Tancred Sandoval
Sarna News
Duke Tancred Aaron Sandoval (3019-3???) 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.
Contents
Biography
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 Robinson Battle Academy as was expected of him, Tancred convinced his father to allow him to go off to Sakhara Academy,[1] 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.[2] During the mid-3050s, Tancred became fed up with CMS cadets losing to their rivals at 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.[3] 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.[4]
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 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 civil war.
He built up a task force around the Mayetta DMM (Draconis March Militia) and headed to Woodbine, where forces loyal to 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.[5]
Marriage and Children
Tancred and Yvonne Steiner-Davion were (presumably) wed and had at least one child, Harrison Davion.[6]
Death and afterward
Though Tancred is almost certainly dead, the circumstances and date of his death have not yet been revealed.
Titles and Ranks
Notes
He was noted for using a Nightstar and later a Templar during the FedCom Civil War.[7]
