House Cunningham
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| House Cunningham | |
|---|---|
| Family Profile | |
| Title(s) | Duke of Kestrel Count of Kestrel |
| Affiliation | Federated Suns |
House Cunningham traditionally hold the title of Duke of Kestrel within the Federated Suns.[1]
Contents
History
Origins
While the Davions, Haseks, and Sandovals are the dominant families within the Federated Suns, there are many "minor" families that have considerable influence as well. One of these is the Cunningham family. This family made its fortunes centuries ago by becoming the owners of the largest agricultural producers on the planet Kestrel, one of the garden worlds deep within the Federated Suns. This wealth made them the only choice to receive the ducal title to Kestrel as bestowed by First Prince Simon Davion in the twenty-fifth century.
Since that time, the Cunninghams have expanded and diversified their dealings into the business, military and governmental operations of their nation. This has led the family to be listed as one of the richest families within the Federated Suns in the thirty-first century. It is this wealth that has led critics to contend that the Cunninghams are only involved in politics to watch over their business investments. However, the Cunninghams have been staunch supporters of the Federated Suns and the ruling Davion family from the beginning.
The Duke of Kestrel's household guard, and the Cunningham family by extension, the First Kestrel Grenadiers, would prove an important independent military unit with the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns[2].
Known members of the family
- Anastasia Cunningham, Countess of Kestrel[3]
- Vernon Cunningham, a Marshal in the War of 3039[4]
- Xerxes Cunningham, Duke of Kestrel from at least the War of 3039 to at least 3067[5][6][7]
- Andrew Cunningham, younger brother to Xerxes, Major General, and commander of the Robinson DMM in 3025[8][9][10]
- Thomas Delten-Cunningham, Major General and aide to General Vivian Petty, commander of the Kestrel Combat Region[11]
- Noemi Cunningham, Marshal and aide to Field Marshal Phillip Outerbridge, commander of the New Avalon Combat Region[12]
- Timothy Cunningham, General and commanding officer of the First Kestrel Grenadiers in 3145[13]
- Alexandria Cunningham, a Federated Suns mercenary liaison officer in the Aurigan Reach as of ca. 3025 (apocryphal)[14]
Other family
- Agatha Stromp, a distant cousin to Xerxes and Andrew.[15]
Possible Links
The Cunningham surname seems to be fairly common in the BattleTech universe, and numerous characters named Cunningham exist that may or may not have ties to the Federaed Suns' noble House Cunningham, including the following:
- Major Danny Cunningham created his own mercenary unit, Cunningham's Commandos, around a core cadre of retires AFFS veterans and with strong ties to the Federated Suns. From the unit's inception in the early 3030s until they became an AFFS line unit in ca. 3076 they apparently served the Federated Suns exclusively.[16]
- Reggie Cunningham commanded a mercenary unit named Cunningham's Cutthroats as of 3136.[17]
- A "shady" AFFS deserter, "Mad Jack" Cunningham, fought with the mercenary unit Grandin's Crusaders in the Jihad era and apparently became a casualty by mid-3076.[18]
- Adam Kaningamu, a highly decorated Draconis Combine officer by 3050, muses that his forefathers changed their surname Cunningham to Kaningamu.[19]
Family Heirlooms and Holdings
References
- ↑ Handbook: House Davion, p. 113, "Minor Noble Houses"
- ↑ Handbook: House Davion, p. 126, "Independent Commands"
- ↑ First Succession War, p. 91, "Who Killed the Prince?"
- ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 45, "Sadalbari (April-May)"
- ↑ Historical: War of 3039, p. 44, "Matar (April-July)"
- ↑ Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 49, "Officers"
- ↑ Handbook: House Davion, p. 94, "Kestrel"
- ↑ Historical Turning Points: Galtor, p. 6, "Draconis March Militia (Federated Suns)"
- ↑ Historical: War of 3039, pp. 44-45
- ↑ 20 Year Update, p. 24, "AFFC Deployment Table - 3050"
- ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 139, "Kestrel Combat Region (Kestrel Command)"
- ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 71, "New Avalon Combat Region (New Avalon Command)"
- ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 91, "Markesan Combat Region (Markesan Command)"
- ↑ "BattleTech Video Game"
- ↑ Field Manual: Federated Suns, p. 49
- ↑ Mercenary Supplemental Update, p. 47
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Free Worlds League, p. 22
- ↑ Total Chaos, pp. 25, 83, 104
- ↑ Rules of Engagement