Deconstructing the Third Imperium

Once again, it is time to reassess the classic setting, the Third Imperium of Man. From its birth in vague references in Mercenary and High Guard, the 3I has grown mightily over the years. The problem is it was never really designed. Dozens of authors working for different companies added pieces here and there. Oh there was the Moot, and we knew about the Imperial Armed Forces, but it stopped there. It was the broadest brushstroke of a setting. Which suited me when I was 13 years old.

I’m a bit older now.

So, I’m going to rip the Third Imperium to pieces and rebuild it. Comments welcome.

What is the Imperium?

11,000 worlds, the vast majority of them enjoying self-rule is the quick answer. Ruled by an Emperor and his loyal nobles. But most of the nobles seem to have no real power over these independent worlds. So what gives? My answer is that the Imperium is, in a very real sense, the Imperial Navy. It’s the navy that keeps the peace, polices the “space between the stars” and has the best-equipped troops in known space ready for action. The Imperium is a military state with civilian oversight.

But what is the Imperium? Born out of the ashes of the Long Night, Cleon I realized that what doomed interstellar civilization was the end of trade. The new empire was built on three concepts:

• A universally accepted currency


• A universally used calendar


• Near universal freedom of trade

The Imperium is a trade federation, a classic seapower state where the free movement of goods, people, and information is paramount. Everything else is secondary. Threaten free trade, and the Imperium will destroy you.

( The Imperial Court and the Moot )

( The Nobility )

( The Member Worlds )

( The Imperial Navy )

I'll be writing more on these topics in the next few weeks. I look forward to feedback, either here or on Facebook.