Imperial Legion (Caphiria)

Imperial Legion of Caphiria
Imperialis Legio
Active	600 - present
Country	Caphiria
Type	Army
Role	Land warfare
Size	5 million active legionaries 10 million legionary Reserves 1 million active national guardsmen
Part of	Imperial Armed Forces of Caphiria
Garrison/HQ	Castrum Rynalia, Magenevum Province
Motto(s)	"With wisdom we conquer."
Commanders
Supreme Commander of the IAF	Constantinus I
General Commander of the IAF	Varrus Capelis Pavolcinax
Master Commander	Soterius Audenia

The Imperial Legion serves as the land warfare service branch of the Imperial Armed Forces of Caphiria. Recognized as the oldest and most senior branch within the Caphirian military, the Imperial Legion views itself as a direct successor to the revolutionary military reforms initiated by Darius Lux in 378 BC. This lineage establishes it as one of the longest-standing militaries in recorded human history.

Serving as the epicenter of Caphiria's military-industrial complex, the Legion's budget of $1 trillion makes it the world's most well-funded army. It is also the world's largest military by personnel count, with 5,000,000 active-duty individuals and an additional 10,000,000 in reserves. Beyond this, the Legion contains the National Guard, which comprises approximately 1 million national guardsmen. The total combined-component strength of the Imperial Legion is 16,000,000 soldiers.

While the Imperator of Caphiria stands at the pinnacle of the command hierarchy—referred to as the pyramidis imperia—they wield ultimate authority over the military without holding a specific rank and remaining a civilian. Operational leadership of the Imperial Legion is vested in the Marshal General, or Legionissimus, who steers the force in line with the strategic visions set forth by the General Commander of the IAF and the Imperator.

Mission

The Imperial Legion, as the primary land-based force of the Imperial Armed Forces, plays a pivotal role in the maintenance and projection of Caphirian power. As outlined by the Constitution of Caphiria, the Legion's mandates are as follows:

1. Defensive Guardianship: Ensuring the unwavering peace, security, and territorial integrity of the Imperium, its Provinces and Possessions, and its People and Identity .
2. Strategic Diplomacy: Bolstering Caphiria's national policies through military support, acting as a symbol of the nation's commitment to its principles and alliances.
3. National Fulfillment: Facilitating the realization of the Imperium's broader objectives, both at home and abroad, whether in times of peace or conflict.
4. Deterrence and Response: Acting as a formidable deterrent against any potential threats, and when required, decisively addressing and neutralizing entities or nations that engage in actions detrimental to the peace and well-being of the Imperium.

Organization and structure

Main article: Structure of the Imperial Legion

The Imperial Legion is administered through the Department of the Legion within the Ministry of Defense. As an arm of the executive government, the Legion is entirely at the behest of the Imperator, who can declare war against a foreign power without parliamentary permission, plan the Legion's military strategy - in both general and specific maneuvers, issue direct orders to a soldier in any branch of the armed forces or an officer of any rank, force the launch of military satellites and the construction of forts, walls, and other defensive structures, and appoint or dismiss any military commander at-will. A consequence of this much power is the personal responsibility for the successes and failures of Caphiria's military.

While the Imperator wields ultimate authority over the military, they maintain a civilian status. The administrative leadership of the Imperial Legion consists of the three most senior military ranks: the Marshal General, the Field Marshals, and the Legion Marshals. The Imperial Legion itself is led by the Legionissimus or Marshal General. It is technically the highest attainable rank in the Imperial Legion, equivalent to a five-star general officer. However, the rank is typically appointed by the Master Marshal, the highest-rank in the armed forces. The Marshal General has the statutory authority to conduct all the affairs of the Imperial Legion under the authority, direction and control of the Master Marshal and Imperator. Under the Marshal General is the Field Marshal (Dux Campi) who maintains operational control and authority in a broad geographic area. Under the Field Marshals are Legion Marshals (Dux Legionis), who control 6-12 legions and oversee specialized components. Together, the Legion Marshals, Field Marshals, and Marshal General form the leadership of the military council called the Gathering of Legates, where large-scale decision-making and military strategy is planned.

The core of the Imperial Legion is known as the exercitus, and contains 5 million soldiers organized across 900 Legions. Each legion contains approximately 5,000 soldiers. Beyond these 900 legions, there exists the unique 901st legion (Legio CMI) that reports directly to the Imperator, operating independently of the main army structure. Legions carry sequential numbers, but the number does not correlate directly to the prestige or function of a legion. Legio DLV (Legion 555), colloquially known as cisternis (the pits), typically receives newer recruits, while Legio XIII (Legion 13) boasts a storied history, renowned for its fierce reputation.

Identification system

With over 5 million personnel, the Legionnaire Identification System (Identificatio Legionarii) plays a pivotal role in ensuring clarity, efficiency, and practicality. Instituted to effectively manage and track every individual soldier within the vast military apparatus, the system also embraces the rich traditions and influences, like the prestare il nome privilege. There are 5 components:

1. Legion Number: This represents the legion to which a soldier is assigned. Each of the 900 legions has its distinct numeric identifier, such as DLV or XIII.
2. Cohort Number: Within each legion, there are ten cohorts. The cohort number, typically denoted in Latin numerals, indicates which cohort the soldier is a part of. For instance, V would represent the fifth cohort. The first cohort consisted of experienced legionaries, while the legionaries in the tenth cohort are less experienced.
3. Century Number: Further diving into the structure, each cohort is divided into five centuries. The century number, also in Latin numerals, is incorporated into the ID. E.g., III stands for the third century.
4. Individual Number: Each soldier within their century is assigned a unique three-digit number ranging from 001 to 099. This ensures individual distinction even within the same century.
5. Role/Title: The soldier's specific rank, role, or title concludes the identifier, encapsulating roles such as Centurion, Medic, or Engineer.

One of the unique aspects of the Imperial Legion's organization is the privilege of prestare il nome, a form of military sponsorship available exclusively to Imperial Estates. Under this privilege, Imperial Estates can sponsor specific military projects, infrastructure, or entire Legionary units, lending their name and emblem to them. For instance, the reserve legion, Legio CMLIV, is directly sponsored by the Castrillón Estate, and the Legion's number, 954, commemorates the year of the Estate's foundation. This sponsorship has led to its informal title, Legionis Castrillónis, and the Estate's coat of arms prominently features on the legion's uniforms, banners, and equipment. On an even grander scale, the Răcini Estate has played a pivotal role in the sponsorship of components of Caphiria's nuclear arsenal.

Consequently, an optional 6th component exists for the prestare il nome privilege; if applicable, the sponsoring estate's name will be part of the identifier, going after the legion number. As an example consider this IL: CMLIV-Castrillón-V-III-007-Centurion.

The legionnaire is: from Legio CMLIV, in a legion/cohort sponsored by the Castrillón Estate, is in the fifth cohort and within that cohort, they are in the third century, where they happen to be legionnaire 7 and holding the rank of Centurion.

Personnel

While the word legionary is synonymous with any soldier in the Caphirian military, it specifically applies to a single infantry soldier who has signed their service contract and taken their oath of service. Students attending a military service academy (MSA) are given the rank of tiro - literally cadet. Upon graduation, most graduates are commissioned as Legionary Grade I. If an individual does not attend a MSA, or decides to enlist in Imperial Legion another way, they will be given with the rank of conscribere or recruit. There is a mandatory 22-week basic training that culminates in a final basic readiness evaluation. Upon completion of basic training, recruits must pass a series of physical and endurance based tests designed to condition for combat actions. Following their basic and advanced training at the individual level, soldiers may choose to continue their training and apply for an "additional skill identifier" (ASI).

The smallest formation of the Imperial Legion is the decaredum, consisting of 10 legionaries and equivalent to a squad. Decaredum are led by a Staff Sergeant (Tesserarius) and his second-in-command the Sergeant (Decurion).

Ten decaredum collect together into a single century (centuria). Consisting of approximately 100 legionaries, a century is the smallest military unit. A century is led by the prestigious Centurion (Captain) and his two second-in-commands, Optiones (Lieutenant).There are approximately 23 additional officers and support staff. and centuries may be organized for special purposes.

Five centuries are grouped to form a cohort, considered the standard tactical military unit of the Imperial Legion. The 500-man unit is led by the Angusticlavii or Commandant. Once carrier of his cohort's symbol, Angusticlavii came to denote a high military rank in the 18th century. Formal duties of a Commandant are choosing the Cohort's coat of arms, creating a motto and generally distinguishing it among the Imperium's many legions. The second-in-command to the Commandant is the Signiferii or Field Captain, the senior-most centurion within the cohort.

Ten Cohorts form a single Legion, consisting of approximately 5,000 legionaries. Legions are led by the Legatus or General, who have the unique honor of being the lowest office which is permitted to formulate new strategic goals. Legions combine arms, maneuver, artillery, air defense, reconnaissance, engineer and protection, and logistics and sustainment under one major unit. In addition to combat units, legions include various specialized components to suit the needs of the military. Above General is the Major General, or Legatarius, who oversees 1-3 legions in addition to entire divisions or specialized units. Legion Generals (Legatus legionis) are responsible for approximately 5 legions each.

Operational leadership consists of Generals, Major Generals, and Legion Generals, who control several legions and oversee specialized components. Legion Generals (Legatus legionis) are responsible for approximately 5 legions each. A Legion General may specialize in specific elements of the strategy for modern warfare. Some notable Legion Generals are experts in amphibious warfare, coordination with aircraft, intelligence management, and climate control. While the public praises centurions and legion commanders, Legion Generals have the sole honor of leading a military Triumph through Venceia. For this reason, Imperators and other members of the administrative leadership have taken on the title. Even the presence of a Legion General demands reverence and respect from civilians and politicians as much as from inferior officers. It has long been standard practice for a Legion General to command Caphirian forces during a specific battle where different branches of the military work together. This tended to make them the highest-ranked officers on the field. However, most modern Legion Generals operate far from the front line.

Beneath the Legion General is the rank of Major General, or Legatarius. Major Generals oversee a significant segment of the Imperial Legion's operational components, typically commanding 1-3 legions in addition to entire divisions or specialized units. Given their intermediary role, they bridge the gap between large-scale strategic planning and on-ground execution. A Major General is entrusted with the responsibility of adapting and implementing the strategic decisions made by the Gathering of Legates into actionable plans within their divisions. This often involves coordinating with other military branches, understanding the logistical constraints and capabilities, and ensuring that troops under their command are adequately prepared for combat scenarios. Their role is multifaceted: they not only lead troops into battle but also oversee training, logistics, and intelligence within their division.

The rank of General, or Legatus is a crucial operational rank in the Imperial Legion's hierarchy. They often command individual legions or specialized units within the divisions overseen by Major Generals. Their focus is much more on the tactical level, ensuring that the overarching strategy set by the higher-ups gets executed on the ground effectively and efficiently. Generals have the unique honor of being the lowest office which is permitted to formulate new strategic goals. Although it is the most junior rank within the "commander" category, it is also the most accessible field rank. Since they are often the nearest strategists to combat, they usually exercise more direct control than other commanding ranks. For that reason, the rank of General is seen as the apex of a military career. Given the vastness and diversity of the Imperium, Generals often find themselves in vastly different theaters of operations. As a result, many Generals have areas of expertise – from naval landings and sieges to rapid response and guerrilla warfare. Their experiences on the field shape their tactics and approach, making each General a unique asset to the Imperial Legion. In public perception, Generals are celebrated as heroes, and are often the subject of tales and songs, with their deeds in battle becoming the stuff of legend in Caphirian culture.

Support staff

Besides basic infantry and their commanding officers, the Legion employs hundreds of thousands of soldiers in a logistic or supportive military role.

Field Psychologists (Aenator) are the professionals responsible for the mental well-being of Legionaries, veterans, and their families. Like traditional psychologists, these professionals diagnose and treat various mental disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. Unlike traditional psychologists, however, Army psychologists are trained to deal specifically with the unique needs of members of the armed forces. Aenatores train in monitoring the mental states of soldiers for signs of trauma, stress, depression, and intentions to mutiny or desert. Field psychologists are also available on domestic and foreign military bases to help treat soldiers experiencing mental and emotional problems. When soldiers are home on domestic bases, psychologists might counsel them on various issues, from minor stress to substance abuse. Soldiers who are away from home on foreign grounds, however, may suffer from more severe mental anguish.

Field Doctors (Medici Legiones) are active duty physicians representing all the specialties and subspecialties of civilian medicine. They may be assigned to fixed military medical facilities, deployable combat units, or military medical research and development duties. They are considered fully deployable soldiers and can heal in the middle of combat and between battles. One of the few military posts fillable by a non-citizen, legionary medics are famous for often being Daxian. The Daxian reputation as doctors pushed the Senate to open the road for them to serve in the military despite the public disdain for employing foreigners in the army. A non-combat specialty branch of the Legion called the Medical Corps exists to train and deploy field doctors, offering over 41 areas of concentration.

Artillery (ballista) is operated by the vital Ballistarii (artillerymen). They are grouped into regiments (Manipuli), individually commanded by an artillery officer (Duplicarius). The number of regiments assigned to a legion - and the composition of those regiments - is an area of flexibility for the Caphiran army. Regular legionaries are universally trained in the operation of mortars. Every contubernium has one of its own for field use, but this does little compared to the effectiveness of dedicated artillerymen and heavy artillery.

Ranks and insignia

	Enlisted					Officers						Commanders			Leadership
	Tiro	Conscribere	Legionarii	Tortores	Primo Tortores	Decurion	Tesserarius	Optio	Centurion	Signiferii	Angusticlavii	Legatus	Legatarius	Legionis Legatus	Dux Legionis	Dux Campi	Legionissimus
Rank
Translation	Cadet	Recruit	Legionarie (Soldier)	Specialist	First Specialist	Sergeant	Staff Sergeant	Lieutenant	Captain	Field Captain	Commandant	General	Major General	Legion General	Legion Marshal	Field Marshal	Marshal General
Class grades	I - II	I - IV	I - IV	I - V		I - IV	I - II	I - IV	I - V		I - II	I - IV	I - III	I - IV	I - IV
Pay grade	E-1	E-2	E-3	E-4	S-1	O-1	O-2	O-3	O-4	S-2	O-5	O-6	O-7	O-8	O-9	O-10	O-11

Equipment

Main article: List of equipment of the Imperial Legion