Free Worlds League

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Crest of the Free Worlds League
Free Worlds League
Faction Profile
Time period: 2271
Classification: Successor State
Controlled systems: 330+
Capital world: Atreus
Ruler title: Captain-General
Military: Free Worlds League Military
Secret Service: SAFE

The Free Worlds League is one of the five Successor States of the Inner Sphere. Its capital is Atreus and the League is ruled by a Captain-General, leaders of House Marik.

The Free Worlds League is notable as the first successor state founded in the Inner Sphere. It is multicultural, with strong European, Oriental, American and Hindu influences. It also traditionally offered great autonomy to its component regions, like the Duchy of Oriente, Principality of Regulus, and Duchy of Andurien.

History

The Free Worlds League was founded in 2271 with the signing of the Treaty of Marik between the Marik Republic, Federation of Oriente, and Regulan Principality. The new nation came together when it conquered the Stewart Commonality in 2293.

The League found tougher opponents in the Capellan Confederation and Lyran Commonwealth. The League warred with the Capellans over Andurien and the worlds near it time and time again. The Age of War began as a conflict over Andurien, and the peace that ended the Third Andurien War paved the way for the creation of the Star League.

House Marik took great pride in the Star League, but it was destroyed in the Amaris coup. The five Successor States fought three Succession Wars from 2785 to 3025 to determine who would become the next First Lord, each more inconclusive then the last. The League was forced to largely stay out of the conflicts of the early 31st century because of internal problems, including Anton's Revolt and the Andurien Crisis.

The Clan Invasion proved a boon to the Free Worlds, as its industry provided the war material the other Inner Sphere powers needed to stave off the Clans. Even when Captain-General Thomas Marik launched a punitive invasion in 3057 for the death of his son, the League earned a quick victory and settled back down to peace.

The Word of Blake Jihad tore the Free Worlds asunder, both from within and without. The provinces warred with one another and split apart in the 3080s, though they still banded together for mutual defense. In 3139, Jessica Marik reunited some of the former Free Worlds provinces under her leadership.

Military

The Free Worlds League has a strong emphasis on combined-arms tactics, with almost all of their regiments featuring a large number of infantry, armor, and aerospace assets, as well as one of the largest navies in the Inner Sphere. The focus on BattleMechs, however, does exist within their elite regiments, including the Knights of the Inner Sphere.

Government

The government of the Free Worlds League is a representative democracy operating under martial law. The individual members of the parliament are determined by planetary governments. Consequently, the Free Worlds League's parliament may include elected representatives and representatives appointed by planetary dictators as well. This results in a mixture of regional and federal authorities. The individuals within the overlapping layers of bureaucracy continually vie for prominence.[1]

At the federal level, a struggle for power between the legislative (Parliament) and executive (the Captain-General) existed almost as soon as the nation was formed. The relative dominance of either side waxed and waned over the centuries, though, in general, the Captain-General accrued more and more authority.[1]

Parliament

The Marik Parliament

According to the Treaty of Marik, Parliament is the supreme governing body of the Free Worlds League. Parliament has the power to pass laws, create taxes, and decide on appropriations. In each, two-year session, Parliament elects a speaker. The speaker then selects ministers to oversee the various standing committees. The Speaker and nine Ministers form the League Council. Of the nine ministers, at least one must come from each of the founding League provinces. Though any Member of Parliament (MP) can propose legislation, bills that come from the council are more likely to be voted on.[2]

In addition to the main Parliamentary body, the League also has the non-constitutional Lords of the Realm. The Lords of the Realm is composed of nobles who are at least planetary rulers. This body functions in an advisory role to Parliament and cannot vote. The Lords are not paid for their service, so few choose to actually attend any given session. Nonetheless, the prominence of the members and their presence at court ensure the Lords are given more media attention than the importance of the body merits.[3]

Captain-General

Constitutionally, the Captain-General has only the power to oversee military matters when so appointed by Parliament. The Captain-General originally held a one-year term that could be renewed indefinitely. Eight centuries of Parliamentary acts resulted in much greater power for the Captain-General.[4]

House Marik has a virtual stranglehold on the Captain-Generalcy, though there is no constitutional authority behind that, only historical precedent. Only two non-Marik Captain-Generals were ever appointed, and they were disastrous. The Succession Act of 2310 essentially allows House Marik the ability to select a member of their family to be Captain-General.[4]

The formation of the Star League made the Captain-General a permanent position. Because of an agreement with House Cameron, the Marik Captain-General was recognized as the Council Lord from the Free Worlds League.[5] Following the fall of the Star League, Parliament passed Resolution 288, which gave the Captain-General broad power "for the duration of the crisis". These powers included the ability to convene and dismiss Parliament, supreme authority over the Free Worlds League Military, the right to choose one's successor, and the authority to nationalize industries associated with military production.[6][4]

Two laws passed in the 3030s gave the Captain-General unprecedented power. The Internal Emergency Act of 3030 was passed in response to the Andurien Secession. The law stripped all of the provinces except the Duchy of Oriente and Principality of Regulus of their autonomy, subjecting them to the rule of the Captain-General.[7] The Addendum to the Incorporation, passed in 3037 at the insistence of Captain-General Thomas Marik, removed the ability of Parliament to use finances as a measure of checking the Captain-General's power and gave him veto power over every law passed by Parliament.[8][4]

Manufacturing Centers

A list of some Free Worlds League manufacturing centers.

Heavy Aerospace Industry[9]

3067

Major Defense Industries[10]

3067

Historical Maps Gallery

See Also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Handbook: House Marik, p. 78
  2. Handbook: House Marik, pp. 78 & 82-84, "Parliament"
  3. Handbook: House Marik, p. 84, "Lords of the Realm"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Handbook: House Marik, p. 78, "The Captain-General"
  5. House Marik (The Free Worlds League), p. 18, "Forging the New Alliance"
  6. Handbook: House Marik, p. 81, "Resolution 288: Key Points"
  7. Handbook: House Marik, p. 81, "The Internal Emergency Act of 3030: Key Points"
  8. Handbook: House Marik, p. 81, "Addendum to the Incorporation: Key Points"
  9. Strategic Operations, p. 14
  10. Tactical Operations, p. 14

Bibliography