Editing Inner Sphere

{{Update Needed|[[Handbook: Major Periphery States]]}}
{{refimprove}}
{{otheruses|the interstellar region|other uses|Inner Sphere (disambiguation)}}

The '''Inner Sphere''' is a region of interstellar space surrounding Earth to a radius of roughly 450 - 550 light-years, generally demarcated by the outer borders of the "[[Great Houses]]."  Within this region of about 2 million stars, there are approximately 2000 inhabited planets. Beyond the Inner Sphere is the [[Periphery]].

==History==
[[File:MilkyWay.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Position and size of the Inner Sphere in the Galaxy (red dot)]]
{{main|History of the Inner Sphere}}
Colonization of the Inner Sphere began in [[2108]] when the [[Terran Alliance]] launched the first manned faster-than-light mission aboard the ''[[TAS Pathfinder]]''. Between 2108 and [[2235]], the Terran Alliance colonized and ruled the first centralized interstellar government in human history, controlling more than 600 colonies within 120 light years of [[Terra]]. However, corruption and logistics made it impossible to adequately govern such a large body.  Private concerns "illegally" funded exploration and colonization of Inner Sphere worlds as well as worlds located in the [[Periphery]] and the [[Deep Periphery]]. Despite the best efforts of the Terran Alliance to end "blockade running", by the end of the [[Outer Reaches Rebellion]] in [[2236]], the Terran Alliance was declining.

From c. A.D. 2300 to 2787, the Inner Sphere was divided into five "pie wedges" around a central, roughly circular core centered on Terra:<br>
<br>
* The [[Terran Hegemony]], established [[2315]]
** Rulers: [[House Cameron]]
* The [[Free Worlds League]], established [[2271]]
** Rulers: [[House Marik]]
* The [[Federated Suns]], established [[2317]]
** Rulers: [[House Davion]]
* The [[Draconis Combine]], established [[2319]]
** Rulers: [[House Kurita]]
* The [[Lyran Commonwealth]], established [[2340]]
** Rulers: [[House Steiner]]
* The [[Capellan Confederation]], established [[2367]]
**Rulers: [[House Liao]]
<br>
Shortly after the formation of the Great Houses, the [[Age of War]] began. The end of the Age of War accompanied the formation of the [[Star League]], a multinational administrative and peacekeeping treaty, which lasted for ~250 years. During the Star League era, mankind achieved technological marvels, and the relative stability of the age is still viewed as a utopian period by the people of the Inner Sphere, though this view is colored by nostalgic myth. With the collapse of the Star League in [[2781]] and exodus of the [[Star League Defense Force]] from the Inner Sphere, the Great Houses consumed the moribund Hegemony and turned on each other. Only [[Terra]] remained independent under the aegis of neutral interstellar communications agency, [[ComStar]].

During the next 250 years, civilization was hammered from its twenty-eighth century peak down to twenty-first-century technology on many worlds and to more primitive states on others - and hundreds of worlds had their populations exterminated altogether. The cause for this warfare was a matter of feudal succession to the throne of the fallen Star League, hence the four wars of this period were called [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]], while the five Great Houses were said to rule [[Successor States]].

* The [[First Succession War]], [[2786]]-[[2821]]
* The [[Second Succession War]], [[2830]]-[[2864]]
* The [[Third Succession War]], [[2866]]-[[3025]]
* The [[Fourth Succession War]], [[3028]]-[[3030]]

Despite hundreds of billions of deaths, the first three Succession Wars resulted in little change to the map after the First Succession War divided the [[Terran Hegemony]] between the five [[Successor States]]. 

The brief Fourth Succession War brought a dramatic change when the [[Lyran Commonwealth]] and [[Federated Suns]], on opposite sides of the Sphere, united and conquered much of the other [[Successor States]]' territories. A number of minor nations appeared in the Inner Sphere during or shortly after the [[Fourth Succession War]], at the expense of the [[Draconis Combine]], the [[Free Worlds League]] and the [[Capellan Confederation]]:

==Minor Nations==
* The [[Tikonov Free Republic]], [[3028]]-[[3031]]
* The [[St. Ives Compact]], [[3029]]-[[3063]]
* The [[Free Rasalhague Republic]], [[3034]]-[[3103]]
* The [[Duchy of Andurien]], [[3030]]-[[3040]]

The political balance of the Inner Sphere changed fundamentally when the vanished scions of the Star League Defense Force, the [[Clans]], returned to conquer the Inner Sphere and restore the "[[Star League]]". The Clan Invasion ([[3049]]-[[3052]]) nearly destroyed the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]], while the Lyran half of the [[Federated Commonwealth]] and the [[Draconis Combine]] lost many systems. Though the Clan invasion was halted after the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]], the [[Invading Clans]] were in the Inner Sphere to stay. As denizens of the Inner Sphere, Clan politics and practices tended to change, reflecting both an increase in affluence (the [[Clan Homeworlds]] are considered marginally hospitable compared with worlds of the Inner Sphere) and the need to interact with their new neighbors.

==Beyond the Inner Sphere==

The [[Periphery]] surrounding the Inner Sphere is home to a few nations of moderate power, bandit kingdoms, and many independent worlds cut off from civilization with the collapse of the Star League. The Inner Sphere perceives the Periphery much like modern developed nations perceive the Third World, though some of the major Periphery nations compare well with the weaker Inner Sphere states.

Beyond the Periphery lies the rest of the universe, known as the [[Deep Periphery]]. In addition to the distant Clan Homeworlds, a number of independent worlds and small civilizations have been founded, though contact with mainstream humanity is usually intermittent at best.

==Inner Sphere Map Galleries==

===Outline===
<gallery>
Image:Inner-sphere-2235.jpg|Outline Map of the Inner Sphere - 2235
Image:Inner-sphere-2570.jpg|Outline Map of the Inner Sphere - 2570
Image:Inner-sphere-3025.jpg|Outline Map of the Inner Sphere - 3025
Image:Inner-sphere-3030.jpg|Outline Map of the Inner Sphere - 3030
Image:Inner-sphere-3040.jpg|Outline Map of the Inner Sphere - 3040
Image:Inner-sphere-3052.jpg|Outline Map of the Inner Sphere - 3052
Image:Inner-sphere-3057.jpg|Outline Map of the Inner Sphere - 3057
Image:Inner-sphere-3062.jpg|Outline Map of the Inner Sphere - 3062
Image:Inner-sphere-3067.jpg|Outline Map of the Inner Sphere - 3067
</gallery>

===Sarna Cartography===
:''See Also'':
:* [[BattleTechWiki:Map Legend|Sarna Map Legend]]
:* [[BattleTechWiki:System coordinates| Essays: "How system coordinates are determined"]]
====Inner Sphere====
'''Select the thumbnail image and then the resulting file icon.''' 
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<gallery>

2571 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2571 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 2571<br>Star League Founding
2596 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2596 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 2596<br>End of the Reunification War
2750 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2750 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 2750<br>Beginning of the Fall of the Star League
2765 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2765 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 2765<br>Eve of the Amaris Coup
2767 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2767 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 2767<br>Amaris Empire
2783 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2783 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 2783<br>Annexations of the Terran Hegemony
2786 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2786 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 2786<br>Start of the 1st Succession War
2821 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2821 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 2821<br>Start of Operation KLONDIKE
2822 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2822 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 2822<br>End of the 1st Succession War
2830 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2830 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 2830<br>Start of the 2nd Succession War
2864 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2864 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 2864<br>End of the 2nd Succession War
3025 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3025 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3025<br>End of the 3rd Succession War
3030 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3030 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3030<br>End of the 4th Succession War
3040 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3040 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3040<br>End of the War of 3039
3049 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3049 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3049<br>Start of Operation REVIVAL
3052 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3052 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3052<br>End of Operation REVIVAL
3057 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3057 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3057<br>Start of Operation GUERRERO
3058 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3058 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3058<br>End of Operation GUERRERO
3059 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3059 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3059<br>End of Operation BULLDOG
3063 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3063 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3063<br>Start of the FedCom Civil War
3067 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3067 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3067<br>End of the FedCom Civil War
3068 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3068 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3068<br>Start of the Jihad
3075 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3075 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3075<br>Middle of the Jihad
3081 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3081 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3081<br>End of the Jihad
3085 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3085 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3085<br>End of the Wars of Reaving
3095 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3095 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3095<br>Republic of the Sphere
3130 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3130 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3130<br>Devlin Stone's Retirement
3135 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3135 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3135<br>Fortress Republic
3145 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3145 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3145<br>Return of Devlin Stone
3151 Inner Sphere (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3151 Inner Sphere (Sarna).svg|Inner Sphere 3151<br>ilClan Trial

</gallery>

====Known Universe====
'''Select the thumbnail image and then the resulting file icon.'''
'''To zoom in & out, hold the CTRL key while scrolling on your mouse.'''
<gallery>
2571 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2571 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 2571<br>Star League Founding
2596 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2596 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 2596<br>End of the Reunification War
2750 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2750 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 2750<br>Beginning of the Fall of the Star League
2765 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2765 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 2765<br>Eve of the Amaris Coup
2767 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2767 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 2767<br>Amaris Empire
2783 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2783 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 2783<br>Annexations of the Terran Hegemony
2786 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2786 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 2786<br>Start of the 1st Succession War
2821 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2821 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 2821<br>Start of Operation KLONDIKE
2822 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2822 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 2822<br>End of the 1st Succession War
2830 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2830 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 2830<br>Start of the 2nd Succession War
2864 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:2864 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 2864<br>End of the 2nd Succession War
3025 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3025 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3025<br>End of the 3rd Succession War
3030 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3030 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3030<br>End of the 4th Succession War
3040 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3040 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3040<br>End of the War of 3039
3049 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3049 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3049<br>Start of Operation REVIVAL
3052 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3052 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3052<br>End of Operation REVIVAL
3057 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3057 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3057<br>Start of Operation GUERRERO
3058 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3058 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3058<br>End of Operation GUERRERO
3059 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3059 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3059<br>Operation BULLDOG: Wave 4
3063 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3063 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3063<br>Start of the FedCom Civil War
3067 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3067 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3067<br>End of the FedCom Civil War
3068 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3068 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3068<br>Start of the Jihad
3075 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3075 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3075<br>Middle of the Jihad
3081 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3081 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3081<br>End of the Jihad
3085 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3085 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3085<br>End of the Wars of Reaving
3095 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3095 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3095<br>Republic of the Sphere
3130 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3130 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3130<br>Devlin Stone's Retirement
3135 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3135 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3135<br>Dark Age
3145 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3145 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3145<br>Dark Age
3151 Known Universe (Sarna) thumbnail.jpg|link=File:3151 Known Universe (Sarna).svg|Known Universe 3151<br>Dark Age

</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
*''[[The Periphery (sourcebook)]]''


{{wikipedia|82298776}}


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