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Description

The Free Worlds League is one of the five Successor States of the Inner Sphere. Founded in 2271 it is the oldest of these realms, and unlike the others is technically a federation of smaller states ruled by a democratic Parliament rather than a single nation under one Great House. In practice, the League has usually been a de facto military dictatorship under the Captains-General of House Marik, although their authority has been more contested than that of other House Lords. This internal strife and the League's strength as a mercantile and industrial power have arisen from the same source: the sheer diversity of the League's member provinces.
From before the Age of War through the Star League and Succession Wars eras, the Free Worlds League held its own against its external enemies but was plagued by factionalism and occasionally civil war. The mid-thirty-first century seemed to herald a new golden age for the League, as Captain-General Thomas Marik strengthened federal authority and the Clan Invasion resulted in the League's economy booming from arms exports. But providing a haven for the Word of Blake following the ComStar Schism ultimately led to the realm's undoing, as Blakist activity during the Jihad ravaged the League and finally led to its balkanizing in 3079.
For the next six decades three of the main microstates of the former League fought and maneuvered against one another, until Jessica Marik of Oriente succeeded in reuniting most of the former League in 3139. Over the next eleven years the reborn Free Worlds League endured an invasion by Clan Wolf and managed to reabsorb another wayward province, though its unity and overall survival remained dubious at times.

Here are the name of a few of the most famous unit of the Free Worlds League Military:
Free Worlds Legionnaires,
Fusiliers of Oriente,

Regulan Hussars,

Marik Militia,

Silver Hawk Irregulars,

Atrean Dragoons,

Knights of the Inner Sphere.

Throughout its history the military of the Free Worlds League mirrored that of its government. Superficially under the control of Parliament, the FWLM answered to the Captain-General, with the League Central Coordination and Command group issuing orders on their behalf. Along the border with the Lyran and Capellan states were military districts, each commanded by a Marshal, who carried out the LCCC's directives and exercised broad authority to respond to enemy incursions.
However, only a fraction of the FWLM were federal troops, or League forces, answerable (and loyal) only to the Captain-General and the LCCC and funded by the federal government. The rest were provincial troops, raised, equipped and organized by each province for their own self-defense. In times of need the provincial armies could be mustered and placed under the command of the Captain-General, but starting in the thirtieth century this right began to be questioned. With the passage of the Home Defense Act, any province which could muster a majority in Parliament could declare up to three-fourths of its provincial forces unavailable, severely curtailing FWLM operations. Increases in the number of federal troops and the powers of the Captain-Generalcy finally culminated in the Military Reorganization Act of 3046, which officially removed the federal-provincial divide and placed all units under the authority of the LCCC.
The Free Worlds League Military placed 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, did exist within their elite regiments, including the Knights of the Inner Sphere.
The Free Worlds League was founded in 2271 with the signing of the Treaty of Marik between the Marik Republic, Federation of Oriente, and Principality of Regulus. 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 thirty-first 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 matériel 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.
In 3148, the reborn League faced invasions from the Marian Hegemony, Regulan Fiefs and Duchy of Andurien, managing to defeat them all and invade the Regulan Fiefs. The state surrendered to the Free Worlds League following an invasion that was sparked by the assassination of Jessica Marik. The Regulan Fiefs were granted provisional status within the League for a period of ten years, after which they would be allowed to request full membership. By then, Andurien was the only former province of the League still out of the new.

According to the Treaty of Marik, Parliament was the supreme governing body of the Free Worlds League. Parliament had the power to pass laws, create taxes, and decide on appropriations. In each two-year session, Parliament elected a Speaker, who then appointed Ministers to oversee the nine federal agencies: Communications, Defense, Energy, Foreign Affairs, Human Services, Intelligence, Justice, Taxation and Trade. These appointments also had to be ratified by Parliament, though compared to the fights over the Speakership many of these votes were perfunctory. The Speaker and nine Ministers formed the League Council, which enjoyed broad customary powers. Although any MP could introduce any bill, tradition dictated that only the League Council introduce treaties, budget proposals, and tariff bills. Additionally, League Council members were guaranteed a hearing by Parliament and so their proposals were more likely to be voted on. Per the Act of Incorporation, at least one of the nine Ministers had to come from each of the three founding League provinces, which itself often served as a source of conflict.
After the Charter of Incorporation was put into effect in 3139, the number of MPs was reduced to a single MP per planet rather than being determined by taxes.
In addition to the main Parliamentary body, the League also had the Lords of the Realm, a body composed of nobles who were at least planetary rulers. This body functioned in an advisory role to Parliament and could not vote. The Lords were 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 ensured the Lords were given more media attention than the importance that the body merited.
Constitutionally, the Captain-General had 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. However, eight centuries of Parliamentary acts resulted in much greater power for the Captain-General.

House Marik had a virtual stranglehold on the Captain-Generalcy, though there was no constitutional authority behind that, only historical precedent. Only two non-Marik Captains-General were ever appointed, and both were disastrous. The Succession Act of 2310 essentially allowed House Marik the ability to select a member of their family to be Captain-General.
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 on the Star League High Council. Following the fall of the Star League, Parliament passed Resolution 288, which gave the Captain-General broad powers "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.
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. 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.
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. By 3067 the League had increased to 161 provinces, but for the most part was still dominated by the major provinces of the realm.
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 Parliament, 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 increased presence of SAFE operatives.
Other Provinces of Note
The Stewart Commonality was the first to be annexed by the nascent Free Worlds League; thereafter it became a strong supporter of the Marik Commonwealth. The Duchy of Graham-Marik was also a stalwart friend of House Marik, being related by blood, and the province was created from a small part of the Commonwealth as thanks to House Graham's support. The Abbey District was also historically a Marik ally, coming to prominence after the discovery of valuable rare earths within its territory, as was the Border Protectorate (not to be confused with the Protectorate, formerly ruled by Anton Marik until his failed rebellion caused the province to come under direct federal rule). The Duchy of Tamarind, while often positioning itself as a swing vote in Parliament, was reasonably friendly to the Marik government.
After the scourging of the Regulan Principality, several new provinces were created. The Rim Commonality maintained close ties with Regulus and was a frequent opponents of the Mariks in Parliament. The Principality of Gibson was ardently hostile to Regulus, although this cooled somewhat following the discovery of SAFE infiltrators within the Gibson government. Conversely, the Free Regulan States were successfully infiltrated by Regulan agents, which turned the pro-Marik government into an ardent supporter of Regulus.
The Duchy of Orloff was once a part of Oriente before gaining independence in a peaceable split, and with which it maintained friendly relations. The Sirian Concordance was formerly of the Terran Hegemony until their seizure during the Succession Wars. While having strong democratic traditions, Sirian MPs frequently quarreled with each other, preventing any sort of unified bloc. Both the Zion and Ohrensen provinces were gained via subterfuge at House Liao's expense, although at times their loyalty to the League was questioned.
While not exactly a province, the Silver Hawks was a coalition of independent worlds with common interests. Comprising Danais, Shiloh, Amity, Callison, and Kalidasa, the Silver Hawks frequently voted as a bloc in Parliament, typically in opposition to military adventures directed at the Lyran and Capellan states.
Heavy Aerospace Industry
Imstar Aerospace
Illium Shipyards
SelaSys Incorporated
Technicron Manufacturing
Major Defense Industries
Adam Tech Industries
Andurien AeroTech
Brigadier Corporation
Brooks Incorporated
Corean Enterprises
Deller-Bingham-Fouts
Earthwerks Incorporated
Exeter Organization
Gibson Federated BattleMechs
Grumman Amalgamated
Irian BattleMechs Unlimited
Kali Yama - Alphard Trading Corporation
Kali Yama Weapons Industries Incorporated
Kallon Industries
Nimakachi Fusion Products Limited
Ronin Incorporated
Quikscell Company
Technicron Manufacturing

Description

The Free Worlds League is one of the five Successor States of the Inner Sphere. Founded in 2271 it is the oldest of these realms, and unlike the others is technically a federation of smaller states ruled by a democratic Parliament rather than a single nation under one Great House. In practice, the League has usually been a de facto military dictatorship under the Captains-General of House Marik, although their authority has been more contested than that of other House Lords. This internal strife and the League's strength as a mercantile and industrial power have arisen from the same source: the sheer diversity of the League's member provinces.
From before the Age of War through the Star League and Succession Wars eras, the Free Worlds League held its own against its external enemies but was plagued by factionalism and occasionally civil war. The mid-thirty-first century seemed to herald a new golden age for the League, as Captain-General Thomas Marik strengthened federal authority and the Clan Invasion resulted in the League's economy booming from arms exports. But providing a haven for the Word of Blake following the ComStar Schism ultimately led to the realm's undoing, as Blakist activity during the Jihad ravaged the League and finally led to its balkanizing in 3079.
For the next six decades three of the main microstates of the former League fought and maneuvered against one another, until Jessica Marik of Oriente succeeded in reuniting most of the former League in 3139. Over the next eleven years the reborn Free Worlds League endured an invasion by Clan Wolf and managed to reabsorb another wayward province, though its unity and overall survival remained dubious at times.

Here are the name of a few of the most famous unit of the Free Worlds League Military:
Free Worlds Legionnaires,
Fusiliers of Oriente,

Regulan Hussars,

Marik Militia,

Silver Hawk Irregulars,

Atrean Dragoons,

Knights of the Inner Sphere.

Throughout its history the military of the Free Worlds League mirrored that of its government. Superficially under the control of Parliament, the FWLM answered to the Captain-General, with the League Central Coordination and Command group issuing orders on their behalf. Along the border with the Lyran and Capellan states were military districts, each commanded by a Marshal, who carried out the LCCC's directives and exercised broad authority to respond to enemy incursions.
However, only a fraction of the FWLM were federal troops, or League forces, answerable (and loyal) only to the Captain-General and the LCCC and funded by the federal government. The rest were provincial troops, raised, equipped and organized by each province for their own self-defense. In times of need the provincial armies could be mustered and placed under the command of the Captain-General, but starting in the thirtieth century this right began to be questioned. With the passage of the Home Defense Act, any province which could muster a majority in Parliament could declare up to three-fourths of its provincial forces unavailable, severely curtailing FWLM operations. Increases in the number of federal troops and the powers of the Captain-Generalcy finally culminated in the Military Reorganization Act of 3046, which officially removed the federal-provincial divide and placed all units under the authority of the LCCC.
The Free Worlds League Military placed 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, did exist within their elite regiments, including the Knights of the Inner Sphere.
The Free Worlds League was founded in 2271 with the signing of the Treaty of Marik between the Marik Republic, Federation of Oriente, and Principality of Regulus. 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 thirty-first 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 matériel 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.
In 3148, the reborn League faced invasions from the Marian Hegemony, Regulan Fiefs and Duchy of Andurien, managing to defeat them all and invade the Regulan Fiefs. The state surrendered to the Free Worlds League following an invasion that was sparked by the assassination of Jessica Marik. The Regulan Fiefs were granted provisional status within the League for a period of ten years, after which they would be allowed to request full membership. By then, Andurien was the only former province of the League still out of the new.

According to the Treaty of Marik, Parliament was the supreme governing body of the Free Worlds League. Parliament had the power to pass laws, create taxes, and decide on appropriations. In each two-year session, Parliament elected a Speaker, who then appointed Ministers to oversee the nine federal agencies: Communications, Defense, Energy, Foreign Affairs, Human Services, Intelligence, Justice, Taxation and Trade. These appointments also had to be ratified by Parliament, though compared to the fights over the Speakership many of these votes were perfunctory. The Speaker and nine Ministers formed the League Council, which enjoyed broad customary powers. Although any MP could introduce any bill, tradition dictated that only the League Council introduce treaties, budget proposals, and tariff bills. Additionally, League Council members were guaranteed a hearing by Parliament and so their proposals were more likely to be voted on. Per the Act of Incorporation, at least one of the nine Ministers had to come from each of the three founding League provinces, which itself often served as a source of conflict.
After the Charter of Incorporation was put into effect in 3139, the number of MPs was reduced to a single MP per planet rather than being determined by taxes.
In addition to the main Parliamentary body, the League also had the Lords of the Realm, a body composed of nobles who were at least planetary rulers. This body functioned in an advisory role to Parliament and could not vote. The Lords were 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 ensured the Lords were given more media attention than the importance that the body merited.
Constitutionally, the Captain-General had 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. However, eight centuries of Parliamentary acts resulted in much greater power for the Captain-General.

House Marik had a virtual stranglehold on the Captain-Generalcy, though there was no constitutional authority behind that, only historical precedent. Only two non-Marik Captains-General were ever appointed, and both were disastrous. The Succession Act of 2310 essentially allowed House Marik the ability to select a member of their family to be Captain-General.
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 on the Star League High Council. Following the fall of the Star League, Parliament passed Resolution 288, which gave the Captain-General broad powers "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.
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. 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.
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. By 3067 the League had increased to 161 provinces, but for the most part was still dominated by the major provinces of the realm.
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 Parliament, 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 increased presence of SAFE operatives.
Other Provinces of Note
The Stewart Commonality was the first to be annexed by the nascent Free Worlds League; thereafter it became a strong supporter of the Marik Commonwealth. The Duchy of Graham-Marik was also a stalwart friend of House Marik, being related by blood, and the province was created from a small part of the Commonwealth as thanks to House Graham's support. The Abbey District was also historically a Marik ally, coming to prominence after the discovery of valuable rare earths within its territory, as was the Border Protectorate (not to be confused with the Protectorate, formerly ruled by Anton Marik until his failed rebellion caused the province to come under direct federal rule). The Duchy of Tamarind, while often positioning itself as a swing vote in Parliament, was reasonably friendly to the Marik government.
After the scourging of the Regulan Principality, several new provinces were created. The Rim Commonality maintained close ties with Regulus and was a frequent opponents of the Mariks in Parliament. The Principality of Gibson was ardently hostile to Regulus, although this cooled somewhat following the discovery of SAFE infiltrators within the Gibson government. Conversely, the Free Regulan States were successfully infiltrated by Regulan agents, which turned the pro-Marik government into an ardent supporter of Regulus.
The Duchy of Orloff was once a part of Oriente before gaining independence in a peaceable split, and with which it maintained friendly relations. The Sirian Concordance was formerly of the Terran Hegemony until their seizure during the Succession Wars. While having strong democratic traditions, Sirian MPs frequently quarreled with each other, preventing any sort of unified bloc. Both the Zion and Ohrensen provinces were gained via subterfuge at House Liao's expense, although at times their loyalty to the League was questioned.
While not exactly a province, the Silver Hawks was a coalition of independent worlds with common interests. Comprising Danais, Shiloh, Amity, Callison, and Kalidasa, the Silver Hawks frequently voted as a bloc in Parliament, typically in opposition to military adventures directed at the Lyran and Capellan states.
Heavy Aerospace Industry
Imstar Aerospace
Illium Shipyards
SelaSys Incorporated
Technicron Manufacturing
Major Defense Industries
Adam Tech Industries
Andurien AeroTech
Brigadier Corporation
Brooks Incorporated
Corean Enterprises
Deller-Bingham-Fouts
Earthwerks Incorporated
Exeter Organization
Gibson Federated BattleMechs
Grumman Amalgamated
Irian BattleMechs Unlimited
Kali Yama - Alphard Trading Corporation
Kali Yama Weapons Industries Incorporated
Kallon Industries
Nimakachi Fusion Products Limited
Ronin Incorporated
Quikscell Company
Technicron Manufacturing