Illyrian Palatinate

The Illyrian Palatinate was a minor Periphery power located between the Circinus Federation and the Marian Hegemony that was absorbed into the Marian Hegemony following the occupation of the Illyrian capital world, Illyria.

History

The Illyrian Palatinate was founded in the mid 24th century by groups of Scandinavian colonists sent out during the colonization waves spurred into action by the breakup of the old, corrupt Terran Hegemony into what would be later considered the Successor States. Over the years, the Palatinate expanded across another three worlds from its original capital. The small nation's primary economy revolves around exports of iron ore and processed steel to the Free Worlds League. The government of the Palatinate consists of various scions of powerful oligarchic merchant houses that elect the leaders of the government from amongst their own members.

The Palatinate was relatively tranquil and peaceful until the 3030s, when the longtime leader of the Circinus Federation died of old age and his son, "Little Bob" McIntyre, began to make belligerent overtures to the Palatinate govrnment. The Circinans followed this up with a full assault in 3034 that was rebuffed in a grinding war by the newly-contracted mercenary unit, the Arms of Thor. Ths unit's two battalions of assault 'Mechs destroyed the invading Circinans and routed them from the Palatinate territory. As a direct consequence of this invasion, the leader of the Palatinate, Administrator Ernest Wick, began to train and equip more militia forces as well as hire more mercenaries. To help finance this buildup of forces, he increased sales of iron ore and steel to the Free Worlds League, and opened up trade links with the more technologically advanced Lothian League in an effort to acquire new technology for planetary defenses. However, as no Circinan attack was forthcoming, the Illyrian people began to hope that the worst was over for their small realm.

However, between the years of 3049 and 3051, the Clan Invasion devastated the Free Rasalhague Republic, and sent numerous refugee ships towards the Palatinate. In 3052, hardly a day went by without a Rasalhagese refugee ship landing in the Palatinate. This influx of people almost completely overwhelmed the Palatinate's food production capabilities, and threatened the normally secure people with starvation. To alleviate the mounting food shortages, Administrator Wick authorized more steel shipments to the Free Worlds League, who needed it for BattleMech production to counter the Clans. Although these shipments helped the problem, food and housing shortages still persisted, and even grew when Marian raids came close to destroying the Lothian League in 3053 and 3054.

In desperation, Administrator Wick appealed to the nations of the Inner Sphere for relief money, as he threatened that the displaced Rasalhaguese would move into the Inner Sphere nations again without an incentive to stay in the Palatinate. The Federated Commonwealth and the Draconis Combine took the cue, and sent large sums of money to the Illyrian government earmarked for "refugee aid". Administrator Wick, however, used part of the money to beef up its military against any invaders; which was a poignant move after the Marian conquest of the Lothian League in 3055.