Difference between revisions of "Federated Suns"

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The '''Federated Suns''' is a Successor State ruled by [[House Davion]], located mostly rimward and spinward of [[Terra]], in places beyond 500 light yearsFounded in [[2317]]<ref name="ISSB32">''[[Inner Sphere (sourcebook)]]'', p. 32</ref>, the Federated Suns was the fourth of the [[Successor States]] to be formed after the withdrawal of the [[Terran Alliance]] from its coloniesThe Federated Suns is considered by many to be the military powerhouse of the five Successor States, due to the quality and quantity of forces available to the realm.  Martial prowess is held in such esteem, the [[First Prince]], the ruler of the Federated Suns, is required to have served at least five years in the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] in order to be eligible to use the title.<sup>''citation needed''</sup>
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The '''Federated Suns''' has traditionally been the most powerful and largest of the [[Successor States]] to occupy the [[Inner Sphere]].  From their ancestral home of [[New Avalon]], the scions of [[House Davion]] have ruled the Federated Suns since its founding by [[Lucien Davion]] in [[2317]].  While tracing their family line to French and English nobility of ancient [[Terra]] and ruling as constitutional monarchs, the Davions have always positioned themselves and the Federated Suns as champions of liberty, democracy and personal freedoms in the Inner Sphere.  This view has bred a sense of righteousness in the Davion cause, serving as both a source of strength and weakness during their history.<ref name=HDTFS5>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 5</ref><ref name=IS31>''Inner Sphere'', p. 31</ref>
  
The Federated Suns is also the largest of the Successor States both geographically and in possessions, numbering more than 500 systems within over 20,000 square parsecs at the end of the [[3rd Succession War]].  However, despite its military acumen, the fall of the [[Star League]] left the Federated Suns with a handful of technologically advanced worlds among large expanses of underdeveloped worlds (compared with the other Successor States)To remedy this situation, [[Hanse Davion]] founded the [[New Avalon Institute of Science]] and prioritized the recovery of lost technologies<ref>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)''</ref>Within two decades of founding the NAIS, the Federated Suns (and it's Fed-Com ally, the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]) could claim the most technologically advanced military among the Successor States.<ref>''Strategic Operations'', p. 167</ref>  Whether this technological renaissance of the early 31st century also reshaped civilian technological levels (especially on its periphery borders) is debatable.
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For a time, the Federated Suns joined together with the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] to create a new super-state, the [[Federated Commonwealth]], which dominated the Inner Sphere during the [[31st century]].  However, internal divisions and other factors eventually lead to the the Lyran half seceding to form the [[Lyran Alliance]] and the [[FedCom Civil War]].  While maintaining the Federated Commonwealth name for several years afterwards, the rump state eventually returned to its traditional name as the Federated Suns.
  
Among the Successor States, the Federated Suns most ostensibly resembles a constitutional monarchy with representative democracy, similar to the [[w:United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] of pre-[[First Exodus]] [[Terra]], with guaranteed personal liberties.  However, stratification of society (especially with regard to the influence of the warrior-elite) make the Suns less open than claimed.<ref>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 5</ref>  A deeper look at the actions and history of the Suns casts doubt on this story...
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==History==
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{{Main|History of the Federated Suns}}
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Founded in 2317, The Federated Suns was the brainchild of the [[Successor States#House Davion|Davion family]], an influential noble family of the world of [[New Avalon]]. The father of the Federated Suns was Lucien Davion, a master politician and statesman.
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In 2567 the Federated Suns joined the [[Star League]] (becoming the fourth member state). The Star League Years were relatively quiet with the Federated Suns working with the Star League to ensure a reign of peace and prosperity that lasted for hundreds of years.
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During the [[Succession Wars]], the Federated Suns fought heavily with the [[Capellan Confederation]] and [[Draconis Combine]].
  
The Federated Suns is politically and militarily organized into a varying number of regional Marches. The three that have been around since the March system was created are the [[Capellan March]] (bordering the [[Capellan Confederation]]), the [[Draconis March]] (bordering the [[Draconis Combine]]), and the 'inner' [[Crucis March]], home of the capital world of Federated Suns, [[New Avalon]].
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During the 3024-29 period, there was a secret pact formed between the Federated Suns and the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] in addition to the public alliance between [[Hanse Davion]] and [[Katrina Steiner]]. In 3056, the [[Federated Commonwealth]] was officially formed. The Lyran Commonwealth seceded from the alliance in 3057, beginning the FedCom Civil War. The [[Federated Commonwealth]] was officially renamed back to ''Federated Suns'' in [[3067]] by [[Yvonne_Steiner-Davion|Regent Yvonne]] after the conclusion of the FedCom Civil War.
  
 
==Politics==
 
==Politics==
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The Federated Suns (also known as "the Federation" by its citizenry) has changed significantly since its original founding as a loose coalition of worlds coming together for mutual defense and trade.  Originally each world sent delegates to serve on a High Council which would choose from among themselves a President, with both sharing equal power.  However, the difficulties of carrying out a representative democracy over interstellar distances, combined with the political machinations of the Davion family, lead to the Presidency becoming essentially a monarchy which was practically reserved for the Davions.<ref name=HDTFS99>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 99</ref><ref name="HB:HDp106>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 105-106</ref>  [[Simon Davion]] formalized this situation in March [[2418]] by reshaping the nation into five Principalities, also known as Marches, each headed by a Prince and led by a single [[First Prince]]; the first such First Prince was Simon Davion himself.<ref name="HB:HDp27">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 27, "Timeline: Early Years and the Age of War"</ref> Below each Prince was a system of duchies, margraves, counties and baronies and a new class of [[Nobility#Federated Suns|titled individuals]] was created, each of whom was subject to appointment by the Prince of his or her respective March. This reform formalized the neo-feudal system that had already been growing throughout the region since the early history of New Avalon.<ref name="HB:HDp28">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 28, "The First Prince"</ref>  In the wake of the [[Davion Civil War]], [[Alexander Davion]] eliminated the other princely positions, leaving the First Prince as sole ruler of the Federated Suns.  The aristocratic system of rule which Simon Davion had established remained though, having become firmly established over the previous century with the acceptance of the people.<ref name=HDTFS99>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 99</ref><ref name=HB:HDp108>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 108</ref>
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While the nobility hold the levers of power at the national level, planetary and local governments are usually allowed great autonomy in how they run themselves: the majority of planets are based on a parliamentary system similar to that of the former [[w:United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] of Terra, while others might adopt anything from democratic communism to full-fledged dictatorship.  Though the nobility might technically hold absolute power in the Federated Suns, most nobles are smart enough to recognize that to go against the will of the people will quickly spell their political downfall.  As such, so long as taxes are collected and their personal holdings are not in danger, the majority of nobles will not interfere with local government decisions unless absolutely necessary.  The only exception are those planets placed under a Military Governorship, whether due to recent rebellion or having been captured from the enemy, or those worlds subject to the War Zone Actions of 2787.<ref name=HDTFS107>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 107</ref><ref name=HB:HD119>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 119</ref>
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The rights of the Federation's citizens are enshrined in its constitution, the original Crucis Pact which created the Federation Suns.  Known as the Six Liberties, they are: the right to personal liberty, to own property, to own weapons, to expect fair treatment, to privacy, and to participate in planetary government.<ref name=HDTFS107>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 107</ref><ref name=HB:HD105>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 105</ref>  Such rights are guaranteed by the national government, ensuring that freedom of religion and of expression supersede any laws enforced by local governments.<ref name=HB:HD119/>  This also includes the right to petition for the removal of a noble who is unworthy of their position, or to engage in [[w:Direct action|direct action]] to have them removed (which, while not a formal right, is considered a time-honored tradition nonetheless).<ref>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 101</ref>
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===First Prince===
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The [[First Prince]] is the leader of the Federated Suns and the Commander-in-Chief of the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] (AFFS). The First Prince has the right to appoint or dismiss any noble or government official and may rule by decree, though there are some limits when it comes to the rights and freedoms of the nobility and the people.  Only a member of House Davion may become a First Prince, but only if they have achieved 20 years of age and have served at least five years in the military.  Beyond their official powers, much of the strength of the First Prince lies in House Davion's personal wealth.  While official figures are not made public, in [[3025]] it was believed they owned vast landholds on at least a dozen worlds (including the so-called 'Golden Five') and were major shareholders in at least twenty large corporations.<ref name=HDTFS103>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 103</ref><ref name=HB:HD105>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 105</ref>  The First Prince may also bestow the title of [[Prince's Champion]] on any individual, traditionally a senior AFFS [[Field Marshal]] who is either a trusted friend or family member, to act with their authority on military and political matters when the First Prince is unavailable.  It should be noted that the term "Prince" is gender-neutral in its Federated Suns usage, although both Katherine Steiner-Davion and Yvonne Steiner-Davion styled themselves as the feminized "Princess" in their titles ("Archon-Princess" and "Princess-Regent," respectively).
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The First Prince is also surrounded by the Royal Court, a term which refers to two distinct concepts.  The first is the physical building complex which surrounds the Royal Palace on New Avalon, in which is housed the Ministries which see to the running of the Federation.  The second is the social season held every spring for three months, where nobility and political leaders from across the realm are invited to the Royal Palace to partake in grand balls, game hunts, and some wheeling and dealing.<ref name=HDTFS105>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 105</ref><ref name=HB:HD107>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 107</ref>
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===Privy Council===
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Created by Alexander Davion as an alternative to the High Council, the '''Privy Council'''  is a group of the highest advisers to the First Prince and is extremely important in the running of the day-to-day affairs of the state.  Acting as an advisory council to the First Prince, the Privy Council was given many of the powers once held by the High Council: recommending military and government appointments, overseeing the running of the state bureaucracy, and determining the line of succession or the appointment of a regent upon the death or retirement of the First Prince.<ref name=HDTFS104>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 104</ref><ref name=HB:HD107>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 107</ref>
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The Privy Council is a small body and most of its members naturally reside on New Avalon, allowing it to react quickly to new events, though when needed members may also empower a deputy to speak on their behalf.  From the military are seated the Prince's Champion, the [[Marshal of the Armies]], and the heads of the eight military departments (the directors of the military Marches may also sit as non-voting advisers).  The President and an elected member of the High Council also sits on the Privy Council.  Lastly, the Ministers in charge of each of the eight Ministries which oversee the governing of the Federated Suns sits on the Privy Council.<ref name=HDTFS104/><ref name=HB:HD107/>
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===High Council===
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The '''High Council''' was formerly a governing body equal to the President and, for a time, the First Prince of the Federated Suns.  Each member world and associate world was represented on the Council with a delegate and from among their members they elected a President to serve until life or impeachment by three-fourths of the High Council.<ref name=HDTFS99/>  It had the power to appoint representatives to foreign governments, approve treaties and enact laws.  As the High Council grew in size, the limitations of interstellar travel and communication made it slow and unwieldy in responding to new events, while the political acumen of the Davion family began to rob it of some of its power.  The High Council eventually became nothing more than a rubber stamp for the Davions, until it began to fail even at that task as it became bogged down in parliamentary maneuverings.  While most of its powers have since been transferred to the First Prince and the Privy Council, the High Council still acts as a forum to debate policy, put forward recommendations and enact regulatory changes.<ref name=HDTFS105>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 105</ref><ref name=HB:HD107/>
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===The Marches===
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The internal administrative structure of the Federated Suns has changed several times during its history. In the period prior to the formation of the Capellan Confederation the region within which the various nations and proto-states such as the [[Sarna Supremacy]] and [[Tikonov Grand Union]] existed was known as the [[Capellan Zone]]; the border region abutting the Capellan Zone was known as the [[Rimward March]]<ref name="HB:HDp20">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 20, "Capellan Zone Border Wars"</ref> prior to becoming known as the [[Capellan March]].<ref name="HB:HDp22">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 22, "Pushing Towards Confederation"</ref>
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The reforms carried out by Simon Davion lead to the formal creation of five Marches: the [[Capellan March]], [[Crucis March]], [[Draconis March]], [[Outer March]] and [[Terran March]], and each was subdivided into various administrative sectors overseen by a new class of [[nobility]].  The rulership of the some of the Marches changed notably during the [[Age of War]]; the Varnay family came to power within the Capellan March with the appointment of [[Richard Varnay]] to the post of Prince of the Capellan March during the reign of [[Ellen Davion]] as a means of removing him from the positions of Chancellor of New Avalon and Constable of the Crucis March because of his ambition to become First Prince.<ref name="HB:HDp29">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 29, "Battling Varnay"</ref> The Varnys would rule the Capellan March until their defeat during the [[Davion Civil War]] in [[2537]].<ref name="HB:HDp37A">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 37, "Timeline: Revolution and Civil War"</ref>
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Another branch of the Davion family came to rule the Draconis March following the decision in [[2514]] to appoint the sister of First Prince [[William Davion]], [[Laura Davion]], as heir to [[Vladimir Kerensky]], the aging and childless Prince.<ref name="HB:HDp31"/> Laura Davion only ruled the Draconis March until [[2533]], when she committed suicide after the defeat of her forces by [[Alexander Davion]] on the March capital of [[Tancredi IV]] during the Davion Civil War.<ref name="HB:HDp35">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 35, "Battling Varnay"</ref>
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Shortly after the appointment of Laura Davion to rule the Draconis March the rulership of the Terran March passed from the [[House Leighton|Leighton family]] with the death of Prince [[Charles Leighton]] and his family in a [[Terran Hegemony]] raid on the March capital, [[Robinson]]. Noted [[Federated Peacekeeping Forces]] General [[Nikolai Rostov]] was appointed Prince by the Council of Regents,<ref name="HB:HDp31">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 31</ref> but the Rostov family would rule the Terran March for just two generations; Nikolai Rostov was killed in battle during the [[Davion Civil War]]<ref name="HB:HDp31"/> and was succeeded by his son [[Dmitri Rostov]]<ref name="HB:HDp34">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 34, "Rostov's Legacy"</ref> only for Dmitri to be killed by Alexander Davion following Dmitri's open rebellion against Alexander's efforts to reform the structure of the Federated Suns in the closing stages of the Davion Civil War.<ref name="HB:HDp36">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 36, "Putting Down Rostov"</ref>
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When the Davion Civil War ended, only two of the five Princes of the Federated Suns were still alive: First Prince Alexander Davion of the Crucis March and Prince [[Nuno Gutierrez]] of the Outer March, who from his capital world, [[Filtvelt]], had kept the Outer March out of the Civil War.<ref name="HB:HDp37">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 37, "Dividends of Peace"</ref> Alexander Davion restructured the Federated Suns, disbanding the Outer and Terran Marches, instead subdividing the realm into just three Marches: the Capellan March, Crucis March and Draconis March,<ref name="HB:HDp37A"/> a system that would remain in place until the late [[thirty-first century]]. The rulers of the Capellan and Draconis Marches were made subordinate to the First Prince, leaving the First Prince as the highest noble in the Federated Suns and the highest-ranking military officer. Each March was divided into a number of zones for administrative purposes, just as the Marches were divided into Theaters and Polymorphous Defense Zones for military purposes.<ref name="HB:HDp37"/>
  
{{main|First Prince}}
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Stewardship of the Draconis March passed to House Sandoval after the Davion Civil War; the Sandovals were a significant noble family on Robinson, and gained ''de facto'' control of the capital of the Terran March while resolutely turning their backs on Dmitri Rostov, an act of loyalty and support that saw them rewarded by Alexander Davion.<ref name="HB:HDp112">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 112, "House Sandoval"</ref> The Capellan March was ruled by a series of noble families during the Star League era, with one family replacing another in quick succession, due to political infighting and personal conflicts during the Star League era and then attrition in the [[First Succession War]] - a conflict that saw four March Lords killed in battle and two more injured so badly that they had to step down.<ref name="HB:HDp56">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 56, "The Hasek Legacy"</ref> In 2829 the ruling family of the Capellan March became House Hasek, an old and well-established family within the Federated Suns, with the appointment of Colonel Damien Hasek to the titles of Duke of New Syrtis and Minister of the Capellan March.<ref name="HB:HDp111">''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 111, "House Hasek"</ref>
The Federated Suns (sometimes called "the Federation" by its citizenry) could best be described as a hereditary and constitutional monarchy with limits placed on the monarch's powers. The [[First Prince]] is the leader of the Federated Suns and is the Commander in Chief of the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] (AFFS). Officially, until the formation of the [[Federated Commonwealth]], the [[Dictionary#H|High Council]], a group of both democratic, hereditary, and other officials chosen by the leadership of the member-worlds of the Federated Suns, had presided over the nation.
 
  
Since the reign of Prince [[Alexander Davion]] the High Council has become largely a glorified "rubber stamp" organization. The [[Dictionary#P|Privy Council]] is a group of the highest advisers to the First Prince and is extremely important in the running of the day-to-day affairs of the state. The Nobility of the Federated Suns, created during the reign of Prince [[Simon Davion]], also hold positions of authority, but the nobility of the Federated Suns has lesser power than some of the other [[Successor States]]. The citizens of the realm also have several basic rights protected by law, which include freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and the ability to appeal to the central government in order to have unpopular or destructive noblemen removed from office.
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The next major change in the administrative structure came with the creation of a new [[Periphery March (Federated Suns)|Periphery March]] by [[Princess-Regent]] [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]] in the aftermath of the [[Jihad]]; incorporating the edgeward regions of the Chirikof and Markesan Operational Areas of the Crucis March as well as the Milligan and Woodbine PDZ of the Draconis March and the Warren PDZ of the Capellan March, the Periphery March was made the desmene of Duke Raymond-Roger Marsin<ref name="FM:3085p52">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 52-53, "Camelot Summit"</ref> with the March capital being established on [[June]].<ref>''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 127, "Inner Sphere Map - [October 3085]"</ref>
  
Administratively, the Federated Suns is divided into three Marches, two of which share borders with long-time adversaries of the nation: the Capellan March, the Crucis March (which contains the capital world of New Avalon), and the Draconis March.  The Capellan and Draconis Marches are ruled by positions alternatively known as March Lords or March Ministers (these posts are traditionally held by members of the Hasek and Sandoval families, respectively).
 
 
==Military==
 
==Military==
 
{{main|Armed Forces of the Federated Suns}}
 
{{main|Armed Forces of the Federated Suns}}
In terms of military strength, the Federated Suns is one of the most powerful nations in the [[Inner Sphere]]. The [[First Prince]]s of House Davion have always been committed to the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]], a highly trained, disciplined, and professional force that benefits greatly from technological advances from the [[New Avalon Institute of Science]]. Every heir-apparent is required to serve in the military in order to be eligible for the title of First Prince.
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In terms of military strength, the Federated Suns is one of the most powerful nations in the Inner Sphere. The First Princes of House Davion have always been committed to the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]], a highly trained, disciplined, and professional force that benefits greatly from technological advances from the [[New Avalon Institute of Science]]. Every heir-apparent is required to serve in the military in order to be eligible for the title of First Prince.
==Manufacturing Center==
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The AFFS has undergone several major reforms during the centuries of its existence; most recently, the damage inflicted during the [[Jihad]] resulted in a desperate need to adjust to remain effective as losses mounted and the [[Word of Blake]] ravaged the industrial base of the Federated Suns.
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The major characteristic that distinguishes the AFFS from the other Inner Sphere militaries has for a very long time been the organizational efficiency with which the AFFS operates. This is evident in the manner in which the disparate elements of the military coordinate and work well together, a shared spirit of teamwork making the whole greater than the sum of the individual parts. In the first half of the 31st century, First Prince [[Hanse Davion]] capitalized on this when he invented the AFFS military organization known as the [[Regimental Combat Team]] - not to be confused with the much earlier [[Star League Defense Force]] organization of the same name. During the Jihad, necessity drove [[Marshal of the Armies]] [[Jon Davion]] to introduce a new formation drawing on many of the same properties and capabilities that made the RCT effective.<ref name="J:FRp95">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 95, "Reorganizing The AFFS"</ref>
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The first brigade to make use of the new [[Light Combat Team]] model was the [[Avalon Hussars]], whose performance in the new organization combined with the portability and flexibility of the LCT saw it become the model for the AFFS in the post-Jihad era. With many front line commands re-formed into LCTs, some formations remained in the larger RCT format to act as the big stick for dealing with particularly troublesome neighbors. The ease with which the reforms were made is both a testament to the success of the LCT and a chilling statement on the damage inflicted on the senior ranks of the AFFS by the Jihad. With major reforms going on and talented officers being promoted two or even three ranks because of the number of open posts, the reorganization conducted in the early [[3080]]s marked the biggest change in the structure of the AFFS since its initial incorporation.<ref name="J:FRp95"/>
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==Economy==
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The large size of the Federated Suns, both in terms of territory and population, has historically given it incredible growth potential compared to the other Successor States.  Unfortunately, this same size has also been its biggest drawback: with resources spread across hundreds of light-years of space, it can be difficult to exploit those resources and get them to market in a timely fashion.<ref name=HHD157>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 156-157</ref><ref name=HDTFS168>''House Davion (The Federated Suns'', p. 167-168</ref>  This despite boasting in [[3025]] the largest commercial fleet in the Inner Sphere.<ref name=HDTFS168/>  The union with the Lyran Commonwealth and creation of NAIS brought about a brief golden age of economic growth and recovery from the ravages of the Succession Wars, though the onset of the Clan invasion and the civil war brought that to an end.<ref name=HHD157/>
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The Federation's economy is based on capitalistic principles, but while large interstellar corporations may feature prominently it is small businesses which make up the majority of its gross national product.  House Davion has also championed the rights of the average worker and made efforts to balance the needs of the people against those of wealthy special interests.  The Chancellery of the Exchequer, a subdivision of the Ministry of Ways and Means, is not only responsible for minting the [[Pound (currency|Pound]] but regulating and enforcing economic laws, such as setting national interest rates, collecting taxes, and overseeing the Trans-Federation Stock and Commodities Exchange.<ref name=HHD157/><ref name=HDTFS168/>  This includes dispatching Sheriffs of Economic Policy, colloquially known as Business Police, who have the authority to overturn a planet's economic laws and arrest violators in the name of the Federation.<ref name=HDTFS168/>
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In spite of rules and regulations to keep their power in check, business leaders are still able to exercise an outsize influence on public policy, directly contributing to political campaigns and forming "advisory groups" to lobby on their behalf.  Such is the case that many can seemingly act with impunity for years before public outcry forces the government's response, and many citizens can be forgiven for thinking these captains of industry are able to dictate terms even to the First Prince.<ref name=HDTFS168/><ref name=HHD148>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 148</ref>  In sharp contrast, the power of labor unions have been severely curtailed since the early days of the Federation, when the most powerful could even buy and sell political appointments on most major worlds.  The unions overreached themselves during the early years of the Succession Wars, when the United Congress of Steel and Service Workers went on strike.  With the survival of the nation at stake, First Prince Paul Davion declared the strike illegal, arrested the leaders and permanently disbanded the UCSSW.  All unions were banned from making any political contributions, as were any further labor strikes which could affect a vital industry.<ref name=HHD148/>
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===Manufacturing Centers===
 
A detailed list of some FedSuns manufacturer and industrial centers.
 
A detailed list of some FedSuns manufacturer and industrial centers.
===Heavy Aerospace Industry<ref>''Strategic Operations'', p. 15</ref>===
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;3067
====3067====
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Heavy Aerospace Industries<ref>''Strategic Operations'', p. 15</ref>
 
*[[Challenge Systems]]
 
*[[Challenge Systems]]
 
*[[Federated-Boeing Interstellar]]
 
*[[Federated-Boeing Interstellar]]
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*[[New Syrtis Shipyards]]
 
*[[New Syrtis Shipyards]]
 
*[[Universal Air]]
 
*[[Universal Air]]
===Major Defense Industries<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 15</ref>===
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Major Defense Industries<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 15</ref>
====3067====
 
 
*[[Achernar BattleMechs]]
 
*[[Achernar BattleMechs]]
 
*[[Cal-Boeing of Dorwinion]]
 
*[[Cal-Boeing of Dorwinion]]
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*[[Valiant Systems]]
 
*[[Valiant Systems]]
 
*[[Wangker Aerospace]]
 
*[[Wangker Aerospace]]
==Religion==
 
The Federated Suns is committed to allowing freedom of religion to its citizenry. During the First Succession wars, when the [[Draconis Combine]] and [[Capellan Confederation]] were bearing down against [[House Davion]]'s forces, there was a wave of hatred against Asian residents of the realm and many Buddhist institutions were destroyed. Today, however, Buddhism is practiced freely throughout Davion space. Judaism maintains a small but active presence in the Federated Suns and is centered in and around the world of [[Robinson]].
 
  
The closest thing to a persecuted faith in the Federated Suns is the [[Azami]] branch of Islam, which is distrusted by the government, due to the large and important Azami population in the Draconis Combine. The larger Sunni branch of Islam is completely accepted by the Federated Suns population. Hinduism is important in a region in the southern portion of Davion space called the [[United Hindu Collective]]. It was formerly a sovereign state but later joined the Federated Suns. Protestant Christianity is the largest of all of the religious faiths of the Federated Suns. The Catholic branch of Christianity is also important although it is divided between those who owe loyalty to Rome and a split-off known as the [[New Avalon Catholic Church]] which is based around an interpretation of a communique from the Pope to the Cardinal of [[New Avalon]].
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==Society & Culture==
==History==
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The Federated Suns presents an interesting contrast between what it stands for and its actions.  On the one hand, citizens of the Federation enjoy many freedoms denied to people elsewhere in the Inner Sphere and beyond: the freedom to express themselves, to worship how they please, to participate in government and join political parties. Even the less well-off will take pride in their constitutional rights and contrast it with what they see as virtual slavery suffered by those in similar circumstances in neighboring realms. However, a deeper look at the actions and history of the Suns casts doubts on their claim of democratic ethics. Idealism has often had to give way to practicality, with the stratification of society (especially with regards to the influence of the warrior-elite) making the Suns less open to pure democracy than claimed. Economic disparity between the rich and poor is greatly pronounced within the Suns, with the wealthy taking little heed of those in need (whether because they believe everyone lives prosperously or have only themselves to blame for their condition).<ref name=HDTFS5/><ref name=IS44>''Inner Sphere'', p. 42-44</ref>
===Foundation===
 
The Federated Suns was the brainchild of the [[Successor States#House Davion|Davion family]], an influential noble family of the world of [[New Avalon]]. The father of the Federated Suns was Lucien Davion, a master politician and statesman. His brothers Louis, a scheming political genius and Charles, a military man, assisted him in forming an alliance of several worlds in the area for the purpose of trade and common defense known as the Crucis Pact. Soon, the realm was growing exponentially and eventually stretched into most of what is now known as the [[Crucis March]]. The formation of the Crucis Pact was in direct response to [[James McKenna]]'s founding of the [[Terran Hegemony]].  
 
 
 
Originally, the Federated Suns was a democracy led by the High Council-- a group of the leaders of all member-worlds-- led by a President who was charged with national defense. The Presidency gradually became a hereditary position of the Davion family and lead to founding of [[Successor States#House Davion|House Davion]].
 
===Age of War===
 
The Age of War came to the Federated Suns due to a crisis within the little known state of Muskegon. [[Muskegon]] was a world ruled by a tyrant that had built a small empire of five worlds. The Muskegon Supremacy, as this collection was known, had joined the Federated Suns. However, due to the horrific regime of the Muskegon dictatorship, two of its colony worlds seceded and turned to what would later emerge into the [[Capellan Confederation]] for help. The Federated Suns was forced to raise an army to combat the secession, as per its promise to provide for Muskegon's defense, and soon there was warfare all across the Capellan border. Meanwhile, things were not well in the Davion household. Two deranged twins, Edward and Edmund Davion, had assumed power and were running the nation into the ground with their extravagance and foolish decisions. A conspiracy of High Council members planned on assassinating Edward (the only remaining twin) and disbanding the office of President. This would lead to a defeat in the war against the Capellans without a centralized military leadership.  
 
 
 
The potential crisis between the High Council and the First Prince was averted when Simon Davion, a cousin of the twins, assassinated Edward in the High Council building. Simon Davion, just days after the murder proposed a compromise whereby the Federated Suns was to be divided into five Marches ([[Crucis March|Crucis]], [[Capellan March|Capellan]], Terran, [[Draconis March|Draconis]], and [[Outer March|Outer]], each supported by a nobility (both hereditary and elected). Surprisingly, after much debate, the High Council chose to accept Simon's proposal, thus making him the First Prince (amongst the four other Princes the [[Crucis March]] leader was known as the First Prince.) For nearly a hundred years, Simon's compromise kept the peace in the Federated Suns until William Davion died, leaving behind his widow and infant son, Alexander.  
 
  
Meanwhile the Varnay family, the leader of the [[Capellan March]] that had long harbored aspirations towards the office of First Prince and had married young Alexander's aunt Cassandra, jockeyed for the leadership of the Federated Suns. It was eventually agreed that five regents would rule the Federated Suns. For ten years, the members of the Regency struggled amongst themselves, each in the end forgetting about Prince Alexander, whom, although the rightful heir to the First Princedom, was increasingly disregarded by the Regents, who now looked towards the leadership of the Federated Suns for themselves. Meanwhile, Alexander had come of age and demanded that he be placed on what was rightfully his throne. For years afterwards, there was a passionate struggle between Prince Alexander and those who wanted to assume the throne for themselves. In the end, all were defeated and finally the Federated Suns was united under the rightful heir of House Davion.
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Part of the blame rests in the sheer size of the Federation: in 3025 the realm included over 500 inhabited star systems spread over hundreds of light-years of space, presenting a task which would strain most social services.<ref name=HDTFS5/><ref name=HDTFS162>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 161-162</ref>  This is not helped though by the fact that military expenditures make up a significant portion of the national budget, leaving relatively little left over for other services. A pro-military attitude reinforced by public education means few are willing to criticize this state of affairs or acknowledge it as a problem. Indeed, pride in both their freedoms and the military which defends it lends many Federation citizens towards arrogance, believing their way of life morally superior and looking down on those who have yet to adopt their enlightened ways.<ref name=IS44>''Inner Sphere'', p. 42-44</ref>
===Star League Era===
 
When the Cameron family began its attempt to unite humanity into a, "Star League," the Federated Suns was very friendly towards the notion. Prince Alexander felt that his government, in the wake of a long Civil War would do well to focus on domestic prosperity and not on warfare. Therefore it surprised no one when, in [[2567]] the Federated Suns joined the [[Star League]] (becoming the fourth member state). The [[Star League]] Years were relatively quiet with the Federated Suns working with the Star League to ensure a reign of peace and prosperity that lasted for hundreds of years.  
 
  
The sole exception in this reign of peace was the [[Reunification War]], a conflict fought between the Star League and the Periphery states, which the [[Star League]] forced into joining the League. Although the wars cost many lives, they were largely fought light years away from the average resident of the Federated Suns and had little effect on their day to day lives. The Suns took the opportunity to enlarge itself by aiding the [[Star League Defense Force]] on both the [[Taurian Concordat]] and [[Outworlds Alliance]] fronts. Once the [[Star League]] achieved its inevitable victory there was a period of peace unknown in the history of human affairs as mankind devoted itself to science and the colonization of new worlds.
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This dichotomy can also be seen in the Federation's educational system.  Despite the ravages of the Succession Wars, in 3025 the Federated Suns boasted 50 universities and other institutes of higher education, all regarded as the best learning centers in the Inner Sphere.  Perhaps the most famous of these is the [[New Avalon Institute of Science]], founded by [[Hanse Davion]] with the specific goal of recovering [[Lostech|technology lost]] in the fires of the Succession Wars.<ref name=HDTFS162/><ref name=HB:HD140>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 139-140</ref>  Within two decades of the Institute's founding, the Federated Suns (and by extension the Federated Commonwealth) could claim to be the most technologically advanced military among the Successor States, with many advances trickling down to the civilian sector to raise the general standard of living.<ref>''Strategic Operations'', p. 167</ref><ref>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 151-152</ref>  At the same time, the Federated Suns have historically had the lowest education attainment rate of any of the Successor States.  With public education largely in the hands of local governments, this has naturally lead to different opportunities and outcomes available. As such, while someone living on one of the 'Golden Worlds' might have access to the best academies money can buy, a person living in the undeveloped Outback might be lucky to have access to even primary education. Efforts like the [[Vagabond Schools]] to combat this issue have met with mixed results.<ref name=HDTFS162/><ref name=HB:HD140/>
  
In the end, treachery would cause the [[Star League]] to fall, but the [[Federated Suns]] persevered. Each Council Lord (the head of each of the five [[Successor States|Great Houses]]) returned to his or her respective capital and declared his or herself the new First Lord of the [[Star League]]. No side seemed willing to give any ground, so each prepared for the inevitable: war.
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The Federated Suns is committed to allowing freedom of religion to its citizenry, and while a variety of old and new faiths are practiced, six of them are regarded as more prominent than the others. The largest is Christianity, with many different sects largely split between Protestantism and Catholicism (the later further split between Roman Catholicism and the [[New Avalon Catholic Church]]). Practitioners of Islam are largely concentrated along the border with the Draconis Combine; while Sunni and Shi'a sects face little discrimination, those of the [[Azami]] tend to face greater persecution for their attributed allegiance to the Combine. For the same reason Buddhists have been the subject of discrimination during times when the Federation has been threatened by the Combine or the [[Capellan Confederation]], though the Davions have made pains to combat such attitudes. Judaism maintains a small but active presence in the Federated Suns and is centered in and around the world of [[Robinson]]. Likewise Hinduism is most active in the area of Davion space once encompassed by the [[United Hindu Collective]]. Lastly is the [[Unfinished Book Movement]], which seeks to incorporate the wisdom of multiple faiths into one overarching work, the eponymous ''Unfinished Book''.<ref>''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 115-119</ref><ref>''Handbook: House Davion'', p. 144-146</ref>
===First and Second Succession Wars===
 
The first two [[Succession Wars]] were some of the most destructive wars in the history of mankind. Each [[Successor States|Successor State]] had no qualms about destroying cities, massacring civilians, destroying [[JumpShips]] and other civilian infrastructure. They also used nuclear weapons to great effect. The overall effect of these two conflicts was to reduce the technological sophistication of the [[Successor States]] to a level approximately equivalent to that of the Industrial Revolution. While they still had automated factories, they lost the ability to produce any more.
 
 
 
During the [[First Succession War]], the Federated Suns made steady gains against the [[Capellan Confederation]], but were surprised when the [[Draconis Combine]] attacked. The [[Draconis Combine|Combine]]'s assault pushed all the way through the [[Draconis March]] into the [[Crucis March]] until [[Draconis Combine|Combine]] troops actually landed on [[New Avalon]] and destroyed the palace. Fate would strike, however, when a resistance member killed Coordinator Minoru Kurita, who was overseeing the offensive from Kentares. His son, the mad Jinjiro, became Coordinator and order the [[Kentares IV|Kentares]] civilians bathed in their own blood. The [[Draconis Combine|Combine]] samurai carried out their duty and savagely murdered over 3/4 of the population of Kentares, killing millions. These same samurai were horrified at what they had done, so they enacted ritual ''[[seppuku]]'' to atone and salvage their honor. As word of their actions spread, many other [[Draconis Combine|Combine]] warriors followed suit, greatly weakening their offensive. Many who did not kill themselves were still ashamed, damaging their will to fight. By contrast, this massacre galvanized the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns|FedSuns troops]], who rallied and forced the [[Draconis Combine|Combine]] back, almost to the pre-war border. Exhausted, both sides called a truce.
 
 
 
The [[Second Succession War]] saw more of the same, though memories of the [[Kentares IV|Kentares]] Massacre were fresh in the minds of many. No such events took place, but the FedSuns made progress against the [[Capellan Confederation]]. They were less successful against the [[Draconis Combine]], losing [[Robinson]], the capital of the [[Draconis March]]. As the war ground to a halt, it was clear that no [[Successor States|Successor State]] military was the same. They were gutted organizations that were close to breaking down. In this, the Federated Suns was similar to their counterparts.
 
===Third Succession War and the Steiner-Davion Alliance===
 
The Third Succession War saw a different type of warfare. In an unspoken agreement, the [[Successor States]] no longer fought using total warfare. Population centers were respected, [[JumpShips]] were off-limits, and military targets were fought over, not destroyed. Rather than destroying those targets, the losing side simply comforted themselves with the knowledge that they could reconquer it. With the loss of technology, [[BattleMechs|BattleMech factories]] and water purification plants became prize targets. Overall, the days of full-scale invasions were gone, replaced by low-level raiding. This ritualization of warfare, however, led to the belief that war was an acceptable way of solving disagreements. As this constant, low-intensity warfare continued, whole generations grew up knowing nothing else.
 
 
 
The Federated Suns continued to make slow but steady gains against their two largest neighbors. The Suns conquered over a dozen worlds from each of their [[Inner Sphere]] neighbors, including the liberation of [[Robinson]]. Prince Melissa Davion is often referred to as the first modern prince because she streamlined the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns|AFFS]] bureaucracy, allowing them to be more effective against their enemies.
 
 
 
In [[3020]], [[Katrina Steiner|Archon Katrina Steiner]] of the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] extended a proposal of peace to the leaders of the other four [[Successor States]]. Only [[Hanse Davion|Prince Hanse Davion]] showed any interest. Their mutual discussion culminated in the signing of the Federated-Commonwealth Alliance Document in [[3022]] on [[Terra]]. The alliance also had a secret provision that called for the marriage of [[Hanse Davion|Hanse]] and [[Katrina_Steiner|Katrina]]'s daughter, [[Melissa Steiner|Archon-designate Melissa Steiner]].
 
===Fourth Succession War<ref>The Warrior Trilogy</ref>===
 
The [[Fourth Succession War]] began immediately after the marriage of [[Hanse Davion]] and [[Melissa Steiner]]. At the wedding reception on [[Terra]], Hanse Davion announced that his wedding gift to his wife was, "the Capellan Confederation." What resulted was the largest military offensive in recent memory as Davion forces poured across the border and assaulted world after world of the surprised and quickly demoralized [[Capellan Confederation]]. Hanse Davion claimed justification for the attack as revenge against the Capellan Chancellor [[Maximillian Liao]], because Liao had attempted to replace Hanse with a double. This plot was only stopped because of Hanse's best friend and close advisor, [[Ardan Sortek]].
 
 
 
On top of the outright military attack, the Federated Suns also attempted to subvert the Capellan Confederation from within by encouraging the rebellion of disaffected populations within the Confederation. Pavel Ridzik, the leader of the Capellan military and a native of the world of [[Tikonov]], chose that time to betray his Capellan masters. He formed the [[Tikonov Free Republic]], but was assassinated shortly thereafter. Under the direction of [[Ardan Sortek]], the people of [[Tikonov]] voted to join the Federated Suns.
 
 
 
A more successful nation to secede from the Confederation was the [[St. Ives Compact]]. The Compact was formed when Duchess [[Candace Liao]], heir to the Capellan throne, seceded the St. Ives Commonality from the Confederation amid a romance with Justin Xiang Allard, a FedSuns agent who had infiltrated the Maskirovka (the Capellan intelligence agency) at its highest level.
 
 
 
[[Hanse Davion]] also chose that time to deal with a traitor. Duke Michael Hasek-Davion, the minister of the [[Capellan March]], married Marie Davion, Hanse's half-sister. After the death of Hanse's older brother, Prince Ian, Hanse defeated Michael in a simulated battle to succeed his brother. Though Hanse clearly had the stronger claim, Michael harboured a grudge and sought to gain more power. He fed the Capellans information on the deployments of national troops, while intentionally understating the strength of his own. When Davion's Ministry of Information, Intelligence, and Operations (MIIO) found out, Hanse began to give Michael incorrect data, which was in turn fed to the Maskirovka. Thus, when AFFS troops attacked the Confederation, the CCAF was woefully out of position to deal with the invasion. Michael had thought to conquer the Capellans and create a new state out of the Confederation and his own March. When it became clear that Hanse knew of his plot, Michael fled into the Confederation, where he was killed by Justin Xiang Allard at the command of the Capellan leader, Maximilian Liao.
 
 
 
On the [[Draconis Combine]] front, the Fourth Succession War was less successful, although the [[Draconis Combine]] failed to take any strategically significant planets from the Federated Suns. This was largely thanks to the efforts of Wolf's Dragoons, perhaps the most notable mercenary command of the early-mid 31st century. They goaded Coordinator [[Takashi Kurita]] into sending all the military he could spare at them in a personal vendetta, rather than taking advantage of the FedSuns' distraction. For their efforts, they were granted the conquered world of Outreach by their grateful employer.
 
 
 
Though Davion had stated that his goal was to cripple Liao's ability to prosecute war by seizing the worlds that were important to the Confederation's military-industrial complex, he stopped short of this goal. During the offensive, [[ComStar]] manufactured an incident that made Davion responsible for the destruction of an HPG on the planet [[Sarna]]. This gave them an excuse to place the Suns under a communications interdiction, officially disabling all interplanetary communication, which naturally made it very difficult to coordinate troop movements. Unbeknownst to [[ComStar]], however, the New Avalon Institute of Science had pioneered an alternate method of interplanetary communications. Known as "[[black box|black boxes]]," House Davion's fax machines allowed Hanse to have some control over his military offensive, but the slower fax machines proved impractical as a long-term solution.
 
 
 
Also, the [[Free Worlds League]] had successfully crushed a revolt and, despite technically being Capellan allies under the Kapteyn Accords, was rattling sabers along its border with the Confederation. Rather than allow the League to snap up Capellan worlds, Hanse declared an end to the war and settled in for the task of integrating the newly-conquered worlds into his Suns.  
 
 
 
The offensive itself was extremely successful and resulted in the total absorption of roughly half of the Confederation as the new [[Sarna March]], though this area was technically a part of the Lyran state command since Hanse had presented it as his gift to [[Melissa Steiner]]. The conquered worlds included two commonality capitals, [[Tikonov]] and [[Sarna]], as well as [[Liao]], the ancestral landhold of the Capellan ruling family. The secession of [[St. Ives]] further deprived the Capellans of a third commonality capital and created a buffer state in between the Confederation and the Suns. More importantly, it created a bridge between the Suns and their new allies, the [[Lyran Commonwealth]], that paved the way for the formal integration of the two nations as the [[Federated Commonwealth]]. It would be decades before the [[Capellan Confederation]] managed to recover.
 
===War of 3039===
 
In an effort to repeat the successes of the [[Fourth Succession War]], [[Hanse Davion]] invaded the [[Draconis Combine]] using the same strategies of overwhelming force. Unfortunately for Davion, [[Theodore Kurita]] is prepared and launches a counter-offensive as a bluff. Both sides trade worlds and the war ends a year later, apparently a stalemate.
 
===Federated Commonwealth===
 
During the 3024-29 period, there was a secret pact formed between the Federated Suns and the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] in addition to the public alliance between [[Hanse Davion]] and [[Katrina Steiner]]. This document became known as the [[Federated Commonwealth]] Alliance Document. This secret provision called for [[Hanse Davion]] to marry [[Katrina Steiner]]'s 16 year old daughter, [[Melissa_Steiner|Melissa Arthur Steiner]]. In 3056, the [[Federated Commonwealth]] was officially formed with Melissa's death, although it had been unofficially formed almost 30 years ago with the treaty that signed by Hanse and Katrina.
 
 
 
While [[Victor Steiner-Davion|Archon-Prince Victor Steiner-Davion]] ruled the united Federated Commonwealth for only a year, his sister's decision to secede the Lyran half of the nation in 3057 left Victor in control of a rump [[Federated_Commonwealth|FedCom]]. In technicality, Victor never officially renamed his nation the Federated Suns, though many erroneously referred to it as such. The rump [[Federated Commonwealth]] was officially renamed back to ''Federated Suns'' in [[3067]] by [[Yvonne_Steiner-Davion|Regent Yvonne]] after the conclusion of the FedCom Civil War.
 
===FedCom Civil War===
 
After the Invasion of the [[Clans_(BattleTech)|Clans]] from [[3049]] to [[3052]], things did not settle down for the [[Federated Commonwealth]]. [[Katherine_Steiner-Davion|Katherine "Katrina" Steiner-Davion]], younger sister of [[Victor_Steiner-Davion|Prince Victor]], had her mother secretly assassinated, which inaugurated Victor as Archon-Prince of the Federated Commonwealth. In [[3057]], Katherine seceded the Lyran half of the Federated Commonwealth, and formed the [[Lyran Alliance]]. Victor was focused on the menace of Clans, especially upon the annihilation of [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]. Katherine then stole the [[Successor_States#House_Davion|Davion]] half of the [[Federated_Commonwealth|Commonwealth]] from her sister Yvonne, whom [[Victor_Steiner-Davion|Victor]] had left in charge while he fought the Clans on their capital. Victor now returning from the annihilation of Clan Smoke Jaguar to find himself an "outlaw" of sorts. Rather than beginning a civil war to oust his sister from power, he tried to retire to a life of defending the [[Inner Sphere]] from the Clan menace. Fate however had other ideas in store.
 
 
 
Facing a rising tide of injustice and violation of their civil liberties, citizens of both halves of the sundered [[Federated Commonwealth]] rose up in rebellion against Katherine's increasingly despotic rule. Deciding to lead the rebellion, Victor cast off his titles and began a campaign to remove his sister from power. After the assassination of his lover [[Omi Kurita]], Victor finally took the battle to [[New Avalon]]. There, on 20 April, [[3067]], his forces defeated [[Katherine_Steiner-Davion|Katherine]]'s military; he proclaimed [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion|Yvonne]] the regent of the newly renamed "Federated Suns".<ref name=FMU-3067/>
 
===Taurian Invasion===
 
{{main|[[Taurian Concordat#The Pleiades Campaign|Pleiades Campaign]]}}
 
On January 23rd, 3067, the [[Taurian Concordat]] launched an invasion.<ref name=FMU-3067>''Field Manual: Updates'', pp. 13-14, "3067"</ref> The mercenary unit, The Fighting Urukhai, fleeing the civil war, had attempted to land on the capital of Taurus and to negotiate a contract with the Concordat. The Taurians, fearing an invasion, destroyed the mercenary unit, including all of their dependents (including children). The remaining forces executed a suicidal assault on the Taurian capital, damaging some of the world's civilian infrastructure. In retaliation, Taurian Protector Grover Shraplen authorized an assault against some worlds in the [[Capellan March]]. Duke [[George Hasek]], now a war hero, sent a task force to deal with this invasion. The Taurian Pleiades Lancers, acted against standing orders and attacked their ancestral homeworld in the [[Pleiades Cluster]], leaving their supply lines open and allowing the Davion troops of the [[Capellan March]] to liberate those worlds easily. In 3067, only two systems were still contested by the Taurians.
 
 
 
===Word of Blake Jihad===
 
In December of [[3067]], the member-states of the Second [[Star League]] came together for the fourth Whitting Conference on [[Tharkad]]. At this fateful conference, the leaders of the [[Inner Sphere]] decided to disband the Second [[Star League]]. Regent Yvonne Steiner-Davion was partly responsible for this, because she decided that the Suns could not afford to remain a member-state as they needed the money to rebuild the shattered nation after the devastating civil war. Archon [[Peter Steiner-Davion]] made a similar claim, and [[Sun-Tzu Liao|Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao]] decided to pull his support from the [[Star League]] for his own reasons. First Lord [[Christian Mansdotter]] called for a vote of no-confidence in the [[Star League]] so that he could force the recalcitrant nations to stay, but the needed two-thirds majority was lacking. Thus, the [[Star League]] failed the vote of no-confidence and was disbanded. This would trigger chaotic interstellar war known as the [[Jihad]].
 
 
 
The [[Word of Blake]] was set to become a full member-state at the end of that Whitting Conference, and were quite upset when the [[Star League]] disbanded, believing that their road to power was through the League. A defiant Word of Blake demanded that both of the former [[Federated Commonwealth]] states rejoin the League, curiously omitting the [[Capellan Confederation]] (whose commentary was the most scathing) from their harangue. To enforce their claim, the Word of Blake attempted to cow the Federated Suns by sending [[WarShip|WarShips]], which just happened to be nearby, into orbit around [[New Avalon]]. When Regent Yvonne refused, the [[Word of Blake|Word]] sent ground troops, though their effectiveness was greatly limited by the defenders. In response, the [[Word of Blake]] used their [[WarShip]]s to great effect. They used them to both bombard and blockade the FedSuns' capital. This created problems with command and control, forcing the regional leaders to take more responsibility for command. In [[3073]], [[Word of Blake|Blakist]] troops killed Marshal of the Armies Jackson Davion.
 
 
 
Elsewhere, the [[Capellan March]]'s duke, George Hasek, launched an invasion of the [[Capellan Confederation]], ostensibly in support of the St. Ives Commonality. In the early 3060s, [[Sun-Tzu Liao|Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao]] had launched an invasion of the [[St. Ives Compact]] in an attempt to reclaim what had once been a [[Capellan Confederation|Capellan]] commonality. When [[Katherine Steiner-Davion|Katherine]] refused to help [[Candace Allard-Liao|Duchess Candace]], she had little choice but to negotiate for the wayward commonality's reintegration into the [[Capellan Confederation]]. Duke George Hasek decided to remedy that lapse after [[Kai Allard-Liao|Duke Kai]] mysteriously appeared on [[New Syrtis]]-- the capital of the [[Capellan March]]. Caught unprepared, the [[Capellan Confederation#Military|Capellan troops]] suffered many reversals, especially since many St. Ives troops sided with their duke, even while [[Candace Allard-Liao|his mother]] was essentially a prisoner on [[Sian]]. [[Capellan March]] forces were a mere one [[JumpShip|jump]] away from [[Sian]] when a [[WarShip]] appeared in orbit around [[Sian]] and fired on the planet, destroying the capital city, where [[Sun-Tzu Liao|the Chancellor]] and [[Candace Liao|Duchess Candace]] were. [[Candace Liao|Candace]] was killed in the attack, while [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] was initially among the missing, though he turned up soon thereafter. The Federated Suns was initially blamed by Military Regent ''Sang-jiang-jun'' Talon Zahn. That allegation galvanized the [[Capellan Confederation#Military|Capellan military]] and turned the St. Ives troops and people against the Federated Suns. Even Warner Doles and his Blackwind Lancers, who had become ''persona non grata'' in [[Capellan Confederation|Capellan]] space due to his alignment with [[Free Capella]], sided with the [[Capellan Confederation|Confederation]]. All those forces (plus the occasional nuclear weapon) combined to push the [[Capellan March]] troops back to the border, and beyond-- to [[New Syrtis]].
 
 
 
This all happened despite Regent Yvonne's repeated insistence to cease offensive operations, so that she could use some of those forces to liberate [[New Avalon]]. Hasek's motivation for ignoring her is unclear, but, around this time, Duke George Hasek was assassinated. His cousin, Nathaniel Hasek, took over command of the [[Capellan March]], but he seemed equally unwilling to help [[New Avalon]]. The identity of Hasek's asassin remain unknown, but speculation points at the [[Word of Blake]], [[Capellan Confederation]], or from an agent dispatched by Regent Yvonne in an effort to rein in the [[Capellan March]]. Whoever killed him, his troops were able to rally after the [[Word of Blake]] launched an invasion of the [[Capellan Confederation]]. [[Capellan Confederation#Military|Capellan troops]] fought as hard to return home so they could defend against the sneak attack from their erstwhile allies as they had to invade the [[Capellan March]].
 
 
 
The [[Draconis March]] also entered the fray. They sent troops into the [[Draconis Combine]], ostensibly to look for POWs from the invasion during the FedCom Civil War. Whether they launched these attacked with or without the knowledge of Duke Tancred Sandoval is unknown. They found the Dragon unable to defend itself with their own three-way battle on [[Luthien]], so they launched a full invasion. [[Draconis March]] troops were able to penetrate as far as the district capital of Galedon, but, faced with troops from both the [[Word of Blake]] and [[Clan Snow Raven]] in the area, had to withdraw to more manageable assaults.
 
 
 
The [[Word of Blake]] sought to expand their [[Blake Protectorate]] at the expense of the Federated Suns, as well. The Blakists took worlds near [[Terra]] like [[Acamar]] and [[Demeter]]. With their [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns|military]] distracted, the FedSuns could do little.
 
 
 
In late February [[3075]], diplomats from the Federated Suns travelled to [[Outworlds Alliance]] space to negotiate with [[Clan Snow Raven]]. As well as a peace settlement, the negotiators hoped to arrange for the release of captured personnel from the [[3rd Crucis Lancers]] and for the Snow Ravens to contribute aid to the coalition assembled by [[Devlin Stone]]. While the negotiations did result in assurances from the Snow Ravens that they wouldn't strike at the Federated Suns again unless provoked, the Clan refused to contribute to the allied coalition and claimed all of the captured AFFS personnel as ''[[isorla]]''.<ref name="JHS:Tp14+">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 14-15, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp53">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 53, "The Jihad In Review"</ref>
 
 
 
As the Periphery front of the Federated Suns continued to disintegrate in early 3075, the AFFS redeployed several of the [[Crucis March Militia]]s to areas bordering the Malagrotta Cooperative and Filtvelt Coalition.<ref name="JHS:Tp16">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 16, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp54">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 54, "The Jihad In Review"</ref> Even as the militias were moving, the [[Word of Blake]]'s [[22nd Division (Word of Blake)|22nd Militia]] struck at Brusett on the 30th of May 3075. The Federated Suns responded by mustering and deploying a small flotilla of ships including the [[WarShip]] [[Fox_(WarShip)#Named_Vessels|FCS ''Kathil'']] to the system to stave off an anticipated attack by the Concordat; the Taurians had already taken advantage of the raid on [[Wrentham]] by the 22nd to seize that world. Taurian forces arrived in the Brusett system in late June, and on the 30th of June the Taurian ''[[Quixote]]''-class [[WarShip]] [[Quixote#Named_Vessels|TCS ''Vendetta'']] and the FCS ''Kathil'' battled over Brusett. The TCS ''Vendetta'' was forced to retreat, but the FCS ''Kathil'' was lost in the battle, and several major cities on the planet suffered horrendous collateral damage due to the nuclear weapons both sides used in orbit and within the atmosphere of Brusett.<ref name="JHS:Tp16">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 16, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp54">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 54, "The Jihad In Review"</ref>
 
 
 
A part of the Federated Suns counter-offensive against the Concordat involved using Hansen's Roughriders to strike at worlds within the Taurian Concordat. The Roughriders used a mix of nuclear and non-nuclear weapons captured on Hyalite to attack [[Amber Grove]] on the 15th of April 3075, destroying the local militia, the spaceport and the central military headquarters before spending several weeks destroying any target of significant military or industrial value on the planet. The Roughriders then subverted the mercenary unit on [[Perdition]], [[Longwood's Bluecoats]], before striking at the world in late July, destroying the Perdition factory complexes. The Roughriders attacked [[Grossbach]] in early September,<ref name="J:FRp54">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 54, "The Jihad In Review"</ref> and then [[Sterope]] on the 21st of November. In contrast to earlier attacks, the attack on Sterope was the first where the Roughriders didn't raze the local factory complexes, although they did plunder the [[Sterope Defense Industries]] plant before leaving. In turn, a Taurian raid in February 3076 inflicted critical damage on the [[Jalastar Aerospace]] [[BattleMech]] plant on [[Panpour]].<ref name="JHS:Tp20">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 20, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp55">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 55, "The Jihad In Review"</ref>
 
 
 
On the 7th of March [[3076]] the Federated Suns began open combat operations against the breakaway - and now pirate-controlled - [[Malagrotta Cooperative]]. The [[Remagen CrMM]] launched an assault on the world of [[Gronholt]], breaking the two companies of pirates defending the world, a mixture of [[Death's Consorts]] and smaller hired bands. The few surviving pirates retreated to [[Great Gorge]], leaving Gronholt back in the hands of the Federated Suns.<ref name="J:FRp55"/><ref name="JHS:Tp21">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 21, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>
 
 
 
The Roughriders returned to Federated Suns space after the Sterope raid, landing on Warren on the 5th of April [[3076]] to resupply.<ref name="J:FRp55"/><ref name="JHS:Tp21">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 21, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref> The Taurians pursued the Roughriders, with a task force led by the TCS ''Vendetta'' arriving in the Warren system on the 13th of June; the Roughriders retreated to [[Keuterville]], but their retreat didn't stop the Vendetta from bombarding the planetary capital and spaceports on Warren. The Taurians then bombarded Keuterville on the 7th of July, with the Roughriders retreating again, this time to [[Firgrove]]. In the Firgrove system a Federated Suns task force led by the ''[[Fox (WarShip)|Fox]]''-class ''[[Fox (WarShip)#Named Vessels|New Syrtis]]'' managed to intercept the ''Vendetta'' before the planet could be attacked, forcing the Taurian vessel to retreat. The ''Vendetta'' returned to the Brusett system in mid-September [[3076]], having been forced to retreat from the [[Firgrove]] system in August. The ''Vendetta'' and her task force put Brusett under siege, but the siege would only last until the 2nd of October; the arrival of the FSS ''New Syrtis'' and resulting naval battle saw the Federated Suns WarShip suffering crippling damage, but not before enough critical damage was inflicted on the ''Vendetta'' by the ''New Syrtis'' and her escorts to force the ''Vendetta'' to retreat.<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>
 
 
 
While the battles against both the Malagrotta Cooperative and the Taurian Concordat continued, the Capellan March also suffered from internal conflict. [[New Syrtis]] was struck by a violent protest on the 6th of April 3076; the target of the protest was March Lord [[Angela Hasek]], with agitators claiming that the previous March Lord, George Hasek, had been assassinated in 3070 not by the Word of Blake but rather by the Federated Suns. It was later alleged that the agitators behind the protest were backed by the Blakists.<ref name="J:FRp55"/><ref name="JHS:Tp21"/> Agents from [[DMI]] and [[MIIO]] subsequently rounded up more than fifty individuals on the 14th of June who had been identified as "anti-government" leaders believed to be involved with the movement against the Federated Suns government. The political upheavals on New Syrtis were then followed by a strike against the world by the Taurian Concordat. A Taurian task force raided New Syrtis on the 12th of October 3076, using a combination of bombing runs, random orbital bombardment and nuclear strikes to not only cripple the [[New Syrtis Shipyards]] facilities but also to inflict devastating damage on large swathes of the equitorial regions of the world.<ref name="JHS:Tp22"/><ref name="J:FRp56"/>
 
 
 
As the end of 3076 approached and the Taurian forces on Brusett were faced with imminent defeat, they resorted to using scorched earth tactics to destroy as many of the Federated Suns ground forces on the planet as possible. These scorched earth tactics often involved the use of nuclear devices, causing carnage; this damage was exacerbated by the Federated Suns [[Pocket WarShip]]s which shelled the Taurian positions repeatedly.<ref name="J:FRp56"/><ref name="JHS:Tp23">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 23, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>
 
 
 
On the Protectorate border, 3076 saw the Word of Blake strike at a number of Federated Suns worlds; some, like [[Ronel]], were subjected to strikes by small units operating at no larger than a [[Level III]] in size (although backed up by WMDs), in response to the allied coalition strikes against Protectorate worlds. The border world of [[New Hessen]] saw much more conflict; shortly after New Hessen agreed to allow the coalition to use it as a staging area in early 3076, the Word of Blake launched an assault against the world. The assault hit in September, with the Blakists making use of fuel-air bombs and nuclear weapons to support their landing, and while the New Hessen ground forces managed to trap the Blakists planetside, the Word of Blake supplemented the ground campaign with a raid that saw more WMDs used against the world. The Blakists on New Hessen fell silent in late 3076,<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> only to become active again on the 21st of November with a daring daylight raid on the [[New Hessen WorkMechs]] factory that saw them make off with a dozen almost complete 'Mechs.<ref name="J:FRp56"/><ref name="JHS:Tp23"/>
 
 
 
Eventually, [[Devlin Stone]] was able to forge an alliance against the [[Word of Blake]], which culminated in the liberation of [[Terra]] in [[3081]]. The [[Periphery March]] was also reconstituted to combat the almost-constant threat of pirates from the void.
 
 
 
===Years of Peace===
 
While the [[Inner Sphere]] embraced peace thanks to the actions of [[Devlin Stone]] and his reforms, the Federated Suns continued to find itself in conflicts. The [[Capellan Confederation]] continued its attempts to expand, so troops from the [[Capellan March]] seized the factory world and commonality capital of [[Victoria (CC)|Victoria]]. In the meantime, the [[Draconis March]] was able to create a buffer state between it and the [[Draconis Combine]]. The Sandoval family continues to pump money into that area in the 3130s to fund a low-intensity war-by-proxy with the [[Draconis Combine]].
 
===Republic-era===
 
Tancred and Yvonne's son [[Harrison Davion]] married Duchess Amanda Hasek's younger sister, Isabella <ref>''Sword of Sedition''</ref>. Their child [[Caleb Hasek-Sandoval-Davion]] was born with a psychosis that left him unable to pilot a [[BattleMech|'Mech]], so, in preparation for becoming Prince, he chose to become a tanker. When Paladin [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] died, Harrison decided to attend his state funeral in person. He brought along Caleb and his [[Armed_Forces_of_the_Federated_Suns#Prince|Prince's Champion]], [[Julian Davion]]. While en route, the [[Capellan Confederation]] began a limited offensive against worlds in the [[Capellan March]].
 
 
 
[[Republic of the Sphere]] Exarch Jonah Levin took the opportunity to arrange an alliance with the Federated Suns, since they had a common enemy in the [[Capellan Confederation]]. That alliance bore fruit immediately when Julian Davion led the Davion Guards against Senate loyalists, driving the rebels from [[Terra]]. Harrison had privately decided to make Julian his heir, but had not informed his nephew. While on [[Terra]] for [[Victor Steiner-Davion|Victor]]'s funeral, he informed Caleb that he would not be succeeding him. In his shock, Caleb accidentally killed Harrison.
 
 
 
Since he did this before Harrison could make his wishes known, Caleb became First Prince. Knowing that Julian was Harrison's choice, Caleb stripped Julian of his office and named [[Erik Sandoval-Groell]] as his new champion. Julian stayed in [[Republic of the Sphere|Republic]] space to command the FedSuns troops there, indicating that Caleb seems content to honor his father's agreement with [[Republic of the Sphere|the Republic]].
 
  
 
==Era Specific Data==
 
==Era Specific Data==
 
===3130===
 
===3130===
==Fact Sheet==
 
 
*Founding Year: [[2317]]
 
*Founding Year: [[2317]]
 
*Capital (City, World): New Avalon City, New Avalon
 
*Capital (City, World): New Avalon City, New Avalon
Line 173: Line 126:
 
*Dominant Language(s): English (official), French, German
 
*Dominant Language(s): English (official), French, German
 
*Dominant Religion(s): Christianity (Interfaith Church), Buddhism, Judaism
 
*Dominant Religion(s): Christianity (Interfaith Church), Buddhism, Judaism
*Unit of Currency: Pound (1 pound = 0.97 C-Bills)
+
*Unit of Currency: Pound (1 pound = 0.97 C-Bills/1.72 C-Bills ([[3145]])<ref> ''Era Report: 3145'', p.194, "Currency Conversion Table"</ref>)
 +
 
 
==Maps==
 
==Maps==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
File:Fs-2317.png | Federated Suns when founded in [[2317]]  
 
File:Fs-2317.png | Federated Suns when founded in [[2317]]  
 
File:Fs2571.png | Federated Suns before the [[Reunification War]]
 
File:Fs2571.png | Federated Suns before the [[Reunification War]]
 +
File:Fs25961.png | Federated Suns after the [[Reunification War]]
 
File:Fs-1sw-2822.png | Federated Suns after the [[First Succession War]]
 
File:Fs-1sw-2822.png | Federated Suns after the [[First Succession War]]
 
File:Fs-2sw-2864.png | Federated Suns after the [[Second Succession War]]
 
File:Fs-2sw-2864.png | Federated Suns after the [[Second Succession War]]
Line 183: Line 138:
 
File:Fs-4sw-3028.png ‎| Federated Suns after the [[Fourth Succession War]]
 
File:Fs-4sw-3028.png ‎| Federated Suns after the [[Fourth Succession War]]
 
File:Fs-3039.png ‎| Federated Suns after the [[War of 3039]]
 
File:Fs-3039.png ‎| Federated Suns after the [[War of 3039]]
 +
File:Fs-3130.png ‎| Federated Suns in [[3130]]
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
*[[/History| History]]
 
 
*[[/Timeline | Timeline]]
 
*[[/Timeline | Timeline]]
 
*[[House Davion Family Tree]]
 
*[[House Davion Family Tree]]

Revision as of 03:44, 4 October 2018

Property "Update Needed From" (as page type) with input value "Handbook: Major Periphery States]], Era Report: 2750, Era Report: 3145, [[Shattered Fortress" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.

Crest of the Federated Suns
Federated Suns
Faction Profile
Time period: 2317 – present
Part of Federated Commonwealth from 3055 to 3057
Classification: Successor State
Controlled systems: 500+
Capital world: New Avalon
Ruler title: First Prince
Military: Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS)
Secret Service: Ministry of Information, Intelligence, and Operations (MIIO) and Department of Military Intelligence (DMI)


The Federated Suns has traditionally been the most powerful and largest of the Successor States to occupy the Inner Sphere. From their ancestral home of New Avalon, the scions of House Davion have ruled the Federated Suns since its founding by Lucien Davion in 2317. While tracing their family line to French and English nobility of ancient Terra and ruling as constitutional monarchs, the Davions have always positioned themselves and the Federated Suns as champions of liberty, democracy and personal freedoms in the Inner Sphere. This view has bred a sense of righteousness in the Davion cause, serving as both a source of strength and weakness during their history.[1][2]

For a time, the Federated Suns joined together with the Lyran Commonwealth to create a new super-state, the Federated Commonwealth, which dominated the Inner Sphere during the 31st century. However, internal divisions and other factors eventually lead to the the Lyran half seceding to form the Lyran Alliance and the FedCom Civil War. While maintaining the Federated Commonwealth name for several years afterwards, the rump state eventually returned to its traditional name as the Federated Suns.

History

Founded in 2317, The Federated Suns was the brainchild of the Davion family, an influential noble family of the world of New Avalon. The father of the Federated Suns was Lucien Davion, a master politician and statesman.

In 2567 the Federated Suns joined the Star League (becoming the fourth member state). The Star League Years were relatively quiet with the Federated Suns working with the Star League to ensure a reign of peace and prosperity that lasted for hundreds of years.

During the Succession Wars, the Federated Suns fought heavily with the Capellan Confederation and Draconis Combine.

During the 3024-29 period, there was a secret pact formed between the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth in addition to the public alliance between Hanse Davion and Katrina Steiner. In 3056, the Federated Commonwealth was officially formed. The Lyran Commonwealth seceded from the alliance in 3057, beginning the FedCom Civil War. The Federated Commonwealth was officially renamed back to Federated Suns in 3067 by Regent Yvonne after the conclusion of the FedCom Civil War.

Politics

The Federated Suns (also known as "the Federation" by its citizenry) has changed significantly since its original founding as a loose coalition of worlds coming together for mutual defense and trade. Originally each world sent delegates to serve on a High Council which would choose from among themselves a President, with both sharing equal power. However, the difficulties of carrying out a representative democracy over interstellar distances, combined with the political machinations of the Davion family, lead to the Presidency becoming essentially a monarchy which was practically reserved for the Davions.[3][4] Simon Davion formalized this situation in March 2418 by reshaping the nation into five Principalities, also known as Marches, each headed by a Prince and led by a single First Prince; the first such First Prince was Simon Davion himself.[5] Below each Prince was a system of duchies, margraves, counties and baronies and a new class of titled individuals was created, each of whom was subject to appointment by the Prince of his or her respective March. This reform formalized the neo-feudal system that had already been growing throughout the region since the early history of New Avalon.[6] In the wake of the Davion Civil War, Alexander Davion eliminated the other princely positions, leaving the First Prince as sole ruler of the Federated Suns. The aristocratic system of rule which Simon Davion had established remained though, having become firmly established over the previous century with the acceptance of the people.[3][7]

While the nobility hold the levers of power at the national level, planetary and local governments are usually allowed great autonomy in how they run themselves: the majority of planets are based on a parliamentary system similar to that of the former United Kingdom of Terra, while others might adopt anything from democratic communism to full-fledged dictatorship. Though the nobility might technically hold absolute power in the Federated Suns, most nobles are smart enough to recognize that to go against the will of the people will quickly spell their political downfall. As such, so long as taxes are collected and their personal holdings are not in danger, the majority of nobles will not interfere with local government decisions unless absolutely necessary. The only exception are those planets placed under a Military Governorship, whether due to recent rebellion or having been captured from the enemy, or those worlds subject to the War Zone Actions of 2787.[8][9]

The rights of the Federation's citizens are enshrined in its constitution, the original Crucis Pact which created the Federation Suns. Known as the Six Liberties, they are: the right to personal liberty, to own property, to own weapons, to expect fair treatment, to privacy, and to participate in planetary government.[8][10] Such rights are guaranteed by the national government, ensuring that freedom of religion and of expression supersede any laws enforced by local governments.[9] This also includes the right to petition for the removal of a noble who is unworthy of their position, or to engage in direct action to have them removed (which, while not a formal right, is considered a time-honored tradition nonetheless).[11]

First Prince

The First Prince is the leader of the Federated Suns and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns (AFFS). The First Prince has the right to appoint or dismiss any noble or government official and may rule by decree, though there are some limits when it comes to the rights and freedoms of the nobility and the people. Only a member of House Davion may become a First Prince, but only if they have achieved 20 years of age and have served at least five years in the military. Beyond their official powers, much of the strength of the First Prince lies in House Davion's personal wealth. While official figures are not made public, in 3025 it was believed they owned vast landholds on at least a dozen worlds (including the so-called 'Golden Five') and were major shareholders in at least twenty large corporations.[12][10] The First Prince may also bestow the title of Prince's Champion on any individual, traditionally a senior AFFS Field Marshal who is either a trusted friend or family member, to act with their authority on military and political matters when the First Prince is unavailable. It should be noted that the term "Prince" is gender-neutral in its Federated Suns usage, although both Katherine Steiner-Davion and Yvonne Steiner-Davion styled themselves as the feminized "Princess" in their titles ("Archon-Princess" and "Princess-Regent," respectively).

The First Prince is also surrounded by the Royal Court, a term which refers to two distinct concepts. The first is the physical building complex which surrounds the Royal Palace on New Avalon, in which is housed the Ministries which see to the running of the Federation. The second is the social season held every spring for three months, where nobility and political leaders from across the realm are invited to the Royal Palace to partake in grand balls, game hunts, and some wheeling and dealing.[13][14]

Privy Council

Created by Alexander Davion as an alternative to the High Council, the Privy Council is a group of the highest advisers to the First Prince and is extremely important in the running of the day-to-day affairs of the state. Acting as an advisory council to the First Prince, the Privy Council was given many of the powers once held by the High Council: recommending military and government appointments, overseeing the running of the state bureaucracy, and determining the line of succession or the appointment of a regent upon the death or retirement of the First Prince.[15][14]

The Privy Council is a small body and most of its members naturally reside on New Avalon, allowing it to react quickly to new events, though when needed members may also empower a deputy to speak on their behalf. From the military are seated the Prince's Champion, the Marshal of the Armies, and the heads of the eight military departments (the directors of the military Marches may also sit as non-voting advisers). The President and an elected member of the High Council also sits on the Privy Council. Lastly, the Ministers in charge of each of the eight Ministries which oversee the governing of the Federated Suns sits on the Privy Council.[15][14]

High Council

The High Council was formerly a governing body equal to the President and, for a time, the First Prince of the Federated Suns. Each member world and associate world was represented on the Council with a delegate and from among their members they elected a President to serve until life or impeachment by three-fourths of the High Council.[3] It had the power to appoint representatives to foreign governments, approve treaties and enact laws. As the High Council grew in size, the limitations of interstellar travel and communication made it slow and unwieldy in responding to new events, while the political acumen of the Davion family began to rob it of some of its power. The High Council eventually became nothing more than a rubber stamp for the Davions, until it began to fail even at that task as it became bogged down in parliamentary maneuverings. While most of its powers have since been transferred to the First Prince and the Privy Council, the High Council still acts as a forum to debate policy, put forward recommendations and enact regulatory changes.[13][14]

The Marches

The internal administrative structure of the Federated Suns has changed several times during its history. In the period prior to the formation of the Capellan Confederation the region within which the various nations and proto-states such as the Sarna Supremacy and Tikonov Grand Union existed was known as the Capellan Zone; the border region abutting the Capellan Zone was known as the Rimward March[16] prior to becoming known as the Capellan March.[17]

The reforms carried out by Simon Davion lead to the formal creation of five Marches: the Capellan March, Crucis March, Draconis March, Outer March and Terran March, and each was subdivided into various administrative sectors overseen by a new class of nobility. The rulership of the some of the Marches changed notably during the Age of War; the Varnay family came to power within the Capellan March with the appointment of Richard Varnay to the post of Prince of the Capellan March during the reign of Ellen Davion as a means of removing him from the positions of Chancellor of New Avalon and Constable of the Crucis March because of his ambition to become First Prince.[18] The Varnys would rule the Capellan March until their defeat during the Davion Civil War in 2537.[19]

Another branch of the Davion family came to rule the Draconis March following the decision in 2514 to appoint the sister of First Prince William Davion, Laura Davion, as heir to Vladimir Kerensky, the aging and childless Prince.[20] Laura Davion only ruled the Draconis March until 2533, when she committed suicide after the defeat of her forces by Alexander Davion on the March capital of Tancredi IV during the Davion Civil War.[21]

Shortly after the appointment of Laura Davion to rule the Draconis March the rulership of the Terran March passed from the Leighton family with the death of Prince Charles Leighton and his family in a Terran Hegemony raid on the March capital, Robinson. Noted Federated Peacekeeping Forces General Nikolai Rostov was appointed Prince by the Council of Regents,[20] but the Rostov family would rule the Terran March for just two generations; Nikolai Rostov was killed in battle during the Davion Civil War[20] and was succeeded by his son Dmitri Rostov[22] only for Dmitri to be killed by Alexander Davion following Dmitri's open rebellion against Alexander's efforts to reform the structure of the Federated Suns in the closing stages of the Davion Civil War.[23]

When the Davion Civil War ended, only two of the five Princes of the Federated Suns were still alive: First Prince Alexander Davion of the Crucis March and Prince Nuno Gutierrez of the Outer March, who from his capital world, Filtvelt, had kept the Outer March out of the Civil War.[24] Alexander Davion restructured the Federated Suns, disbanding the Outer and Terran Marches, instead subdividing the realm into just three Marches: the Capellan March, Crucis March and Draconis March,[19] a system that would remain in place until the late thirty-first century. The rulers of the Capellan and Draconis Marches were made subordinate to the First Prince, leaving the First Prince as the highest noble in the Federated Suns and the highest-ranking military officer. Each March was divided into a number of zones for administrative purposes, just as the Marches were divided into Theaters and Polymorphous Defense Zones for military purposes.[24]

Stewardship of the Draconis March passed to House Sandoval after the Davion Civil War; the Sandovals were a significant noble family on Robinson, and gained de facto control of the capital of the Terran March while resolutely turning their backs on Dmitri Rostov, an act of loyalty and support that saw them rewarded by Alexander Davion.[25] The Capellan March was ruled by a series of noble families during the Star League era, with one family replacing another in quick succession, due to political infighting and personal conflicts during the Star League era and then attrition in the First Succession War - a conflict that saw four March Lords killed in battle and two more injured so badly that they had to step down.[26] In 2829 the ruling family of the Capellan March became House Hasek, an old and well-established family within the Federated Suns, with the appointment of Colonel Damien Hasek to the titles of Duke of New Syrtis and Minister of the Capellan March.[27]

The next major change in the administrative structure came with the creation of a new Periphery March by Princess-Regent Yvonne Steiner-Davion in the aftermath of the Jihad; incorporating the edgeward regions of the Chirikof and Markesan Operational Areas of the Crucis March as well as the Milligan and Woodbine PDZ of the Draconis March and the Warren PDZ of the Capellan March, the Periphery March was made the desmene of Duke Raymond-Roger Marsin[28] with the March capital being established on June.[29]

Military

In terms of military strength, the Federated Suns is one of the most powerful nations in the Inner Sphere. The First Princes of House Davion have always been committed to the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns, a highly trained, disciplined, and professional force that benefits greatly from technological advances from the New Avalon Institute of Science. Every heir-apparent is required to serve in the military in order to be eligible for the title of First Prince.

The AFFS has undergone several major reforms during the centuries of its existence; most recently, the damage inflicted during the Jihad resulted in a desperate need to adjust to remain effective as losses mounted and the Word of Blake ravaged the industrial base of the Federated Suns.

The major characteristic that distinguishes the AFFS from the other Inner Sphere militaries has for a very long time been the organizational efficiency with which the AFFS operates. This is evident in the manner in which the disparate elements of the military coordinate and work well together, a shared spirit of teamwork making the whole greater than the sum of the individual parts. In the first half of the 31st century, First Prince Hanse Davion capitalized on this when he invented the AFFS military organization known as the Regimental Combat Team - not to be confused with the much earlier Star League Defense Force organization of the same name. During the Jihad, necessity drove Marshal of the Armies Jon Davion to introduce a new formation drawing on many of the same properties and capabilities that made the RCT effective.[30]

The first brigade to make use of the new Light Combat Team model was the Avalon Hussars, whose performance in the new organization combined with the portability and flexibility of the LCT saw it become the model for the AFFS in the post-Jihad era. With many front line commands re-formed into LCTs, some formations remained in the larger RCT format to act as the big stick for dealing with particularly troublesome neighbors. The ease with which the reforms were made is both a testament to the success of the LCT and a chilling statement on the damage inflicted on the senior ranks of the AFFS by the Jihad. With major reforms going on and talented officers being promoted two or even three ranks because of the number of open posts, the reorganization conducted in the early 3080s marked the biggest change in the structure of the AFFS since its initial incorporation.[30]

Economy

The large size of the Federated Suns, both in terms of territory and population, has historically given it incredible growth potential compared to the other Successor States. Unfortunately, this same size has also been its biggest drawback: with resources spread across hundreds of light-years of space, it can be difficult to exploit those resources and get them to market in a timely fashion.[31][32] This despite boasting in 3025 the largest commercial fleet in the Inner Sphere.[32] The union with the Lyran Commonwealth and creation of NAIS brought about a brief golden age of economic growth and recovery from the ravages of the Succession Wars, though the onset of the Clan invasion and the civil war brought that to an end.[31]

The Federation's economy is based on capitalistic principles, but while large interstellar corporations may feature prominently it is small businesses which make up the majority of its gross national product. House Davion has also championed the rights of the average worker and made efforts to balance the needs of the people against those of wealthy special interests. The Chancellery of the Exchequer, a subdivision of the Ministry of Ways and Means, is not only responsible for minting the Pound but regulating and enforcing economic laws, such as setting national interest rates, collecting taxes, and overseeing the Trans-Federation Stock and Commodities Exchange.[31][32] This includes dispatching Sheriffs of Economic Policy, colloquially known as Business Police, who have the authority to overturn a planet's economic laws and arrest violators in the name of the Federation.[32]

In spite of rules and regulations to keep their power in check, business leaders are still able to exercise an outsize influence on public policy, directly contributing to political campaigns and forming "advisory groups" to lobby on their behalf. Such is the case that many can seemingly act with impunity for years before public outcry forces the government's response, and many citizens can be forgiven for thinking these captains of industry are able to dictate terms even to the First Prince.[32][33] In sharp contrast, the power of labor unions have been severely curtailed since the early days of the Federation, when the most powerful could even buy and sell political appointments on most major worlds. The unions overreached themselves during the early years of the Succession Wars, when the United Congress of Steel and Service Workers went on strike. With the survival of the nation at stake, First Prince Paul Davion declared the strike illegal, arrested the leaders and permanently disbanded the UCSSW. All unions were banned from making any political contributions, as were any further labor strikes which could affect a vital industry.[33]

Manufacturing Centers

A detailed list of some FedSuns manufacturer and industrial centers.

3067

Heavy Aerospace Industries[34]

Major Defense Industries[35]

Society & Culture

The Federated Suns presents an interesting contrast between what it stands for and its actions. On the one hand, citizens of the Federation enjoy many freedoms denied to people elsewhere in the Inner Sphere and beyond: the freedom to express themselves, to worship how they please, to participate in government and join political parties. Even the less well-off will take pride in their constitutional rights and contrast it with what they see as virtual slavery suffered by those in similar circumstances in neighboring realms. However, a deeper look at the actions and history of the Suns casts doubts on their claim of democratic ethics. Idealism has often had to give way to practicality, with the stratification of society (especially with regards to the influence of the warrior-elite) making the Suns less open to pure democracy than claimed. Economic disparity between the rich and poor is greatly pronounced within the Suns, with the wealthy taking little heed of those in need (whether because they believe everyone lives prosperously or have only themselves to blame for their condition).[1][36]

Part of the blame rests in the sheer size of the Federation: in 3025 the realm included over 500 inhabited star systems spread over hundreds of light-years of space, presenting a task which would strain most social services.[1][37] This is not helped though by the fact that military expenditures make up a significant portion of the national budget, leaving relatively little left over for other services. A pro-military attitude reinforced by public education means few are willing to criticize this state of affairs or acknowledge it as a problem. Indeed, pride in both their freedoms and the military which defends it lends many Federation citizens towards arrogance, believing their way of life morally superior and looking down on those who have yet to adopt their enlightened ways.[36]

This dichotomy can also be seen in the Federation's educational system. Despite the ravages of the Succession Wars, in 3025 the Federated Suns boasted 50 universities and other institutes of higher education, all regarded as the best learning centers in the Inner Sphere. Perhaps the most famous of these is the New Avalon Institute of Science, founded by Hanse Davion with the specific goal of recovering technology lost in the fires of the Succession Wars.[37][38] Within two decades of the Institute's founding, the Federated Suns (and by extension the Federated Commonwealth) could claim to be the most technologically advanced military among the Successor States, with many advances trickling down to the civilian sector to raise the general standard of living.[39][40] At the same time, the Federated Suns have historically had the lowest education attainment rate of any of the Successor States. With public education largely in the hands of local governments, this has naturally lead to different opportunities and outcomes available. As such, while someone living on one of the 'Golden Worlds' might have access to the best academies money can buy, a person living in the undeveloped Outback might be lucky to have access to even primary education. Efforts like the Vagabond Schools to combat this issue have met with mixed results.[37][38]

The Federated Suns is committed to allowing freedom of religion to its citizenry, and while a variety of old and new faiths are practiced, six of them are regarded as more prominent than the others. The largest is Christianity, with many different sects largely split between Protestantism and Catholicism (the later further split between Roman Catholicism and the New Avalon Catholic Church). Practitioners of Islam are largely concentrated along the border with the Draconis Combine; while Sunni and Shi'a sects face little discrimination, those of the Azami tend to face greater persecution for their attributed allegiance to the Combine. For the same reason Buddhists have been the subject of discrimination during times when the Federation has been threatened by the Combine or the Capellan Confederation, though the Davions have made pains to combat such attitudes. Judaism maintains a small but active presence in the Federated Suns and is centered in and around the world of Robinson. Likewise Hinduism is most active in the area of Davion space once encompassed by the United Hindu Collective. Lastly is the Unfinished Book Movement, which seeks to incorporate the wisdom of multiple faiths into one overarching work, the eponymous Unfinished Book.[41][42]

Era Specific Data

3130

  • Founding Year: 2317
  • Capital (City, World): New Avalon City, New Avalon
  • National Symbol: A silver sword, blade upturned, against a golden sunburst on a red disc.
  • Location (Terra relative): Outward-Spinward quadrant
  • Total (Inhabited) Systems: 434
  • Estimated Population (3130): 1,302,000,000,000
  • Government: Constitutional Aristocracy (Western European feudal stylings)
  • Ruler: Prince Harrison Davion[43]
  • Dominant Language(s): English (official), French, German
  • Dominant Religion(s): Christianity (Interfaith Church), Buddhism, Judaism
  • Unit of Currency: Pound (1 pound = 0.97 C-Bills/1.72 C-Bills (3145)[44])

Maps

See Also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 5
  2. Inner Sphere, p. 31
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 99
  4. Handbook: House Davion, p. 105-106
  5. Handbook: House Davion, p. 27, "Timeline: Early Years and the Age of War"
  6. Handbook: House Davion, p. 28, "The First Prince"
  7. Handbook: House Davion, p. 108
  8. 8.0 8.1 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 107
  9. 9.0 9.1 Handbook: House Davion, p. 119
  10. 10.0 10.1 Handbook: House Davion, p. 105
  11. House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 101
  12. House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 103
  13. 13.0 13.1 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 105
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Handbook: House Davion, p. 107
  15. 15.0 15.1 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 104
  16. Handbook: House Davion, p. 20, "Capellan Zone Border Wars"
  17. Handbook: House Davion, p. 22, "Pushing Towards Confederation"
  18. Handbook: House Davion, p. 29, "Battling Varnay"
  19. 19.0 19.1 Handbook: House Davion, p. 37, "Timeline: Revolution and Civil War"
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 Handbook: House Davion, p. 31
  21. Handbook: House Davion, p. 35, "Battling Varnay"
  22. Handbook: House Davion, p. 34, "Rostov's Legacy"
  23. Handbook: House Davion, p. 36, "Putting Down Rostov"
  24. 24.0 24.1 Handbook: House Davion, p. 37, "Dividends of Peace"
  25. Handbook: House Davion, p. 112, "House Sandoval"
  26. Handbook: House Davion, p. 56, "The Hasek Legacy"
  27. Handbook: House Davion, p. 111, "House Hasek"
  28. Field Manual: 3085, p. 52-53, "Camelot Summit"
  29. Field Manual: 3085, p. 127, "Inner Sphere Map - [October 3085]"
  30. 30.0 30.1 Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 95, "Reorganizing The AFFS"
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 Handbook: House Davion, p. 156-157
  32. 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 House Davion (The Federated Suns, p. 167-168
  33. 33.0 33.1 Handbook: House Davion, p. 148
  34. Strategic Operations, p. 15
  35. Tactical Operations, p. 15
  36. 36.0 36.1 Inner Sphere, p. 42-44
  37. 37.0 37.1 37.2 House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 161-162
  38. 38.0 38.1 Handbook: House Davion, p. 139-140
  39. Strategic Operations, p. 167
  40. Handbook: House Davion, p. 151-152
  41. House Davion (The Federated Suns), p. 115-119
  42. Handbook: House Davion, p. 144-146
  43. Touring the Stars, p. 23
  44. Era Report: 3145, p.194, "Currency Conversion Table"

Bibliography