Golden Legion
Last Instrument of the Republic
The Free Company of the Golden Legion is a condottière army employed by Republic of Frankonia. In theory independent, it nevertheless functions as the army of the Republic due to a contractual stipulation stating that the Legion is to be hired “for all time” to the republican government of the island.
Structure
Whilst the original Golden Legion was, indeed, one legion strong, the company has steadily increased in size since its founding. Officially following the the Carian Tabulation, each legion is structured as follows:
- 1x Praetorian Delegation
- 80 Praetorian Guards
- 1x Primus Cohort
- 12 centuries (double-sized)
- 1200 legionaries in total
- 9x Legionary Cohorts
- 6 centuries per cohort
- 5400 legionaries in total
- 10x Equestrian Turmae
- 20 equites per turma
The Legiones Aurearum
There are four numbered Legions, known as a Legio Auream in Old Frankonian. Each Legion also has a name, known as a cognomen, used to denote a particular distinction; all Legions share the secondary cognomen fidelis, meaning faithful. They are commanded by a legate-general, who in turn answer to the azure legate-general.
- Meaning First and Only
- Led by Gustave d’Outre-Mer
- Meaning The Republic
- Led by Arthur Vells
- Meaning Light and Liberty
- Led by Honorine de Jereoux
- Meaning Shadow into the Light
- Led by Aurelié l’Aigle
I Golden Legion Prima Solus
II Golden Legion Res Publica
III Golden Legion Lux Libertas
IV Golden Legion Umbra Solem
Frankonia's native population is not great enough to allow extensive recruitment, and the Golden Legion traditionally recruits most of its soldiers overseas, particularily from the Yelanid Alliance. However, its officers are almost exclusively from Frankonia itself, either by birth or education, due to very specific qualifications that the Legion asks of its leaders: high standards of etiquette and Republican chivalry, general knowledge about Frankonian law and history, as well as battlefield competence. The Constitutional State Academy in Ponvarus, which has faculties in political science, history, language, war, and more, accounts for nearly all new officer assignments to the Legion.
Its unusual structure and nomenclature were a conscious decision taken by its founder Rochelle Carus, who based the Legion on the army of pre-Republican Frankonia.
History
The Golden Legion was founded during the vast expansion in trade of Frankonia, by a noble scion and likewise military strategist of the Carus family, Rochelle. Frankonia's Constitution of Liberty and Equality only allows the state to maintain a small standing force to protect essential institutions; in the case of war it can draft citizen-militia. Thus, Rochelle Carus sought, and managed, to circumvent this restriction by founding a mercenary company that was to be contracted "for all time" in the service of Frankonia.
It is notable for the role the IV Golden 'Shadow' Legion, or 'Legio Auream IV Umbra,' played in The Silent Morning. The Legion was mainly responsible for enforcing the closure of all roads and exits from Ponvarus and Frankonia, but they also assisted the Republican Guards and Consular Vicarii in the mass arrests of suspected Cabalists.
Ultima Ratio Principium.
Type
Military, Mercenary Group
Alternative Names
Carian Legion(s)
Formation Type
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Trained
Leader
Parent Organization
Notable Members
