Ranks of the Imperial City Guard (Imperial Legion)

[Birthright-L]

My current main campaign revolves around the crimelord PC`s, and their
attempt to take over the Empire from inside the Imperial City itself by
creating Anuire`s first Mafia.

I have finally gotten around to doing a bit of research on British and
Roman military ranks, and have come up with how the Imperial City Guard
are organized and ranked. IMC, The Imperial Legion has reserved itself
to the role of City Guard after the decay of the Empire, and only go out
into the field when the Empire is attacked from outside forces that
threaten the heart of the Empire itself (such as when one of the
Gorgon`s rampages gets into the lower Heartlands). These ranks could be
extrapolated into "Imperial Ranks" for all armies that still follow the
old Imperial Code, however.

Note that most of this is inspired by a mix of British and Roman
military ranks, and greatly simplifies the number and relationship of
such ranks. Not all rank titles match exactly with how we commonly think
of them in modern military. I believe this fits the BR creator`s
decision to do the same to Anuirean political ranks (Baron/Count ->
Duke/Archduke -> Emperor).

Here they are:

General: Oversees the entire Imperial City and all Imperial Legions. In
other parts of the Empire there may be multiple Generals to a kingdom,
but in the IC there is just one. He also makes policy and is responsible
for all guards/soldiers.
Lieutenant-General: Is the primary aid and "hier" to the General. He
fills in for the General when the General is not available. While there
may be multiple "lieutenants to the General", there is only one
"Lieutenant-General".
Staff to the General: Made up of (enlisted) Sergeants, they assist the
General in mundane maintenence tasks such as rounds and check-ups,
training, and important paper work.

Major: Oversees a single district of the Imperial City. In other parts
of the Empire, a Major would oversee all soldiers in a single province
or area.
Lieutenant-Major: Is the primary aid and "hier" to the Major. He fills
in for the Major when the Major is not available. While there may be
multiple "lieutenants to the Major", there is only one "Lieutenant-Major".
Staff to the Major: Made up of (enlisted) Sergeants, they assist the
Major in mundane maintenence tasks such as rounds and check-ups,
training, and important paper work.

Captain: Oversees a specific important role in a district of the
Imperial City, under a Major. Such roles include: market & street
patrols, bridge & wall guards, prison & headquater guards, and tax
collection. In other parts of the Empire, a Major would oversee a city
or border fortress.
Lieutenant-Captain: Is the primary aid and "hier" to the Captain. He
fills in for the Captain when the Captain is not available. While there
may be multiple "lieutenants to the Captain", there is only one
"Lieutenant-Captain".
Staff to the Captain: Made up of (enlisted) Sergeants, they assist the
Captain in mundane maintenence tasks such as rounds and check-ups,
training, and important paper work.

Sergeant: A soldier who works his way up through the ranks to become an
aid in various tasks to a Captain, Major, or General. Such tasks include
rounds and check-ups, training, and important paper work, among many
others. The Sergeant`s tasks differ from the Captain`s roles by the
Captain`s roles typically being more interesting and mission-critical to
the security and purpose of the Legion.

Squad Leader: The leader of a squad of leaders. A squad is a formal
group of 6-12 soldiers plus specialist soldiers. A single squad is
assigned to a certain duty such as the guarding of a particular bridge
or section of wall, and the soldiers within the squad rotate through the
day and week as needed. The leader is one of these men, not in addition to.
Specialist Soldier: A soldier who is not meant to take the field or be a
foot soldier. The instead know specific and useful tasks to help their
squad out, such as writing, cleaning, cooking, errands, etc.
Soldier: Also called a Guard in the Imperial City, they are the regular
foot soldiers, meant to take the field and put their lives at risk for
the safety of the Empire. They differentiate themselves from each other
by awards and honors granted from superiors and nobles, but essentially
all have the same duties and training.

I hope this is useful.

I`d next like to come up with awards and honors that could be granted to
Soldiers and Officers in the Legion by superiors or nobles. Any ideas to
start me off?

--
/ Adam Theo, Age 23, Tallahassee FL USA
// Email & Jabber: theo@theoretic.com
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[Azrai]

This sounds ok, but I definitly do not like the "titles" like "captain" and "squad leader" you used.

this does not fit do a fantasy or middle-age campaign. sounds more like a militaristic-usa-war-classification.

since thise titel are an important point, I would change them to a more middle-age-like flair.

[Starfox]

Azrai <brnetboard@TUARHIEVEL.ORG> wrote at 02-09-08 12.23:

> Azrai wrote:
> This sounds ok, but I definitly do not like the "titles" like "captain" and
> "squad leader" you used.
>
> this does not fit do a fantasy or middle-age campaign. sounds more like a
> militaristic-usa-war-classification.

Captain is definitely medieval - though it was a more important title then
than it is now.

Squad leader, though, is not. I agree wheheartedly here.

/Carl

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[Trithemius]

Azrai:
> since thise titel are an important point, I would change them
> to a more middle-age-like flair.

Such as?

--
John Machin
(trithemius@paradise.net.nz)
-----------------------------------
"Nothing is more beautiful than to know the All."
Athanasius Kircher, Ars Magna Sciendi.

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[Sir Justine]

Very interesting, Adam. I like this kind of thing for a campaign. If you check the Writer's Guild there is a prestige I made (Officer of the Müden Royal Navy).
About the titles, I guess an aproach following more the Roman Empire would be good. After all, Anuire was an Empire, and very ancient. Thing like "Centurion", IMO, would be cool.

[Lee]

In a message dated 9/8/02 6:34:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
brnetboard@TUARHIEVEL.ORG writes:

<< Azrai wrote:
This sounds ok, but I definitly do not like the "titles" like "captain" and
"squad leader" you used. >>

Captain seems OK. but squad leader certainly does not. Corporal and Sergeant
date at least to the Renaissance. Centurion and Decurion are old Roman terms
for leaders of groups of 100 and 10, respectively.

Lee.

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[Birthright-L]

Azrai wrote:
> This post was generated by the Birthright.net message forum.
> You can view the entire thread at: http://www.birthright.net/read.php?TID=926
>
> Azrai wrote:
> This sounds ok, but I definitly do not like the "titles" like "captain" and "squad leader" you used.
>
> this does not fit do a fantasy or middle-age campaign. sounds more like a militaristic-usa-war-classification.
>
> since thise titel are an important point, I would change them to a more middle-age-like flair.

I believe "Captain" is a very middle-age title. Many European cities had
"captains of the guard", "captains of the watch", etc. Of course the
actual word used varied from language to language, but even the english
word "captain" has a long history in the military, even back to the
middle ages.

I am willing to stick to "squad leader", but I really don`t know this
subject enough to be adamant about it. I took the name from reading
about how ancient Roman soldiers were organized. It`s not the actual
latin word, of course, but the translation is OK, IMO. I don`t think it
is too outlandish to think that small groups of soldiers were referred
to as "squads". Just because the word is used in the modern military
doesn`t mean it isn`t feasible for middle age use, either.

I don`t like using Roman or French words very much, such as "Centurion",
since the Anuirean language isn`t Latin or French. I prefer to stick to
titles and words that are very english, so the players don`t have to
stop and "translate" strange words all the time, if that makes sense.

But if you have better suggestions for titles, I could be convinced to
do away with the "squad leader" in favor of something else.

--
/ Adam Theo, Age 23, Tallahassee FL USA
// Email & Jabber: theo@theoretic.com
// Pager: (850) 709 7738
=//=====
// || Theoretic Solutions: http://www.theoretic.com
|| "Building Ideas by Bringing them Together"
|| Jabber Protocol: http://www.jabber.org
|| "The Next Generation Communications Protocol"
|| "A Free-Market Socialist Patriotic American Buddhist"

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[Starfox]

Adam Theo <theo@THEORETIC.COM> wrote at 02-09-08 23.05:

> I don`t like using Roman or French words very much, such as "Centurion",
> since the Anuirean language isn`t Latin or French. I prefer to stick to
> titles and words that are very english, so the players don`t have to
> stop and "translate" strange words all the time, if that makes sense.

Ainurean is a fantasy-celtic language; what are the gaelic titles that the
modern-day Irish use for their military ranks?

I tried to search the online dictionaries. the best result, from :
http://www.ceantar.org/Dicts/MB2/index.html


Dictionary Search Results

Searching MacBain`s
Search pattern = lieutenant
Search type = Word


tànaiste
next heir, tanist, anything second, Irish tánaiste, lieutenant, second in
command, heir apparent, Old Irish tánaise, secundus, imthanu, alternation,
innimthána, talionem: *to-atn-, root at of ath, "re", Sanskrit at, also
*at-s-men, of àm, time, q.v. (Strachan). Rhys (Celt.Breton@+2, 308) suggests
connection with Welsh tan, till, Latin tenus, root ten (no root tân?).


Searching MacBain`s
Search pattern = champion
Search type = Word


curaidh
a champion, Irish curadh, Early Irish cur, g. curad, caur, Welsh cawr,
Cornish caur, gigas, Gaulish @GKaúaros (Polyb.), Cavarillus, etc.,
*kauaro-s, a hero, mighty, root keva, kû, be strong; Sanskrit çavîra,
mighty, çu@-/ra, hero; Greek @Gkúrios, lord, @Gku@nros, might.2

greis
prowess, onset, slaughter, a champion, Early Irish gress, gréss, attack;
from the root of greas above (Stokes).

laoch
a hero, Irish laoch, a soldier, hero, Early Irish láech, a hero, champion:
*laicus, soldier, "non-cleric", Early Irish láech, laicus, Welsh lleyg; all
from Latin laicus, a layman, non-cleric.

mìlidh
a champion, Irish mileadh, mílidh (O`Br.), Early Irish mílid; from Latin
miles, militis, soldier.

niata
courageous, Irish nia, gen. niadh, a champion, niadhas, valour, Middle Irish
forniatta, brave, Early Irish nia, g. níath, possibly Ogam neta, netta
(*nêta?): *neid-, Greek @Go@`neidos, revile, Lithuanian náids, hatred,
Sanskrit nind, mock, or *ni-sed-, down-setter? Rhys (Lect.) cfs. the
Teutonic nan<thorn>, venture, strive; this would give Gaelic preserved d.

oscarach
bold, fierce, Irish oscar, champion; from the heroic name , son of (Irish
Oisín, little deer or os, q.v.). Possibly stands for *ud-scaro-,
"out-cutter", root scar of sgar, q.v. Zimmer derives it from Norse Ásgeirr,
spear of the Anses or gods, and Oisian from the Saxon Óswine, friend of the
Anses; which should give respectively Ásgar and Óisine, but the initial
vowels are both o short in Oscar and Oisian. Doomsday Book has Osgar.

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[imperialtemple]

I did some research on this a while back to try to figure out where some of the modern military ranks came form . . . . There's an interesting site which covers a lot of this information:

http://www.history.navy.mil/trivia/trivia04.htm

There's also some interesting information at these sites which might help out:

(Organization of the Saxon Army, 1733)
http://www.gromoboy.narod.ru/saxon/saxon2.html

(Organization of the Swiss Guard and Other Ceremonial Units Dating From the Medieval Period, Current)
http://orbat.com/site/data/vatican/

(Organization of the Yeomen of the Guard, 1485-)
http://21.1911encyclopedia.org/Y/YE/YEOMEN...F_THE_GUARD.htm (http://21.1911encyclopedia.org/Y/YE/YEOMEN_OF_THE_GUARD.htm)

In general, from what I've gathered, most medieval units were led by a "Captain" -- a term which dates back to Ancient Rome. Larger armies were often led by several "Captains" with a "Captain-General" who was charged with overall command of the army . . . . This would later be shortened to the modern "General".

You might also consider appointing a chain of command based upon offices of the imperial household -- like lord seneschal, lord castellan, lord justiciar, lord warden, and lord constable.

Knights might be considered the lowest officer. Then, you could conceivably transition into the ranks of sergeant (originally a servant to a knight) and corporal (originally a veteran in charge of a square of soldiers).

I'd also steer away from terms like "squad leader".

[kgauck]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Cramér" <carl.cramer@HOME.SE>
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2002 1:19 AM


> Ainurean is a fantasy-celtic language

Unfortunatly, Celtic is a heavily applied device for the Anuireans, Rjurik,
and Sidhe. As such, I try to reserve exotic sounding Gaelic and Celtic
terms for the elves, and only use such terms for Anuire when they are very
familiar in English.

Given the scale at work in BR, captains are probabaly the highest ranking
figures. Captains commanded castles, ships, towns, and companies of
soldiers. Commanders above captain would have an office in the realm, or a
title, instead of a proper rank. These would be offices like marshal,
constable, or warden. So the captains might be commanded by a count, or
ideally, by the ruler himself.

Smaller command generally fell, again, to titled figures, mostly knights.

Sergeant means some kind of fighter who would strike you as a knight, but
actually lacked a patent of knighthood. They might just be a man at arms,
with armor and ability like a knight, ride a horse in armor, or even have a
plot of land.

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

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[marcum uth mather]

What kind of arms and armor would thay use. all the titles are nice but when you get down to it what would they look like. I remember a war card somewear for the knights of the Iron thron. Would they lead them to battle? In my campain the guard all were feild plate, unless they are on city patrole. They dont use archers ether. For armes they use a septum, broad sword, and mace. They never use a shield. When on city patrol they use a chain coif for the head, and a quilted- studed leather armor for the body. what does anyone else think as i am looking for suggestions

[imperialtemple]

Actually, I'd rethink the shield . . . .

There's a great scene at the end of Colleen McCullough's "The First Man in Rome" where the Senate is faced with a riot orchaestrated by a demagogue who seeks to install some popular celebrity "look-alike" as King.

The Senate passes a "Senatus Consultum de Republica Defendenda" (essentially martial law) and all of the aristocrats go home and don their weapons and armor. Gaius Marius is put in charge and he orders everyone, under pain of death, not to draw their swords against the crowds. Instead, the Senators end up locking their shields and using them as battering rams -- literally pushing the rioters out of the Forum and forcing them to disperse.

My thoughts are that shields would be particularly useful in a city environment. Maces are a good weapon to enforce civil order which double as a symbol of authority. And, polearms of some sort are usually traditional for sentries.

Swords are naturally the most effective weapon, but they seem fairly bloody. And, it ocurs to me that the "no violence in the Imperial City" rule sort of goes by the wayside if they're issued to the city guard . . . . Swords are used to kill. Maces are used to beat people into submission.

I can even see the Chamberlain being reluctant to abandon the whole mace idea and issue swords to his guards during a time of riots because it violates tradition -- bringing bloodshed into the Imperial City . . . . You could even take that a step further by saying that the Imperial City is governed by strict imperial custom and tradition. Only "nobles" are permitted to carry swords. Thus, noone's bodyguards are even permited to carry blades. And, you also add even more creedance to the idea of maces. Swords could be a distinguishing mark of officers and gentlemen.

Finally, crossbows are also a fairly effective weapon for maintaining law and order which you might consider -- though they conflict with the mace idea. So, you may still want to stay away from them.

Perhaps, polearms are issued to sentries. Maces and large square shields are issued to patrols. Swords are privileges of an officer and a gentlemen. And, a stockpile of short swords and crossbows (which any Chamberlain would weep over having to break out) is kept in the armory as a last resort if the Imperial City is falling to ruins . . . . A single riot wouldn't be enough. A long period of widespread violence (such as that in Rome during the times of the Brothers Gracchus) might be a reasonable cause.

[marcum uth mather]

actualy thats a lot along thre way i invisoned it. the whole idea of the mace and polearm are to bo used on watch. the broadsword is only to be used in open warfare. plus i have been mulling over another guard concept. what if there was a imperial highway through Anuire. After the colapse of empire the road was still patroled by the guard? The imperial city could gain small law holdings(0-1st level) from it. The rulers of the domains it goes through exept it as a nessery evil. They gain a well traveled road ( helps increas guild holdings) and the chaimberlin gains some regency points to help keep the dream of a new empire alive.

[Starfox]

The reasons there are so few shields on the War Cards and other Birthright
illustrations is probably that during the period whose technology Birthright
emulates - the 15th century - people stpped using regular shields.

this is because in real life there is such a thing as Sufficient Protection.
If you are wearing full plate, wich offers fully adequate protection against
almost all medieval weaponry, there is not much point in adding a heavy
shield to the mix.

This does not work in an Armor Class system, where, in fact, the last points
of armor are always the most valuable (unless your opponent can only hit you
on a roll of 20 anyway).

The idea of using shields against rioteers would probably occur to the
romans, who used offensive shield walls in their regular tactics. But this
line of thought was lost - in pre-modern times lines of pole arms (or later
musket stocks), held sideways against the crowd, served much the same
purpose.

/Carl

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[Ariadne]

Oh yes, this are enough titles (for Anuire) and I like those, who don't sound like copied from the US-Army. But what, if you want to play in Khinasi lands? ;)

[kgauck]

----- Original Message -----
From: "imperialtemple" <brnetboard@TUARHIEVEL.ORG>
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2002 10:36 PM


> And, it ocurs to me that the "no violence in the Imperial City"
> rule sort of goes by the wayside if [swords are] issued to the
> city guard . . . . Swords are used to kill. Maces are used to
> beat people into submission.

Such characters might have feats to improve their stunning and subdual
damage, being able to use their maces as subdual weapons to subdue and
capture criminals, or neutralize rioters.

Kenneth Gauck
kgauck@mchsi.com

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