Difference between revisions of "Feudal Confederation"

Latest revision as of 00:52, 30 August 2025

A Feudal Confederation is a type of government whose structure is based upon decentralized or distributed power.

The government of the Third Imperium is a form of Feudal Confederation and Feudal Technocracy.
The Feudal Confederation of the Third Imperium is one of its most successful and enduring institutions. It simultaneously binds people to the Imperium through the leadership of its nobles and leaves enough room for world societies to develop meaningful solutions to local exigencies.

Description (Specifications)[edit]

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. The Kingdom of Spain on the world Terra during its 16th century ruled much of what was then known as 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[edit]

Please see AAB article: X-boat

Feudal Confederation[edit]

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, with each system containing one or more stars, 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. This 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]

Member worlds of the Imperium agree to pay taxes and obey a few fundamental laws which the Imperium promulgates, known as the High Laws. In return, the Imperium agrees to patrol the space between the worlds, to protect interstellar trade, to encourage travel and commerce, and to arbitrate diplomatic relations between worlds. Beyond this, individual worlds are left to their own devices so long as they acknowledge the power of the Imperium to rule the stars. While this "Home Rule provision" is still very much the case on the Imperial frontiers, over the centuries the local concerns of the original core worlds closer to the centers of Imperial government and power have become intertwined with vested Imperial interests and the interests of the Imperial Nobility and interstellar Megacorporations, yielding a situation in which the "laissez-faire local world" situation is more of a philosophy on paper than in practice, however.

History & Background (Dossier)[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Please see the following articles for more information:

Imperial Army (IA)
Imperial Navy (IN)
- Imperial Marines (IM)
Imperial Interstellar Scout Service (IISS)

Subsector Militaries[edit]

Please see the following articles for more information:

Auxiliary Forces[edit]

Mercenaries

References & Contributors (Sources)[edit]

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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.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Marc Miller. Signal GK (Game Designers Workshop, 1984), 6.

[1] John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Library Data (A-M) (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 7.

[2] John Harshman, Marc Miller, Loren Wiseman. Library Data (A-M) (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), 7-8.

[CTAdv13-6-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Marc Miller. Signal GK (Game Designers Workshop, 1984), 6.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File: Imperial-Sunburst-Sun-Navy-Traveller.jpg|100px|right]]
+[[File:Traveller Imperial Royal Family Sunburst logo.svg|100px|right]]
-The [[Feudal Confederation]] of the [[Third Imperium]] is one of its must successful and enduring [[institution]]s. 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 type of [[government]] whose structure is based upon ''decentralized or distributed power.''
-* A feudal confederation is a model of ''decentralized or distributed power.''
+* The [[Imperial Government|government]] of the [[Third Imperium]] is a form of [[Feudal Confederation]] and [[Feudal Technocracy]].
-* It is a type of [[government]].
+* The [[Feudal Confederation]] of the [[Third Imperium]] is one of its most successful and enduring [[institution]]s. It simultaneously binds people to the Imperium through the leadership of its [[Imperial Nobility|noble]]s and leaves enough room for [[world]] [[societies]] to develop meaningful solutions to local exigencies.
-=== Library Data Referral Tree ===
-Please refer to the following [[AAB]] [[Library Data]] for more information: <br>
-* [[Third Imperium]]
-** Government
-*** [[Feudal Confederation]]
-*** Imperial Institutions
-**** [[Imperial Calendar]]
-**** [[Imperial Currency]]
-**** [[Imperial Research Station]]
-**** [[Unified Forces of the Third Imperium]]
-**** [[X-boat|X-boat Sytem]]
-*** [[Imperial Law]]
-**** [[High Laws]]
-**** [[Imperial Navigation Act]]
-**** [[Imperial Sanction]]
-**** [[Imperial Warrant]]
-**** [[Rite of Assassination]]
-**** [[Rite of Fleet Control]]
-**** [[Warrant of Restoration]]
-*** Imperial Leadership
-**** [[Emperors of the Third Imperium]]
-**** [[Imperial Bureaucracy]]
-**** [[Imperial Moot]]
-**** [[Imperial Nobility]]
-***** [[Gentlemen]]
-***** [[High Nobility]]
-***** [[Imperial Clan]]
-***** [[Landed Nobility]]
-***** [[Noble House]]
-***** [[World-State Nobility]]
-*** Imperial Symbols
-**** [[Imperial Space]]
-***** [[Imperial Autonomous Region]]
-***** [[Imperial Cultural Region]]
-***** [[Imperial Fringe]]
-**** [[Imperial Sunburst]]
-**** [[Iridium Throne]]
 ==Description ([[Specifications]])==
-The Imperium is a far-flung interstellar community encompassing over 1,100 worlds within a region approximately 700 [[parsec]]s across. It has now ruiled its territory for eleven centuries and looks to continue for many more. Interstellar gocernment 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 is a far-flung interstellar community encompassing over 11,000 worlds within a region approximately 700 [[parsec]]s 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. The Kingdom of Spain on the world [[Terra (SR 1827) (world)|Terra]] during its 16th century ruled much of what was then known as 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''. {{Page cite|name=Library Data (A-M)|page=7}}
+The Imperium has come upon two solutions, which together ameliorate the problems of distance, the [[X-boat]] network and ''[[Feudalism]]''. {{Page cite|name=Library Data (A-M)|page=7}}
 === The X-boat Network ===
@@ Line 51: / Line 14: @@
 === Feudal Confederation ===
-''Feudalism:'' With such great distances separating stellar systems, individual responsibility and authority become of great importance. The Imperium is divided into [[sector]]s (twenty of them), each 32 by 40 [[parsec]]s in size. Each [[sector]] is divided into sixteen [[subsector]]s, each 8 by 10 [[parsec]]s in size. And within a [[sector]] are perhaps thirty or forty [[system]]s, on average, each within a [[star]], [[world]]s, and [[satellite]]s.
+''[[Feudalism]]:'' With such great distances separating stellar systems, individual responsibility and authority become of great importance. The Imperium is divided into [[Sector]]s (twenty of them), each 32 by 40 [[parsec]]s in size. Each [[sector]] is divided into sixteen [[subsector]]s, each 8 by 10 [[parsec]]s in size. And within a [[sector]] are perhaps thirty or forty [[system]]s, on average, with each system containing one or more [[star]]s, [[world]]s, and [[satellite]]s.
-Individual [[world]]s, and even entire [[system]]s, 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. {{Page cite|name=Library Data (A-M)|page=7-8}}
+Individual [[world]]s, and even entire [[system]]s, 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. This [[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. {{Page cite|name=Library Data (A-M)|page=7-8}}
+Member worlds of the Imperium agree to pay taxes and obey a few fundamental laws which the Imperium promulgates, known as the [[High Laws]]. In return, the Imperium agrees to patrol the space between the worlds, to protect interstellar trade, to encourage travel and commerce, and to arbitrate diplomatic relations between worlds. Beyond this, individual worlds are left to their own devices so long as they acknowledge the power of the Imperium to rule the stars. While this "Home Rule provision" is still very much the case on the Imperial frontiers, over the centuries the local concerns of the original core worlds closer to the centers of Imperial government and power have become intertwined with vested Imperial interests and the interests of the [[Imperial Nobility]] and interstellar [[Megacorporation]]s, yielding a situation in which the "laissez-faire local world" situation is more of a philosophy on paper than in practice, however.
 == History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
@@ Line 59: / Line 24: @@
 === 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]].
+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 impoortant to the [[Third Imperium]] that it is specifically mentioned in the [[Warrant of Restoration]]:
+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.
+: ''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 ====
@@ Line 70: / Line 35: @@
 === 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. And while a [[Unified Forces of the Third Imperium]] exists on paper, the pragmatic reality is very different.
+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 ====
 Please see the following articles for more information:
 * [[Colonial Navy]]
+** [[Colonial Marines]]
 ** [[Subsector Navy]]
 ** [[Planetary Navy]]
 * [[Planetary Defense Force|Colonial Forces (Planetary Defense Forces)]]
-==== Imperial Military ====
+==== Auxiliary Forces ====
-Please see the following articles for more information:
-* [[Imperial Army]] (IA)
-* [[Imperial Navy]] (IN)
-** [[Imperial Marines]] (IM)
-* [[Imperial Interstellar Scout Service]] (IISS)
 * [[Mercenary|Mercenaries]]
+== See also ==
+{{Referral-Tree-Third-Imperium}}
+{{Referral-Tree-Imperial-Forces}}
 ==References & Contributors ([[Sources]])==