The Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium (VERY OUT OF DATE - BY FIFTEEN YEARS)

[Tagmatium Rules]

PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE READING THIS AFTER 2018, DO NOT TAKE THIS AS CANON. IT NO LONGER IS. IT DOES NOT REFLECT MODERN TAGMATIUM IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN A SUPERFICIAL WAY.

(OOC: BAM! Status of the Holy Empire circa 1903)

HISTORY

Think of Tagmatium as a Balkans state. Ruled over by an Emperor, but this power is more often than not only in name. At this point in history, Tagmatium was ruled over by one of its weaker Emperors, Basil II. There were large pro-Marxist uprisings, and on many occasions were the right-wing forces were in control. Mainly, this conflict was kept to the Imperial Court, where rival aristocratic factions would vie for control of the rather weak-willed Emperor.

The socialist faction has control of the court at the outbreak of the war, but power switches between the two factions. The Tagmatines send a battalion of the Imperial Guard to help train the rebels.

The military of Tagmatium is the same as all others at this stage, the notable exception being the armoured cavalry, the Cataphracts. The Imperial Guard is the elite, well trained and equipped. The Peoples' Guard, the regulars, are less well train but are mainly professional soldiers. There is a large reliance on cavalry, which has proved useful in many recent engagements in Tagmatium. There is a small air force, based on the use of zeppelins/airships. The navy is fairly strong, but due to the recent Dreadnought battleships, it is beginning to be obsolete.

[Tagmatium Rules]

Status of the Holy Empire, circa 1964

 

It's 61 years since the begining of the Tamurin Civil War, and little has changed since. Carus' democratic reforms in the reign of Basil II have been swept away in the rule of the next emperors, but are returning during the rule of Carus' grandson, Constantius II, who was elected on a wave of populist reform. His predominatly left-wing views are making big business and army groups jittery, especially as several nations in Europa have become Communist.

After the Tamurin Civil War, the Holy Empire had decided that it needed to expand its sphere of influence southwards, and saw the lands of Sevrun has such a place. The invaison began in 1919, and the land was conquered. Alot of military men carved out personal domains, within the colonies, and they remain to this day (that is, 1964). A recent rebellion, put down harshly, has altered public opinion in mainland Tagmatium, as has the Holy Emperor's anti-colony stance. The armed forces in Sevrun's morale is at an all time low due to this factors in the motherland.

A key feature of the army is the EM 2, the British army's first assualt rifle (which was never issued as of NATO's standard round was smaller than the British standard round, but as there is no NATO in Europa, we've got it).

Other than that, Tagmatium's got the standard British equipment of this time. A key feature of the colonial army is the Sevrun Colonial Brigade, made up of Sevrunians who support Tagmatine rule and Tagmatines born in Sevrun. It is led by Major General Konig, recently promoted from Brigadier due to his key role in putting down the last rebellion.

[Tagmatium Rules]

Status of the Holy Empire, circa 1000's

 

The land the Holy Empire controls is the same as it does now. This is because in the 1300's the Empire broke up due to internal and external pressures, only becoming an Empire again in the 1500's, and only re-unified in 2000's.

 

The army, which is called the Peope's Guard, has large amounts of heavy infantry, armed with spears, lighter infantry with javilins. Archers with composite bows are also fielded, often as part of the other infantry units. Heavy, shock troops are provided by the Imperial Guard (think the Vanagarian Guard of the Byzantines).

 

Cavalry is one of the main arms, with horse archers, light cavalry (often armed with javilins as well), heavy cavalry (part of the Imperial Guard) and the Cataphracts, super-heavy (ie fully armoured man and horse) cavalry armed with a mixture of bow and lance.

 

Armour is either scale mail, chain mail, lamellar, padded jackets or hardened leather, depending on the wealth of the soldier. All infantry and cavalry are issued with a 12-foot spear, often longer for infantry, as well as a 3-foot sword, which can be a sabre. Maces are cavalry-issue. Imperial Guardsmen are armed with double-handed axes.

 

The previous Emperor, Constantius I, who died in 988, left a newborn child as his only heir. Demetrias, the child's uncle, took over as regent. When the child came of age at the age of 18, instead of direct power being passed to Bardas, Demetrias proclaimed himself Emperor and usurped the throne. Bardas was exiled, but returned a year later at the head of an army. The campaign was intially successful, but at the final battle, a bridge holding the army's brilliant general, most of the heavy calvary and Bardas gave way. Only Bardas survived, and escaped the enusing rout of his army. Gathering as much of his bodyguard as he could find, he left the Holy Empire for the south, knowing that his uncle would send men after him.

 

As I keep making references to these two different types of sword, here's pictures that I dug up from the InterWeb:

A Spathion

A Paramerion

Edited August 30, 2005 by Tagmatium Rules (see edit history)

[Tagmatium Rules]

Offical Name: The Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium (often shortened to GHET)

Capital City: Tagmatica

Government Type: Near-Absolute Monarchy, with each new Emperor voted in by a general election. Local councils of provinces are also voted for.

Number of Legislative Branches: 1. Imperial Council, called irregularly.

Federalist or Unitary: Unitary

Provinces/Territories (if applicable): 24 Themes

Formal Head of State: The Holy Emperor

Political Head of State: The Holy Emperor

Offical Language: Tagmatine Greek (in effect a dialect of English)

Offical Religion: The Orthodox Church of Tagmatium

Population 2 billion. Ish.

Major Minorities Large numbers of immigrants and other countries ex-pats in the ports, roughly 10% of the population.

Separation of Powers: None

[Tagmatium Rules]

Pronunciation of the nation's name

 

Tagmatium = Tag mat ee um

[Tagmatium Rules]

Here's Tagmatium's flag:

The purple field is due to the fact that the nation considers itself the true heir of Rome in Europa, even though it split from there in the 9th Century, purple being the colour of the Emperor of Rome.

The Patriarchal cross is because the Orthodox Church of Tagmatium is headed by a Patriarch. It's very different in many respects from the RL Orthodox Church, especially because the Tagmatine Orthodox Church is iconoclastic.

The Chi-Ro features as Tagmatium is a Christian nation, as well as giving it late-Roman feel.

The two leopards/lions (on the version in NS, at least) are partly a nod to the fact it used to have the St Pierre et Michlon flag. They represent the Greater Holy Empire's proud martial history, or some such.

The red band was put in, OOCly, to break up the flag. I've no idea what that could represent IC.

[Tagmatium Rules]

Major Cities

The major cities are Tagmatica, the Imperial capital, Petrium, second city and main naval base and the two fortress towns of Scutum ("Shield") and Gorytos ("Quiver"). Two other major cities are the industrial city of Kontos ("Lance") in the north and Theis in the south-east. Tagmatium has recently expanded, taking into it the Borean Principalities and the Commonwealth of Paphlagonia.

GEOGRAPHY

As Tagmatium lies in the far north of Europa, a lot of the land is green and fertile. The southeast and southwest are dominated by large, rolling plains, which have been farmed for centuries. As the country goes north, the landscape becomes more heavily wooded, dominated by ancient forests of deciduous trees like Oak and Beech. The north of Tagmatium is incredibly mountainous, and the only decent pass is commanded by the fortress-town of Scutum. In the east, the border is defined by a large river and the best crossing point is defended by the fortress of Gorytos.

Nature

The fauna of Tagmatium is varied. There are several large predators, bears and wolves, still clinging on to existence in the mountains and forests, despite drives by humans to kill them off. There are wild goats and sheep, but more common are domesticated versions. Dairy and Beef cattle are also common. Horses and donkeys were once the mainstays of life in Tagmatium, but these have been replaced in the more modern areas by cars and other motor vehicles. Bird life is very varied, as is that of small mammals. Plant life is also very varied.

HISTORY

Under construction

GOVERNMENT

As a Holy Empire, Tagmatium is run by a Holy Emperor. He, or she, is elected by an election of all Tagmatine nationals over the age of 18 after the death or retirement of his or her predecessor. The Holy Emperor will then appoint all Governmental officials. This often means keeping those on who have experience in their fields of work. The rest of Tagmatium is run by the Strategoi (singular, Strategos), hereditary military Governors who also have the power of the local army. The new territories of the Borean Principalities and the Commonwealth of Paphlagonia are run in a similar system, except with Princes and Dukes replacing the Tagmatine Strategoi. As it is a Holy Empire, the Holy Emperor is also head of the Tagmatine Orthodox Church, the main denomination of Christianity in Tagmatium.

MILITARY

Under construction

[Tagmatium Rules]

NATIONAL WONDER

Name: Tagmatica Basilica

Place Constructed: In the political, administrative and historical capital of the Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium, Tagmatica. It stands on the edge of the main square of the capital, St Constantine's Square.

Existed: Started in 890AD, and it was completed by 899AD.

History: The construction of a huge Christian basilica was announced by the first Holy Emperor of Tagmatium in 890. It was to mark both the conquering of a large area of land outside of Tagmatica which was to form the basis of the Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium, as well as the third anniversary of Tagmatium's secession from the Roman (Byzantine) Empire in 887, after the death of Basil I.

Since then, it has withstood wars, plagues and fires and many, many different Holy Emperors. It was famously looted in the winter of 1304 after the annihilation of the Imperial Army led by Heraclius I by an alliance of tribes. The destruction of the Imperial Army allowed the tribes to attack the capital and pillage the city.

Description: It bears a striking similarity to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and this is thought to have been purposefully ordered by Constantine I in order to symbolise his break from the old Empire.

The Tagmatica Basilica is covered by a central dome with a diameter of 31 meters (102 feet) and 56 metres high. The dome seems rendered weightless by the unbroken arcade of arched windows under it, which help flood the colourful interior with light. The dome is carried on pendentives?four concave triangular sections of masonry which solve the problem of setting the circular base of a dome on a rectangular base. The weight of the dome passes through the pendentives to four massive piers at the corners. Between them, the dome seems to float upon four great arches.

At the western (entrance) and eastern (liturgical) ends, the arched openings are extended by half domes carried on smaller semidomed exedras. Thus a hierarchy of dome-headed elements builds up to create a vast oblong interior crowned by the main dome, a sequence unexampled in antiquity.

[Tagmatium Rules]

MILITARY

Tagmatine Armed Forces information

Holy Imperial Air force

They maintain all aircraft in the Tagmatine armed forces, apart from the fleet air arm and People's Guard ground attack helicopters.

• Fighter Command Commands all fighter squadrons in the GHET.
• Bomber Command Commands all bomber squadrons in the GHET.
• Aerial Guard An odd breed in the Tagmatine armed forces, they are armed and equipped as standard infantry, but are deployed into combat from helicopters, much like other armed forces aerial infantry. A recent development, founded in 1995, after the Refounding of the Empire. Tagmatium is not quite sure whether they are really part of the People's Guard (as they fight as infantry) or truly part of the air force. They guard all air force bases. They have not seen much active combat.

Holy Imperial Navy

The Holy Imperial Navy is Tagmatium?s navy. They maintain all naval shipping, and are the second largest branch of the armed forces. It was once one of the largest navies Europa, but the events of the Civil War saw the navy, bar the Borean Strait Fleet, declare for Conservative League of Tagmatium. The Borean Strait Fleet was then so badly mauled attempting to halt the CLT advance the only operational loyalist craft were two destroyers. The traitor ships were then sunk or crippled by combined Tamurin and Paranoid Schizoid fleet.

The Greater Holy Empire has then spend the last several years re-building it by making and buying ships, and it now stands at several hundred combat read ships, although nowhere near the scale of similar-sized countries? naval shipping.

The Tagmatine marines, the Naval Guard, are armed and equipped similarly to the People?s Guard. A contingent is based on every ship, with the larger ones maintaining company or above sized units. Each detachment is named for its ship, although they may be deployed as a combined battalion of several ships? units on land.

-Naval Ships, in order of size.

 

Basileus class Battleships (4) ? The largest ship in the navy, if not the region. It is designed to take on and defeat every other ship of its class. It has a crew of around four thousand and maintains 5-6 VTOL aircraft. It also has a large detachment of marines.

Demetrius I

Maurice I

Commodus II

Constantius III

 

Maximus class Aircraft Carriers (4) ? Adapton-built aircraft carrier, a standard-sized aircraft carrier, with room for around 80 VTOL fighters.

Nika

Imperial Sovereign

Borean Strait

Tagmatica

 

Sebastus class Guided Missile/Air Defence Battlecruiser (6) ? A dual role battlecruiser, with systems for both attack surface targets and defending against aerial attack. Has 2-3 VTOL aircraft and a small compliment of marines.

Theis

Kontos

Heiropolis

Gorytos

Scutum

Petrium

 

Nobilissimus class Escort Carrier (6) ? Carrier with room for two dozen VTOL aircraft and a moderate unit of marines.

Iconium

Cotyeum

Prousa

Boreapolis

Laodicea

Commodopolis

 

Kouropalates class light missile cruiser (8) ? A light cruiser, primarily designed to attack both surface and submarine targets.

Fordea

Seleucia

Resapha

Europatoria

Kibotos

Eastea

Theodosiopolis

Adramyttium

 

Oracle class Communications and Detection light cruisers (8) ? A light cruiser given over to the detection and monitoring of enemy fleet movements and shipping. Also acts as a boost for targeting and communication systems of friendly shipping.

Oracle

Prophet

Sage

Savant

Seer

Augur

Diviner

Prognosticator

 

Cavalry class Destroyers (2) ? Once the work-horse of the HIN, but now is out-moded. Standard destroyer.

Lancer

Hussar

 

Scutatus class Destroyers (10) ? The new work-horse. Designed for anti-shipping, and has anti-submarine systems.

 

Peltatus class Air Defence Destroyers (10) ? Air defence destroyer.

 

ANZAC class Frigates (15) ? Standard frigate.

 

Adelaide class Frigates (15) ? a guided missile frigate.

[Rennd]

Nice work tag... very well done

 

I think i should make one myself sooner or later

 

[Tagmatium Rules]

(OOC: Heh, thanks. I just recycled stuff I did months ago. Too much like hard work, otherwise.)

---

IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN TAGMATIUM

(This is more of a reference for me than anyone else )

Politicians

• Holy Emperor Commodus III James ? Reigning Holy Emperor. Fairly absolute, but is very reasonable and clear-thinking.
• High Chancellor Gregorius Ford ? An incompetent. Chosen by Commodus purely to keep the post from Philip Commenus. Hated by many for bad strategies during the Civil War. Once he loses Commodus' favour, many will be after his blood.
• Vice-Chancellor Philip Commenus ? One of the ablest Tagmatine leaders. Lost the election for Holy Emperor to Commodus, but is still the second most powerful person in the Greater Holy Empire.
• Minister of the Interior, Gebeon Tonaras - Corrupt, as well as being the third most important person, because of the size of his ministry, which includes the police (although they are fiercely independent) and the Internal Intelligence Inspectorate, Tagmatium?s (incompetent) secret police.
• Minister for War, Honorius Kontarian ? Nothing noteworthy apart from being from the ancient Kontarian family, and half-brother to Alexander Belisarius Narses Ursicinus Kontarian. The fourth most powerful politician in the nation, due to the large size of the Tagmatine military.
• Minister for Trade, Tacitus Smith.
• Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eugenius Wilson
• Minister for Finance, Valentinian Tzimeces ? Very concerned about the amount of money the GHET is spending.
• Minister for Overseas Geological Oddities, Paul Narses ? A pipe smoker, a friend of Minister of War.
• Minister for the Environment, Decius Brown - I forgot he had existed until I stumbled on a topic he was in.
• Imperial Secretary Boionannes
• Minister of League of the Treaty Affairs, Justin Trascalissaeus
• Minister for Power, Aemilian Ladders
• Under-Minister for Power, Francis Zemarchus

There are many others, but they have not been mentioned as yet

Army Officers

• Domestic Manuel Comentiolus ? Most experienced Tagmatine commander, as well as the most talented. Also an infantryman rather than a cavalry officer.
• Domestic Basil Mesardonites - Stereotypical upper-class officer, but still is a capable commander.
• General Anthony Trajan ? Catepan of Skiithica. Ruthless and has only one eye.
• General Constantine Wulfstan ? Commander of the Cataphract Corps
• General Isaac Acilius - Imperial Guard general. Nice person.
• Lieutenant General Ogadai - Ethnic Skiithican, favours attack over defence
• Lieutenant General John Aebutius
• Major General Valens Artorius ? Commander of the Tagmatine Expeditionary Force to Suverina.
• Major General Cynewald - Commander of the Mountain Division. Less bigoted than he would have let on.
• Brigadier Athelstan Mezezius - Commander of the Tarragat Island relief force, but now off on sick leave
• Brigadier Justin Gracianus - Commander of the Tagmatine peacekeepers in Tinian
• Major General Darius Guildford ? Commander of the Imperial Guard Research Division.

Naval Officers

• Drungarius Heracleon Heraclius ? Most senior Tagmatine naval officer.
• Rear Drungarius Nicolas Oswald ? Foul tempered and fat.
• Vice Drungarius Stylianus Ethelred
• Commodore Michael Dionotus - Commander of the naval forces of Tinian Peacekeepers
• Commodore Camytzes - Commander of the Canal Zone forces.

Air Force Officers

• Dux Numerius Rosslyn

Religious Leaders

• Patriarch of Tagmatica, Cosmas I ? Bigoted and narrow-minded, he heads the Orthodox Church of Tagmatium.
• Patriarch of the True Church, George Wheelwright ? Even more bigoted and narrow-minded, he was a left-over from the Republic and has recently been kick-out of the Orthodox Church and founded his own Church, the Church of True Orthodoxy. Anti every other religion.
• Archbishop of Adramyttium, Terrance Saxo
• Manichean High Priest, Antiochus Simon

Ambassadors

• Alexius Theodorocanus - Ambassador to Akiiryu
• Romanus Culter - Ambassador to the SDC
• Exaugustus Harrison - Ambassador to Adaptus
• Benedict Xiphias - Ambassador to Vocenae
• Christophorus Norton - Ambassador to Beautancus

Others

• Chief Constable of Laodicea, Andronicus Xenocrates ? a fairly corrupt senior officer in one of the most crime-filled areas of the GHET.
• Head of the Tagmatine Intelligence Network, Nicephorus Fry.

For all these categories, there are many I've probably forgotten, as well as many that will be added over time.

[Tagmatium Rules]

TAGMATIINE TITLE EXPLANATIONS

Ranked/Courtly Titles

Tagmatium has many different titles, honours etc. These have generally been made over the years, and have accumulated over the centuries. They are not hereditary, nor are they the titles of nobility, although many old families do often have them. They are given by the Holy Emperor to those who have served Tagmatium well over the years or as signs of personal favour from the current ruler of the Greater Holy Emperor. The six main ones are as follows, decreasing in prestige. It is more of an honours system, like the one in the UK, rather than a sign that Tagmatium is a feudal economy.

1. Sebastus
2. Nobilissimus
3. Kouropalates
4. Proedrus
5. Hyperatus
6. Archontes

Sebastus is the equivalent of a grand duke in other nations, Nobilissimus of a duke, Kouropalates of a marquis, Proedrus of earl/count, Hyperatus of viscount and Archontes of baron (the use of English noble titles is just to show how the titles themselves are ranked).

There are many others, such the rank of Protopansebastoshyperatus given to Photius Tbamaba during the War of Hidaya Miliki, exist as combinations of the above titles. The rank these titles have, compared to the above six, may also vary. They are often given to foreign dignitaries as a mark of respect. In this case, they are often awarded a pension as well. The higher ones may also be given to foreign heads of state. Often, proto- is added to the front of a title to show that it is higher than the one below but lower than the one above. This adds several additional titles to the Tagmatine title system.

Civil servants may be given low-ranking titles as a mark of recognition of their services.

The title of 'Minister', no matter how lowly the Ministry concerned, is counted as the title of Nobilissimus.

There is also a title higher than that of Sebastus, which is that of Caesar. This, however, is only given to members of the current Holy Emperor's immediate family.

Military Titles

The military rank of Domestic is the Tagmatine version of Field Marshal, and is the highest rank in the Tagmatine army, above that of full General.

The naval rank of Drungarius is the equivalent of Admiral.

The air-force rank of Dux is the highest one in the airforce, the equivalent of general.

The title of Grand Domestic of the Army/Grand Drungarius of the Navy/Grand Dux of the Airforce is granted as an honorific to high officials in the Imperial Government, usually those who have some experience of those arms. It is supposed to signify command of that arm, but in reality, it has little or no power.

Another military rank that needs explanation is that of Catepan, which is often used in conjunction with another rank (for example, Catepan-General Anthony Trajan). This is given to military governors of an area, usually, one that is newly conquered and is still fairly chaotic. It lasts until as and when the area can be properly considered to be calm. A Catepan has full control, militarily and politically, of his Catepanate. As can be imagined, the Imperial Government only gives out this title to those that can be trusted and does keep a wary eye on those who do have it.

Title of the Holy Emperor

The full title of the Holy Emperor of Tagmatium is as follows:

The most Holy, august and serene Emperor-Elect of the Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium and Manichean Free City of Theis, Premier of the Commonwealth of Paphlagonia, Ruler of the Principalities of the Borea, Righteous Defender of the Borean Strait, Sovereign Lord of the Occidental Subcontient as Ordained by God, King of Kings Ruling over Those who Rule, Vice-gerent of God in Europa, Tribune of the Roman and Tagmatine People, Father of the Tagmatine People, Sole Autocrat under God of the Roman and Tagmatine People, Iconoclastic Defender of the Iconoclastic Orthodox Church of Tagmatium, Majestic Overlord of Tagmatica, Imperator Caesar-Augustus, Supreme Leader of the Armies of the Tagmatine People, Righteous Defender of the Tagmatine People, Soverign Dispenser of Justice, Chronokrator and Kosmokrator, Most Blessed Heir of Caesar, Augustus, Constantine the Great of Constantinople and Constantine the Great of Tagmatica, Equal of the Apostles and the Elect of Heaven and the Tagmatine People.

This full title is rarely used, as it is over-long and cumbersome. It is usually shortened to Holy Emperor-Elect or, more commonly, Holy Emperor. As Tagmatium considers itself the true heir of Rome in Europa, although it broke away in 887AD, it shares many titles with that of other Roman states. This full title is only really ever given to over-awe foreign dignitaries and has not been used in the reign of Commodus III since his coronation as Holy Emperor in 2005.

[Tagmatium Rules]

 Tagmatine Law Enforcement/Counter-intelligence Organisations

Tagmatine Police

This is sub-divided into many separate constabularies, mainly centred on cities and large towns. Sometimes whole themes (districts) have a single force, but this is more likely at the county level.

Tagmatine have the same duties as police in the vast majority of nations in Europa. They are there to prevent crime and arrest criminals, acting as the ?long arm of the law?.

They were a helmet that is similar in style to that of British police, and are equipped with body armour as standard, as well as pepper sprays, hand-cuffs and the like. They also carry an extendable truncheon known as an asp. They also have personal radios in order to call in back up, etc. Historically, the Tagmatine police are not armed. It is maintained that armed police would make the public uncomfortable and would make criminal elements more likely to carry firearms in situations where they currently do not. However, Rapid Armed Response Units (RARUs) are quickly deployed to any situation if the armed back-up is needed. They are armed with any Imperial Armouries-produced weapons (depending on the situation), dressed in heavy body armour and are highly trained.

Organisationally, they are a part of the Ministry for the Interior, as well as the Imperial Justice System. However, in practice, the Grand Domestic of the Police jealously guards the independence of the police, protecting it from meddling by both the Ministry of the Interior and other Tagmatine Ministries and organisations. They are not the oldest police force in the region, coming into being in the mid 1800's. The duties of police were originally carried out by the Trapezitae, the light cavalry of the Tagmatine armed forces. They became over-stretched, and after several unfortunate incidences involving armed soldiers and unarmed civilians, a civilian police force was founded and took over their duties.

Internal Intelligence Inspectorate

The Greater Holy Empire?s own secret police. They are purposefully a shadowy organisation, made out to be omnipotent and omnipresent, ever watchful and all-seeing, ever ready to drag the traitors and nay-sayers off into the night, never to be seen again. The truth, no matter how much wishful thinking by the Imperial Government, is different. Unlike many secret police forces throughout history, they are constrained by law. They cannot abduct people in the middle of the night, nor can they round up who they like or suspect of anti-Imperial activities, at least without proper evidence. The reasons for this are dual. They were set up in the reign of Theodosius I to keep track of the activities of ex-Republicans still in Tagmatium. To make sure they were not likened to the old secret police of the Republic, he made sure they were bound by law. The second reason is suspicion of the III becoming too powerful.

More recently, the Ministry of the Interior has repeatedly asked to have the restriction of them being bound by law removed, so they can truly ferret out enemies of the state. Commodus III has repeatedly refused this, as it would mean that the Ministry of the Interior would verge upon becoming all-powerful, with the threat of ?disappearing? against those who would argue with Gebeon Tonaras.

The uniform of the III is purposefully conspicuous and sinister, similar to that of the Imperial Household Guards in that they are very heavily armoured. They were a dark grey uniform with black body armour, grey helmets and gas-masks with reflective visors. They are equipped in the same manner as the standard police, although they are armed with a Pugio semi-automatic pistol, which doubles as a light submachine-gun.

Inside of the Greater Holy Empire, they are charged with tracking down spies, traitors and investigating those who would damage the Holy Emperor?s rule over Tagmatium.

Tagmatine Intelligence Network

The Tagmatine Intelligence Network, TIN for short, is Tagmatium?s main anti-espionage organisation. It acts independently of all other organisations, although does act as a relay for intelligence picked up by its overseas agents, forwarding it to branches of the military and the Imperial Government. It maintains small cells, both inside the Greater Holy Empire, in which case they act in a counter-intelligence manner, hunting down foreign spies and outside of it, in which case they act in the traditional role of spies, gathering intelligence and secret information.

Their position in the Tagmatine hierarchy of Law Enforcement and Counter-Intelligence Agencies is above that of both the police and the III, and agents can sequester these organisations? units to aid them in catching spies, although they may wish to remain secretive and apprehend foreign operatives on their own without breaking cover.

Many embassies and consulates that are operated by the Foreign Ministry are also used as bases for the TIN, as diplomatic missions are traditionally also hotbeds of espionage and intrigue. In this case, an individual may be answerable to both the Foreign Ministry and the TIN, although the person is primarily a part of the TIN.

TIN agents do not have a standard uniform, as it is their job to blend in with the crowd. They, unlike the other two agencies, are able to act outside of the law, as they are answerable to the Holy Emperor himself in their actions. Agents carry firearms, usually a pistol such as the Pugio or Tzikourion 9mm pistols, although this is mainly to personal taste as there is no standard issue of any piece of equipment in this service. They also have a wide-range of gadgets and gizmos at their disposal, although nothing like James Bond.

[Tagmatium Rules]

You forgot Bristol!

 

 

@BI: I don't think anyone sees your naming of islands as an attempt to claim those plots.

 

EDIT: My own national map!

Argh, crap. It's too small...

 

Rennd! I need your assisstance!

Edited April 26, 2007 by Tagmatium Rules (see edit history)

[Tagmatium Rules]

EDUCATION

Prousa University

Location: Prousa

Speciality: Full range of subjects

Founded in the 1500s as a school for the children of nobility, the University has steadily flourished over the years into one of the most prestigious Universities in the Greater Holy Empire. It has some of the best staff and facilities in western Europa.

It aims to provide the best for each and every subject, although this is not always possible.

The reigning Holy Emperor, Commodus James, took his degree in Politics here.

Most, if not all, major cities in Tagmatium boast a university somewhere within their boundaries. Some even have two.

Tagmatica University

Location: Tagmatica

Speciality: Law, history (especially the period from 1513)

Older still than Prousa University, it was founded in the early 1400s, to teach law, medicine and act as a seminary for priests.

Over the years, both the medical and religious sites have moved from the campus, the former to a specially built (in 1867, Holy Imperial Medical College) in the Woodbridge area of Tagmatica and the latter to another special site, this time in the Calcott area of the capital. That building was built at the same time as the medical one and is called the Orthodox Seminary.

The university turned has recently become famed for its expertise in law and history.

(OOC: That picture's of the university tower in my home city.)

Theodoreum Military College

Location: Outside of Tagmatica

Speciality: Military Arts

This particular college was founded built in the 1800's, although a military college has existed on the site since the 890s, making it the oldest academic building in the Greater Holy Empire by a good 500 years.

It was founded by the first Hoy Emperor, Constantine the Great. He recognised that the nascent Tagmatium needed a corps of commanders skilled in the arts of war to protect the small nation from invaders and raiders, and also to lead the armies in conquering the surrounding lands.

[Tagmatium Rules]

Themes

 

Tagmatium is split up into 49 themes. A theme functions as the second largest administrative division in the Greater Holy Empire, after the nation as a whole. The population of a theme is allowed to elect its own Thematic Council, which then governs the theme. The Thematic Council then runs the theme and appoints Councillors for certain departments from amongst its number, deciding policy direction for the area, and the towns, cities and counties within it, policies that the Imperial Government doesn?t directly intervene with. However, the Imperial Government states the policy for the whole of the Greater Holy Empire, so a Thematic Council must stick roughly within those guidelines or face being replaced. A Thematic Council term lasts for five years, and then Thematic Council election is called. The size of the Council depends on the size of the population of the theme itself, which varies dramatically. The Eastean themes have very small populations, whilst Greater Tagmatica and the other conurbations have populations in excess of 10 million.

 

Each theme has its own police force, although many of the larger ones have several, especially if it contains several large cities and areas of low population. However, the police force itself is part of the Minister of the Interior, and even then is commanded by the Domestic of the Police who jealously guards the independence of the police from the Ministry. A theme doesn?t have its own army or militia, as all of the armed forces are under the strict control of the Imperial Government.

 

There is much more political freedom in a theme than in the Greater Holy Empire as a whole, although if a political party or individual came to power that either threatened the Holy Emperor?s position or where considered (by the Imperial Government) too politically radical, then they wouldn?t be allowed to form their Thematic Council and another election would be called. This has not yet happened in the reign of Commodus III.

 

Historically, a theme was governed by a Strategos, who held both military and civil power, and was charged with raising and supplying troops for the Tagmatine army. However, this was washed away in the period known as ?the Eclipse of the Empire?, and replaced once Tagmatium was unified with a governor who held only civil power, all military power coming from the Imperial Government.

 

-List and Map of Themes:

The colours on the map indict the different areas of Tagmatium. The dark blue borders show the area known as Tagmatium Minor, the Green Paphalgonia, the Red the Borea and the Brown Eastea, which is currently a Catepanate under General Anthony Trajan. Theis, number 5, is not strictly speaking a theme but a nation in union with Tagmatium. It has its own separate government and state religion (Manichaeism), as well as own Army, although this works under the banner of the rest of the Tagmatine Army. Nevertheless, for all intents and purposes, it is part of the Greater Holy Empire. Fort Justinianus, 51, is another area which is not actually a theme. It has a population of under 5000, so is too small to be counted as such, and so is a part of the theme of Greater Tagmatica.

 

1: Greater Tagmatica

2: Petrishire

3: Isthmus of Tagmatium

4: Kontarshire

5: Manichean City State of Theis

6: Scutumshire

7: Artebatumshire

8: Callevashire

9: Boreapolis

10: Borea Orientis

11: Borea Australis

12: Borea Occidentis

13: Novamagnushire

14: Glevumshire

15: Theodosiopolis

16: Iconiumshire

17: Prousa

18: Ratae

19: Regenseshire

20: Cotyeum

21: Boreapennines Orientis

22: Boreapennines Occidentis

23: Boreapennines Foothills

24: Europatoria

25: Heiropolishire

26: Adramyttium

27: Eastern Paphalgonia

28: Central Paphalgonia

29: Northern Paphalgonia

30: Seleucia

31: Dyrrachium

32: Peninsular Cities

33: Resaphashire

34: Novantaeshire

35: Votadnishire

36: Eastern Isca

37: Central Isca

38: Southern Isca

39: Verulamium

40: Venta

41: Commodopolishire

42: Dava

43: Kibotoshire

44: Durovitaeshire

45: Fordae

46: Lidumshire

47: Isarishire

48: Eastea

49: Laodicum

50: Northern Eastea

51: Fort Justinianus

 

f*cking Imageshack...

Edited August 31, 2006 by Tagmatium Rules (see edit history)

[Tagmatium Rules]

The Imperial Government

 

-Overview

 

The Imperial Government is the administration of the Greater Holy Empire of Tagmatium. It is headed by the Holy Emperor and consists of many ministries, councils and secretariats. It is also the largest bureaucracy in the region, something which has gained the Imperial Government infamy inside of Tagmatium, as many things are bogged down in red tape, unnecessary form-writing, even for many mundane things.

 

As Tagmatium is in effect an autocracy, the ultimate pronouncement for most policies falls to the Holy Emperor alone, and the ministers and other officials act more as advisors, advising the sovereign of Tagmatium on courses of action, although the final decision falls to the Holy Emperor.

 

After the Holy Emperor comes the position of High Chancellor and Vice Chancellor. These positions exist as the Holy Emperor?s chief advisors, and are not attached to any ministries. If the Holy Emperor is unavailable to decide on any matters, the decision will fall to the High Chancellor and then the Vice-Chancellor. Both of these positions are usually filled with people who the Holy Emperor can trust fully.

 

Then come the various ministries. Although each ministry does vary in size from each other, from the tiny Ministry for Overseas Geological Oddities (which has a staff of a few dozen) to the huge Ministry for Foreign Affairs (a staff into the hundreds of thousands) and Ministry for Internal Affairs (numbering millions, due to the inclusion of the judicial and law-enforcement arms of the Imperial Government), each Minister, no matter the size of their ministry, is each of the same rank (the courtly one of nobilissimus), so each has the same input into all affairs, but most will only be called to meetings if the subject of it coincides with their spheres of interest.

 

-Ministries

 

The Ministries are (descending in size):

 

Ministry for Internal Affairs

Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Ministry for War

Ministry for the National Health Service

Ministry for Education

Ministry for Finance

Ministry for the Environment

Ministry for Trade

Ministry for Information

Ministry for Public Transport

Ministry for Agriculture

Ministry for the Sea and Coastlines

Ministry for Energy

Ministry for Civil Aviation

Ministry for Waterways

Ministry for Work and Pensions

Ministry for Public Works

Ministry for Urban Development

Ministry for Public Housing

Ministry for Thematic Councils

Ministry for Culture

Ministry for Motor Vehicles

Ministry for Sport

Ministry for Innovation, Universities and Skills

Ministry for Political Aid to Foreign Parties

Ministry for International Development

Ministry for Overseas Geological Oddities

Ministry for Large Dogs and other Potentially Dangerous Pets

 

Each minister is chosen for his or her personal experience in the field, rather than other nations? ministers who are chosen for their ability at organising or for political reasons, rather than familiarity with the ministry?s field.

 

All of the ministries have an office in the Imperial Palace Complex which acts as their headquarters and puts them near to the heart of the Imperial Government; all ministries also maintain much larger premises across Tagmatica, where the majority of the ministry officials and staff actually work. The Imperial Palace Complex isn?t big enough to hold the whole of a ministry, even one the size of the Ministry for Overseas Geological Oddities. Most ministries also maintain offices across the Greater Holy Empire.

 

-Bureaucracy

 

As a result of the large number of Ministries and subsiduary governmental departments attached to those Ministries, the Imperial Government is a seething morass of bureaucracy. This is a double-edged sword, as whilst the Imperial Government and its many departments are probably the largest employer in the Greater Holy Empire and provide many millions of the nation's citizens with perfectly secure jobs, even the most simple day-to-day action can be made difficult by the sheer amount of red tape and form-filling needed to carry out the task.

 

Most Tagmatines are resigned to massive quagmire of officialdom, knowing that any backlash against the system would be ultimately futile, as this in turn would require hours of waiting in line and form filling. Many also take a perverse pride in the fact that the Greater Holy Empire boasts the largest, and oldest, bureaucraty in Europa, with many offices having a hundreds, if not a thousand, years of history attached to them. Black humour about the system is one of the most popular subjects of stand-up comedy in the Greater Holy Empire.

 

-Imperial Election Practice

 

Every time a Holy Emperor dies, or retires from office, an Imperial Election is called. Every citizen of Tagmatium over the age of eighteen, including those overseas and military personnel posted overseas, are entitled to a single vote, even if convicted of a criminal offence. The winner of the election, even if by a small margin, then becomes the Holy Emperor-Elect and has a coronation, usually held in the Tagmatica Basilica. The Holy Emperor then chooses his or her Vice-Chancellor and High Chancellor and appoints ministers from those experienced in that field.

 

Holy Emperors usually are part of a political party, which then funds the election expenses of its candidate, although especially rich individuals can, in theory, fund their own campaigns. The current Holy Emperor and Vice-Chancellor are members of the Democratic Socialist party, which also holds most Thematic Councils, given them a strong power base, even though the Holy Emperor is an absolute monarch.

 

The current system was put in place by Holy Emperor Leo II Godwin, who created the first truly democratic system for electing the leader of the Greater Holy Empire, even though he rode to power on the back of a military coup which overthrew Constantine VIII. Leo II also retired from office in 1957 to allow Tagmatines to their first properly democratic election. Before then, voting had been a privilege to the rich and powerful, and usually merely place the previous Holy Emperor?s heir (or heiress) as sovereign.

 

The 1957 election was also the last election until 2005, as Holy Emperor Constantius III Carus was overthrown by another military coup in 1969 after the loss of Tagmatium?s Sevrun colony by General Leo Konig. After the Republic?s overthrow in 1995, Theodosius Carus proclaimed Holy Emperor by the population.

Edited July 2, 2007 by Tagmatium Rules (see edit history)

[Tagmatium Rules]

Aristocracy in the Greater Holy Empire

 

-Aristocratic Families

 

Most, if not all, aristocratic families can trace their lineage back to the founding of the Greater Holy Empire in the late 800s; others can draw a line to ancestors from before that time, even back to the original Roman colonists. In this respect, most of these families consider themselves Roman, but this term has more or less become obsolete. Their power was, and in most cases still is, built upon the fact that they owned large tracts of farm land in Tagmatium, which meant that they had wealth, and therefore influence. The Holy Emperor, in turn, would tax these farms in order to raise funds for the armies or building projects within the Greater Holy Empire. Often, the aristocrats would also be patrons of towns, giving them power bases, which sometimes threatened the security of the Imperial Throne. Unlike many medieval states, they owned the land in their own right, rather than it being granted to them like the feudal economies of the time. This was a double-edged sword for the Imperial Government, as it meant that, whilst the Holy Emperor was commander of all armed forces, the landed elite could conceivably raise armies in their own right. This has happened many times in the past, leading to the vast amount of civil strife that rocks the Greater Holy Empire.

 

On top of this, Holy Emperors were previously elected from amongst these aristocratic families and often a single family held it for a long period, leading to dynastic strife as one family toppled another from the Imperial Throne, regardless of the fact that it was, in theory, a democratic system. Many of the families can name at least one ancestor who has held the Imperial title.

 

The Tagmatine military, although a professional body almost from the onset, almost always had aristocratic officers, part of the belief that only the great can truly lead. Promotion through the ranks was possible, as was being enrolled in the military academies of Tagmatium, although the large costs meant that almost always it was only available to the rich, and they guarded their command of the military jealously. Many of the greatest Tagmatine commanders, even in modern times, are members of the aristocracy.

 

However, in recent years, the aristocracy?s power has declined. Merchants were able to accrue wealth through trade and began to challenge the aristocracy?s stranglehold on power. Other times, the aristocracy has damaged itself, as Holy Emperors sought to reduce their influence over different parts of the Greater Holy Empire after failed rebellions by members of the aristocracy. The old families? reluctance to sully their hands with business and commerce has also seen their wealth decline. Soldiers and politicians from other classes have challenged the idea that only the great can rule, such as Commodus James, himself the son of a man who started out as a mere bureaucrat.

 

Nevertheless, many in the current Imperial Government are members of illustrious and ancient families, and many high-ranking officers in the Tagmatine military can trace their families back to the time of Constantine I.

 

-Notable Aristocratic Families and members of them

 

Notable Aristocratic families in Tagmatium are;

 

The Bonifaci

The Caroi

The Catacalons

The Commenoi - Philip Commenus, current Vice-Chancellor

The Copronymoi - Manuel Copronymus, Domestic of the Western Army

The Kontarians - Honorius Kontarian, current Minister of War

The Mesardonites - Basil Mesardonites, Domestic in charge of the forces in Adaptus

The Oswalds - Nicholas Oswald, Rear Admiral in the HIN

The Williams

The Zemarchoi

Edited November 18, 2007 by Tagmatium Rules (see edit history)

[Tagmatium Rules]

The Old Republic

 

The Republic of Tagmatium began in 1969. It began with a military coup against the socialist Imperial Government of Holy Emperor Constantius III Carus, which was blamed for the loss of Tagmatium?s Sevrun colony after the rebellion of the Servunese and subsequent defeat of the Tagmatine Army after a guerrilla campaign and intervention by several other nations.

 

The head of the rebellion was General Leo Konig, a Sevrun native and commander of the Sevrun Colonial Brigade, a unit which had a proud military history but became infamous for its brutal reprisals against the Sevrun population. Konig led the coup as he personally blamed the actions of the socialist government for the loss of his homeland and the economic problems that Tagmatium was going through. The vast majority of the populace of the Greater Holy Empire also shared the army?s feeling and gladly aided coup, driving out the Imperial Government and its supporters, who fled abroad and set up the Empire-in-Exile.

 

The reasons for the coup itself weren?t simply the loss of the Sevrun colony, although that was the last straw. Tagmatium had been in decline since the end of the Long War, which put a massive strain on the Greater Holy Empire?s economy, even though the nation itself had never been attacked. Holy Emperor Constantine VIII ?the Mad? had been a major factor, too. In his delusions, he had seen enemies and traitors everywhere and caused many to ?disappear?, even important ministers, using his own mercenary bodyguards rather than the traditional Imperial Household Guard. In the end, he was even running Tagmatium?s campaigns himself and killing any officer or minister who told him to do otherwise. Constantine ordered the very popular Domestic Tagmatius Catacalon be executed for treason, and the army could stand for it no longer. They rebelled; the people followed and placed Major-General Leo Godwin on the throne. He made Tagmatium much more democratic, dropped out of the Long War and tried to repair the nation?s economy.

 

However, the poor state of the economy led to unrest and a rise in the more radical political groups, which even led to some terrorist acts by groups such as the Fascist Confederation and the Marxist Group of Tagmatium. In the end, Leo II stepped down in 1957, so that Tagmatium could have its first truly democratic vote for its monarch and government, rather than by the elite or military coups. The Greater Holy Empire voted for the Democratic Socialist candidate, Constantius Carus, grandson of the famous statesman, Peter Carus who was famously hanged, drawn and quartered and then sent to several Europan governments to warn against helping rebels. Constantius Carus gave the Imperial Government more of a socialist spin, attempting to reverse the downward trend of the Tagmatine economy by nationalising heavy industry, petrol-chemical industry and public transport. Many industrialists were appalled by governmental seizures of their businesses, which had in some cases taken many decades to build up, and began to look to alternatives to the socialist incumbent of the Imperial Throne.

 

1969, as stated above, saw the military coup which set up the Republic. Most famously, the abdication of Constantius was televised and included the golden Imperial Crown being cut in two by the blow of an axe, wielded by Konig himself, to show that Tagmatium was now a republic. The Splintered Crown became the main symbol of the Empire-in-Exile. The Imperial Government was forced into exile, along with those who wished to leave the country. In all, it is estimated that at least 10,000 people fled Tagmatium.

 

At first, the Republic itself was fairly benevolent, dragging Tagmatium out of its recession and re-privatising many industries, whilst keeping a fairly tight hold on the ?commanding heights? of the economy. Freedom of speech was promoted, as was freedom of belief. Konig also wished to secularise the new Republic, but realised that the stranglehold of the Tagmatine Orthodox Church was too tight for him to attempt to do so. It seemed to many people that Tagmatium had entered a new golden age.

 

This didn?t last. There was an assassination attempt on the President of the Republic of Tagmatium in 1976, which included a grandiose scheme to blow up the Tagmatica Basilica during a ceremony to remember the dead of the Long War, removing both the Republican Government and the hierarchy of the Church. This was foiled at the last minute, as a caretaker walked into the room where the detonators were being primed. The plotters were found to be members of a leftwing organisation with ties to the Empire-in-Exile, which was also funding many of the socialist political organisations in Tagmatium, although the Empire-in-Exile did not know of the plot. There was an immediate crackdown on all leftwing organisations and a ban on those political parties. Freedom of speech was also removed and the press was put under strict control. The infamous Republican Special Investigators was set up to hound the perceived enemies of the Republic, including the Empire-in-Exile. They are thought to be responsible for the disappearance to up to half a million people, although true numbers will never be known.

 

Civil and political rights were clamped down on, and many of the changes brought in by the old Socialist government were rejected in a popular backlash against anything leftwing or socialist, as they were viewed by the majority of the population to be working against the new golden age. Corporations and large businesses gained more power over the smaller ones and over people in general. Trade unions were banned, as they were hotbeds of socialist support and had caused several crippling general strikes soon after the events of 1976, which also managed to reduce public support for them. When the trade unions were swept away, few wept. People had less of a voice in the workplace, but as this had been used by the left-wingers to disrupt this new golden age, none cared to see it go.

 

When Patriarch Pancras II (famous for his comment ?Actually, I thought it was quite funny? when asked his opinions on the Monty Python film the Life of Brian) was forced to step down because of his centre-left beliefs in 1982, it became clear to some that the reprisals against socialists were beginning to go further. The Republican Special Investigators were started to arrest people who weren?t active in socialist groups, and even those who merely spoke out against the government. Some point out that this wasn?t because Konig himself was a bad man, but that, as a military soldier, he was unable to understand the idea that people could speak out against him. In the end, the Republic government became more and more oppressive and the people were finally driven to giving more support to the Empire-in-Exile.

 

Finally, on the 7th of June, 1995, a company of the Imperial Household Guard, led by Holy Emperor Theodosius I Carus personally, stormed the Republican Palace Complex as Konig himself gave a speech on the balcony overlooking St Constantine?s Square, gunning down many as they fought their way through the innumerable corridors and rooms of the Complex. The first the public knew about the coup was when Theodosius himself emerged onto the balcony and forced Konig to resign at gun-point. The armed forces of Tagmatium, now riddled with Imperial sympathisers, almost as a whole defected to the Empire-in-Exile, with a few battles flaring in the north as units refused to switch sides and were annihilated by nearly the whole might of the Tagmatine armed forces.

 

Many Republican ministers and officials, including most of the officers of the navy, were kept on in their old positions, as the new Imperial Government didn't have the expertise to perform in these roles well enough. Theodosius himself was said to be unkeen on killing off those who were loyal to the Old Republic, being content with an apology and swearing an oath to him. Konig himself was thrown in prison. Theodosius' two closest advisors, High Chancellor Commodus James and Vice Chancellor Philip Commenus, were said to have encouraged the Holy Emperor to "disappear" the elite of the Old Republic on numerous occasions. Theodosius' decision to appear more benevolent than Konig ultimately cost him his life and led the Greater Holy Empire into the Tagmatine Civil War.

Edited July 23, 2007 by Tagmatium Rules (see edit history)

[Tagmatium Rules]

Tagmatine Army

 

The Tagmatine Army has its roots stretching far back to the birth of the Greater Holy Empire when Constantine Synadenus, governor of the trading city of Tagmatica declared it independent and a separate Empire after the death of Basil I of Byzantium in AD887. The city?s small garrison of professional soldiers were used to conquer the surrounding hinterland, and the units rapidly expanded as more land was conquered and more were attracted to the service. From the start, the Tagmatine Army was professional and full-time, relying on taxes from trade to maintain it, rather than any version of the feudal system. This was both a boon and a curse for Tagmatium, as it meant that the Holy Emperor could expect nothing but loyalty from his armed forces, with no truculent nobles commanding forces of their own (bar privately raised mercenaries, which was considered a treasonable offence), but the forces would suffer if taxes were low, whether from trade or an aristocrat deciding to keep the money for themselves.

 

Tradition has always been a big factor in the Tagmatine armed forces, meaning that armour and close combat weaponry was always issued as standard until long after other nations had realised its obsolescence. The Greater Holy Empire was still fielding super heavy cavalry until the mid 1940s, and cavalry itself wasn?t completely relinquished until after the Long War. However, today Tagmatium?s military does have equipment which is at the forefront of technology, with the famed Taurus MBT being one of the most advanced tanks in the region.

 

The army itself is split up into four sections, which are described as follows;

 

The People?s Guard

 

This is the largest section of the Tagmatine Army. It handles most situations, and is regularly deployed when ever the Greater Holy Empire undertakes military action in any form. It also provides all of the logistics services, acting as the transporters, the bakers, the caterers, the hospital staff etc for all the other branches of the Tagmatine Army. They are also the oldest branch, tracing their roots back to the original line infantry and light cavalry of the army of Constantine Synadenus. The People?s Guard further breaks down into the following sorts of units:

 

-Scutatoi The standard ?line? infantry of the Greater Holy Empire. These are the ones who will bear the brunt of any conflict Tagmatium is in.

 

-Caballarii These cavalry units operate Tagmatium?s tanks, from the large Taurus Main Battle Tank to the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) variants. From reconnaissance to armoured assaults, each unit is specialised in its use of a certain type of tank, rarely mixing them in the same battalion.

 

-Trapezitae Again, another type of cavalry unit. This time, they act as armoured infantry, utilising the Warrior APC. The use of the Warrior APC reflects Tagmatium?s line of thinking, that the role of the APC/IFV is to carry troops under protection to the objective and then give firepower support when they have disembarked.

 

-Sagittarii A third type of cavalry. These are mechanized infantry, moving rapidly to combat zones in Saxon APCs, where they disembark and fight on foot. The use of armoured vans like the Saxon means that they can move into combat much more rapidly than their armoured infantry counterparts.

 

-Ballistarii The artillery battalions of Tagmatium. They man everything from the massive coastal artillery guarding Petrium and Tagmatica, to mortars and self-propelled guns.

 

There are other, non-field units of the People?s Guard, such as the Libratores (engineers) or Bucinatores, the signal corps.

 

The Imperial Guard

 

As in many armies, there are always units which are more prestigious to serve in. In the People?s Guard, it?s the cavalry units, but even more so is service in the Imperial Guard. These were originally the units which guarded the capital or other important sites, and slowly evolved into battalions where it was fashionable amongst the upper classes to be seen serving in, or, more correctly, attend parties wearing the uniforms. Tagmatium?s army never evolved from privately raised regiments and never had a tradition (officially, at least) of buying commissions, it was still common for the sons of the aristocracy and gentry to be officers in the Imperial Guard, rather than the common People?s Guard.

 

In modern times, the Imperial Guard is still an organisation where the gentry serve and still guards the important sites in the Greater Holy Empire. They also receive more extensive training and heavier body armour than the People?s Guard and have a greater esprit de corps due to the history of the battalions.

 

They are organised into different units (Caballarii, Trapezitae, Scutatoi, etc) like the People?s Guard.

 

Cataphract Corps

 

The Cataphract Corps, unlike the rest of the Tagmatine Army, isn?t further subdivided into different unit types. It is fielded as an elite armoured unit, functioning entirely out of Taurus Main Battle Tanks.

 

This eccentricity relates back to when the Cataphract Corps was a true cavalry unit. In the past the super heavy cataphract would be used as a battle-winning unit, mounting a thunderous charge towards the enemy general?s position in hope of smashing through the battle line and annihilating the enemy commander, crushing everything that got in the way under almost a tonne of man, horse and armour. This tactic changed little as technology progressed into the black powder age, and only finally was cast aside after a cavalry corps suffered massive casualties charged Communist positions during the Long War. Afterwards, the Cataphract Corps was remounted onto heavy tanks, and used in a similar method to it was previously, this time mounting armoured thrusts against enemy positions.

 

Territorial Guard

 

The Territorial Guard are volunteers who undergo military training in their spare time either as part of a formed local unit or as specialists in a professional field. They are often know as ?weekend warriors? by the professional units of the Tagmatine Army, and are regarded more as a home defence outfit than anything else, in the event that Tagmatium is invaded.

 

Once again, they are organised in the same way as the other, regular units.

 

Organisational Structure

 

The standard unit divisions of the Tagmatine Army. Note ? this more based on the battalions fielded by the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars, rather than any modern force.

 

Each battalion (in the case of infantry) has ten ensigns, ten lieutenants, ten captains, two majors (one acting as the battalion?s executive officer) and a single lieutenant colonel. Commands larger than a single battalion, but smaller than a brigade, will usually be led by a colonel.

 

-Scutatoi, Trapezitae and Sagittarii units

 

Section ? ten men, commanded by a corporal, assisted by a lance corporal. A section will also break down into two fireteams ("Charlie" and "Delta", one commanded by the corporal, the other by the lance-corporal

Platoon ? thirty soldiers (three sections), commanded by a lieutenant or an ensign

Company ? seventy soldiers (two sections, one support squad), commanded by a captain

Battalion ? seven hundred soldiers (ten companies), commanded by a lieutenant colonel

 

Support squads (or sections) in foot infantry, man light mortars and heavy machine guns in support of their parent company. In the case of the mechanised and armoured infantry, the support sections of the companies crew vehicles from the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) family. One member from each section is also trained as a ?skribones?, a medic.

 

-Ballistarii units

 

Gun ? five soldiers, commanded by a sergeant

Section ? thirty soldiers (five guns), commanded by an ensign or lieutenant.

Detachment ? sixty soldiers (two sections), commanded by a captain

Battery ? 420 soldiers (six batteries), commanded by a lieutenant colonel

 

The unit ?gun? reflects how many soldiers it takes to crew the Tagmatine Army?s standard artillery piece. However, this unit size (and the size of the whole battery) differs massively depending on the size of the artillery piece used. Some of the larger pieces can take up to twenty soldiers to man, especially the large siege mortars or fixed fortress guns.

 

-Caballarii and Cataphract units

 

Troop ? five tanks, commanded by lieutenant or ensign

Squadron ? ten tanks (two sections), commanded by a captain

Battalion ? forty tanks (four squadrons), commanded by a lieutenant colonel.

 

-Larger units

Brigade ? eight battalions, commanded by a brigadier.

Division ? three brigades, commanded by a major general or higher

Corps ? three divisions, commanded by a lieutenant general or higher

Army - three corps, commanded by a general

Army Group - three armies, commanded by a domestic

 

Equipment of the Tagmatine Army

 

Tagmatine soldiers are issued with a BDU, the camouflage of which depends on the mission (urban, artic, mountainous, temperate, etc), heavy boots, gloves, kevlar helmet and a klibannon, the Tagmatine word for body armour. Imperial Guard units suppliment this with body armour on legs and arms.

 

On top of this, each soldier is issued with a personal radio to communicate with squad mates, whilst officers and NCOs are issued with equipment to communicate between larger units.

 

The weaponry of the soldiers are as followes:

- Spathion Assault Rifle (swapped for a Paramerion Assault Carbine in Mechanised and Armoured units, a BCR-4 Battle Rifle in the Cataphracts and Menaulion PDW for artillery and non-combat soldiers). Nine magazines.

- Tzikourion 9mm Pistol (swapped for Matzoukion .455 Pistol for officers). Three magazines.

- Half-Spatha 75cm Sword (swapped for a mace in the Cataphracts)

- 30cm Bayonet/Combat knife

- Four 'Antioch' Pattern Fragmentation Grenades

 

Each squad also has a soldier armed with a Kontarion Squad Support Weapon and a soldier armed with a Falx Sniper's Rifle. Support squads are armed with three BCR-10 .50 Heavy Machine Gun as well as two mortar teams.

 

In special circumstances, soldiers will be issued with other weapons, like .455 calibre SMGs, grenade launchers and flamethrowers. Some soldiers often suppliment their own equipment with privately purchased or looted weaponry, although this is only tolerated in veteran units and then only rarely.

 

Quirks

 

Bar the fact that the Tagmatine military still issues its soldiers with a sword, there are other ways in which Tagmatium differs from other militaries across the region. One of those is that there is no special forces unit of any sort in Tagmatium. The High Command thinks of them as dishonourable and they are entirely incompatible with the proud history of the Tagmatine Army.

 

As well as a distinct lack of special forces, the Tagmatine Army does not have any air elements, including a lack of observer aircraft for artillery units. All air support is provided by the Holy Imperial Air Force, which maintains units of helicopters for this purpose.

Edited November 20, 2007 by Tagmatium Rules (see edit history)

[Tagmatium Rules]

Themes

Tagmatium is split up into 49 themes. A theme functions as the second largest administrative division in the Greater Holy Empire, after the nation as a whole. The population of a theme is allowed to elect its own Thematic Council, which then governs the theme. The Thematic Council then runs the theme and appoints Councillors for certain departments from amongst its number, deciding policy direction for the area, and the towns, cities and counties within it, policies that the Imperial Government doesn't directly intervene with. However, the Imperial Government states the policy for the whole of the Greater Holy Empire, so a Thematic Council must stick roughly within those guidelines or face being replaced. A Thematic Council term lasts for five years, and then Thematic Council election is called. The size of the Council depends on the size of the population of the theme itself, which varies dramatically. The Eastean themes have very small populations, whilst Greater Tagmatica and the other conurbations have populations in excess of 10 million.

Each theme has its own police force, although many of the larger ones have several, especially if it contains several large cities and areas of low population. However, the police force itself is part of the Minister of the Interior, and even then is commanded by the Domestic of the Police who jealously guards the independence of the police from the Ministry. A theme doesn?t have its own army or militia, as all of the armed forces are under the strict control of the Imperial Government.

There is much more political freedom in a theme than in the Greater Holy Empire as a whole, although if a political party or individual came to power that either threatened the Holy Emperor?s position or where considered (by the Imperial Government) too politically radical, then they wouldn?t be allowed to form their Thematic Council and another election would be called. This has not yet happened in the reign of Commodus III.

Historically, a theme was governed by a Strategos, who held both military and civil power, and was charged with raising and supplying troops for the Tagmatine army. However, this was washed away in the period known as ?the Eclipse of the Empire?, and replaced once Tagmatium was unified with a governor who held only civil power, all military power coming from the Imperial Government.

List and Map of Themes:

The colours on the map indict the different areas of Tagmatium. The dark blue borders show the area known as Tagmatium Minor, the Green Paphalgonia, the Red the Borea and the Brown Eastea, which is currently a Catepanate under General Anthony Trajan. Theis, number 5, is not strictly speaking a theme but a nation in union with Tagmatium. It has its own separate government and state religion (Manichaeism), as well as own Army, although this works under the banner of the rest of the Tagmatine Army. Nevertheless, for all intents and purposes, it is part of the Greater Holy Empire.

1. Greater Tagmatica
2. Petrishire
3. Isthmus of Tagmatium
4. Kontarshire
5. Manichean City State of Theis
6. Scutumshire
7. Artebatumshire
8. Callevashire
9. Boreapolis
10. Borea Orientis
11. Borea Australis
12. Borea Occidentis
13. Novamagnushire
14. Glevumshire
15. Theodosiopolis
16. Iconiumshire
17. Prousa
18. Ratae
19. Regenseshire
20. Cotyeum
21. Boreapennines Orientis
22. Boreapennines Occidentis
23. Boreapennines Foothills
24. Europatoria
25. Heiropolishire
26. Adramyttium
27. Eastern Paphalgonia
28. Central Paphalgonia
29. Northern Paphalgonia
30. Seleucia
31. Dyrrachium
32. Peninsular Cities
33. Resaphashire
34. Novantaeshire
35. Votadnishire
36. Eastern Isca
37. Central Isca
38. Southern Isca
39. Verulamium
40. Venta
41. Commodopolishire
42. Dava
43. Kibotoshire
44. Durovitaeshire
45. Fordae
46. Lidumshire
47. Isarishire
48. Eastea
49. Laodicum
50. Northern Eastea