Third Succession War

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The Third Succession War began in 2866 and continued sporadically until 3029 when the Fourth Succession War was officially started by the Federated Suns' attack on the Capellan Confederation following the marriage of Hanse Davion and Melissa Steiner. The years between the beginning of the conflict and the start of the Fourth Succession War were marked with almost constant, but low-intensity, warfare.

Beginning

The Third Succession War began when Draconis Combine forces attacked Lyran Commonwealth coreward holdings. The intensity of this conflict never approached that of either the First or Second Succession Wars. This lessening was more likely due to reduced military capacity rather than a change of tactics. The scavenger necessities from the Second war carried over and each house rapidly realized that they needed to preserve their precious technical resources.

Development

Two main components of this era were the evolution of a set of informal rules of engagement, similar to old Terran chivalric values, and a feudal system. The rules of engagement were similar to the Ares Conventions whereby 'Mech forces fought over industrial facilities, but were restricted in their attacks on those facilities and civilians. Especially important was a tradition of paying a random for safe passage after surrendering to a superior force. Also, JumpShips became strictly off-limits as a military target as it was quickly recognized that without JumpShips, nothing would be possible.

The feudal system evolved throughout the years because the capacity for central governance had evaporated. As a result, each Successor Lord controlled their house via a hierarchy of nobles who, in exchange for full authority of their worlds, pledged their fealty and their 'Mechs to their liege lord.