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Details from 8th armybook and Uniforms & Heraldry of The Empire
|Crest =
|Affiliation =
|Main Leaders = [[Emperor]] [[Karl Franz]]|Secondary Leaders = [[Elector Count]]s
|Capital = [[Altdorf]]
|Major Races = [[Human]]<br>[[Dwarf]]
|Demonyms = [[Imperial]]<br>[[Empire]]
|Languages = [[Reikspiel]]
|Status = '''Dominant'''{{Fn|7a}}
|Type = '''Elective Monarchy'''
|Governing Body =
::''Three things make The Empire great - faith, steel and gunpowder!''<br>-'''Emperor''' [[Magnus the Pious]]{{Fn|1a}}
'''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}}{{Fn|7a}}
== History ==
{{Main|History of the Empire}}
[[File:TheEmpire.jpg|thumb|500px|A map of '''The Empire'''.]]
The Empire was founded 2,500 years ago by [[Sigmar Heldenhammer]].{{Fn|3d}} At its founding the traditional territories of the tribes unified by Sigmar were formalized as the imperial provinces. Following the disappearance of Sigmar in '''50''' [[IC]] the system of [[Electors]] was established, with the provincial rulers entitled to elect a new Emperor from among themselves.{{Fn|3e}} For over 2500 years Empire has endured since, surviving various invasions, plagues and civil wars.{{Fn|7a}}
== Government ==
The current Emperor is '''[[Karl Franz]]of House Holswig-Schliestein''' {{Fn|3a}}{{Fn|7c}}, who was elected and crowned in '''2502''' [[IC]].{{Fn|3c}}.
Although the [[Emperor]] is both head-of-state of the Empire and commander-in-chief of its armies, the real power within the Empire is held by the 10 [[Elector Count]]s, of which the Emperor is one.{{Fn|4a}}
Upon the death of an Emperor the throne does not automatically pass to his heir. Instead, an election is held by the 15 Electors - the 10 Elector Counts, the [[Elder of the Moot]], the [[Ar-Ulric]] and each of the [[Grand Theogonist]] and his two [[Arch Lector]]s - to select a new Emperor from among the Elector Counts. Each of them casts a vote, and the candidate with the most votes becomes Emperor.{{Fn|4b}}{{Fn|7d}}
The Emperor is essentially the leader and first among equals of the Elector Counts, who are extremely powerful and independent. His power is severely limited by the inability to enforce his edicts within the semi-independent provinces, where the Elector Counts can effectively choose to largely ignore them.
[[File:TheEmpirePolitics.jpg|thumb|300px|The electoral provinces and city states of The Empire]]
The Empire is not a centralized nation, but rather a feudal confederacy of 11 large and semi-independent provincesstates, bound together by common interests, history, language, religion, and culture. These states are are founded on the ancient tribal lands that Sigmar unified. Over the centuries certain borders have been changed and disappeared.{{Fn|1b}}{{Fn|4a}}{{Fn|7a}}
Somewhat outside of the rule of the nobility are the semi-independent city-states. The cosmopolitan cities are the pride of the nation, containing the pinnacle of human archievement with their legendary palaces, universities, temples and military institutions. There the [[burgher]]s choose their own [[Burgomeister]]sto rule the cities. {{Fn|4a}} It is likely that the richest and most influential merchants have the greatest influence over the whole process but precise details are currently unknown.{{Fn|4a}}{{Fn|7a}}
{|align=center border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
|style=background:#FFBF00 align=center|'''Historical Tribe'''{{Fn|6}}
|style=background:#FFBF00 align=center|'''Capital'''
|style=background:#FFBF00 align=center|'''Ruler (2522){{Fn|4b}}'''
|style=background:#FFBF00 align=center|'''Notes'''
|-
|align=center|Barony
|align=center|Electoral Province
|align=center|[[Was Jutone]]
|align=center|[[Salzenmund]]
|align=center|[[Theoderic Gausser]]
|align=center|Additionally contains the [[Laurelorn Forest]]
|-
|align=center|[[Ostland]]
|align=center|[[Altdorf]] (current capital of the Empire)
|align=center|Emperor [[Karl Franz]] I of House Holswig-Schliestein
|align=center|Altdorf is also additionally a city-state.
|-
|align=center|[[Stirland]]
|align=center|[[Drakwald]]
|align=center|Protectorate
|align=center|Electoral Province
|align=center|[[Thuringians]]
|align=center|
|align=center|[[Konrad Alrech]] (last ruler)
|align=center|Former electoral province. Divided between Middenland and Nordland in 1414 IC.{{fn|8}}
|-
|align=center|[[Solland]]
|align=center|
|align=center|Electoral Province
|align=center|Unknown
|align=center|Unknown
|align=center|[[Eldred]] (last ruler)
|align=center|Former electoral province. Absorbed by Wissenland after [[Waaagh! Gorbad]].{{fn|1b}}{{fn|7x}}
|-
|align=center|[[Westerland]]
|align=center|
|align=center|Attached to Middenland, former Electoral Province|align=center|Unknown|align=center|[[Marienburg]]|align=center|[[Paulus van der Maacht]] (last Elector Count)<br>[[Directorate]] (current)|align=center|Former electoral province. Seceded in 2429 IC {{fn|7x}}
|-
|align=center|[[Dunkelkoste]]
|align=center|[[Waldenhof]]
|align=center|[[Mannfred von Carstein]]
|align=center|Attached Re-absorbed to Stirlandafter the [[Vampire Wars]]{{fn|7x}}
|-
|align=center|[[Upper Teufel]]
|}
=== Foreign relations ===The Empire is seldom at peace. Orcs and Goblins raid constantly while the [[Beastmen]] infest the many internal [[forests]] of the realm. The [[Undead]] of Sylvania do not rest easily while the [[Skaven]] fester underneath the very cities of the Empire. And the most dangerous threat lies in the [[Chaos Waste|north]] where the forces of [[Chaos]] desire conquest. The Empire is always at war, securing its borders, fending off raids and clashing with invaders. {{Fn|7a}} The Empire's oldest and foremost allies are the [[Dwarf]]s of [[Karak Ankor]]{{Fn|4c}} and the Empire of [[Kislev]], but over the centuries the [[High Elves]] and the Kingdom of [[Bretonnia]] have also fought at the side of The Empire in the eternal struggle against the forces of [[Chaos]] and the [[Greenskin]] hordes. == Society & Culture ==The overwhelming majority of the citizens of The Empire are [[human]] but [[Halfling]]s, [[Dwarf]]s, [[Elves]], and [[Ogre]]s are present.
=== Magic ===
The Empire has the 8 [[Colleges of Magic]] which, in exchange for suitable fees, teach and train powerful [[Wizard]]s. The colleges were founded by [[High Elf]] [[Loremaster]] [[Teclis]] at the request of Emperor [[Magnus the Pious]]. The Wizards provide valuable magical support and protection for the armies of the Empire. Nevertheless the majority of the common people see Wizards with more than a little amount of unease, fear and suspicion.
=== Religion ===
* For more details see: [[Gods of the Empire]]
Nearly all deities of the [[Old World pantheon]] are openly worshiped and accepted. [[Cult of Sigmar|Sigmar]], [[Ulric]], [[Taal]] and his wife [[Rhya]], [[Shallya]], [[Morr]] and [[Ranald]] are the most popular ones.
== Military ==
*[[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 unrivaled 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.
== Notes ==
**{{Endn|3e}}: pg. 176
*4: [[Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition)]]
**{{Endn|4a}}: pgCitizens of the Empire, pgs. 20-21**{{Endn|4b}}: The Elector Counts, pg. 13**{{Endn|4c}}: The Old Alliance, pg. 7
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Enemy in Shadows Companion]], pgs. 13-14
*{{Endn|6}}: [[The Empire at War]], pg. 80
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Uniforms & Heraldry of The Empire]]
**{{Endn|7a}}: The Empire, pgs 3-5
**{{Endn|7b}}: Soldiers of the Empire, pgs 6-7
**{{Endn|7c}}: The Emperor Karl Franz, pg. 8
**{{Endn|7d}}: The Elector Counts, pg. 9
**{{Endn|7x}}: Other Regions of the Empire, pgs 56-57
*{{Endn|8}}: [[Warhammer Armies: Beasts of Chaos (6th Edition)]] pg. 11
{{DEFAULTSORT:Empire, The}}