (Coordinator)|Minoru Kurita]]
 
* [[Hohiro Kurita II|Hohiro Kurita]]
 
 
* [[Omiko Kurita]]
 
* [[Omiko Kurita]]
* [[Theodore Kurita]]
 
* [[Yorinaga Kurita]]
 
 
 
===House Liao===
 
See also: [[Capellan Confederation]]
 
 
Strongly influenced by Chinese, Russian, and Scottish culture.
 
 
Capital world: [[Sian]]
 
 
The [[Capellan Confederation]] has long been considered the underdogs of the [[Inner Sphere]], known for mentally unstable leaders that are often violently oppressive towards their own people and great military losses in each succession war leading them to a shadow of their former size.
 
  
However, in more recent years, the Capellan Confederation has strengthened incredibly under the leadership of [[Sun-Tzu Liao]].  Often manipulative but the best leader the empire has seen in years, the Confederation has a strong alliance with the [[Free Worlds League]], resulting in rapid technological increase, as well a social reformation among the people (known as ''[[Xin Sheng]]'') restoring their pride. This culminated in the Confederation re-taking a pocket of territory on the Davion border known as the [[St. Ives Compact]] which revolted with [[Federated Commonwealth]] help in the [[4th Succession War]], during Sun-Tzu's grandfather's rule.
+
===Capellan Confederation===
 +
[[Image:Capellan Confederation Logo New.png|right|150px]]
 +
The [[Capellan Confederation]], and its ruling family ''[[House Liao]]'', has long been considered the underdogs of the Inner SphereThe smallest of the Successor States, the socialistic Capellan Confederation was the last to form, created on [[Capella]] by neighboring states in [[2366]] as a "temporary" alliance in response to Davion aggression.  Tracing their lineage back to the controversial [[Elias Liao]], House Liao gave the Confederation its Han Chinese character and ensured the survival of the realm through strong (if frequently erratic) rule from the Celestial Throne on [[Sian]].  Although popularly disparaged as a totalitarian police state, many citizens enjoy a high degree of personal freedom and willingly serve the State in return for the generous services it provides.<ref>''House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)'', p. 5</ref><ref name=CBT167/><ref name=MW2-127>''MechWarrior: Second Edition'', p. 127</ref><ref name=CBT167/>
  
More recently the Confederation has gained strong alliances with both major [[Periphery]] factions on its borders, giving it access to the rear guard of both the [[Free Worlds League]] and [[Federated Commonwealth]] ([[Federated Suns]] in the post civil war era), as well as strong  but technologically inferior military allies. This leaves the Confederation as one of the strongest factions in the post-civil war classic period.
+
During the Succession Wars, the Capellan Confederation lost three-fourths of its original territory to Davion and Marik invasions.  The Fourth Succession War was particularly devastating, with parts of the Confederation seceding to form the [[St. Ives Compact]] and [[Tikonov Free Republic]].  The Confederation was untouched by the Clan invasion though, and thanks to the efforts of Sun-Tzu Liao the realm was able to rebuild and [[Operation Guerrero|reconquer]] much of its former territory, including the Compact.<ref name=CBT167/><ref name=MW2-127/>
  
====Notable characters====
+
====Notable Personalities====
 
* [[Maximillian Liao]]
 
* [[Maximillian Liao]]
 +
* [[Romano Liao]]
 +
* [[Candace Liao]]
 +
* [[Kai Allard-Liao]]
 
* [[Sun-Tzu Liao]]
 
* [[Sun-Tzu Liao]]
  
===House Marik===
+
===Free Worlds League===
See also: [[Free Worlds League]]
+
[[Image:Fwl.gif|right|180px]]
 +
The [[Free Worlds League]], the oldest of all Successor States, was long ruled by ''[[House Marik]]'' as a matter of custom rather than decree.  Founded in [[2271]] after the collapse of the [[Terran Alliance]], the League was an open, multicultural state, consisting of many great and small realms loosely joined together.  It was also the only one to lay claim to being (on paper at least) a true democracy, with Parliament meeting on [[Atreus (FWL)|Atreus]].  This same openness also left the state politically fragile and frequently riven with instability; throughout its history the League fought against itself almost as much as it did the neighboring Lyran and Capellan nations.  House Marik relied heavily on free trade and technological advancement to keep pace with its rivals.<ref>''House Marik (The Free Worlds League'', p. 6, 8</ref><ref name=MW2-124>''MechWarrior: Second Edition'', p. 124</ref>
  
Multicultural, with strong European, American, and Indian overtones.
+
The Free Worlds League was untouched by the Clan invasion, allowing it to become the industrial base to supply the other Successor States in fending off the invaders.  The League underwent an economic growth that quickly made it one of the richest Successor States.  However, during the [[ComStar Schism]] House Marik chose to side with the [[Word of Blake]].<ref name=CBT167>''Classic BattleTech RPG'', p. 167</ref>  The dire result of this alliance was the Free Worlds League's destruction during the [[Jihad]], though efforts to reform the League during the 32nd century have taken place.
  
Capital world: [[Atreus]]
+
====Notable Personalities====
 
+
* [[Janos Marik]]
The [[Free Worlds League]] is notable as the first successor state founded in the [[Inner Sphere]].  While their history is wracked with many vicious civil wars and tensions along the Liao border, much of the Leagues territory there originally having belonged to the Capellan Confederation. The dawn of the [[Clan]] invasion changed their role in the galaxy considerably as one of the two untouched nations and, until [[Operation Serpent]], neutral factions in the war. 
+
* [[Anton Marik]]
 
 
This brought the [[Free Worlds League]] to being an economical powerhouse, supplying materials ranging from food to [['Mech]]s, to other factions in need; often trading for advanced Clan technology.  During this time the split between the [[Word of Blake]] and [[Comstar]] impacted the League as well, making them the first House to remove Comstar from control of House communications, in favor of the Blakeists. 
 
 
 
The Free Worlds League has a strong emphasis on combined arms tactics, with almost all of their regiments featuring a large number of infantry, armor and aerospace assets, as well as one of the largest navies in the [[Inner Sphere]].  The focus on [['Mech]]s, however, does exist within their elite regiments that make up the [[Knights of the Inner Sphere]], in an effort to return to [[Star League]] tradition of minimizing loss of life by reducing war to just a handful of combatants. Near the end of [[3067]], the Free Worlds League had a space navy that greatly outpaced those of the other [[Successor States]].
 
 
 
After the Word of Blake [[Jihad]], the Free Worlds League dissolved and is now a defunct power.
 
 
 
====Notable characters====
 
 
* [[Thomas Marik]]
 
* [[Thomas Marik]]
* [[Janos Marik]]
+
* [[Corinne Marik]]
 
 
===House Steiner===
 
See also: [[Lyran Alliance]], [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and [[Federated Commonwealth]]
 
 
 
Greatly influenced by Scandinavian and German culture.
 
 
 
Capital world: [[Tharkad]]
 
  
The [[Lyran Commonwealth]] was considered the [[Inner Sphere]]s greatest economic power.  While as much involved with the [[Succession Wars]] as every other state, their focus had historically been on defense and border skirmishes, rather than invasion.  The [[Lyran Commonwealth]] is frequently contested by the [[Draconis Combine]] and the [[Free Worlds League]], which no doubt helped lead to the creation of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] in later years, when the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] merged with the [[Federated Suns]].
+
===Lyran Commonwealth===
 +
[[Image:House Steiner Logo.jpg|right|150px]]
 +
The [[Lyran Commonwealth]], largely under the leadership of ''[[House Steiner]]'', has long been considered the Inner Sphere's greatest economic power.  Formed in [[2340]] from the combination of several smaller defense pacts, its original capital was on [[Arcturus]] before moving to [[Tharkad]], where it came under the stewardship of the Steiner family and gained its Germanic trappings.  With many resource-rich worlds, shrewd business acumen and a strong industrial base, the Lyran Commonwealth prospered even during the worst of times: in spite of the destruction of the Succession Wars, overall industrial output and average standard of living exceeded that of any other Successor State.  This vast wealth helped the Lyran state weather any military reversals - especially [[Social General|self-inflicted]] ones - by quickly replacing their materiel losses.<ref>''House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)'', p. 8</ref><ref name=MW2-116>''MechWarrior: Second Edition'', p. 115-116</ref>
  
The Lyran Commonwealth is also classically known for inept military commanders, who gain their status through social settings and favors rather than training and skill, often hailing from rich familiesThis has been known as a crippling factor for the successor state, as their equipment and technology easily outpaced their rivals in the first three succession wars.
+
In the early part of the 31st century, the Lyran Commonwealth joined in a political union with the Federated Suns to form the [[Federated Commonwealth]], a vast super-state spanning the length of the Inner SphereResistance to this merger was strong within the Lyran state, and both its economy and territorial integrity suffered heavily during the Clan invasion.  Katherine Steiner-Davion successfully engineered the succession of the Lyran worlds from the FedCom alliance in [[3057]], forming the [[Lyran Alliance]] in its place.<ref name=CBT166/>
  
====Notable Characters====
+
====Notable Personalities====
 
* [[Katrina Steiner]]
 
* [[Katrina Steiner]]
 
* [[Melissa Steiner]]
 
* [[Melissa Steiner]]
 
===House Steiner-Davion===
 
See also: [[Federated Commonwealth]], [[Federated Suns]] and [[Lyran Alliance]]
 
 
Capital worlds: [[Tharkad]] and [[New Avalon]]
 
 
The [[Federated Commonwealth]] came into being with the marriage of [[Hanse Davion]] and [[Melissa Steiner]], joining the [[Federated Suns]] and the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] into what was the most powerful of the Successor States.
 
 
The union lasted only 20 years, as unrest caused by the [[Clan]] invasion and the assassination of [[Melissa Steiner-Davion]] enabled Melissa and Hanse's second child [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] to seize much of the former [[Lyran Commonwealth]] from her brother, [[Victor Steiner-Davion]]'s control. Katherine went on to stage a coup against her younger sister, [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]] and took control of the former [[Federated Suns]] half of the Commonwealth while Victor was off fighting [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]. This lead to a civil war which raged for five years before Victor's allied forces successfully defeated Katherine and her supporters.
 
 
Rather than try to reforge the union of the two nations, Victor opted to aid the healing process by returning both nations to their prior separate constitutions and abdicating as [[Archon-Prince]] in favor of his surviving younger siblings; Archon [[Peter Steiner-Davion]] and Regent [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]].
 
 
====Notable characters====
 
 
* [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]]
 
* [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]]
* [[Victor Steiner-Davion]]
+
* [[Peter Steiner-Davion]]
 
 
==ComStar==
 
See also [[ComStar]]
 
 
 
Capital: [[Terra]]
 
 
 
While not strictly defined as one of the [[Successor States]], [[ComStar]] is politically influential, as it maintains a monopoly over the [[HyperPulse Generators]] (HPG), which are crucial to interstellar communication; the threat of a communications blackout makes ComStar a significant power within the [[Inner Sphere]].
 
ComStar, itself, is composed of quasi-mystical technicians who tend the [[HPG]] arrays. They profess to be neutral to the politics of the [[Inner Sphere]]. [[Jerome Blake]] is something of a religious figure to ComStar; oaths such as "''By the blessed Blake''" or epithets such as "''Blake's Blood!''" are not uncommon. [[Jerome Blake]] was the original founder of ComStar, after the [[Star League]] fell, and is considered by those within ComStar to be the savior of the [[Inner Sphere]].
 
 
 
===Notable characters===
 
* [[Anastasius Focht]]
 
* [[Jerome Blake]]
 
* [[Julian Tiepolo]]
 
* [[Myndo Waterly]]
 
 
 
==Word of Blake==
 
See also [[Word of Blake]]
 
 
 
The [[Word of Blake]] was once part of [[ComStar]], but splintered from the order due to a difference in beliefs. It was founded by [[Demona Aziz]], the then-Precentor of Atreus. Created after the death of Primus [[Myndo Waterly]] and the [[Battle of Tukayyid]] that halted the [[Clan]] invasion, it at first received support and refuge from the [[Free Worlds League]], who employed them to control their hyperpulse communications network. However, it launched an invasion of [[Inner Sphere]] territory, and eventually captured [[Terra]] from ComStar in [[3058]]. When the [[Star League]] was disbanded in [[3067]], the Word of Blake launched a [[jihad]] against the rest of the [[Inner Sphere]]. The opening of the Jihad included an attack by allegedly rogue mercenary units on the [[Wolf's Dragoons]] homeworld of Outreach, as well as assaults on [[Tharkad]], [[New Avalon]], [[Luthien]] and several other important worlds. The goal of the Word of Blake Jihad was an extension of the original plans of ComStar's founder, [[Jerome Blake]], [[Operation Silver Shield]], to capture some of the [[Terran Hegemony]] worlds and hold them under ComStar's control.
 
 
 
However, resistance began to grow when Professor [[David Lear]] and the [[Republic of the Sphere]]'s future founder, [[Devlin Stone]], escaped from a Word of Blake reeducation camp and organized a local resistance movement that destroyed Word of Blake forces on [[Kittery]]. Soon, the resistance developed into a widespread organization that was joined by [[ComStar]], the Successor States, the [[Clans]], and the mercenary unit [[Wolf's Dragoons]]. Once united, they succeeded in pushing the Word of Blake back, until their final defeat on [[Terra]] in [[3081]].
 
  
==Mercenaries==
+
==References==
Also not a true Successor State, mercenaries play a large role in the [[Inner Sphere]], and some of the larger groups ([[Wolf's Dragoons]], for one) have considerable political and military influence.
+
<references/>
  
===Notable Units===
+
==Bibliography==
* [[Wolf's Dragoons]]
+
*''[[Classic BattleTech RPG]]''
* [[Eridani Light Horse]]
+
*''[[House Davion (The Federated Suns)]]''
* [[12th Star Guards]]
+
*''[[House Kurita (The Draconis Combine)]]''
 +
*''[[House Liao (The Capellan Confederation)]]''
 +
*''[[House Marik (The Free Worlds League)]]''
 +
*''[[House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth)]]''
 +
*''[[MechWarrior: The BattleTech Role Playing Game, Second Edition]]''
  
{{wikipedia|92703649}}
+
[[Category:Factions]]

Revision as of 08:31, 7 January 2020

The Successor States (named as such due to their being the "Successors" of the Star League) are the major military powers of the Inner Sphere, each governed by one of the Great Houses and with its own customs and culture. After House Cameron was wiped out in the Star League Civil War, the five remaining Great Houses spent the next several centuries fighting each other to determine who would succeed as the next First Lord. By the 31st century the Successor States found themselves bloodied and no closer to their original goal when the Clans invaded. In response to this new threat the Successor States set aside their differences, eventually forming a Second Star League to beat back the invaders. This peace was only temporary though, and with the dissolution of the second Star League the Successor States have continued their struggle for dominance into the 32nd century.

The Successor States

Federated Suns

Federated Suns Logo.png

House Davion has ruled the Federated Suns since the nation's founding in 2317 by Lucien Davion, Prime Minister of New Avalon, who negotiated a mutual defense and assistance agreement with several nearby star systems. From their capital of New Avalon, the Anglo-French House Davion led the Federated Suns to become one of the largest and most militarily powerful states in the Inner Sphere. The Federated Suns traditionally sees itself as the champion of freedom, democracy, and human rights, especially compared to its authoritarian neighbors, although the reality is not so clear-cut. Additionally, the state's economic growth was uneven, with a small number of overdeveloped worlds making up for the larger number of underdeveloped ones. To counteract this deficiency and recover lostech, the pursuit of scientific knowledge was strongly encouraged by Davion leadership, and the New Avalon Institute of Science quickly became the premier research and development center of the 31st century.[1][2][3]

For a brief period of time the Federated Suns joined with the Lyran Commonwealth to form the Federated Commonwealth, a massive super-state spanning the length of the Inner Sphere. There was internal resistance to this merger of the two realms, particularly in the Lyran half, which bore the brunt of the Clan offensive. In 3057 the Lyran worlds seceded from the alliance, splitting FedCom in two and creating the Chaos March.[2][3] The split was made permanent after the FedCom Civil War.

Notable Personalities

Draconis Combine

Draccombine.gif

House Kurita is the ruling family of the fearsome Draconis Combine, the only Great House that proclaims unabashedly its right to rule all of the Inner Sphere. House Kurita has dominated the Draconis Combine since its founding in 2319 by Shiro Kurita, who imbued the state with its strong Japanese culture from the capital New Samarkand, which would eventually move to Luthien in the twenty-seventh century. Embracing "the way of the warrior," the Draconis Combine has had a long history of antagonism with and aggression against its neighbors. Personal honor and a self-reliance bordering on xenophobia are also encouraged by House Kurita.[4][5][6]

The Draconis Combine suffered significant territorial losses to the Federated Commonwealth during the 4th Succession War, mitigated somewhat when it willingly allowed the creation of the Free Rasalhague Republic as a buffer between it and the Lyran state. Greater losses were suffered at the hands of the Clan invaders, but in a historical turn of events Luthien was saved when the Kuritans allied with their traditional enemies against the Clan invaders. This ultimately resulted in the reconquest of nearly all Combine worlds lost to the Clans thanks to the Second Star League.[5][6]

Notable Personalities

Capellan Confederation

The Capellan Confederation, and its ruling family House Liao, has long been considered the underdogs of the Inner Sphere. The smallest of the Successor States, the socialistic Capellan Confederation was the last to form, created on Capella by neighboring states in 2366 as a "temporary" alliance in response to Davion aggression. Tracing their lineage back to the controversial Elias Liao, House Liao gave the Confederation its Han Chinese character and ensured the survival of the realm through strong (if frequently erratic) rule from the Celestial Throne on Sian. Although popularly disparaged as a totalitarian police state, many citizens enjoy a high degree of personal freedom and willingly serve the State in return for the generous services it provides.[7][5][8][5]

During the Succession Wars, the Capellan Confederation lost three-fourths of its original territory to Davion and Marik invasions. The Fourth Succession War was particularly devastating, with parts of the Confederation seceding to form the St. Ives Compact and Tikonov Free Republic. The Confederation was untouched by the Clan invasion though, and thanks to the efforts of Sun-Tzu Liao the realm was able to rebuild and reconquer much of its former territory, including the Compact.[5][8]

Notable Personalities

Free Worlds League

The Free Worlds League, the oldest of all Successor States, was long ruled by House Marik as a matter of custom rather than decree. Founded in 2271 after the collapse of the Terran Alliance, the League was an open, multicultural state, consisting of many great and small realms loosely joined together. It was also the only one to lay claim to being (on paper at least) a true democracy, with Parliament meeting on Atreus. This same openness also left the state politically fragile and frequently riven with instability; throughout its history the League fought against itself almost as much as it did the neighboring Lyran and Capellan nations. House Marik relied heavily on free trade and technological advancement to keep pace with its rivals.[9][10]

The Free Worlds League was untouched by the Clan invasion, allowing it to become the industrial base to supply the other Successor States in fending off the invaders. The League underwent an economic growth that quickly made it one of the richest Successor States. However, during the ComStar Schism House Marik chose to side with the Word of Blake.[5] The dire result of this alliance was the Free Worlds League's destruction during the Jihad, though efforts to reform the League during the 32nd century have taken place.

Notable Personalities

Lyran Commonwealth

House Steiner Logo.jpg

The Lyran Commonwealth, largely under the leadership of House Steiner, has long been considered the Inner Sphere's greatest economic power. Formed in 2340 from the combination of several smaller defense pacts, its original capital was on Arcturus before moving to Tharkad, where it came under the stewardship of the Steiner family and gained its Germanic trappings. With many resource-rich worlds, shrewd business acumen and a strong industrial base, the Lyran Commonwealth prospered even during the worst of times: in spite of the destruction of the Succession Wars, overall industrial output and average standard of living exceeded that of any other Successor State. This vast wealth helped the Lyran state weather any military reversals - especially self-inflicted ones - by quickly replacing their materiel losses.[11][12]

In the early part of the 31st century, the Lyran Commonwealth joined in a political union with the Federated Suns to form the Federated Commonwealth, a vast super-state spanning the length of the Inner Sphere. Resistance to this merger was strong within the Lyran state, and both its economy and territorial integrity suffered heavily during the Clan invasion. Katherine Steiner-Davion successfully engineered the succession of the Lyran worlds from the FedCom alliance in 3057, forming the Lyran Alliance in its place.[2]

Notable Personalities

References

  1. House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 4
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Classic BattleTech RPG, p. 166
  3. 3.0 3.1 MechWarrior: Second Edition, p. 115
  4. House Kurita (The Draconis Combine), p. 6, 8
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Classic BattleTech RPG, p. 167
  6. 6.0 6.1 MechWarrior: Second Edition, p. 120
  7. House Liao (The Capellan Confederation), p. 5
  8. 8.0 8.1 MechWarrior: Second Edition, p. 127
  9. House Marik (The Free Worlds League, p. 6, 8
  10. MechWarrior: Second Edition, p. 124
  11. House Steiner (The Lyran Commonwealth), p. 8
  12. MechWarrior: Second Edition, p. 115-116

Bibliography