Emperor

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The Emperor is the leader and ruler of The Empire, the most powerful nation of the Old World. The current Emperor is Karl Franz, who was chosen by the Electors and crowned in 2502 IC.


Despite being technically both head-of-state and commander-in-chief of the imperial military, the emperor is not by any means an absolute ruler. He has to share much of his power, influence and responsibilities with the extremely powerful Elector Counts.

Upon the death of an Emperor the throne does not automatically pass to his heir. An election is held with 15 Electors, 10 of which are Elector counts. Each of them casts a vote, and the candidate with most votes becomes Emperor.

The heir of the deceased emperor is an obvious candidate; under normal circumstances he will be supported by the friends and allies of his predecessor. Therefore a dynastic succession is a strong possibility. However the heir may lose the election due to personal enmities or because of personal failings.


Nearly all emperors were chosen from among the Elector counts and in many ways being an emperor means being but the "First among equals". He is largely the leader of the Elector Counts, who are extremely powerful and independent. Many matters are debated between the Emperor and the Counts on an equal standing and then agreed upon, and not always as the Emperor wants.

His power is severely limited by the inability of enforcing his edicts within the semi-independent provinces. Far from the capital and inside their own provinces the Elector Counts rule and they can choose to largely ignore his edicts and decrees.


One must also remember that the Empire is not a centralized state, but rather a feudal confederacy. The emperor doesn't simply control the entire military of the Empire and he doesn't receive all or even the majority of taxes. His taxes and resources are collected from his own province and his own personal treasury will pay the military units under his direct control.

Each of the Elector counts collects his own taxes from his respective province and will spend his wealth as he sees fit. He will recruit and pay his own provincial army who is far more loyal to its local ruler. Depending upon the wealth of the province, a wealthy Elector count may even afford and recruit a larger army than the emperor.


A wise emperor will realize that trying to subdue the Elector Counts through threats and/or force is a very dangerous errand, which all too easily ends up in open rebellion and civil war. Gaining their respect and loyalty through example and fair leadership tends to be the best policy.

The Electors can de facto depose a weak emperor.


known emperors
name reign notes sources
Sigmar 1 IC - 50 IC chief of Unberogens, founder of the Empire [1]
Siegrich unclear, around 50 Count of Averland [2]
Hedrich 51 - 100 Receives the Runefangs from the Dwarfs. [3]
Sigismund II 479 - 505 The Empire absorbs Marienburg. [4]
Siegfried I 677 - 732 Dies at the Battle of Fates. [5]
Ludwig the Fat unclear, around 1000 Establishes The Moot, and gives an electoral vote to the Elder of the Moot. [6]
Boris Goldgather 1053 - 1115 The Skaven release the Black Plague which devastates the Empire, Boris is one of its last victims. [7]
none 1115 - 1124 The Empire is largely overrun by the Skaven invasion. [8]
Mandred Skavenslayer 1124 - 1152 Count of Middenland, defeats the Skaven invasion, was later murdered by a Skaven assassin. [9]
none 1153 - 1359 The Electors are unable to choose a leader. This situation continues unchanged until 1359. [10]
? 1359 - ? Count of Stirland, his election is disputed by Ottilia, Countess of Talabecland, leading to civil war. [11]
two feuding candidates 1360 - 1546 The Empire is torn by civil war between the elected Emperors and the Ottilian Emperors. [12]
several feuding candidates, claimants and pretenders 1547 - 2303 The self-proclaimed Wolf Emperors escalate the civil war into an Age of Three Emperors. [13]
Magnus the Pious 2304 - 2369 A noble of Nuln, saves and re-unites the Empire. [14]
Leopold 2369 - ? Count of Stirland, grandfather of Dieter IV [15]
Dieter IV 2411 - 2429 Count of Stirland, fails to defend The Empire from Waaagh! Grom. Receives a bribe in exchange for the independence of Marienburg; was later deposed by the Electors. [16]
Wilhelm III 2429 - ? Count of Reikland, cousin of Dieter IV, the imperial throne has remained in his family until today. [17]
an unknown number of emperors all of them Counts of Reikland [18]
Luitpold ? - 2502 Count of Reikland, father of Karl Franz [19]
Karl Franz 2502 - present Count of Reikland [20]

See also

Notes & sources

  • The beginning of the reign of Boris Goldgather is unclear. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.30 states that he ruled from 1053 until 1115. Warhammer (7th Edition rulebook) provides different dates: 1109 - 1115. However the description of Boris makes it clear that he ruled (poorly) for a considerable amount of time and therefore the information of the armybook makes simply more sense.
  1. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition) p.56 & 58 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.30 - Warhammer (7th Edition rulebook) p.172
  2. Tome of Salvation p.15 - it must be noted that the canonicity of this information is unclear. AFAIK this name doesn't appear anywhere else.
  3. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition) p.57 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.30 - Warhammer (7th Edition rulebook) p.172
  4. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.30 - Warhammer (7th Edition rulebook) p.172
  5. Warhammer (7th Edition rulebook) p.172
  6. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.30
  7. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition) p. 58 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.30
  8. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.10 & 30
  9. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.7, 8 & 11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.10 & 30 - Warhammer (7th Edition rulebook) p.172
  10. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.10 & 30
  11. The Empire at War, chapter Guile - the Battle of the Talabec - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.8 & 11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition) p.59 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.10 & 30
  12. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.8 & 11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition) p.59 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.10 & 30
  13. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.8 & 11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition) p.59 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.10 & 31 - Warhammer Armies: Beasts of Chaos (6th edition) p.11
  14. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition) p.59 & 76 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.14 & 31 - Warhammer (7th Edition rulebook) p.172
  15. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.10 & 11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.15 & 31
  16. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.10 & 11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.15 & 31 - Warhammer Armies: Orcs & Goblins (8th Edition) p.21 - Warhammer (7th Edition rulebook) p.172
  17. outdated sources name him Wilhelm II - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.10 & 11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.15 & 31 - Warhammer (7th Edition rulebook) p.172
  18. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.15
  19. Drachenfels: Act One, chapter XI - Warhammer Companion p.75
  20. Warhammer Armies: The Empire (4th Edition) p.11 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (6th Edition) p.60 - Warhammer Armies: The Empire (7th Edition) p.15 & 31 - Warhammer (7th Edition rulebook) p.172