'''The Empire''', also referred to as the '''Empire of Man'''{{Fn|2}}, is the largest and most powerful nation of the [[Old World]].{{Fn|3a}} It is located east of [[Bretonnia]] and the [[Grey Mountains]], south of [[Kislev]] and the [[Sea of Claws]], north-east of [[Tilea]], north of the [[Border Princes]] and the [[Black Mountains]] and west of the [[Worlds Edge Mountains]].{{Fn|3b}} The current Emperor is [[Karl Franz]]{{Fn|3a}}, who was elected and crowned in '''2502''' [[IC]]{{Fn|3c}}.

The armies of the Empire are massive and diverse fighting forces, having a wide range of available units while the [[Imperial Navy]] patrols the [[Rivers of The Empire|mighty rivers ]] of The Empire besides protecting the northern coast of Nordland.

* [[Free CompanyMilitia]]s - Sell-swords, mercenaries, cut-throats, and bandits paid to fight for the Empire and her armies. They are hardy fighters and are well-accustomed to the rigours of war, but are undisciplined and unruly. * [[Free Company Militia]] - not to be confused with the usual band of cut-throats and mercenaries, these are rag-tag groups of patriotic civilians taking up arms alongside the Empire's armies. * [[Handgunner]]s - Handgunners are one of the primary ranged units of the Imperial army. Equipped with the loud and deadly handgun, these men are highly trained as a line-formation of missle missile support that can penetrate even the thickest of enemy armor. As such, they are the mainstay of most Imperial missile support.

* [[Flagellant]]s - Flagellants are an unorganized grouping of warriors and fanatics that unofficially serve the Church of Sigmar. These fanatics are used by many Imperial Generals for their great ferocity and complete lack of fear in the heat of battle. However due to their insanity, they are often accompanied by a priest from the [[Cult of Sigmar|clergy of Sigmar ]] to ensure these men are put on a tight leash.

*[[Empire Knight]]s - Knights are one of the most common cavalry troops deployed in battle. Many knights have a certain color scheme or heraldry that identifies them with into a knightly order[[Knightly Order]]. They are considered heavy shock cavalry, wearing heavy plate armor and wielding lances and swords into battle.*[[Demigryph Knight]]s - [[Demigryph]] Knights are amongst the most powerful and heavily armored shock calvary within the Imperial arsenal. Not only are these horsemen excellent knights, but they also ride one of the most dangerous and fearsome creatures ever to live within the depths of the [[Reikwald Forest]].*[[Pistolier]]s - Pistoliers are agile light cavalry that are meant to support the armies of the Empire in their role as dedicated scouts and skirmishers. Equipped with light armor and a brace of pistol, these units can harass the enemy with a hail of bullets and can flee the scene to avoid any repercussions. *[[Outrider]]s - Outriders are those veteran Pistoliers whom have survived their time within the Pistolier Korps but have not yet been able to join any of the Knightly Orders afterwards. Instead, these veterans are promoted into the ranks of the Outriders, an elite core of cavalry equipped with deadly repeater handguns, and adorned with a greater degree of armor. [[Demigryph Knight]]s - Demigryph Knights are amongst the most powerful and heavily armored shock calvary within the Imperial arsenal. Not only are these horsemen excellent knights, but they also ride one of the most dangerous and fearsome creatures ever to live within the depths of the Reikwald Forest.

*[[Empire General]]s - Empire Generals are amongst the highest commanding officers within a Imperial army, second only in command to an Elector Count or the Emperor himself. They are tested veterans with many years of experience in soldiering, having spent most of their lives practicing the arts of war in defence of their besieged homelands. *[[Wizard Lord]]s - A Wizard Lord is a highly prestigious rank within the Imperial Colleges of Magic that are second only to the Matriarch or Patriach Patriarch of a Magic Order. A being of immense but unstable power, these mighty Men of the Empire are amongst the strongest particioner's of magic within the realms of Man.  *[[Grand Master]]s - A Grand Master is a warrior and leader of unparalleled valour, having fought in dozens of battles from atop his great steed and whose military prowess is beyond question. These mighty warriors are the leaders of one of the many prestigious [[Knightly Orders Order]]s that populate many of the Empire's lands, a position of power suited for only the most wisest and martial member of their Order.  [[Captains of the Empire]] - A Captain of the Empire is a veteran military commander possessed of a variety of different formal titles who leads a smaller regiment or other unit of troops within an Imperial army. These leaders take to the field of battle whenever they can. Most of the men appointed by an Elector Count to serve as officers in their province's armies. [[Warrior Priests]] - Warrior Priests lead and inspire Imperial troops in battle, but also minister to their spiritual needs. Warrior Priests of normally wear mail or full plate armour underneath their holy vestments and carry mighty two-handed weapons. [[Witch Hunter]]s - Witch Hunters are highly dreaded figures in the lands of the Empire, feared by both enemies and allies alike, whose job is to eradicate and kill any if not all Chaos Worshippers that dare to defile the lands of Sigmar. [[Master Engineer]]s - An Empire Master Engineer are those select few individuals amongst many thousand that have the knowledge and skills to create, maintain and operate wonderous invenstions of war in the battle against the Empire.

*[[Captains of the Empire]] - A Captain of the Empire is a veteran military commander possessed of a variety of different formal titles who leads a smaller regiment or other unit of troops within an Imperial army. These leaders take to the field of battle whenever they can. Most of the men appointed by an Elector Count to serve as officers in their province's armies.*[[Battle Wizard]]s - Battle Wizards are individuals with the knowledge and power of one of the great Winds of Magic, who has been schooled from one of the eight Colleges of Magic within the capital of Altdorf, and are now giving their services to the Empire.*[[Warrior Priests]] - Warrior Priests lead and inspire Imperial troops in battle, but also minister to their spiritual needs. Warrior Priests of normally wear mail or full plate armour underneath their holy vestments and carry mighty two-handed weapons.*[[Witch Hunter]]s - Witch Hunters are highly dreaded figures in the lands of the Empire, feared by both enemies and allies alike, whose job is to eradicate and kill any if not all Chaos Worshippers that dare to defile the lands of Sigmar.*[[Master Engineer]]s - An Empire Master Engineer are those select few individuals amongst many thousand that have the knowledge and skills to create, maintain and operate wonderous inventions of war in the battle against the Empire.

*[[Empire Great Cannon]] - Great Cannons are one of the most common pieces of Imperial artillery. Great Cannons are among the largest of the mobile cannons built and utilised by the Empire.  *[[Empire Mortar]] - Mortars are squat cannons that fire at a high angle, lobbing projectiles over troops or even tall walls. They fire an explosive shell which can cause severe damage to a tightly packed regiment of troops. *[[Helblaster Volley CannonGun]] - The Helblaster is an experimental artillery piece. This infamous weapon has the ability to fire multiple cannon balls in a 3 round-burst, with enough strength in it to be able to tear whole regiments of men or beasts into limbs and torsos. However, it is also known for its unreliablity. *[[Helstorm Rocket Battery]] - The Helstorm is another experimental artillery piece. This eccentric piece of artillery is notoriously inaccurate yet when it does hit its intended target, the effects are devastating, with entire enemy regiments blown to smithereens by an earth-shaking cascade of shrieking explosive rockets.

*[[Steam Tank]] - Steam Tanks are monstrous, smoke-belching creation, firing deadly cannonballs that plow through the enemy ranks while charging headlong into battle, protected by extremely thick steel plating. Indeed, these wondrous inventions are powerful and extremely formidable, but they have weaknesses as well. The most glaring weakness is the rarity of these machines. *[[War Altar of Sigmar]] - The War Altar of Sigmar is a wonderous battle-altar that is known not for its magical or mechanical power, but a spiritual one. This Altar is a wheeled chariot, decorated with many heraldries and talismans that helps protect it and its user from harm. *[[Luminark of Hysh]] - The Luminark is a chariot similar in ways to the War Altar of Sigmar, though it is not one of spiritual power but a magical one. This chariot is imbued with the strong energies of the Light Order, with a massive construct built within the roof of the chariot that emits powerful rays of pure light energy towards its foes. *[[Celestial Hurricanum]] - similar to the Luminark of Hysh, this construct is of similar design but hails from the Celestial Wizards of the Celestial College. This Altar emits powerful energies from the Winds of Azyr, giving the wizard controlling it with unrivalled power over the heavens. *[[Empire War Wagon]] - was formerly used to transport Empire soldiers through the battlefield and provide a vantage point for units of archers or cannoner's to fire at the enemy. As of now, the Empire War Wagons have been replaced with the more reliable and heavily armored Steam Tank.

== Society & culture Culture ==

It started with probably the most diverse army in [[Warhammer]]. The Empire has [[cannon]]s, [[handgun]]s, [[knight]]s, and tactically resourceful infantry giving it the possibility to use various tactics on the battlefield. In recent later editions of [[Warhammer Fantasy]] with the addition of [[Warrior Priest]]s, [[Luthor Huss]], and [[Valten]] in sixth edition the Empire seems to be moving towards a more religious themed army.

*[[Magnus the Pious]] - reunified the fragmented Empire, defeated victor of the Great [[Great War Against Chaos Incursion]], and founded the [[Colleges of Magic]] == See also ==* [[Gods of the Empire]]