Marian Hegemony

Crest of Marian Hegemony
Marian Hegemony
State Profile
Founding Year 2920
Capital world: Alphard
Controlled system(s): 19 (as of 3151)
Official Currency Talent
Official Language(s) English and Latin (official), German, Spanish, Greek
Government
Head of State Caesar of the Marian Hegemony
(formerly Imperator)
Military
Army Marian Hegemony Armed Forces (MHAF)
Military Intelligence Ordo Vigilis

The Marian Hegemony is a major Periphery state rimward and anti-spinward of Terra, beyond the Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey and Rim Commonality. The monarchist republican nation bears resemblance to the ancient Roman Empire with its national symbol being the bust of an armored Roman warrior against a tan banner that bears the name "Marian Hegemony" in English at its center and the Latin words "Pax" (Peace) and "Mortis" (of Death) on its opposite ends.

History[edit]

Main article: History of the Marian Hegemony

The origins of the Marian Hegemony lie from the demise of the old Alphard Trading Corporation during the Succession Wars. A Periphery native and lostech prospector named Johann Sebastian O'Reilly was searching for reputed lost caches of Star League technology on the planet Alphard, rumored to have been left behind by the defunct company, when he instead found a treasure trove of germanium worth billions upon billions of C-bills.[1]

Johann O'Reilly immediately hired some small mercenary units to protect his newly found wealth and established a colony to serve both as a trading hub and a distraction, diverting those who would follow him to the location of his find. Despite the financial reserves Johann could draw on, his new Hegemony was simply too small, unable to attract the defenders it would need to defend itself against larger states but too small to attract the attention of those states. As such, the Hegemony spent almost a century as little more than a bandit kingdom fashioned after a society that had been dead for millennia.[1]

Gaius O'Reilly, the son of Johann, left little impression on the history of the Marian Hegemony; by the 3060s, he was primarily remembered for two things: being the father of Marius O'Reilly, and for dying an ignominious death in 3009 when his horse stumbled into a chuckhole, causing Gaius to break his neck.[2]

The arrival of the Fourth Succession War and the resulting changes within the Inner Sphere brought the fledgling Marian Hegemony new possibilities. With most of the various pirate bands concentrating on the Inner Sphere, the new Imperator, Marius O'Reilly, saw a good opportunity to expand his young nation. The Hegemony had spent a century preying upon nearby trade routes and worlds as a means of keeping the economy functioning, but the advent of the Fourth Succession War, and other, more localized conflicts, gave rise to opportunities for much more successful and ambitious raids.[3]

The Imperator proved to be popular with his citizens, and was widely considered to be a good ruler for the Hegemony; Marius' only major misstep was prompted by a failed assassination attempt against him, an assassination attempt that led to him ordering an ill-advised and unsuccessful invasion of the world of Astrokaszy.[3]

Marius continued to expand the Hegemony through colonization efforts, marking a peaceful era for the Marian Hegemony, but one that also led to Marius' downfall. Marius O'Reilly died on a Marian colony world named Herculaneum in 3048; with his father's death officially declared to be the result of a "climbing accident," Sean O'Reilly became the new Imperator. The mourning period for Marius would be marked by intense speculation in the Hegemony that Sean had in fact been responsible for the death of his father.[3]

When Sean emerged from the official mourning period, he abandoned the title of Imperator; instead, he proclaimed that he would rule as Caesar. Sean then promptly began a radical restructuring of the Marian state and government; no longer modelled after the ancient Roman Republic, Sean's intent was to instead model the Hegemony after the ancient Roman Empire. Sean dealt with those protesting against his increasingly dictatorial regime in one of two ways; either his critics and detractors were silenced through promises of great wealth, or they were silenced by the application of great force.[3] Sean also introduced conscription, ordering that all able-bodied males be conscripted into military service either at the age of seventeen or on completion of any higher education; while he exempted women from enforced conscription, women were allowed to join the military voluntarily.[4]

Having secured his hold over the population, Sean embarked on an expansion of the Hegemony through conquest. To this effect, in 3054 he invaded the Lothian League,[3] a small nation of just seven planets founded by refugees from the Taurian Concordat in the aftermath of the Reunification War centuries before. In 3057, Sean O'Reilly invaded the world of Astrokaszy; he hoped to capture the planet with assistance from the Blakist faction known as the Sixth of June and then use the planet as a staging ground for later invasions.[5]

His son Julius, a recent graduate of the Collegium Bellorum Imperium, had been recently promoted to command a century in the First Legion. He quickly gained the attention of several powerful military leaders and Senators as well as attracting the notice of those working against Sean. Sean responded to Julius' rise by posting him out of the First Legion, promoting him to command the second cohort of the Second Legion. Julius' transfer and promotion were an effort to secure his own safety, but proved to be a significant mistake on Sean's part; the Second was based on the Lothian world of Lordinax, and Julius' arrival in June 3060 marked a turning point in his rise.[6]

When Julius arrived, the Second Legion was suffering repeated attacks from rebel forces and was rapidly becoming demoralized. Sean's first orders were for Julius to be sent on punitive raids against a number of Lothian settlements believed to be harboring rebels, a campaign that Sean hoped would either see Julius killed or toughened up; instead, it led Julius to begin openly questioning the occupation of the League and his father's decisions.[6]

Julius began to covertly build a power base within the Legion, promising an end to the Lothian troubles. Within a year of landing on Lordinax, Julius had ended the resistance and was ready to make his next move.[7]

The conquest of the Palatinate lasted only a short while, as the small nation was only defended by two mercenary units, the Arms of Thor and Cavanaugh's Cavalry. The invasion was initially stopped by the determined and spirited defense offered by the Arms, and the Legions took heavy damage - but Julius was able to strike a deal with Cavanaugh's Commandos in which they would stand down in exchange for a payment and a place in the Hegemony Armed Forces. He left the Palatinate under the control of local citizens, and under the watchful guard of elements of the Third Legion and a full auxiliary legion, returning to Alphard as the conquering hero who had added new worlds to the Hegemony and ended the Lothian rebellion.[7]

Julius returned to the capital at the head of the Second and Fourth Legions, where he was hailed as a great hero and conqueror by the citizens of the Hegemony. In a dramatic speech to his people, Julius declared his father unfit to rule the Hegemony, and declared himself the new leader of the nation. The Senate confirmed his appointment by acclamation.[8]

However, Sean O'Reilly still lived, having holed up in his Palace with the entirety of the First Legion. He refuted his son's claim to the throne and instructed the First to put down his son's rebellion. Less than half of the First obeyed Sean's orders, only to fall quickly beneath the advancing Second Legion on the 8th of August 3063; Julius confronted Sean in the throne room and offered him one final chance to abdicate in the face of his many misdeeds over the years, only for Sean to make one last attempt on Julius' life. Julius cut his father down personally.[8]

Julius was inaugurated the following day, and began his reign by ordering the implementation of a number of reforms, both social and military. The new Caesar's reforms didn't stop there; intent on making Marian society more "Roman", Julius created a new body, the Plebian Tribunate; while the plebs were still denied the right to vote on any subject other than the selection of planetary Tribunes, the Plebian Tribunate gave the plebs a voice of their own in the government.[8]

Under Julius' rule, the Hegemony grip on the worlds of the former Illyrian Palatinate and Lothian League tightened, but Julius also established some freedoms for the inhabitants of those worlds that they hadn't possessed during their independent rule.[9]

Despite the reforms initiated by Julius and his focus on building both unity and goodwill within the Hegemony, Julius didn't give up his ambitions to expand the Hegemony by conquest as well. As Caesar, Julius intended to invade and annex the nearby Circinus Federation, with the groundwork for his invasion beginning to be laid in 3063.[9] The war was a victory for the Marian Hegemony, although it achieved less than Julius had hoped.[10][11]

In early 3069 the Marian Hegemony found itself facing potential revolt in the conquered Illyrian and Lothian provinces as both passive and active rebellions began spreading through both regions in a wave.[12]

During the Word of Blake Jihad, the Marian Hegemony fought the Blakists' proxies, the Circinus Federation, in a bloody conflict that saw the small Periphery holding vanquished and partially occupied by the victorious Marian troops. The Marian Hegemony also at some time gave the Lothian League back its freedom (as shown on maps dating from the 3120s), although the reasons are as yet unclear.

It was reported in the media on Alphard in September 3077 that couriers from the Circinus Federation border of the Hegemony were bringing news that a Marian offensive against the Federation had died effectively stillborn, with probing attacks on the planets of Thadora's Land and Zorn's Keep being rebuffed by significantly stronger Federation forces.[13]

In the period immediately after the Jihad, the Marian Hegemony Armed Forces faced a period of rebuilding their strength after the damage inflicted during the attempted annexation of several Free Worlds League planets - the exception being V Legio, which had been struck from the rolls of the MHAF after defecting to become the principal military force of the new Lothian state.[14] While intelligence agencies hadn't confirmed the fact, Caesar Cassius O'Reilly had ordered that the Hegemony's military production should expand, to prevent a single deliberate attack destroying the bulk of the realm's industrial base, as had nearly happened once already.[15]

In 3147, Hegemony forces invaded the Free Worlds League, taking worlds among few. However Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey lead by Duke Fontaine Marik would wage war repulse Marian forces from newly gained worlds. However, the new Free Worlds League government would prevent the renegade Duke from completing ejecting Hegemony forces, isolating the remaining forces on worlds Gibraltar, Atzenburgg, and Lepaterique area nicknamed "Gibraltar Island". It would not be until 3151 where privately funded mercenaries would hunt down the remaining Hegemony forces.[16]

Politics[edit]

The Marian Hegemony's government was inspired by the institutions of ancient Terra's Roman Republic, though many generations of Marian leaders have revised it's structure in order to improve its function. There are three main centers of power in the Hegemony; the Caesar (formerly the Imperator), the Senate, and and the Plebian Tribunate.[17]

The Caesar[edit]

Main article: Caesar of the Marian Hegemony

The Caesar (formerly titled the Imperator until the reforms of Caesar Sean O'Reilly) is the most powerful position within the Hegemony. The Caesar is the commander in chief of the Marian Hegemony's military and presides over the senate. The Caesar may freely veto bills passed in the senate, and may cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie. The greatest power of the Caesar though is that any bill proposed by the Caesar only needs to receive the votes of one third of senators present to be passed. No Caesar has ever found it difficult to obtain such a 'majority', meaning the Caesar is often compared to a Roman Emperor despite the Hegemony's theoretically republican government.[18]

The Senate[edit]

The Senate is the Hegemony's primary ruling body.[17] Membership in the senate can be obtained in two ways. The first path to senatorship is to be elected. The patricians of each world in the Hegemony will elect senators to represent the world's various districts. The number and size of districts will vary according to a given world's land area or population, but typically each world sends around twenty members to the senate each year. Elected senators are subject to yearly reelection, ensuring that incompetent or unpopular leaders are quickly cycled out of the institution. The other way to become a senator is to command a legion within the Marian military. For the duration of ones' service at this rank, a Marian general will have the powers and privileges of an elected senator.[18]

The senate meets twice a year to discuss issues facing the Hegemony and vote on proposed legislation. For the rest of the year, senators serve on various committees that oversee more specific government functions. The leader of each council (excepting the Military Council, which is always the Caesar) is nominated by the current Caesar, but must be ratified by the senate in order to take their seat. This leader then selects which senators will serve on their council. To enact their will the councils in turn create and oversee lesser government departments.[18]

The Plebian Tribunate[edit]

The Plebian Tribunate is an advisory body that ensures the concerns of the plebian class are considered by the Senate.[17] The Tribunate was introduced by Caeser Julius O'Reilly in 3063. Prior to this, the most important role in the government a plebian could assume was to appointed one of the heads of a department under a senator council. Tribunes are elected by the plebians once every four years.[18]

Military[edit]

Main article: Marian Hegemony Armed Forces

Economy[edit]

When the Marian Hegemony was founded, it's economy was based almost solely on Alphard's germanium motherload and piracy against its neighbours. Over the first six decades of the 31st century though, the Hegemony achieved something remarkable: it managed to transition from a society built on plunder to a vibrant, sustainable civilian industrial base.[19] The Hegemony has strong mining, refining, and petrochemical sectors. Tourists are largely attracted to the Hegemony by the gladiatorial games held in it's Illyrian province. One unique characteristic of the Marian economy is its specialization in salvage and repair, a holdover from the days when the nation was reliant on privateering. Marian technicians are eagerly sought out by other Periphery powers due to their ability to return salvaged machines to service, and the realm has built a niche in repairing salvaged spacecraft. Unfortunately, constructing spacecraft from scratch remains outside of the Hegemony's capabilities.[20]

Manufacturing Centers[edit]

Main page: Category:Marian Hegemony Corporations

3067[edit]

Culture and Society[edit]

The Marian Class System[edit]

The Marian Hegemony is divided into three social classes with different rights and duties: Patricians, plebs, and slaves. Patricians and plebs are considered citizens of the Hegemony, while slaves are considered property of their masters. A citizens classification is inherited from their parents, but mobility between the classes is legally possible. Male citizens must serve a minimum of five years in the Marian military, or perform a related compulsory service to the state. No Marian citizen may be bought or sold as a slave.[18]

Patricians[edit]

For the first decades of the Hegemony's existence, any citizen who owned land was considered a patrician. However, land being a finite commodity, by the early 31st century it was largely impossible for plebs to purchase undeveloped lots. In recognition of this, Caesar Marius O'Reilly altered the law to instead make patricianship hereditary. Patricians may vote for or be elected to the senate and obtain any rank in the military.[18]

Plebians[edit]

A pleb (sometimes called a plebian) is a citizen of the Hegemony who does not own land. Plebs may not hold any but the lowest officer ranks in the Marian military, and are unable to participate in politics beyond the Plebian Tribunate. Plebs may escape their status by buying land, but the scarcity of unclaimed land capable of providing the income needed to lead a patrician lifestyle often made this impractical. The conquest of the Lothian League and Illyrian Palatinate provided plebs opportunities to purchase land and advance in rank.[18]

Slaves[edit]

The first slaves in the Marian Hegemony were refugees and would-be colonists who were unable to pay for passage to Marian space. Imperator Johann Sebastian O'Reilly offered these people a place in the Hegemony, but at a price; they would be indentured servants until they were able to petition the Senate for citizenship, or purchase land.[23] Later generations of slaves are descended from these unfortunates, or from non-citizens captured by the Marian military. Slaves may be bought and sold as property, and lack the rights of citizens. They are not completely without rights, however - Marian slave owners are legally obligated to ensure their slaves are fed, clothed, housed, provided medical care, provided a certain number of rest days and able to practice their religion of choice. It is forbidden by law for a slave to be physically harmed. The penalty for violating the rights of a slave is a large fine, half of which is paid to the slave's owner and half of which is paid to the slave themselves. Should the slaves' master be the offender, the entire fine is paid directly to the slave. Slaves may shed their status and become a pleb if their master chooses to free them, or if they successfully petition the Marian senate to intercede on their behalf. The latter option is only available to slaves who can prove they are of use to the Hegemony and able to economically support their own family.[18] In the earlier days of the Hegemony, the Senate would frequently accept these petitions, but since the reforms of Marius O'Reilly escaping slavery has become increasingly rare.[23]

Education[edit]

All citizens of the Hegemony receive a free education between the ages of five and seventeen.[18] This however has only been the case since the rule of Marius O'Reilly, and classism still means plebs and patricians receive education of very different qualities. The private schools favored by the patrician class are the equal of any in the Periphery, but the public schools attended by plebians have been repeatedly undercut in order to divert funds to the military or to line to pockets of less scrupulous Caesars. This has forced pleb communities to raise money and fund schools for their children when government support proves inadequate. Slaves receive whatever education their owners deem necessary to serve their purposes, which may be none at all.[24]

Since the rise of Caesar Julius O'Reilly, students with particularly high grades at the end of their free education are offered grants in order to provide pleb families access to post-secondary education. Students who score in the top ten percent in their final exams are offered positions in the Marian Legions beyond their compulsory service, or internships and appointments to various levels of the Marian government administration.[24]

Religion[edit]

The Marian Hegemony is, like most other Periphery states, home to a diverse array of faiths and religious traditions. One tradition is unique to the Hegemony though - the Religio Romana. This attempt at reviving Roman paganism was founded by Johann Sebastian O'Reilly in the earliest days of the Marian state. The holiday Saturnalia, a large scale street party where slaves enjoy food, alcohol and gambling at their masters expense, is widely celebrated in the Hegemony.[25]

Era Specific Data[edit]

2930

3025

3055

3063

  • Total (Inhabited) Systems: 23

3067

3130

Historical: Maps Gallery[edit]

  • Marian Hegemony at Founding in 2930

  • Marian Hegemony after the Third Succession War 3025

  • Marian Hegemony in 3050

  • Marian Hegemony post–Lothian Invasion in 3055

  • Marian Hegemony post–Illyrian Invasion in 3063

  • Marian Hegemony in 3067

  • Marian Hegemony post-Jihad in 3079

  • Marian Hegemony at the beginning of the Dark Age 3130

  • Marian Hegemony in 3145

References[edit]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Field Manual: Periphery, p. 69: "Nova Roma"
  2. ↑ Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 154: "Spotlight: The Caesar"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Field Manual: Periphery, p. 70: "Nova Roma"
  4. ↑ Field Manual: Periphery, p. 75: "Ars Militaria"
  5. ↑ Field Manual: Periphery, p. 70: "Empire Building"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Field Manual: Periphery, p. 71: "Empire Building"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Field Manual: Periphery, p. 71: "Peace Through Superior Firepower"
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Field Manual: Periphery, p. 72: "Crowning Achievement"
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Field Manual: Updates, pp. 194–195: "Historical: Brief"
  10. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 195: "The Marian Legions"
  11. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 197: "The Caesar's War"
  12. ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 46: "The Jihad in Review"
  13. ↑ Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 53: "Federation Build-Up"
  14. ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 116: "Marian Hegemony"
  15. ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 117: "Marian Hegemony"
  16. ↑ Empire Alone, pp. 18+19: "Alone on a Island & We Will Fight Them on the Beaches"
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 153: "Government and Politics"
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 18.8 Handbook: Major Periphery States", p. 154-155
  19. ↑ Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 160: "Economy"
  20. ↑ Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 161: "Major Industries"
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Tactical Operations, p. 16: "Marian Hegemony"
  22. ↑ Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 162
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Handbook: Major Periphery States, p.164: "Slavery in the Hegemony"
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 165-166: "Building a Nation: Education Reform"
  25. ↑ Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 165: "Religion: A Roman Revival".
  26. ↑ Handbook: Major Periphery States, p. 163: "Marian Hegemony at various stages"
  27. ↑ Touring the Stars, p. 93: "Marian Hegemony" 3130 Fact Sheet

Bibliography[edit]

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