Difference between revisions of "Feudal Confederation"
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=== United Military & Local Levies === | === United Military & Local Levies === | ||
| − | The [[Third Imperium]] insists upon control of its [[Imperial Space|Sovereign Territory]] through an all powerful [[Imperial Navy]], but that Navy has very defined jurisdictional limits. Apart from taxes and security, it is not to participate in the internal affairs of members. | + | The [[Third Imperium]] insists upon control of its [[Imperial Space|Sovereign Territory]] through an all powerful [[Imperial Navy]], but that Navy has very defined jurisdictional limits. Apart from taxes and security, it is not to participate in the internal affairs of members. The Imperium maintains an Imperial Military force known collectively as the [[Unified Armies of the Imperium]] that is based on the Regimental System; namely, local Colonial Militaries and Planetary Defense Forces of sufficient size and sophistication are required to raise one or more [[Regiment]]s (typically 3-5 [[Battalion]]s) for training with the [[Imperial Army]] to Imperial Army technological and tactical standards. These Imperial [[Regiment]]s comprising the Regimental System are then maintained on duty as an administrative pool of Regimental [[Battalion]]-groups from which to draw individual [[Battalion]]s and form operational [[Brigade]]s for actual tactical Field Operations as necessary, based on the needs of any given mission or operation. |
| + | |||
| + | ==== Imperial Military ==== | ||
| + | Please see the following articles for more information: | ||
| + | * [[Imperial Army]] (IA) | ||
| + | * [[Imperial Navy]] (IN) | ||
| + | ** [[Imperial Marines]] (IM) | ||
| + | * [[Imperial Interstellar Scout Service]] (IISS) | ||
==== Subsector Militaries ==== | ==== Subsector Militaries ==== | ||
Please see the following articles for more information: | Please see the following articles for more information: | ||
* [[Colonial Navy]] | * [[Colonial Navy]] | ||
| + | ** [[Colonial Marines]] | ||
** [[Subsector Navy]] | ** [[Subsector Navy]] | ||
** [[Planetary Navy]] | ** [[Planetary Navy]] | ||
* [[Planetary Defense Force|Colonial Forces (Planetary Defense Forces)]] | * [[Planetary Defense Force|Colonial Forces (Planetary Defense Forces)]] | ||
| − | ==== | + | ==== Auxiliary Forces ==== |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
* [[Mercenary|Mercenaries]] | * [[Mercenary|Mercenaries]] | ||
Revision as of 18:33, 26 August 2025
The Feudal Confederation of the Third Imperium is one of its must successful and enduring institutions. It simultaneously binds people to the Imperium through the good leadership of talented nobles and leaves enough room for world societies to develop meaningful solutions to local exigencies.
- A feudal confederation is a model of decentralized or distributed power.
- It is a type of government.
Description (Specifications)
The Imperium is a far-flung interstellar community encompassing over 11,000 worlds within a region approximately 700 parsecs across. It has now ruled its territory for eleven centuries and looks to continue for many more. Interstellar government over such a large area, however, becomes a philosophical question; the problem initially seeming to be insurmountable. Distance, travel time, and communication lag all conspire against a functioning, efficient structure which can meet the needs of its subject population. But the lessons of history serve as a guide. Spain, in 16th century Terra, ruled much of the New World, with travel times of up to a year between the seat of government and the new territories. In fact, through most of history timely government communication, with both a rapid dispatch of instructions and an equally rapid response, has been a dream, not a reality.
The Imperium has come upon two solutions, which together ameliorate the problems of distance, the X-boat network and feudalism. [1]
The X-boat Network
Please see AAB article: X-boat
Feudal Confederation
Feudalism: With such great distances separating stellar systems, individual responsibility and authority become of great importance. The Imperium is divided into sectors (twenty of them), each 32 by 40 parsecs in size. Each sector is divided into sixteen subsectors, each 8 by 10 parsecs in size. And within a sector are perhaps thirty or forty systems, on average, each within a star, worlds, and satellites.
Individual worlds, and even entire systems, are free to govern themselves as they desire, provided that ultimate power is always accorded to the Imperium. Interstellar government begins at the subsector level, on one world designated the subsector capital. The ruling figure at the subsector capital is a high-ranking noble selected by higher levels of government. The duke has a free hand in government, and is subject only to broad guidelines from his superiors. But at the same time, the duke owes fealty to the higher levels of government, ultimately to the Emperor himself. The feudal approach depends greatly on a sense of honor, one cultivated by the hereditary aristocracy. This sense of honor is very strong within the Imperium; it has proven essential to the survival of such a far-flung community. [2]
History & Background (Dossier)
The Ziru Sirka was enormously coercive while the Rule of Man was enormously permissive. Neither worked terribly well as an enduring example of long-term interstellar governance despite the longetivity of the Vilani. Cleon Zhunastu had studied both and knew that any new, lasting interstellar empire would need to steer in-between those goal posts.
Federalized Economic Model
One of the key features of the Warrant of Restoration is its relatively laissez-faire attitude towards interstellar commerce. Apart from extracting a cut of profit, the Imperium, for the most part, is a very hands off organization.
Free Trade
Free trade is so important to the Third Imperium that it is specifically mentioned in the Warrant of Restoration:
Article lV - Free Trade: The Imperium shall support Free Trade among its members. No member shall engage in piracy or smuggling, nor allow its territory to be used for piracy or smuggling, nor shall it issue letters of marque or reprisal or other permission for ships operating within its territory to engage in piracy or smuggling.
Safety of the Starways
The main function of the Imperial Navy is to safeguard the starways. It also enforces the Emperor's will, but keeping Charted Space, or at least Imperial Space, safe for trade is a key function of the military of the Third Imperium, as outlined in the Warrant of Restoration.
United Military & Local Levies
The Third Imperium insists upon control of its Sovereign Territory through an all powerful Imperial Navy, but that Navy has very defined jurisdictional limits. Apart from taxes and security, it is not to participate in the internal affairs of members. The Imperium maintains an Imperial Military force known collectively as the Unified Armies of the Imperium that is based on the Regimental System; namely, local Colonial Militaries and Planetary Defense Forces of sufficient size and sophistication are required to raise one or more Regiments (typically 3-5 Battalions) for training with the Imperial Army to Imperial Army technological and tactical standards. These Imperial Regiments comprising the Regimental System are then maintained on duty as an administrative pool of Regimental Battalion-groups from which to draw individual Battalions and form operational Brigades for actual tactical Field Operations as necessary, based on the needs of any given mission or operation.
Imperial Military
Please see the following articles for more information:
- Imperial Army (IA)
- Imperial Navy (IN)
- Imperial Marines (IM)
- Imperial Interstellar Scout Service (IISS)
Subsector Militaries
Please see the following articles for more information:
Auxiliary Forces
See also
Third Imperium
- Government
- Imperial Government
- Imperial Leadership
- Imperial Law
- Imperial Symbols
- Demographics
References & Contributors (Sources)
|
This article is missing content for one or more detailed sections. Additional details are required to complete the article. You can help the Traveller Wiki by expanding it. |
- Classic Traveller Library Data (A-M)
- Periodical: Third Imperium 08
- Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
- Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science
- ↑ John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Library Data (A-M) (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 7.
- ↑ John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Library Data (A-M) (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 7-8.