[!] An Imperial Decree would be published on every notice board of the Empire's provinces.
THE STRUCTURE OF THE REICHSARMEE
Issued: Sunday 7, Highsun, 1553
In order to undo the reforms issued by the previous Reichsmarshall, Konrad von Drachenfels, and his disastrous plans that disrupted the Imperial Army to its core, it is hereby that by Imperial Decree, additional reforms are to be put in place in order to both preserve the stability of the provinces and their armed forces and to prepare a next Reichsmarshall for the challenge of leading the Imperial Armies to come. The new structure explained below comes into effect immediately upon the publication of this decree.
Knightly orders that have been issued a contract under the late Reichsmarshall Konrad are to renew their contracts with the sitting Reichsmarshall, or if not available or assigned yet, with His Imperial Majesty the Kaiser directly.
✠ The Imperial Armed Forces, the Reichsmarmee ✠
THE STRUCTURE OF THE REICHSARMEE
Issued: Sunday 7, Highsun, 1553
In order to undo the reforms issued by the previous Reichsmarshall, Konrad von Drachenfels, and his disastrous plans that disrupted the Imperial Army to its core, it is hereby that by Imperial Decree, additional reforms are to be put in place in order to both preserve the stability of the provinces and their armed forces and to prepare a next Reichsmarshall for the challenge of leading the Imperial Armies to come. The new structure explained below comes into effect immediately upon the publication of this decree.
Knightly orders that have been issued a contract under the late Reichsmarshall Konrad are to renew their contracts with the sitting Reichsmarshall, or if not available or assigned yet, with His Imperial Majesty the Kaiser directly.
✠ The Imperial Armed Forces, the Reichsmarmee ✠
Imperial Infantry, the provincial conscripts
The core of the Imperial Army is its infantry. They are the most numerous and are mostly made up of militiamen, men at arms, archer battalions, clerical units, and foot knights who are not under contract. All infantry units are organized by province and are led by a captain of the provincial army the unit hails from. Captains are accompanied by a pair of banner bearers, one bearing the provincial banner and the other bearing the imperial banner, and a hornblower that signals commands to supporting units. The bulk of the Imperial infantry marches into battle bearing swords, spears, and polearms. Specialized units have either a hand or crossbow and usually follow the infantry as small support detachments, covering the infantry’s advance or unleashing a hellish barrage of arrows upon approaching foes.
Imperial infantry are local conscripts and guards. Being hired into the standing army only in times of conflict and dismissed back into provincial service after the need for them has ended. They are paid for and equipped by their local liege, making them vary in quality significantly depending on the region they hail from. However, they are an effective and essential part of the Reichsarmee due to their numbers and determination.
Imperial Knights, the professional army.Knights make up the bulk of the Hadrian Cavalry troops. Many knights ride across the fields of battle proudly wearing their household or provincial colors. Besides those provincial knights who usually are considered local conscripts, there are the Order knights, those who have sworn their service to one of the greater knightly orders of the Empire or formed a new one. These orders do technically not answer to the province they are situated in as they are under contract with the Reichsmarshall, yet most maintain a strong bond with their provincial lords. In exchange for access to provincial lands, resources, donations, and tax exemptions, these knights serve the provinces they settle in and fight for them as if they are part of them. Most knights ride into battle bearing a shield displaying a piece of heraldry, a sword, and a lance. The knights of the Empire often go accompanied by their squires who support their masters as best as they can and through their tireless efforts are also equally respected.
Imperial Knights are recognized provincial orders that have signed a contract with the Reichsmarshall in which they detail the duration of their service, their share of spoils of war, their salary, state-funded castles or chapterhouses, equipment, and the range in which they are expected to operate among other details. They have significant benefits over non-contracted knights and are usually assigned civil or regional leadership positions or noble status with all its benefits after they retire from the Imperial Army.
Signed,
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