Life Guard (Urcea)

The Household Life Guard is the senior regiment of the Royal and Imperial Army charged with the responsibility of protecting the Apostolic King of Urcea and the senior officials of the Government of Urcea, such as the Procurator and Chancellor and Temporary President. Prior to the 20th century, the Life Guard held the unique distinction of only admitting men of optimate among its ranks, making the Guard extremely exclusive and prestigious. The Guard is also typically made up of individuals of Ionian background. Foreign leaders - especially from the Levantine Union and other notable individuals are often given honorary commissions within the Guard, as are lower ranking members of the Royal and Imperial Army who serve with distinction.

Among its many historical distinctions, the Life Guard was the only permanent unit of the Royal Army to follow Patrick, Prince of Halfway into exile prior to his restoration during the Red Interregnum. This display of loyalty to House de Weluta earned the Life Guard the popular nickname The Reliables. Despite their position large as a household guard, the Life Guard saw notable service during both the Interregnum and the Second Caroline War.

Current role
The Life Guard is regarded as the most prestigious in the Royal and Imperial Army, due to their role as the monarch's official bodyguard. Historically, this meant regularly being in close proximity to the reigning sovereign. As such, the soldiers, and especially officers, of the Life Guard were once drawn exclusively from families of optimate rank. Today, the Guard's membership is taken from the ranks of the most decorated and loyal enlisted men; in the 21st century this often has meant that a tour in the Nysdra is a functional prerequisite to joining the Guard.

The Life Guard's primarily responsibility is to serve as the security force of the leadership of the Government of Urcea, especially the Apostolic King of Urcea, his family, and the Procurator and Chancellor and Temporary President. Though the Life Guard does not serve as the primary security arm of the Concilium Daoni or Concilium Purpaidá, it nonetheless has soldiers standing ceremonial guard during the meetings of those bodies. Despite this focus on security, individual cohorts of the Life Guard - at the request of their commanders - can be deployed for military service. Most recently, the 3rd Cohort of the Life Guard served with distinction in the War of the Northern Confederation, fighting at the tip of the spear during the attack on Tonawandis.

The Life Guard also features as a source of honorary titles issued to foreign nationals by the Apostolic King of Urcea. During the Occidental Cold War, high ranking military officials in the Levantia and Odoneru Treaty Association were given honorary officer ranks within the Life Guard. Since the end of the Cold War, honorary titles have been issued to Levantine Union military officials.

Battle honors
The Life Guard accrued battle honors in the following conflicts:


 * First Caroline War
 * Second Caroline War
 * Third Caroline War
 * Red Interregnum
 * Second Great War
 * War of the Northern Confederation