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The [[BattleTech]] universe is a diverse place, spanning more than a millennium of history and several thousand light years of space. From the nation states of the [[twentieth century]] up to the [[Republic of the Sphere]] of the [[thirty-second century]], BattleTech spans myriads of places and trillions of people. Interstellar, succession, and civil wars, as well as fragmentation and infighting gave birth to countless factions, of which most are noted below.

== Regions of Space ==
=== Inner Sphere ===
{{Main|Inner Sphere}}
The Inner Sphere is the heart of the BattleTech universe. Centered on [[Terra]], it stretches across roughly 500 light years in all directions. The most consolidated of all interstellar regions, the Inner Sphere is dominated by five [[Great Houses]].<ref name=TP26>''The Periphery, Second Edition'', p. 6</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="4" | Factions in the Inner Sphere
|-
! Inner Sphere States
! Republican Splinter States
! FWL Splinter States
! Inner Sphere Clans
|-
| [[Capellan Confederation]]
| [[Bannson's Raiders]]
| [[Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey]]
| [[Clan Hell's Horses]]
|-
| [[ComStar]]
| [[Dragon's Fury]]
| [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
| [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
|-
| [[Draconis Combine]]
| [[Spirit Cats]]
| [[Oriente Protectorate]]
| [[Clan Sea Fox]]
|-
| [[Federated Suns]]
| [[Steel Wolves]]
| [[Regulan Fiefs]]
| [[Clan Wolf]]
|-
| [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
| [[Stormhammers]]
|
| [[Rasalhague Dominion]]
|-
| [[Free Worlds League]]
| [[Tall Trees Union]]
|
| [[Raven Alliance]]
|}

=== Periphery ===
{{Main|Periphery}}
The Periphery refers to the region of space immediately surrounding the Inner Sphere. The border between Periphery and Inner Sphere is generally 450 - 550 light years away from Terra. The Periphery is surrounded by the Deep Periphery, though the borders for this region of space are more nebulous. The Periphery is littered with small colonies and a handful of interstellar nations.<ref name=TP26/>
{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="4" | Factions in the Periphery
|-
| width="25%" | [[Calderon Protectorate]]
| width="25%" | [[Lothian League]]
| width="25%" | [[Rim Collection]]
| width="25%" | [[Tortuga Dominions]]
|-
| [[Filtvelt Coalition]]
| [[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| [[Rim Territories]]
| [[The Barrens]]
| 
|-
| [[Fronc Reaches]]
| [[Marian Hegemony]]
| [[Taurian Concordat]]
|
|}

=== Deep Periphery ===
{{Main|Deep Periphery}}
The Deep Periphery refers to the depths of unexplored space and/or human colonized space located beyond the (known) coherent human sphere of influence, namely the Inner Sphere and the adjacent Periphery realms. Due to the vague nature of the term "Deep Periphery", there is no clearly defined beginning nor are there any boundaries.<ref name=EC13>''Explorer Corps'', p. 13</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="3" | Factions in the Deep Periphery
|-
| width="33%" | [[Alfirk]]
| width="34%" | [[JàrnFòlk]]
| width="33%" | [[Nueva Castile]]
|-
| [[Chainelane Isles]]
| [[Hanseatic League]]
| [[Umayyad Caliphate]]
|-
| [[Scorpion Empire]]
|
|
|}

=== Clan Homeworlds ===
{{Main|Clans}}
The Clans were originally the self-exiled remnants of the [[Star League Defense Force]]. Traveling 2000 light years corewards, they colonized several worlds in the [[Kerensky Cluster]]. The exiles evolved into a warrior-based civilization that would sweep through the Inner Sphere like a whirlwind 250 years later.<ref name=IC16>''Invading Clans'', pp. 16, 84, 108, 133–134</ref>
The late 3050s saw the Absorption of Clan Burrock, Abjuration of Clan Nova Cat and the Annihilation of Clan Smoke Jaguar. After the [[Wars of Reaving]], the division between the old Crusader-Warden views had died out and were replaced between Home and Invader Clans permanently. From this aftermath of that war, seven Clans were abjured, two were absorbed, three were destroyed, and three remain with one being created. As of [[3085]], this is the status of the remaining Clans.

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="5" | Factions of the Clans
|-
! Inner Sphere Clans
! Home Clans
! Absorbed Clans
! Annihilated Clans
! Bandit Clans/Deep Periphery Clans
|-
| [[Clan Hell's Horses]]
| [[Clan Cloud Cobra]]
| [[Clan Burrock]]
| [[Clan Blood Spirit]]
| [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]
|-
| [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
| [[Clan Coyote]]
| [[Clan Ice Hellion]]
| [[Clan Fire Mandrill]]
| [[Escorpión Imperio]]/[[Scorpion Empire]]
|-
| [[Clan Diamond Shark]]
| [[Clan Star Adder]]
| 
| [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
| [[Clan Nova Cat]]
|-
| [[Clan Wolf]]
| [[Clan Stone Lion]]
| 
| [[Clan Steel Viper]]
| 
|-
| [[Rasalhague Dominion|Ghost Bear Dominion]]
| 
| 
| 
|
|-
| [[Raven Alliance]]
| 
|
|
| 
|}

== Historical Factions ==

=== Early Spaceflight ===
{{Main|Early Spaceflight}}
Between the mid-twentieth and the early [[twenty-second century]], [[Terra]] began a long process of political unification, first into the Western, then the Terran Alliance. At the same time, development of a practical Fusion Engine allowed for the first off-world colonies, on Luna, Mars, and Venus.<ref name=DSJS5>''DropShips and JumpShips: ComStar Intelligence Summary'', pp. 5–8</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="3" | Factions during the Early Spaceflight Era
|-
| width="33%" | [[Western Alliance]]
| width="34%" | [[Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere]]
| width="33%" | [[Terran Alliance]]
|}

=== First Exodus ===
{{Main|First Exodus}}
After the success of the [[Deimos Project]], the era of the First Exodus was one of rapid expansion and colonization - both sanctioned settlers and dissidents fleeing the increasingly repressive [[Terran Alliance]] had established 600 known colonies by [[2235]]. The [[Outer Reaches Rebellion]] ended the First Exodus, as the Terran Alliance completely withdrew from its colonies.<ref name=TPS12>''The Periphery, First Edition'', pp. 12–14</ref>
{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="2" | Factions during the First Exodus
|-
! width="50%" | Inner Sphere
! width="50%" | Deep Periphery
|-
| [[Terran Alliance]]
| [[Alfirk]]
|-
| [[Capellan Holdfast]]
|
|-
| [[Capellan Republic]]
|
|-
| [[Chesterton Trade League]]
|
|-
| [[Sarna Supremacy]]
|
|-
| [[Tikonov Union]]
|
|}

=== Second Exodus ===
{{Main|Exodus (2242)}}
Due to the power vacuum of the Alliance's withdrawal, chaos and warfare broke out. Many colony worlds were no longer sustainable or subject to prolonged conflicts, their inhabitants again took to the stars, spreading even beyond the settlement boundary of the First Exodus. Meanwhile, the first true interstellar states formed, fought and absorbed each other until the Inner Sphere consolidated into an armed standoff between the six Great Houses.<ref name=TPS14>''The Periphery, First Edition'', pp. 14–19</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="4" | Factions during the Second Exodus
|-
! width="25%" | Inner Sphere (Major)
! width="25%" | Inner Sphere (Minor)
! width="25%" | Periphery
! width="25%" | Deep Periphery
|-
| [[Capellan Confederation]]
| [[Alliance of Galedon]]
| [[Illyrian Palatinate]]
| [[Alfirk]]
|-
| [[Draconis Combine]]
| [[Capellan Commonality]]
| [[Intendancy of New New Spain]]
| [[Autocracy of New Virginia]]
|-
| [[Federated Suns]]
| [[Capellan Hegemony]]
| [[Rim Worlds Republic]]
| [[Axumite Providence]]
|-
| [[Free Worlds League]]
| [[Chesterton Trade League]]
| [[Taurian Concordat]]
|
|-
| [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
| [[Chisholm Protectorate]]
| [[Taurian Homeworlds]]
|
|-
| [[Terran Hegemony]]
| [[Dieron Federation]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Federation of Oriente]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Federation of Skye]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Ingersoll Concordium]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Marik Commonwealth]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Marlette Association]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Muskegon Empire]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Nanking Collective]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Ozawa Mercantile Association]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Principality of Rasalhague]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Principality of Regulus]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Protectorate of Donegal]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Rasalhague Consortium]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Republic of Marik]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Sarna Supremacy]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Sian Commonwealth]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[St. Ives Mercantile League]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Stewart Commonality]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Tamar Pact]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Terran Alliance]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Tikonov Union]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[Tikonov Grand Union]]
|
|
|-
|
| [[United Hindu Collective]]
|
|
|}

=== Age of War ===
{{Main|Age of War}}
The Age of War began in [[2398]], when the Houses Liao and Marik fought over [[Andurien]]. Initial savagery was eventually followed by the ratification of the [[Ares Convention]], a set of guidelines which made war much less brutal, but guaranteed it would become a near constant occurrence. Thanks to the Terran Hegemony's ''Strategy of Aggressive Peacemaking'', the Age of War ended with the signing of the Star League treaties by the six Great Houses.<ref name=SL28>''The Star League'', pp. 28–35</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="4" | Factions during the Age of War
|-
! width="25%" | Inner Sphere (Major)
! width="25%" | Inner Sphere (Minor)
! width="25%" | Periphery
! width="25%" | Deep Periphery
|-
| [[Capellan Confederation]]
| [[Principality of Rasalhague]]
| [[Illyrian Palatinate]]
| [[Alfirk]]
|-
| [[Draconis Combine]]
| [[United Hindu Collective]]
| [[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| [[Axumite Providence]]
|-
| [[Federated Suns]]
|
| [[Outworlds Alliance]]
| [[JàrnFòlk]]
|-
| [[Free Worlds League]]
|
| [[Rim Worlds Republic]]
| [[Nueva Castile]]
|-
| [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
|
| [[Taurian Concordat]]
| [[Virginian Union]]
|-
| [[Terran Hegemony]]
|
| 
|
|}

=== Star League Era ===
{{Main|Star League Era}}
Formally unifying the Member States of the Inner Sphere in [[2571]] and [[Reunification War|officially subjugating]] the Territorial States of the Periphery in [[2597]], the Star League Era was one of overt peace and [[First Hidden War|hidden wars]]. Later called a Golden Age by many, the Star League allowed for peace, prosperity, and significant technological progress. Weakened by a string of bad rulers, hidden wars, and unrest in the Territorial States, the Star League eventually collapsed after the [[Amaris Civil War]].<ref name=SL37>''The Star League'', pp. 37–98</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="3" | Factions during the Star League Era
|-
! width="33%" | Inner Sphere
! width="34%" | Periphery
! width="33%" | Deep Periphery
|-
| [[Capellan Confederation]]
| [[Circinus Federation]]
| [[Alexandrian Covenant]]
|-
| [[Draconis Combine]]
| [[Illyrian Palatinate]]
| [[Alfirk]]
|-
| [[Federated Suns]]
| [[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| [[Axumite Providence]]
|-
| [[Free Worlds League]]
| [[Outworlds Alliance]]
| [[JàrnFòlk]]
|-
| [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
| [[Rim Worlds Republic]]
| [[New Delphi Compact]]
|-
| [[Star League]]
| [[Taurian Concordat]]
| [[Nueva Castile]]
|-
| [[Terran Hegemony]]
| [[Tortuga Dominions]]
|
|}

=== Golden Century ===
{{Main|Golden Century}}
After the fall of the Star League, [[Operation Exodus]] of the Star League Defense Force led them into the Kerensky Cluster, where they settled down. After falling into civil war and a second Operation Exodus, the remaining loyalist SLDF forces reorganized themselves into the [[Clans]] and retook their war-stricken worlds. The Golden Century was the following period filled with unprecedented growth, technological progress, and a maturation of each Clan's individual self-identity.<ref name=IC16/>
{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="3" | Factions during the Golden Century
|-
! width="33%" | Crusader Clans
! width="34%" | Warden Clans
! width="33%" | Abolished Clans
|-
| [[Clan Blood Spirit]]
| [[Clan Cloud Cobra]]
| [[Clan Mongoose]]
|-
| [[Clan Fire Mandrill]]
| [[Clan Coyote]]
| [[Clan Widowmaker]]
|-
| [[Clan Hell's Horses]]
| [[Clan Ghost Bear]]
| [[Clan Wolverine]]
|-
| [[Clan Ice Hellion]]
| [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]]
| 
|-
| [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
| [[Clan Nova Cat]]
|
|-
| [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
| [[Clan Sea Fox]]
|
|-
| [[Clan Star Adder]]
| [[Clan Snow Raven]]
|
|-
| [[Clan Burrock]]
| [[Clan Steel Viper]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Clan Wolf]]
|
|}

=== Succession Wars ===
{{Main|History of the Succession Wars}}

After the collapse of the Star League and the [[Operation Exodus|exodus of the SLDF]], the five remaining Great Houses - after dividing the remaining Terran Hegemony among each other - began a series of brutal wars to claim the position of [[First Lord]]. The first two Succession Wars, apocalyptic conflicts encompassing the entire Inner Sphere, brought technological knowledge down to levels last seen on pre-spaceflight Terra, and only the establishment of ComStar on independent [[Terra]] prevented a total collapse of interstellar communication. The Third Succession War became an endless downward grind, led by neo-feudalistic MechWarrior families and covertly helped along by the increasingly corrupt ComStar. It was only the Fourth Succession War that brought a fragile peace and a new status quo to the Inner Sphere - the victorious powers of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] (at the time merely an alliance between Federated Suns and Lyran Commonwealth) against the [[Concord of Kapteyn]] of Free Worlds League, Capellan Confederation, and Draconis Combine.<ref name=SS7>''Shattered Sphere'', pp. 7–8</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="4" | Factions during the Succession Wars
|-
! width="25%" | Inner Sphere (Major)
! width="25%" | Inner Sphere (Minor)
! width="25%" | Periphery
! width="25%" | Deep Periphery
|-
| [[Capellan Confederation]]
| [[Duchy of Andurien]]
| [[Aurigan Coalition]]
| [[Alexandrian Covenant]]
|-
| [[ComStar]]
| [[Free Rasalhague Republic]]
| [[Circinus Federation]]
| [[Alfirk]]
|-
| [[Draconis Combine]]
| [[St. Ives Compact]]
| [[Elysian Fields]]
| [[Axumite Providence]]
|-
| [[Federated Suns]]
| [[Tikonov Free Republic]]
| [[Greater Valkyrate]]
| [[Chainelane Isles]]
|-
| [[Free Worlds League]]
|
| [[Illyrian Palatinate]]
| [[Coreward Confederacy]]
|-
| [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
| 
| [[Lothian League]]
| [[Hanseatic League]]
|-
|
|
| [[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| [[JàrnFòlk]]
|-
|
|
| [[Marian Hegemony]]
| [[New Delphi Compact]]
|-
|
|
| [[Niops Association]]
| [[Nueva Castile]]
|-
|
|
| [[Oberon Confederation]]
| [[Umayyad Caliphate]]
|-
|
|
| [[Outworlds Alliance]]
| [[Union of Samoyedic Colonies]]
|-
|
|
| [[Rim Collection]]
| [[Virginian Union]]
|-
|
|
| [[Taurian Concordat]]
|
|-
|
|
| [[Tortuga Dominions]]
|
|}

=== Clan Invasion ===
{{Main|Clan Invasion}}
After almost three centuries in exile, the [[Clans]] returned to the Inner Sphere in a coordinated drive towards [[Terra]] until losing a Trial on the planet [[Tukayyid]], agreeing to a fifteen-year [[Truce of Tukayyid|truce]]. With the Clan threat temporarily eliminated, the Great Houses went back to fighting each other - the barely established Federated Commonwealth broke apart again, the Word of Blake led an Exodus out of ComStar, and an entire region of space descended into [[Chaos March|anarchy]]. When the hastily established Second Star League managed to destroy Clan Smoke Jaguar during the [[Refusal War]], the Clan invasion was finally over, but the problems in the Inner Sphere were only beginning to escalate.<ref name=FCCW13>''FedCom Civil War'', pp. 13–16</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="5" | Factions during the Clan Invasion
|-
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Major)
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Minor)
! width="20%" | Periphery
! width="20%" | Deep Periphery
! width="20%" | Invading Clans
|-
| [[Capellan Confederation]]
| [[Arc-Royal Defense Cordon]]
| [[Circinus Federation]]
| [[Alexandrian Covenant]]
| [[Clan Diamond Shark]]
|-
| [[ComStar]]
| [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]
| [[Illyrian Palatinate]]
| [[Alfirk]]
| [[Clan Ghost Bear]]
|-
| [[Draconis Combine]]
| [[Duchy of Small]]
| [[Lothian League]]
| [[Axumite Providence]]
| [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
|-
| [[Federated Commonwealth]]
| [[Free Rasalhague Republic]]
| [[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| [[Chainelane Isles]]
| [[Clan Nova Cat]]
|-
| [[Free Worlds League]]
| [[Saiph Triumvirate]]
| [[Marian Hegemony]]
| [[Coreward Confederacy]]
| [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
|-
| [[Lyran Alliance]]
| [[Sarna Supremacy]]
| [[Outworlds Alliance]]
| [[Hanseatic League]]
| [[Clan Steel Viper]]
|-
| [[Second Star League]]
| [[St. Ives Compact]]
| [[Rim Collection]]
| [[JàrnFòlk]]
| [[Clan Wolf]]
|-
| [[Word of Blake]]
| [[Sirian Holds]]
| [[Taurian Concordat]]
| [[New Delphi Compact]]
| 
|-
|
| [[Styk Commonality]]
|
| [[Nueva Castile]]
| 
|-
|
| [[Terracap Confederation]]
|
| [[Umayyad Caliphate]]
| 
|-
|
|
|
| [[Union of Samoyedic Colonies]]
|
|}

=== Civil War Era ===
{{Main|FedCom Civil War}}
Nominally a civil war between the two halves of the sundered Federated Commonwealth, the Civil War quickly degenerated into a conflict involving all major Inner Sphere powers, an innumerable amount of mercenary units, and several of the relocated Clans. At the end of the conflict, the Federated Commonwealth was gone forever, with the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth being recreated by their new rulers.<ref name=FCCW180>''FedCom Civil War'', p. 180</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="5" | Factions during the Civil War Era
|-
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Major)
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Minor)
! width="20%" | Periphery
! width="20%" | Deep Periphery
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere Clans
|-
| [[Capellan Confederation]]
| [[Arc-Royal Defense Cordon]]
| [[Circinus Federation]]
| [[Alexandrian Covenant]]
| [[Clan Diamond Shark]]
|-
| [[ComStar]]
| [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]
| [[Fronc Reaches]]
| [[Alfirk]]
| [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
|-
| [[Draconis Combine]]
| [[Duchy of Small]]
| [[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| [[Axumite Providence]]
| [[Clan Hell's Horses]]
|-
| [[Federated Commonwealth]]
| [[Free Rasalhague Republic]]
| [[Marian Hegemony]]
| [[Chainelane Isles]]
| [[Clan Nova Cat]]
|-
| [[Free Worlds League]]
| [[Saiph Triumvirate]]
| [[Outworlds Alliance]]
| [[Coreward Confederacy]]
| [[Clan Wolf]]
|-
| [[Lyran Alliance]]
| [[Sirian Holds]]
| [[Rim Collection]]
| [[Hanseatic League]]
| [[Ghost Bear Dominion]]
|-
| [[Second Star League]]
| [[Styk Commonality]]
| [[Taurian Concordat]]
| [[JàrnFòlk]]
| 
|-
| [[Word of Blake]]
| [[Terracap Confederation]]
| 
| [[New Delphi Compact]]
| 
|-
|
|
|
| [[Nueva Castile]]
|
|-
|
|
|
| [[Umayyad Caliphate]]
|
|-
|
|
|
| [[Union of Samoyedic Colonies]]
|
|}

=== Jihad ===
{{Main|Jihad}}
The Word of Blake Jihad began as an impulsive reaction by the Word of Blake after the fall of the Second Star League in [[3067]]. It eventually escalated into a series of conflicts between most major Inner Sphere and Periphery factions, leaving several realms (last among them the Word of Blake itself) utterly destroyed. United in a fragile coalition, the Anti-Word of Blake forces eventually forced the Word back unto Terra itself, which was finally reclaimed in 3078.<ref name=JHST130>''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 130</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="5" | Factions during the Jihad
|-
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Major)
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Minor)
! width="20%" | Periphery
! width="20%" | Deep Periphery
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere Clans
|-
| [[Capellan Confederation]]
| [[Abbey District]]
| [[Calderon Protectorate]]
| [[Alexandrian Covenant]]
| [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
|-
| [[ComStar]]
| [[Azami Brotherhood]]
| [[Circinus Federation]]
| [[Alfirk]]
| [[Clan Diamond Shark]]
|-
| [[Draconis Combine]]
| [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]
| [[Fiefdom of Randis]]
| [[Axumite Providence]]
| [[Clan Hell's Horses]]
|-
| [[Federated Suns]]
| [[Duchy of Andurien]]
| [[Filtvelt Coalition]]
| [[Chainelane Isles]]
| [[Clan Nova Cat]]
|-
| [[Free Worlds League]]
| [[Duchy of Graham-Marik]]
| [[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| [[Coreward Confederacy]]
| [[Clan Snow Raven]]
|-
| [[Lyran Alliance]]
| [[Duchy of Oriente]]
| [[Malagrotta Cooperative]]
| [[Hanseatic League]]
| [[Clan Wolf]]
|-
| [[Word of Blake]]
| [[Duchy of Orloff]]
| [[Marian Hegemony]]
| [[JàrnFòlk]]
| [[Ghost Bear Dominion]]
|-
| 
| [[Duchy of Tamarind]]
| [[Niops Association]]
| [[New Delphi Compact]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Free Rasalhague Republic]]
| [[Outworlds Alliance]]
| [[Nueva Castile]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Kittery Prefecture]]
| [[Rim Collection]]
| [[Umayyad Caliphate]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Marik Commonwealth]]
| [[Taurian Concordat]]
| [[Union of Samoyedic Colonies]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Mosiro Archipelago]]
| [[Tortuga Dominions]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| [[Ohrenson-Zion Province]]
|
| 
|
|-
| 
| [[Principality of Gibson]]
| 
| 
|
|-
| 
| [[Principality of Regulus]]
| 
| 
|
|-
| 
| [[The Protectorate]]
| 
| 
|
|-
| 
| [[Regulan Free States]]
| 
| 
|
|-
| 
| [[Silver Hawks Coalition]]
| 
| 
|
|-
| 
| [[Stewart Commonality]]
| 
| 
|
|}

=== Republic Era ===
The Republic era began with the birth of the nation known as the [[Republic of the Sphere]], and ended with the widespread collapse of the bulk of the [[HPG]] network across human space in [[3130]].<ref name=CGLRuling>[http://web.archive.org/web/20100306030220/http://www.classicbattletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,53918.msg1293019.html Catalyst Game Labs' forum: "Topic: The Republic era?"] (archived)</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="5" | Factions during the Republic Era
|-
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Major)
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Minor)
! width="20%" | Periphery
! width="20%" | Deep Periphery
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere Clans
|-
| [[Capellan Confederation]]
| [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]
| [[Calderon Protectorate]]
| [[Alexandrian Covenant]]
| [[Clan Diamond Shark]]
|-
| [[Draconis Combine]]
| [[Duchy of Andurien]]
| [[Ferris Collective]]
| [[Alfirk]]
| [[Clan Hell's Horses]]
|-
| [[Federated Suns]]
| [[Duchy of Graham-Marik]]
| [[Fiefdom of Randis]]
| [[Axumite Providence]]
| [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
|-
| [[Lyran Alliance]]
| [[Duchy of Oriente]]
| [[Filtvelt Coalition]]
| [[Chainelane Isles]]
| [[Clan Nova Cat]]
|-
| [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
| [[Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey]]
| [[Fronc Reaches]]
| [[Coreward Confederacy]]
| [[Clan Sea Fox]]
|-
| [[Republic of the Sphere]]
| [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
| [[Lothian League]]
| [[Escorpión Imperio]]
| [[Clan Snow Raven]]
|-
|
| [[Mosiro Archipelago]]
| [[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| [[Hanseatic League]]
| [[Clan Wolf]]
|-
| 
| [[Principality of Regulus]]
| [[Marian Hegemony]]
| [[JàrnFòlk]]
| [[Ghost Bear Dominion]]
|-
| 
| [[The Protectorate]]
| [[New Oberon Confederation]]
| [[New Delphi Compact]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Rasalhague Dominion]]
| [[Niops Association]]
| [[Nueva Castile]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Regulan Free States]]
| [[Outworlds Alliance]]
| [[Umayyad Caliphate]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Regulan Fiefs]]
| [[Ragnarök Union]]
| [[Union of Samoyedic Colonies]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Rim Commonality]]
| [[Raven Alliance]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| [[Silver Hawks Coalition]]
| [[Republic of the Barrens]]
| 
|
|-
|
|
| [[Rim Collection]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| 
| [[Taurian Concordat]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| 
| [[Tortuga Dominions]]
| 
|
|}

=== Dark Age Era ===
The Dark Age era began with the widespread collapse of the bulk of the [[HPG]] network across human space in [[3130]].<ref name=CGLRuling />

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="5" | Factions during the Dark age Era
|-
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Major)
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Minor)
! width="20%" | Periphery
! width="20%" | Deep Periphery
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere Clans
|-
| [[Capellan Confederation]]
| [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile]]
| [[Calderon Protectorate]]
| [[Alexandrian Covenant]]
| [[Clan Sea Fox]]
|-
| [[Draconis Combine]]
| [[Duchy of Andurien]]
| [[Ferris Collective]]
| [[Alfirk]]
| [[Clan Hell's Horses]]
|-
| [[Federated Suns]]
| [[Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey]]
| [[Fiefdom of Randis]]
| [[Axumite Providence]]
| [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
|-
| [[Free Worlds League]]
| [[Galatean League]]
| [[Filtvelt Coalition]]
| [[Chainelane Isles]]
| [[Clan Nova Cat]]
|-
| [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
| [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
| [[Fronc Reaches]]
| [[Coreward Confederacy]]
| 
|-
| [[Republic of the Sphere]]
| [[Rasalhague Dominion]]
| [[Lothian League]]
| [[Escorpión Imperio]]
| 
|-
| 
| [[Regulan Fiefs]]
| [[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| [[Hanseatic League]]
| 
|-
| 
| [[Republic Remnant]]
| [[Marian Hegemony]]
| [[JàrnFòlk]]
| 
|-
| 
| [[Rim Commonality]]
| [[New Oberon Confederation]]
| [[New Delphi Compact]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Wolf Empire]]
| [[Niops Association]]
| [[Union of Samoyedic Colonies]]
|
|-
| 
| 
| [[Tortuga Dominions]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| 
| [[Ragnarök Union]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| 
| [[Raven Alliance]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| 
| [[Republic of the Barrens]]
| 
|
|-
|
|
| [[Rim Collection]]
|
|
|-
|
|
| [[Rim Territories]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| 
| [[Taurian Concordat]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
|}

=== ilClan Era ===
Following the the [[ilClan Trial]] between Clan Wolf and Jade Falcon, a new era emerged in [[3151]].

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="5" | Factions during the ilClan Era
|-
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Major)
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere (Minor)
! width="20%" | Periphery
! width="20%" | Deep Periphery
! width="20%" | Inner Sphere Clans
|-
| [[Capellan Confederation]]
| [[Tamar Pact]]
| [[Calderon Protectorate]]
| [[Alexandrian Covenant]]
| [[Clan Sea Fox]]
|-
| [[Draconis Combine]]
| [[Duchy of Andurien]]
| [[Ferris Collective]]
| [[Alfirk]]
| [[Clan Hell's Horses]]
|-
| [[Federated Suns]]
| [[Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey]]
| [[Fiefdom of Randis]]
| [[Axumite Providence]]
| [[Clan Jade Falcon]]
|-
| [[Free Worlds League]]
| [[Galatean League]]
| [[Filtvelt Coalition]]
| [[Chainelane Isles]]
| [[Clan Nova Cat]]
|-
| [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
| [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
| [[Fronc Reaches]]
| [[Coreward Confederacy]]
| 
|-
| [[Star_League_(3151–)|Star League]]
| [[Rasalhague Dominion]]
| [[Lothian League]]
| [[Scorpion Empire]]
| 
|-
| 
| [[Regulan Fiefs]]
| [[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| [[Home Clans]]
| 
|-
| 
| [[Tamar Pact]]
| [[Marian Hegemony]]
| [[JàrnFòlk]]
| 
|-
| 
| [[Rim Commonality]]
| [[New Oberon Confederation]]
| [[New Delphi Compact]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Wolf Empire]]
| [[Niops Association]]
| [[Union of Samoyedic Colonies]]
|
|-
| 
| [[Vesper Marches]]
| [[Tortuga Dominions]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| [[Alyina Mercantile League]]
| [[Ragnarök Union]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| [[Arc-Royal Liberty Coalition]]
| [[Raven Alliance]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| [[Clan Jade Falcon Remnants]]
| [[Republic of the Barrens]]
| 
|
|-
|
|
| [[Timbuktu Collective]]
|
|
|-
|
|
| [[Rim Territories]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| 
| [[Taurian Concordat]]
| 
|
|-
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
|}

== Mercenaries ==
{{Main|Mercenary Commands}}
Modern mercenaries have their root in the chaos of the Second Exodus, when they were commonly used in the hundreds of border conflicts between the emerging statelets. In use during the hidden wars of the Star League members, mercenary units began to multiply both in numbers and power since the beginning of the Succession Wars. Even in later eras, mercenaries retained their prominent role in military conflicts.<ref name=FMM7>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', pp. 7–9</ref>

{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="4" | Notable Mercenary Units
|-
| width="25%" | [[21st Centauri Lancers]]
| width="25%" | [[Hansen's Roughriders]]
| width="25%" | [[McCarron's Armored Cavalry]]
| width="25%" | [[Team Banzai]]
|-
| [[Black Thorns]]
| [[Hell's Black Aces]]
| [[Miller's Marauders]]
| [[Waco Rangers]]
|-
| [[Eridani Light Horse]]
| [[Illician Lancers]]
| [[Northwind Highlanders]]
| [[Wannamaker's Widowmakers]]
|-
| [[Gray Death Legion]]
| [[Kell Hounds]]
| [[Snord's Irregulars]]
| [[Wolf's Dragoons]]
|-
| [[Ronin (Mercenary Command)]]
| 
| 
| 
|}

== Others ==
{|class="wikitable" style="width:800px; background: #gray; text-align:center; border: 2px solid black;"
! colspan="3" | Other notable factions
|-
! width="33%" | Philosophies
! width="34%" | Corporations
! width="33%" | Conspiracies
|-
| [[Cult of the Saints Cameron]]
| [[Interstellar Expeditions]]
| [[Brotherhood of Cincinnatus]]
|-
| [[Far Lookers]]
| [[Irian Technologies]]
| [[Davion Warriors' Cabal]]
|-
| [[Inheritors]]
| 
| [[Sixth of June]]
|-
| [[One Star Faith]]
|
| 
|}

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[DropShips and JumpShips]]''
* ''[[Explorer Corps (sourcebook)|Explorer Corps]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)|FedCom Civil War]]''
* ''[[Interstellar Players]]''
* ''[[Invading Clans]]''
* ''[[Jihad Conspiracies: Interstellar Players 2]]''
* ''[[The Periphery (sourcebook)|The Periphery, First Edition]]''
* ''[[Shattered Sphere]]''
* ''[[The Star League]]''


[[Category:BattleTech Universe]]