Editing Tancred Sandoval

{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Tancred Sandoval.jpg
| caption             = Tancred Aaron Sandoval
| name                = 
| birthdate           = [[3019]]
| died                = c. [[3098]]
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[House Sandoval]]
| rank                = 
| title               = [[Duke of Robinson]]<br>[[Prince's Champion]]
| position            = 
| profession          = Noble  
| parents             = [[James Sandoval]] (father)
| siblings            = 
| spouse              = [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]]
| children            = [[Harrison Davion]]
}}
Duke '''Tancred Aaron Sandoval''' (born [[3019]] - died c. [[3098]], aged 79 years) was the eldest child of [[James Sandoval]]. In addition to being the [[Duke of Robinson]], he is notable for his departure from his family's traditional disdain for the [[Draconis Combine]] and all things Japanese, his staunch and public support of [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] during the [[FedCom Civil War]], and his marriage to Prince Regent [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]].

==History==
===Early Life===
As befitting his birthright as the heir to [[Robinson]] and the [[Draconis March]], Tancred prepared for a life in the military. Rather than attending the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns#Robinson Battle Academy|Robinson Battle Academy]] as was expected of him, Tancred convinced his father to allow him to go off to [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns#Sakhara Academy|Sakhara Academy]],<ref name=PaTp85>''Patriots and Tyrants'', p. 85.</ref> where he pursued his passion of fencing. 

After graduation, he joined the [[Federated Commonwealth]]'s [[Intelligence Secretariat]], a job that generally kept him on [[New Avalon]].<ref>''Patriots and Tyrants'', p. 85</ref> During the mid-3050s, Tancred became fed up with [[Armed_Forces_of_the_Federated_Suns#New_Avalon_Institute_of_Science:_College_of_Military_Sciences|CMS]] cadets losing to their rivals at [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns#Albion Military Academy|Albion Military Academy]], so he started teaching a fencing class in order to become the fencing team's coach. In [[3058]], Tancred was a part of the [[Federated Commonwealth]]'s delegation at the First [[Whitting Conference]].<ref>Stackpole, ''Grave Covenant'', p. 46</ref> When Victor agreed to be Precentor Martial [[Anastasius Focht]]'s deputy during [[Operation BULLDOG]], he left Yvonne on [[New Avalon]] as his regent and Tancred as her adviser.<ref>''Grave Covenant'', p. 174</ref>

===Civil War===
Tancred brought discord into the Sandoval family in [[3062]] when he challenged his father to truly accept peace with the [[Draconis Combine]]. The two men could not see eye-to-eye however, with Tancred believing that James' life revolved around his hatred of the Combine and James of the opinion that Tancred's association with Prince Victor had tainted him. Despite that, Tancred took to his ''[[Nightstar]]'' when unknown forces, apparently [[DCMS]] troops, attacked [[Robinson]]. Leading the defense alongside Cadet [[Arthur Steiner-Davion]], the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns#Robinson Rangers|First Robinson Rangers]] and Battle Academy Cadre defeated the invaders. Unconvinced, Tancred refused to go with the invasion force as his father ordered, and instead built up a power base to help in the looming [[FedCom Civil War|civil war]].

He built up a task force around the Mayetta DMM (Draconis March Militia) and headed to [[Woodbine]], where forces loyal to [[Katherine Steiner-Davion|Katherine]] attacked after being manipulated into the assault by Tancred. Showing growing understanding of political maneuvering, Tancred was able to goad Katherine to attacking him, thereby winning him an ally in the ducal family of Woodbine and a victory over her forces. He then moved on to [[Tsamma]], where his forces became bogged down for over a year. He returned home as the battle wound down to confront his father. A weary and disheartened James Sandoval resigned as Minister of the Draconis March so that Tancred could succeed him in [[3065]]. His death the next year resulted in Tancred's ascension to the ducal title, as well.

Secure in his position, Tancred and Mordecai Rand-Davion led their task force closer to [[New Avalon]], [[Galax]], in the hopes of unseating Katherine. Tancred's troops were the first to make landfall in [[3067]], though [[Ardan Sortek]] and [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] were close behind. With the arrival of Victor, Tancred was overshadowed, though he and his forces did contribute to the eventual victory over Katherine.

===Jihad===
In late [[3067]], Tancred accompanied now-Regent Yvonne to [[Tharkad]] for the [[Fourth Whitting Conference]], where the dissolution of the [[Star League]] occurred. The couple was able to get off the world before [[Word of Blake]] forces launched an orbital bombardment and ground invasion of the Lyran capital. After that, they dropped out of sight.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad''</ref> In January [[3075]] Yvonne Steiner-Davion and Tancred Sandoval returned to [[New Avalon]], touring Avalon City and reestablishing the Federated Suns central authority on New Avalon in the wake of the Word of Blake occupation.<ref name="JHS:Tp14">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 14, "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp53">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 53, "The Jihad In Review"</ref> As [[Prince's Champion]], he handled the military end of ruling the Federated Suns while his wife managed governmental functions.<ref>''Masters and Minions: The StarCorps Dossiers'' p. 34-35</ref>

===The Dark Age===
During the rebuilding of the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]] Tancred was responsible for the restructuring of the [[Robinson Rangers]], reorganizing the [[Robinson March Brigade]] and disbanding the [[2nd Robinson Rangers|Second Robinson Rangers]], creating in their place the [[1st Robinson Strikers|First]] and [[2nd Robinson Strikers|Second Robinson Strikers]] [[LCT]]s. Tancred also kept the First Rangers on [[McComb]] for two years with barely enough supplies to remain operational, chastening them for their recent actions; the Rangers returned to Robinson in [[3082]], humbled and loyal to Robinson but still possessed of a determined hatred for Tancred. In what was believed to be a peace offering, Tancred appointed his cousin, [[Jerome Sandoval]], the commanding officer of the Robinson March Brigade.<ref name="FM:3085p62">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 62, "Robinson March Brigade"</ref>

The Robinson March remained divided, however; Jerome and another cousin of Tancred's, [[Mordecai Sandoval]], retained the support of traditionalist hardline families within the March, and those families continued to retain a degree of influence. One example of the power wielded by those families was the rebuilding of the [[Robinson Draconis March Militia]], something that Tancred had hoped to delay due to the negative history associated with the unit, but which Jerome and Mordecai forced through by presenting Tancred with both the funds and volunteers needed to rebuild the Militia - both having come from the hardline families.<ref name="FM:3085p66">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 66, "Robinson Draconis March Militia LCT"</ref>

Speculation and rumors that Tancred was responsible for the assassination of Duke [[George Hasek II|George Hasek]] continued during the [[Dark Age]].<ref name="FM:3085p53">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 53, "Camelot Summit"</ref> [[Victoria Parrdeau]], [[ROM#Precentor_ROM|Precentor ROM]] of [[ComStar]], was one of those who apparently believed this.<ref>''Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents'', p. 114 - "...Tancred's dirty little secret is safe for now, unless [[Angela Hasek|Angela]] somehow finds out the truth..."</ref>

====Deposition and Death====

In the years after the Jihad, Tancred's cousin [[Jerome Sandoval]] took advantage of Tancred's frequent absences from the Draconis March to build a power base on [[Robinson]]. Tancred was ultimately deposed following the [[3093]] "Death Mist" crisis on [[Benet III]] and the subsequent fighting between branches of the family. Jerome ultimately won, becoming Draconis March Lord and Duke of Robinson.<ref name="FM:3085p231">''Field Manual: 3085'', p. 231, "Major Highlights of the Post-Jihad Period (3085-3100)"</ref> Tancred survived the conflict, but died of natural causes in [[3098]].<ref name="BTLp112">''BattleTech: Legends'', p. 112, "Tancred Sandoval"</ref>

===Marriage and Children===
Tancred and [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]] married while in hiding on [[Markesan]] during the [[Jihad]]<ref name="BTLp112">''BattleTech: Legends'', p. 112, "Tancred Sandoval"</ref> and had one child, [[Harrison Davion]].<ref name=WoREp45>''Historical: Wars of the Republic Era'', p. 45, "Harrison Davion"</ref>

==Titles and Positions==

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before=[[James Sandoval]]}}
{{s-title|title=[[Duke of Robinson]]|years=7 October [[3065]]-3095}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jerome Sandoval]]<ref name=ER3145>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 94, "Corwin Sandoval profile"</ref>}}
{{s-bef|before=[[James Sandoval]]}}
{{s-title|title=[[Field Marshal of the Draconis March]]|years=7 October 3065-3095}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jerome Sandoval]]<ref name=ER3145></ref>}}
{{s-end}}

==Notes==
He was noted for using a ''[[Nightstar]]'' and later a ''[[Templar]]'' during the FedCom Civil War.<ref>''Patriots and Tyrants'' - Fighting rogue Kurita raiders on grinder of Battle Academy on Robinson in his NightStar.</ref>

==Portrait Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Tancred Sandoval (2).jpg|At Age of 42
Image:Tancred Sandoval HBHD.jpg|Tancred c.3067
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Dawn of the Jihad]]''
* ''[[Endgame]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)|FedCom Civil War]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Grave Covenant]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Davion]]''
* ''[[Historical: Wars of the Republic Era]]''
* ''[[Jihad: Final Reckoning]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: Terra]]''
* ''[[Jihad Secrets: The Blake Documents]]''
* ''[[Patriots and Tyrants]]''
* ''[[Storms of Fate]]''
* ''[[Sword of Sedition]]''

[[Category:Federated Suns Characters|Sandoval, Tancred]]