"Reiksguard Knights, your Emperor is calling! Death or glory await us, but if we die, we will die as warriors, with swords in hand, and there can be no better death than that."
- —Kurt Helborg, The Reiksmarshal
The Grand Order of the Reiksguard Knights are a Secular Order of Knights created and sworn to the protection of the Reikland royal-bloodline of Emperors. The Reiksguard Order forms an elite core of highly trained, expensively-equipped troops who are loyal to the Emperor in person, and fight for him on his behalf. As the best troops available to the Emperor, the Reiksguard Knights form the bulk of the Imperial household guard, both on the field of battle and as well as in other more social and political affairs. However, it is not uncommon for the Emperor to attach a unit of these renowned warriors to fight alongside another Elector Count's army, if the situation is in need of their expertise. In doing so, the Emperor is effectively lending the count his personal support for the upcoming struggle, as well as a way to keep an eye on weary and unstable Electors that might threaten the stability of the Empire as a whole.
A relatively young Order, the creation of this particular group of Knights was first founded during the reign of Count Wilhelm III, the founder of the Reikland lineage of Emperors. Formerly devout Templars of Sigmar, the first Reiksguard Knights swore their greatest oaths to give their lives to protect the Emperor from all dangers, believing the Emperor to be the living incarnation of Sigmar himself. Over the decades, the Reiksguard have forged a legendary reputation on the battlefield, often charging into the fray against opponents that would see lesser warriors flee in terror. Time and again, this stoic bravery has brought the Empire a great, if bloody, victory and the name "Reiksguard" is synonymous throughout the provinces with feats of selfless heroism.
Overview
A Reikguard Knight
The ranks of the Reiksguard are open to all men of noble birth, regardless of what city or state they originally hail from. Provided they can prove their loyalty to the Emperor, and their feats of martial prowess meet the stern expectations of the Reiksmarshal, any warrior can hope to join this illustrious brotherhood if they so chooses. This is considered a great military and social honour amongst the nobility of the Empire, and there is no shortage of applicants that are eager to seek both fame and glory for him and his household. The Reiksguard can therefore maintain the highest standards amongst the many Knightly Orders and includes the very best warriors from all the Empire's provinces. The ranks of the Reiksguard include the heirs to many of the wealthiest and most powerful noble houses in the Empire, including the sons of several Elector Counts such as the Counts of Nordland and Averland.
After an arduous training retinue that would take months to accomplish, these new inductees joins the Reikguard in a glamorous, if deadly, tournament that would eventually lead up to the Emperor’s Tournament. This event occurs every year in Altdorf during the spring festivals, where a newly knighted member is given a mission by the Reiksmarshal to accomplish as his first line of duty into the brotherhood. This could be an order to join the Emperor’s Personal guard, a political task, or attachment to a formation that marches to war under the command of an Elector Count.
Although few in number, the knights of the Reiksguard are the most important part of the Emperor's army, for they are a symbol of the Empire's nobility and martial might made manifest. As such, when a unit of Reiksguard Knights takes to battle, it will typically form up proudly in the centre of the Empire battle line, the better to inspire the common soldiery and reassure them that the blessings of the Emperor is with them. Imperial history is rich with records of decisive battles won by a timely charge of the Reiksguard, and the halls of their barracks are hung with countless trophies and enemy banners won on the field of war. Despite the potential power and influence that such a reputation offers, the Reiksguard have always put loyalty towards the Emperor first and foremost amongst their duties.
In times of war, they take to the field alongside their Emperor, forming an elite unit at the core of the Imperial armies. They are also responsible for the security of all palaces and castles belonging to the Imperial family, including their main headquarter at Castle Reikguard. Individual squadrons of Reiksguard Knights are commanded by a noblemen, and are generally recruited from the same home province. This has lead however, to a great rivalry between the cavalry squadrons of various nobles, a circumstance that stems from the great diversity of people that forms the bulk of the Reikguard. Being a highly celebrated and often loved Order of Knights, when a dashing young Reiksguard Knight returns to his home town on leave from his duties, he is often greeted by a crowd of cheering citizens, and riotous celebrations carry on long into the night for the amount of honour his presence brings to the otherwise unknown village.
When they accompany the Emperor on his many ceremonial demonstrations, they might often add to the splendour and magnificence of the occasion by further polishing and painting their otherwise already fabulous and expensive armour. During the annual Imperial tournament however, individual Reiksguard Knights would compete against each other for the honour of being closest to the Emperor, a position that is highly sought after by the more glory-hungry members of the Order. These events are a major highlight of the year, often attracting citizens from all over the Empire and beyond into the city, creating a large influx of revenue that helps provide the funds for their Knighthood.
Equipment
A Reikguard Foot
As befits to their prestigious role and elite status, the knights of the Reiksguard are equipped with the very finest weapons and suits of armour available to them by the expenses of the Emperor and the Provincial Army. They ride massive warhorses to battle and adorned suits of gleaming plate armour in which are emblazoned with symbols of allegiance to the Emperor and his noble family. Due to their duties to the Emperor, the Reikguard Order is mostly barracked in the comparative comfort of Altdorf, but they also maintain battle ready fortresses scattered throughout the whole of the Empire, the most prominent of which is Castle Reikguard.
Though known mostly for their expertise in calvary warfare, the Reikguards are normally divided into a mounted arm known as the Reiksguard Knights, or the Imperial Cavalry, and an infantry arm, that they called the Imperial Foot. Although the infantry arm does not have the glamorous image of their cavalry counterparts, they are nonetheless a crack and flexible fighting force. They are based near the Emperor's palace and can be seen parading through the streets, escorting the Emperor on state occasions, and patrolling the city walls when the Emperor is on leave. The Reiksguard foot regiments are normally protected by both shields and heavily-armoured suits of full plate, adorned with a dazziling array of plumes and ribbons and kept polished to a mirror-like finish. They are armed with heavy swords, halberds or great two-handed swords that they fight in conjunction with other Imperial regiments, providing a flexible and battle-hardened support unit that provides exceptional aid in offence and defence.
Sources
- Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition) pg 40 - 43
- Warhammer: Uniform and Heraldry of the Empire pg 58
- Reiksguard (Novel) by Richard Williams