House Liao

Historically the smallest of the Successor States, the Capellan Confederation has nevertheless been a thorn in the side of Houses Davion and Marik for the past 600 years. The official birth of the Capellan Confederation occurred in July 2367 when Franco Liao managed to draw the 5 squabbling Capellan states together by offering himself as a compromise candidate for Prime Minister of the Capellan Commonality. Franco then managed to consolidate power for himself and his heirs by playing on the fears of each member state. The Family Liao has managed to maintain a hold on power in the Capellan Confederation in this way for almost 700 years, with but two exceptions. During the Succession Wars, and especially during the 4th Succession War, the Capellan Confederation took a massive pounding from Davion and Marik forces. During the 4th Succession War, the commonalities of Tikonov and Sarna were swallowed whole by the Federated Suns, and the Commonality of St. Ives seceded to become the St. Ives Compact. These events drove then-Chancellor Maximilian Liao to insanity. His daughter Romano took over the reins of power, and proceeded to remake the Capellan Confederation completely. Industry was nationalized, the military was remolded into a solid corps of soldiers that were more fanatical than even those of the Draconis Combine, and a reign of terror ensued as Romano purged everyone whom she felt was an enemy of the State. Despite this backs fate will smile of house liao. Xin Sheng loosely translated as "new birth," this sweeping social and political movement is revitalizing Capellan society at every level. Launched by Sun-Tzu Liao near the beginning of his reign, Xin Sheng has brought the Capellan people increased prosperity, a degree of political freedom, considerable additional territory and a bracing sense of nationalist pride. After the dark years following the Fourth Succession War, this renewal seems even more miraculous. Much of it stands as inspiring testimony to the unconquerable human spirit. As with most things of human origin, however, Xin Sheng has its darker side as well.

The official symbol of House Liao is an inverted Emeral triangle with gold trim that contains a gauntleted fist holding a Dao sword.

Applicable Pejoratives and Diminutives: Cappies