Editing Inner Sphere (section)

==The Great Houses==
Between the time of the Terran Alliance’s collapse and the formation of the Star League, the majority of political and industrial entities switched from democratic and meritocratic governance to hereditary and technocratic decision making. The fact many planets were also cut off from their capitals in terms of speedy communication until the advent of the HPG (which replaced the more limited KF JumpShip Pony Express) made autonomous feudalism a defining feature in societal hierarchy. You definitely had national rulers who can dismiss or executed treasonous planetary governors at will but they couldn’t be everywhere at once and had to delegate. Additionally abusing their powers too much ran the risk of degrading their country’s functioning or inciting unrest in the form of coups. Out of the multiple Noble Houses that emerged, a handful stuck out in terms of how long they have lasted and how much power they possess.

===Successor States===
By far, the most powerful and influential Noble Houses are the rulers of the five Successor Stares after the Fall of the Star League: 
* House Davion
* House Kurita
* House Liao
* House Marik
* House Steiner

===Historical Houses===
However, it should be noted that there are other examples of Great Houses who were just as, if not more powerful, but were then driven extinct. More often than not, the involve either a systematic purge, a lack of cadet branches, or having no more heirs to pick up their possessions without indirect marriage.
* House Cameron
* House Marsden
* House Von Rohr