Stephan Marik

Stephan Marik (29?? – 2991) was the Captain-General of the Free Worlds League and the father of Janos Marik, who succeeded him.

Captain-General

Stephan became Captain-General quite suddenly in 2963 when his father, Thaddeus Marik, drowned while swimming on Conakry. He inherited a realm that was in a constant stalemate. Every victory on one front followed by a loss on another.

What followed was string of setbacks, beginning with the failed conquest of the planet Loric in the Lyran Commonwealth, and then the loss of Wasat to the Capellan Confederation and later Callison to the Lyrans. Mired in a deep political conflict with Parliament, there are indications Stephan actively undermined the defense of worlds under attack as a form of retribution to there undermining his failed military efforts. By 2990, however, matters were becoming critical, and he was forced to accept Parliament restrictions in return for the continued use of regional troops. By then, however, he was personally weakened.

Setbacks and Death

In 2988, a plot was revealed against the Captain-General, that had sought to replace the current system of Parliament with a military junta, with Stephan's son and heir, Janos Marik as the new Captain-General. Janos, however, refused to cooperate and revealed the conspiracy. SAFE failed to track them down, however. Nevertheless, these and other signs of popular unrest took their toll on Stephan, and he withdrew from public life, finally dying of cancer in August 2991.

Marriage and Children

Stephan had at least one child, Janos Marik, who followed him as Captain-General.

Bibliography

• House Marik (sourcebook)
• Handbook: House Marik