The Royal Army

The Royal Army of The High Kingdom is the central permanent forces of the The High King, as opposed to the feudal contingents provided by the various counties, duchies and cities in times of war. The Royal Army fulfils a number of key functions:

• It provides the High King with a dedicated force independent of any of the great nobles, and nominally loyal only to the High King.
• It garrisons key castles through the Kingdom, to nip any uprisings in the bud.
• It garrisons key tariff points, helping ensure that the High King gets the taxes due on goods entering and exiting the Kingdom, at strategic passes, bridges and ports (these places are often the same as in the previous point, conveniently).
• It provides a permanently in arms rapid reaction force for any invasions, while a feudal or general levy is being assembled.  Smaller raids can normally be dealt with just by the Royal Army on its own.
• It guards the person of the King and his household.

Composition

Manpower

The Royal Army consists of a number of separate organisations:

• The Royal Household (knights, numbering around 500)
• The Blue Company (knights, numbering around 700)
• The King's Company (longbowmen, numbering around 7,000)
• The Sappers of the Guard (engineers and specialists, numbering around 500)
• The Sapphire Circle (mages and sorcerers, numbering around 80-100)

For a total strength of around 8,800.

Overall training Level

Elite

Used by

• The High Kingdom