Andurien Secession

Also known as the Andurien Crisis and Andurien Secession Crisis, the Andurien Secession took place between 3030 and 3040. The Duchy of Andurien's ruler, Dame Catherine Humphreys, forged a covert alliance with Magestrix Kyalla Centrella of the Magistracy of Canopus. After the conclusion of the Fourth Succession War in 3030, which saw the routed Capellans lose half their territory to the Federated Suns, emboldened the two leaders. Andurien declared independence from the Free Worlds League in September, and the Defenders of Andurien along with the Magistracy Armed Forces, began a joint invasion of the Capellan Confederation. They hoped to seize enough planets to make their alliance a significant power. Unfortunately the Capellans rallied and drove out the invaders.

Meanwhile, Andurien's secession had created a backlash in the rest of the League in favor of the Marik rulers, allowing Janos Marik to pass the Internal Emergency Act in 3030. This Act stripped many of the powers of the Home Defense Act, which had seriously handicapped the FWLM in the Succession Wars. The most obvious effect of the Internal Emergency Act was to overturn the ability of local/regional governments to refuse to provide the FWLM with combat forces. The Principality of Regulus and Duchy of Oriente, who supported the Internal Emergency Act, were not subject to its restrictions.

With the changes mandated by the Internal Emergency Act in place, the Marik rulers now moved against Andurien. Centrella cut Humphreys loose to fend for herself, and the Duchy was overrun by 3040. One result of this action was the complete dissolution of the Defenders of Andurien. Their equipment would go to the new Free Worlds League Legionnaires.

Another result of the Secession was the passing of the Military Reorganization Act in 3046, which standardized military education requirements and the FWLM rank structure. Both of these had the effect of making soldiers who were loyal to the Free Worlds League as a whole, rather than to their regions.