Free Worlds League

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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

Main article: History of the Free Worlds League

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 the Marik Civil War 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

Main article: Free Worlds League 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. Among 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, a body 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

Main article: 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]

Provinces

The number of provinces within the Free Worlds League grew dramatically from its founding, from just 15 in 2571 to 154 in 3025. Except for expansion into the former Terran Hegemony though, most of this growth came about from the fragmentation of larger polities. The vast majority of provinces also contained no more than one or two planets.[9] By 3067 the League had increased to 161, but for the most part was still dominated by the major provinces of the realm.[10]

Marik Commonwealth

One of the three original founders of the League, the Marik Commonwealth was the personal demesne of House Marik and the heart of the League. Its capital, Atreus, served as the headquarters for the military and the federal government. Safeguarded from the ravages of the Succession Wars, the Marik Commonwealth became the richest of the provinces, with a dynamic economy and vibrant culture. Within Parliament, the Commonwealth had the largest (and most unified) number of MPs.

Principality of Regulus

Second of the founding members, the Principality of Regulus was originally a mercantile alliance ruled over by House Selaj, until their growing opposition to House Marik's rule (culminating in their support for the infamous "Scourge of Death" terrorist group), instigated their forced deposition by Captain-General Geralk Marik. The succeeding House Cameron-Jones was initially loyal to House Marik, though they too eventually grew apart over time and Regulans once again became known for their regionalism. The Principality was second only to the Marik Commonwealth in terms of economic output.

Duchy of Oriente

The Duchy of Oriente was the third founder of the League. Formerly the technological and industrial center of the League, the Duchy of Oriente was ravaged during the Succession Wars, especially by the Capellan Confederation. House Allison once ruled the Duchy until their last heir died fighting against House Liao in 2845; their position was later taken up by House Halas, a MechWarrior family endorsed by House Marik. A desire for revenge against the Capellans often saw Oriente MPs allying with the Marik Commonwealth in Parliment, though they were not above wielding their power as a "swing vote" between the Commonwealth and Regulus for their own purposes.

Duchy of Andurien

Once a minor member of the League, the Duchy of Andurien was initially partitioned off to the Capellan Confederation during the Star League era, only to be reborn during the First Succession War and become one of the strongest in the Free Worlds League. Chaffing under the rule of the transplanted House Humphrey and the federal government, the fiercely independent Anduriens would make their bid for independence in the Andurien Secession. The ten-year conflict resulted in the province's forceful reintegration into the League and the disbandment of its military, along with an increase presence of SAFE operatives.

Manufacturing Centers

A list of some Free Worlds League manufacturing centers.

Heavy Aerospace Industry[11]

3067

Major Defense Industries[12]

3067

Era Maps Gallery

  • Free Worlds League at its founding in 2271

  • Free Worlds League after the Age of War in 2571

  • Free Worlds League after the Reunification War in 2596

  • Free Worlds League after the First Succession War in 2822

  • Free Worlds League after the Second Succession War in 2864

  • Free Worlds League after the Third Succession War in 3025

  • Free Worlds League after the Fourth Succession War in 3030

  • Free Worlds League after Operation Guerrero in 3058

  • Free Worlds League after the FedCom Civil War in 3067

  • former Free Worlds League 3130

Historical Maps

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. ↑ House Marik: The Free Worlds League, p. 62
  10. ↑ Handbook: House Marike, p. 62-68
  11. ↑ Strategic Operations, p. 14
  12. ↑ Tactical Operations, p. 14

Bibliography

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