The Hyrmann Brigades

The Hyrmann Dukedom has three "mercenary" brigades. These originally were mercenary companies that tended to work for the duchy. Three companies were made offers to become nationalized to be the duchy's standing army. They kept there original mercenary company names; the Band of Iron, The Order of Blades, and the League of Blood. While different to begin with, these groups look nearly identical now. Each nearly five thousand fighting men strong, made up of about three thousand infantry, thousand cavalry, and a thousand skirmishers/archers. They also have support personnel that accompany them. 
Each brigade can operate as their own solitary fighting force, and their similar training means that they can merge into a coherent fighting force quite easily. Each force is also an engineering group. The army is knows how to make fortifications, bridges, roads, and siege weapons. 
The are still known as mercenary brigades because the are hired out to lords that have the money. Most times there are only one of the brigades hired out, but never all three at one time, and they are never forced to fight each other or wage war against the duchy. Generally, one is hired out for a private war or garrison duty in a foreign land, another is generally working the duchess's domain's, and the third's is working on the borders of the duchy, patrolling and fortifying, working to better the land.
The heirs to the duchy almost always enlist in the brigades after going to the Forestarm War Academy . They often work their way to leading a brigade. It is tradition now for the heirs to serve in the brigades, showing that they can lead men in combat when deployed, help govern territories they are garrisoning, and administrate. The job helps ready themselves for ruling.

Type

Military, Army Brigade