Palatini Corps
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| Active: | 1637 AN – Present |
| Motto: | Ultima ratio regum |
| In use by: | Ministry of Military Affairs |
| Part of: | Imperial Army, Imperial Forces |
| Allegiance: | Shireroth |
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| Type | |
| Role: |
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| Size: | 57,600 Palatini 112,356 Special Auxiliaries |
| Nickname: | The Turncoat Hares, "The Dandy Boys in Blue" |
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| Current Commander: | Magister Palatine Harry Payne |
The Palatini Corps (ïa Bivarhins Uihmanz) has ultimate responsibility for the defence of the Imperial County. An independent corps of the Imperial Army, it also includes formations from the Corps of Auxiliaries, the Order of the Sentinels and the Imperial Household Agency.
History
In 1643, the relatively youthful (At 13) Adam Ayreon-Kalirion was appointed Magister Militum of the Palatini Corps as one of a number of moves that seemed to be intended to tighten the grip of the Kalirion Khanate of Goldshire and the ESB-Jörmungandr Group over the city during the absence of Kaiser Dominus on an extended state visit and tour of the continent of Eura.
In 1644 the strength of the Palatini Corps was drastically cut from 75,000 to 24,000 with the expulsion of the Scholae from Raynor's Keep by the Commissioner of the Crypteia, Tokaray al-Osman during the Kaiser's absence in Elwynn.
Following the Oustfest Massacre the command structure and organisation of the Palatini Corps was thrown into confusion. In the aftermath the Steward's Guard, the Crypteia and the Sentinels were counted as part of the Corps to prevent the failures in communication and inter-unit rivalry which had permitted the coup-plotters to undertake their conspiracy. As a consequence the force was increased to a nominal strength of 38,200.
In late 1655, as the war with Jingdao and Passio-Corum ground on interminably, the size of the Palatini Corps was increased to 48,000, half of whom were Palatini, supported by a equal number of auxiliaries. Much of the heavy weaponry of the Palatini Corps had been released to front-line formations during the so-called War of Lost Brothers, leaving the corps increasingly reliant upon Jackalope runabouts, which in turn were transferred to the Batavian Front after the destruction of the 5th Legion.
In 1656 the long-term acting commander of the Palatini Corps, the legate Henricus Kalends, was confirmed in post and promoted to the rank of Magister Militum.
Beginning in 1658, the Palatini Corps was first in line for new equipment rolling off the production-lines in Mishalan. In the same year Magister Kalends was obliged to resign for reasons that were nowhere recorded in the official record. His replacement, the Magister Harry Payne, was a rarity - an officer promoted and ennobled from the ranks after purchasing his own commission.
On 11.VII.1660 the Palatini Corps was ordered by Steward Mira Octavius-Aryani to cross the border into Alalehzamin, then gripped by a Humanist uprising, and secure a buffer zone roughly contiguous with the borders of the old Imperial County. By 12.XI.1660, having been brought up to strength with obsolete artillery and small arms released from Benacia Command, the Corps' Magister was finally able to report to the Steward's Tower that the Scholae legions were ready to advance.
Continuing the trend of the Octavian reforms, the Vigiles Arcani, Ordo Imperii Decima, and S.W.O.R.D., were affiliated and subordinated to the Palatini Corps by the Prince of Modan, and removed from the command structure of the Shirerithian Supplies Service in 1664.
Organisation
| Unit Name | Commandant | Order of Battle | Establishment | Location | Affiliations / Alliances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scholae Excubitores Saznan Ahtaneï The Sentinel Guard |
Bivarhins Salbnan Justin Guadalim |
|
3,600 Palatini 18,125 M14 Fragmentation Hand Grenade 25,000 M15 White Phosphorus Anti-Lich Grenade |
Raynor's Keep | Order of the Sentinels |
| Scholae Crypteia Saznan Darneï The Secret Guard |
Bivarhins Salbnan Qadesh Marozzi |
|
3,600 Palatini 18,125 M14 Fragmentation Hand Grenade 25,000 M15 White Phosphorus Anti-Lich Grenade |
Raynor's Keep | Chamber of the Crypteia |
| Scholae Palatinae Saznan Bivarhinseï The Palatine Guard |
Bivarhins Salbnan Erik Rukovod |
|
3,600 Palatini |
Raynor's Keep | . |
| Scholae Kampioenae | Bivarhins Salbnan Arturo Hildinger |
|
3,600 Palatini |
Tempus Keep, Lichkeep | Order of Kampioens |
| Scholae Apollonae | Prefect of Shirekeep Salbnan Fritigern Henlein |
|
3,600 Palatini |
Prefectica, Shirekeep | . |
| Scholae Evocati | Bivarhins Salbnan Javel Avon-El |
|
3,600 Palatini |
Fort Foley, Imperial County | . |
| Scholae Kalirion | Bivarhins Salbnan Daniyal ibn Daniyal Simrani-Kalirion (presently AWOL as of 1660) |
|
3,600 Palatini |
St. Zor Cantonment, Imperial County | . |
| Scholae Sathrati Saznan Szironeï Shirerithian Guard |
Bivarhins Salbnan Rofolo Nur Pinito Kasha |
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3,600 Palatini |
Sakatopolis, Imperial County | S.W.O.R.D. |
| Palatinae Brunïakafzælt | Bivarhins Salbnan Konrad fom Plettenberg |
|
9,600 specialists 1,818 Hatchet |
Aurangzeb Barracks & Shirekeep-Foley Aerodrome, Imperial County | |
| Palatinae Droþakafzælt | Bivarhins Salbnan Auronzev Sahiv |
|
9,600 specialists 1,818 Hatchet 1,818 Cattle-prod |
Shirekeep-Foley Aerodrome, Imperial County | |
| Palatinae Holïursafzælt | Bivarhins Salbnan Rishar Allus-Zhayatar |
|
9,600 specialists 1,818 Hatchet |
Fort Foley, Imperial County |
Uniform and Equipment
The Palatini Corps wears blue-cast standard Imperial Army field uniform with lancer ornamentation, and a unique dress uniform, which is worn for parades and sentry duty.
While in dress uniform, members of the Palatini Corps are armed with a carbine variant of the M1591 Rifle and equipped with a sword bayonet, which lock together to produce two-meter tall lance.
Structure
Recruitment
As the palace guard of a multi-ethnic and multicultural empire, the corps has a widely distributed recruitment pattern so as to reflect the diversity of the Kaiser's loyal subjects.
| Legion | Recruitment area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scholae Excubitores | Recruited in the Imperial Dominions | |
| Scholae Crypteia | Recruited from the Assayers in Goldshire and elsewhere | Subject to additional vetting (security and performance) |
| Scholae Palatinae | Recruited in Goldshire | Excludes Lunatics and Octalunes |
| Scholae Kampioenae | Recruited in Brookshire | |
| Scholae Apollonae | Recruited in Kezan, Hawshire-Dura, Crowsilver, foreigners | Excludes USSO citizens |
| Scholae Evocati | Re-enlisted veterans | |
| Scholae Kalirion | Recruited in Elwynn | |
| Scholae Sathrati | Ethnic Babkhi including Eurans |
Commanders
| Picture | Name | Rank | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henricus Kalends | Imperial Legate | 1637–1643 | ||
|
Adam Ayreon-Kalirion | Magister Militum | 1643–1644 | Appointed by the Kaiser. Defended the capital during Battle of Holwinn. Conspirator in the Oustfest Massacre. Deposed (1644) and arrested (1645). |
| Henricus Kalends | Imperial Legate | 1644–1656 | ||
| Henricus Kalends | Magister Militum | 1656–1658 | ||
| Henricus Kalends | Magister Palatine | 1658 | Obliged to retire. | |
|
Harry Payne | Magister Palatine | 1658–the present |
