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A Knight of the Reiksgard.

The Reiksguard (a.k.a. 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.

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]

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. 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.

Advantages and Disadvantages

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

History

They were created by Emperor Wilhelm III. [4a]

Organization

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. 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.

Reiksguard are recruited from all over the Empire from amongst the sons of knights and nobility. [4a] The ranks of the Reiksguard are open to all young men of noble birth regardless of where they live within the Empire. The sons of Elector Counts as well as members of the Imperial Family often join the Reiksguard. New Reiskguard are inducted yearly at an annual event in Altdorf during the Spring festivals at the conclussion of the Emperors tournament. [3a]

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]

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.

The elite of the Reiksguard are part of the Reiksguard Inner Circle.

Appearance

The Reiksguard 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.

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 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.

Weapons 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 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]

Gallery

Miniatures

Notes

  • 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]


Sources

The Empire
Units Arch Lector of Sigmar - Ar-Ulric - Battle Wizard - Celestial Hurricanum - Chapter Master - Demigryph Knight - Elector Count - Empire Archer - Empire Captain - Empire Crossbowman - Empire Dwarfs - Empire General - Empire Greatsword - Empire Halberdier - Empire Knight - Empire Mortar - Empire Swordsman - Empire Spearmen - Empire War Wagon - Flagellant - Free Company - Grand Master - Great Cannon - Halfling Hot Pot - Handgunner - Helblaster Volley Gun - Helblaster Wagon - Helstorm Rocket Battery - Hunting Hounds - Knight of the White Wolf - Knight Panther - Kriegsritter - Luminark - Master Engineer - Outrider - Pistolier - Reiksguard - Seneschal - Steam Tank - Teutogen Guard - Warrior Priest - Witch Hunter - Wizard Lord - War Altar of Sigmar - Warriors of Ulric - Wolf-kin
Characters Adora - Agnetha Weiltraub - Alberich Von Korden - Albrecht Helseher - Aldebrand Ludenhof - Aldred Fellblade - Alun Gartner - Angelika Fleischer - Anna von Verbeeck - Annette von Telland - Anton Veidt - Axel Weissberg - Axelbrand - Balthasar Gelt - Benedict Stross - Bertha Bestraufrung - Bloody Beatrice - Blucher von Vincke - Borin Fatalismus‎‎ - Boris Todbringer - Breugal - Bruno Malvoisin - Clarissa Lohft - Cryston von Danling - Daniel von Brentzingen - Deathclaw - Dieter Schmiedehammer - Detlef Sierck - Diel Ulricsson - Dieter IV - Eberhardt - Eberhardt von Kreuzzug - Ebrem Manlect - Einrich Moltke - Eldred - Elise Kreiglitz-Untern - Else Sigloben - Elspeth Magritta VI - Elspeth von Draken - Emil Valgeir - Emmanuelle Nacht - Emmanuelle von Liebwitz - Erich Granholm - Erina Eberhauer - Erzbet Wegener - Felix Jaeger - Ferdinand Gruber - Fozzrik - Frederick van Hal - Erich Aldolphus - Frederick von Tarnus - Friedrich Holmann - Friedrich von Finklemann - Frederich Weirde - Freida Grünwald - Garvan Paranoth - Gaspar von Derberg - Genevieve Dieudonné - Giger - Gunter Dunkelmund - Gunther Bearhide - Gunther Stahlberg - Gunthar von Bildhofen - Haf Lorenentz - Hans Leitdorf - Haqiqah Al-Hikmah - Harald Kleindeinst - Hasso - Hedrich - Heinrich Altendorfer - Heinrich Johann - Heinrich Todbringer - Helena von Culper - Helmut Van Dorf - Helmut Weisser - Illona Horvathy - Immanuel-Ferrand Holswig-Schliestein - Imperial Dragon - Isolde Begegnen - Jacob Stacheldhorf - Janna Eberhauer - Jerek Kruger - Jarrick Valgeir - Joachim II - Johann Esmer - Johann Helsturm - Johan Zauberlich - Josef Sparsam - Jovi Sunscryer - Jubal Falk - Jurgen Muntz - Karl Franz - Karl Raachwald - Karl-Rikard Goellner - Kaslain - Kaspar von Velten - Katarina Todbringer - Katelina Matthias - Kriesmann Henckler - Kistiane Brockdorf - Konrad Ludenhof - Konrad Vollen - Krieger Valiant‎‎ - Kristoff Haamar - Kurt Helborg - Leonardo of Miragliano - Leopold Groeth - Leopold von Raukov - Leos von Liebwitz - Liepmund Holzkrug - Lilli Nissen - Lothar Metternich - Lothar von Diehl - Ludmilla III - Ludwig Schwarzhelm - Luigi Giovanni - Luitpold - Emperor Luitpold - Luthor Huss - Magnus the Pious - Mandred Skavenslayer - Maria Glockenspiel - Maria-Luise von Walfen - Maria-Ulrike von Liebwitz - Marieka Van der Perssen - Marius Hollseher - Marius Leitdorf - Marius van Diesl - Markus Wulfhart - Martin - Mattheus II - Maximilian Schreiber - Maximillian von Klaus - Mechthild von Stroharm - Mikael Hasselstein - Mornan Tybalt - Narris Mortus‎ - Necrodomo the Insane - Nikolai Mouss - Oswald von Konigswald - Ottilia I - Ottilia III - Otto Jaeger - Otto Sider - Pieter Lazlo - Raphael Julevno - Reinhadt Mortarian‎ - Rein Volkhard - Reuben Kyte - Rudiger von Unheimlich - Rudi Wegener - Rutgar - Rutger Wolfrick - Salli Spaak - Salundra von Drakenburg - Schadrach Bürke - Sibylle Hagerdorn - Sigfreda Marham von Sieblich - Sigismund the Mad - Sigismund II - Sigmar - Soloman Vantor‎ - Tarradasch - Theoderic Gausser - Theodore Bruckner - Theodosius Schreiber - Thunderball - Thyrus Gormann - Tobias Helmgart - Tochter Grunfeld - Ulrich Schutzmann - Valdemar - Valmir von Raukov - Valten - Valst Lishen - Varga Schezain - Veiran Thugenheim - Vesper Klasst - Viktor Helmgart - Vladamir Ludennacht - Volans - Volkmar the Grim - Voltan von Khrest - Vorgan Corpsehand - Vorn Thugenheim - Werner von Kriegstadt - Wilhelm III - Wilhelm Hague - Wilhelm the Wise - Wilhelm von Vaulk - Wilhelmina von Garrick - Wolfram Hertwig - Wyat Lagus‎‎ - Zavant Konniger - Zofia Miska
Provinces and City-states Altdorf - Averland - Hochland - Middenheim - Middenland - The Moot - Nordland - Nuln - Ostermark - Ostland - Reikland - Stirland - Talabecland - Talabheim - Wissenland
Images - Magic items - Miniatures - Vehicles