The 61 Cygni A/B system is somewhat older than Sol and both stars are variables. Despite or perhaps because of this, extensive life has evolved on both Cygne in the -A subsystem and Cormorant in the -B subsystem.

The system was first surveyed successfully in 2188 by the sublight probe SL-8 which entered the -A subsystem, a second probe SL-9 successfully entered the -B subsystem but failed to return any telemetry to Earth. The SL-8 was able to return some information on the -B subsystem ensuring that both portions of the system would be targetted for colonisation.

In 2196 two sub-light colony transports departed Earth space, CT-8 Astral Wanderer and CT-9 Astral Traveller, these reached a cruising speed of 0.25c and decelerated into the 61 Cygni system in 2242. Astral Wanderer targetted the world they named Cygne while Astral Traveller entered the -B subsystem and founded the colony of Cormorant. Colonists for both transports were primarily drawn from France.

Both the Cygne and Cormorant colonies grow rapidly. The two colonies remaining in contact with each other to ensure that they did not drift too far apart. Population, especially on Cygne received occassional boosts as occassional corporate colonisation vessels reached the system. The integration did not always go smoothly however and in 2456 a civil war erupted on Cygne, spreading to encompass Cormorant. The war lasted until 2466 and when it was over both worlds had had their governments destroyed. The leader of one of the major factions on Cygne Charles Rulóm, a decendent of the captain of the Astral Wanderer seized power over both colonies and in 2458 was proclaimed king of Le Royaume des Etoiles du Cygne. the house of Rulóm remains in power to this day.

In 2510 the hyperspace translation drive came into service in the Sol system and Cygne was contacted in 2512 by the Federated States of Sol desperate for resources. Trade was soon established between Le Royaume des Etoiles du Cygne and the Federated States of Sol. Historians postulate that if 61 Cygni had been closer to Earth than Alpha Centauri that the Federated States would have tried to take over the young kingdom. As it was in 2523 the Federated States attacked Centauri. Trade between the kingdom and the Federated States fell drastically, not because the Federated States did not need the resources but the lack of ships meant there was nothing to carry cargoes in. This hurt Cygne's technological development and the kingdom has been lagging Earth to some extent ever since.

In 2638 war broke out between the United Worlds Commonwealth and the Das Sternum Reich. This war raged for three years. Cygne was not directly effected by this war but as in the Centauran war of 2523 resources from Cygne were in high demand in Earth space. Now however there was sufficient capacity for Le Royaume des Etoiles du Cygne to take advantage of the demand. When the war ended a treaty between Le Royaume des Etoiles du Cygne and the United Worlds Commonwealth was signed. An immediate effect of this was that the UWC transferred a number of older warships to the royal fleet, including 8 battleships and an assortment of cruisers and escort vessels.

Le Royaume des Etoiles du Cygne has been expanding rapidly and though generally lagging behind the United Worlds Commonwealth a recent breakthrough in Contra-Grav technology has moved Le Royaume des Etoiles du Cygne to the fore. Corporations in the United Worlds Commonwealth and the Sirius Trade Federation are eager to get their hands on the contra-grav modules now entering production on Cygne.

Presently Le Royaume des Etoiles du Cygne is a stable monarchy under the rulership of queen Alicia Rulóm (Alicia II) who appears to be reasonably popular. There have been gradually increasing calls however to reform the rest of the government, to give it a more democratic nature. So far the aristocracy has resisted this and queen Alicia has not made any comment.