Editing Jackson Davion

{{Update Needed|[[The Longest Road]]}}
{{InfoBoxCharacter
| image               = Jackson Davion.jpg
| name                = Jackson Kennard Davion
| birthdate           = 1 November [[3000]]<ref name=FM:FSp33>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 33</ref>
| died                = 4 February [[3073]]<ref name=death>''Isle of the Blessed: Book Two'', ch. 6, p. 33: The Third Battle of New Avalon</ref>
| othernames          = 
| affiliation         = [[House Davion]]
| rank                = [[Marshal of the Armies]]
| title               = 
| position            = [[Prince's Champion]]
| profession          =  
| parents             = [[Yvonne Davion]] (mother)<ref name=FM:FSp33/>
| siblings            = six siblings<ref name=FM:FSp33/>
| spouse              = 
| children            = [[Christoffer Davion]]
}}
'''Jackson Kennard Davion''' was the third of seven children borne by [[Yvonne Davion]].<ref name=FMFS34>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 34</ref> Jackson was a [[Marshal of the Armies]] and [[Prince's Champion]] of the [[Federated Suns]]. He led the [[Armed Forces of the Federated Commonwealth]] during the [[FedCom Civil War]] and the first half of the [[Jihad]].

==History==
===Early life===
Jackson Davion was born in Stirling on [[Argyle]] in the Federated Suns.<ref name=FMFS34 />

[[File:Jackson Davion 1.jpg|right|thumb|Jackson Davion Marshal of the Armies]]
===Military Career===
Jackson was a career military man, like his mother and all of his siblings. At the age of seventeen he enrolled at [[Albion Military Academy]] and graduated when he was twenty. He joined the prestigious [[Davion Assault Guards]] and rose through the ranks. By the age of twenty-six, Jackson was the executive officer of the [[BattleMech]] regiment. He was promoted to command of the [[Second Crucis Lancers]], where he served for six years. In [[3032]], Jackson replaced [[Stephen Davion]] as CO of the titular [[First Davion Guards]]. He commanded that unit for four years, after which he was promoted to CO of the Crucis March Coreward Combat Theater. In [[3042]], Jackson took over command of the [[Capellan March]] ([[Morgan Hasek-Davion]], the head of the Hasek family who had hereditary command of the Capellan March was promoted to Marshal of the Armies of the [[Federated Commonwealth]]). Three years later, Jackson was promoted to serve directly under Morgan as CO of the Federated Suns State Command, which made him responsible for half of the Federated Commonwealth. After Morgan's death in [[3060]], Jackson succeeded him as Marshal of the Armies.<ref>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', pp. 33–34</ref>

===Civil War===
Jackson served [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] during the [[FedCom Civil War]] that pitted her against her brother [[Victor Steiner-Davion|Victor]] because he believed her to be the legal ruler of the Federated Suns.<ref name=FMFS34/>

Jackson prosecuted the war on Katherine's behalf, even after Victor's allegation before the [[Star League]] Council that she ordered the assassination of her mother, [[Melissa Steiner]]. It was not until the final push by Victor's forces onto [[New Avalon]] that an agent of Victor's delivered evidence of Katherine's culpability in the assassination and he was able to verify parts of it that Jackson was convinced. On 28 March [[3067]], Jackson resigned his commission personally to Katherine, careful to maintain a neutral stance, lest he become a "casualty of war."<ref>''Endgame'', pp. 231–233</ref> The Civil War officially ended on 20 April 3067.<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3070'', p. 11: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

===Jihad===
Following the end of the Civil War, Victor asked Jackson to return as both Marshal of the Armies and Prince's Champion, to which Jackson agreed.<ref>''Field Manual: Update'', p. 122, "Command and General Staff"</ref> 

Jackson was on [[New Avalon]] when the Star League disbanded at [[Fourth Whitting Conference]] in 3067 and the [[Word of Blake]] launched their [[Jihad]] on the [[Inner Sphere]]. Following their flight from [[Tharkad]], Prince-Regent [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]] and [[Tancred Sandoval]] went into hiding, leaving Jackson and [[George Hasek II|George Hasek]] as the two most visible leaders in the Federated Suns.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'' & ''Blake Ascending'', pp. 54–55: "Who is in Charge?"</ref>

Jackson took personal charge of the defense of New Avalon when the Word of Blake invaded on 5 December 3067. The Blakist troops may have been hunting for him, since they were focused on Avalon City and the palace.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'' & ''Blake Ascending'', p. 57: "Blakist Assault Continues"</ref> In March [[3068]], Jackson traveled to [[Markesan]] and made a public statement about the state of the Suns and New Avalon.<ref>''Dawn of the Jihad'' & ''Blake Ascending'', pp. 55–56: "Marshal of the Armies Speaks"</ref><ref>It stands to reason that Jackson Davion did not brave the blockade of New Avalon twice to travel to and from Markesan just to issue a public statement. Yvonne and Tancred were likely already on Markesan at this point (see ''Jihad Hot Spots: 3072'', p. 98: "All for One!") and Jackson went there to meet with them in person. There is no concrete proof of that, however.</ref>

In [[3069]], he told the press—the [[FSNS]] among them—that AFFS forces had won the land operation known as [[New Avalon#Second Battle for New Avalon|Second Battle of New Avalon]].<ref name=New_Avalon_Battle>''BattleCorps: INN Newscast (Solaris Broadcasting Co. section), news item published [30/03/3069]: "New Avalon Defenders Push Back Word a Second Time"''</ref> His relationship to the commanding officer of the [[Davion Heavy Guards]], his cousin [[Jonathan Davion]], was influential in the unit's priority in replenishment of war materials.<ref name=JTPNA6-7>''Jihad Turning Points: New Avalon'', pp. 6–7: "Combatants"</ref>

===Death===
Jackson Davion died defending New Avalon on the front lines from Word of Blake on 4 February [[3073]]. Precentor [[Avitue]], the commander of Blakist forces on New Avalon, intentionally breached the [[fusion engine]] reactor in her ''[[Grim Reaper]]'' while grappling with Jackson's ''[[BattleMaster]]'', killing him in a massive explosion.<ref name=death /><ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 26, "Timeline"</ref> He was succeeded as Marshal of the Armies by [[Jon Davion]].<ref>''Jihad Hot Spots: 3076'', p. 16: "New Avalon Recovery: A Long Road"</ref>

==Behind the Scenes==
In [[MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries#Legend of the Kestrel Lancers|''MechWarrior 5: Legend of the Kestrel Lancers'']], Jackson Davion was voiced by [[Joe Zieja]].<ref name=MW5Mc>''MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries'', closing credits</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[List of Solaris Broadcasting Co. articles|BattleCorps Solaris Broadcasting Co., 30/03/3069: "New Avalon Defenders Push Back Word a Second Time"]]''
* ''[[Blake Ascending]]''
* ''[[Dawn of the Jihad]]''
* ''[[Endgame]]''
* ''[[FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)|FedCom Civil War]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Federated Suns]]''
* ''[[Isle of the Blessed]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3070]]''
* ''[[Jihad Hot Spots: 3072]]''
* ''[[MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries]]'' (video game)
* ''[[Sword of Sedition]]''
{{div col end}}

[[Category:Federated Suns Characters|Davion, Jackson]]
[[Category:Notable BattleMaster Pilots|Davion, Jackson]]