Reiksguard

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A Knight of the Reiksgard.

This article is about the Bodyguards of the Emperor; for the novel about them, see Reiksguard (novel).

The Reiksguard, also called Reiksgard or Imperial Guard, is a Knightly Order which forms the personal army and bodyguard of the Emperor and the core and backbone of the Imperial army.^[7a][8f]

Overview

The Reiksguard form an elite core of highly trained, expensively-equipped troops who are loyal to the Emperor in person, and alongside the mighty Knights of the Blazing Sun and Knights of the White Wolf, are among his best troops. In battle they usually form up in the centre around the Emperor himself.^[4a][7a]

They accompany the Emperor on all occasions in war and peace, forming his personal bodyguard on campaign and battlefield and in the course of his diplomatic tours throughout the Empire, and they have sworn to give their lives to protect the Emperor.^[7a] In times of war, they take the field along with the 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 and the Volkshalle chamber where new emperors are elected. ^{[6][7a][8c][8d]}

Additionally the Emperor can attach an unit of the Reiksguard to assist another Elector Count in war. Doing so effectively gives the Count direct and personal support from the Emperor. ^[7a]

Officially the Reiksguard are staying out of politics, remaining only loyal to the Emperor, but the nobles of Middenheim and Nuln see the Order as a force centralising power into Reikland. ^[6d][7a][8f]

Appearance

Due to their elite status, Reiksguard equipped with the finest weapons and suits of armour available. ^[7a]

The they wear magnificent gilded armour, highly polished to a mirror-like finish, garlanded with scarlet sashes and emblazoned with the device of the Reiksguard. Their helms are adorned with tall feathered red and white crests of the ruling Emperor, or extravagant crests elaborated of the family crest of the squadron’s commander, varying widely from squadron to squadron. ^{[4a] [5a]}

All ranks carry shields emblazoned with a skull and the initials of the current Emperor. The knights carry tall lances with pennants decorated with crowns, and ride fierce and prancing stallions. It is common and popular to sport mottoes painted on armour (either the knight’s armour or shield, or the steed’s barding). Examples of such mottoes include Malleus ("hammer"), Sigmar, Desporandum, Victorium and Mortis, amongst many others.

The Reiksguard flag bears the national emblem on one side and the Emperor’s emblem and the Sigmarite legend on the other.

Advantages and Disadvantages

As a Legendary Order they have the the Exemplars of Sigmar Advantage and no disadvantage. ^[4a]

They are officially secular order, but with heavy Sigmarite domination. ^[7a][8e]

History

They were created by Emperor Wilhelm III the Wise in 2429 IC. ^[4a][7a][8a]

Since their founding, Imperial history has been full of records about battles that were won because the timely arrival of the Reiksguard. ^[7a]

In 2502 IC the Reiksguard were deployed against the Window Tax Riots. ^[8a]

Organization

The leader of the Reiksguard is titled the Captain of the Reiksguard. He is a powerful figure in the Empire, ranked as one of the personal bodyguards of the Emperor on state occasions, and chief of the Emperor's war masters. It is traditional for the Captain of the Reiksguard to also serve as the Reiksmarshal, a military commander second only in authority to the Emperor himself.^[4a]

The 20 of the most elite of the Reiksguard form the Reiksguard Inner Circle.^[6g][8f]

Below the Inner Circle are the Preceptors, who command the Reiksguard units in battles. Then there are regular knights of the Order and finally are the novices. ^[8f]

The Reiksguard are divided into a mounted arm known as the Reiksguard Knights, or the Imperial Cavalry, and an infantry arm, the Imperial Foot.^[4a] Although the infantry arm lacks the glamorous image of their cavalry counterparts, they are nonetheless a crack fighting force.

The Reiksguard additionally maintain their own spy network: The Unseen Banner. Every chapter house of the Reiksguard has a single knight following the local politics and can take necessary actions to ensure Imperial unity. ^[8e][8f]

They are based at Reiksguard Chapter House near the Emperor's palace in Altdorf and the Guard can be seen parading through the streets, escorting the Emperor on state occasions, and patrolling the city walls. They additionally have several battle-ready fortresses around the Empire. ^[7a]}^[8f]}

The Reiksguard were subject to inspection every month they stayed in Altdorf.^[6h]

Recruitment

Reiksguard are recruited from all over the Empire from amongst the sons of knights and nobility. ^[4a][7a][8e] The ranks of the Reiksguard are open to all young men of noble birth regardless of where they live within the Empire. Heirs of many wealthiest and most powerful noble houses often join: the sons of Elector Counts as well as members of the Imperial Family often join the Reiksguard. Officially a current or former member must nominate any novice, but in practice other ways to become a novice exist. The novices train with all weapons of the Empire, not just lances and longswords. New Reiksguard are inducted yearly at an annual event in Altdorf during the Spring festivals at the conclusion of the Emperors tournament. ^{[3a][7a][8b][8f]}

Individual squadrons of Reiksguard Knights are commanded by noblemen, and are generally recruited from their home provinces. A commission in the Reiksguard is regarded as a fine and fitting occupation for the younger sons of the Empire's noble houses, and many of them take this as an opportunity to outshine their elder brothers, who command the armies and militias of their home provinces. There is a great rivalry between the cavalry squadrons of various nobles.

Notable Members

The captain of the Reiksguard is a powerful figure in the Empire, chief amongst the warmasters of the Emperor and his bodyguard on state occasions. ^[5a]

• Kurt Helborg, current Reiksmarshal and the eight Captain of the Reiksguard. He is one of Emperor Karl Franz's most trusted military commanders, and is reputed to be the finest swordsman in the Empire. As Reiksmarshal, he is the overall commander of the Emperor's forces, second only to the Emperor himself. He has commanded many armies in battle, and is one of the most experienced generals in the Old World.^{[6] [6c][7a][8f]}
• Master Lehrer is an invalid educator at the chapter house who is the secret preceptor of the Unseen Banner spy network. ^{[6d] [8f]}

Weapons, Armour and Equipment

Reiksguard

The Reiksguard foot regiments are protected by shields and ornate but heavy steel full armour resplendent with plumes and ribbons and kept polished to a mirror-like finish. They are armed with heavy swords, halberds or great two-handed swords. The Knights ride prancing stallions and carry tall lances. ^{[5a] [5b]}

• 3rd Edition: Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour, Shield, may have Double-Handed Weapons, Flail, Halberd. May have Musician, Standard Bearer. May have Magic Instrument, Magic Standard. ^[2a]
• 3rd Edition: Knights: Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour, Lance, Shield. Ride Armoured Warhorse. Captain and may have Standard Bearer and Musician. May have the standard of the Emperor. ^[5a]
• 3rd Edition: Foot: Hand Weapon, Heavy Armour, Shield. Captain and may have Standard Bearer and Musician. ^[5b]
• 4th Edition: Heavy Armour, Shield, Sword. ^[1a]
• 6th Edition: As Empire Greatsword but swap Greatsword for Hand Weapon and Shield. ^[4a]

Reiksguard Knights

• 4th Edition: Heavy Armour, Lance, Shield, Sword and ride a Barded Warhorse, may have a Magic Standard. ^[1a]
• 8th Edition: Full Plate Armour, Lance, Shield, Hand Weapon, Barded Warhorse, may have Reikscaptain, Musician and Standard Bearer who may have a Magic Standard. ^[7b]

Gallery

• 

  Reiksguard banner

• 

  Reiksguard (3rd edition)

• 

  Reiksguard (3rd edition)

• 

  Reiksguard Reiksmarshall

• 

  Reiksguard on foot (4th edition)

• 

  Reiksguard Knight (4th edition)

• 

  Reiksguard Knight

• 

  Reiksguard Knight

• 

  Reiksguard Inner Circle

Miniatures

• 

  Reiksguard Captain

• 

  Reiksguard Standard Bearer

• 

  Reiksguard Foot

• 

  Captain of the Reiksguard Knights

• 

  Reiksguard Knights

• 

  Reiksguard Command

Quotes

“Emperor Wilhelm, as much as any good man of Nuln should detest him, I cannot but admit that his creation of the Reiksguard was a masterstroke. Other emperors had founded knightly orders before, but none of them ever saw their true potential. Other orders… The Order of the Black Bear want the strongest, the Knights of Sigmar’s Blood want the learned, even our own great Emperor Magnus, when he founded the Knights Griffon, asked only for the most devout. It was only Emperor Wilhelm who ever asked for the eldest. The heirs. More than any of the others, Wilhelm looked to the future; for after ten or twenty years, once their fathers were dead, the heirs were the nobles themselves. And each of them had been taught and drilled to have absolute loyalty to their Emperor. To leave the rule of the Empire to him. To shun politics altogether! Everyone knows that the Reiksguard have vowed to never interfere in the political world. Loyalty, first, last and always, isn’t that right? And an end to civil wars as well, because it is so much harder to shed the blood of one you have called brother. ~ Herr von Matz about the Reiksguard.[6e]

Notes

The following information is not to be considered officially sanctioned and/or is not written from an in-universe point of view. A detailed explanation of the term "Trivia" as used in the Lexicanum can be found here.

• In 3rd Edition they are called Reiksgard. ^[2a]
• In the late 3rd edition army list it is the oldest sons of knights who join the Reiksguard. ^[5a] Focus on heirs is still evident in later editions as well, but it is stated that all noble sons are free to apply. ^{[6] [7a]}
• Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition) states that the commander of the Reiksguard is automatically the Reiksmarshal ^[7a], while other sources state differently. ^[6][8f]
• Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (8th Edition) states that the Reiksguard were already active during Waaagh! Gorbad (1707-1712 IC). This seems to be a mistake or that there was a previous regiment with that name.^[9]

Sources

• 1: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition)
  • 1a: Regiments, pg. 60-61
• 2: Warhammer Armies (3rd Edition)
  • 2a: The Empire, pg. 57
• 3: Uniforms & Heraldry of The Empire
  • 3a: The Reiksguard, pg. 58-59
• 4: White Dwarf 310 (UK)
  • 4a: Knightly Orders of the Empire, pg. 120
• 5: White Dwarf 147 (UK)
  • 5a: Empire Army List, pg. 26
  • 5b: Empire Army List, pg. 30
• 6: Reiksguard (novel)
  • 6a: Prologue
  • 6b: Chapter One
  • 6c: Chapter Two
  • 6d: Chapter Three
  • 6e: Chapter Four
  • 6f: Chapter Five
  • 6g: Chapter Six
  • 6h: Chapter Seven
• 7: Warhammer Armies: The Empire (8th Edition)
  • 7a: Reiksguard Knights, pg. 44
  • 7b: pg. 92
• 8: Altdorf: Crown of the Empire
  • 8a: pg. 16
  • 8b: pg. 42
  • 8c: The Imperial Palace and Palast District, pg. 68-69
  • 8d: The Volkshalle, pg. 71
  • 8e: Six Famed Knightly Orders of Altdorf, pg. 74
  • 8f: Reiksguard Chapter House, pgs. 76-78
  • 9: Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (8th Edition): pgs. 17-19, 29

• The Enemy Within, pg. 27
• Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition), pg. 41