Heroes | Factions (Kingdoms (Empire (Southern | Northern | Western) | Vlandia | Battania | Sturgia | Khuzait | Aserai) | Minor Factions) (Bandits))
(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
The Calradian Empire
Ruler: Disputed
Capital: Baravenos/Pravend/Praven (formerly), Argoron (North), Lycaron (South), Jalmarys (West)
The Empire's Banner
The Calradic Empire spoken of in the past-tense in Warband is still around, but is in the process of failing. Already greatly diminished from its might of the old days, the Empire represents the largest, most powerful kingdom in the game world- that is, if it hadn't just recently split into three separate parts. open/close all folders
As A Whole
- Civil Warcraft: Because of their civil war, it is quite likely that players fighting for the Empire will spend a considerable amount of time fighting other Imperial factions beyond the standard cross-cultural recruitments as borders change.
- Divided We Fall: After the death, and possibly murder, of Emperor Arenicos, the Empire has split into three separate factions, who support the three separate claimants about who has the true legitimacy to decide who becomes the new Emperor.
- Doomed by Canon: The Empire ultimately collapsed for good in the 173 years that separate both games. Most of their accessible former territory (most of the Western Empire and half of the Northern Empire) is now ruled by the Swadians, the Khergits and the Sarranids. Whether this actually happens in game or not can vary in different playthroughs.
- Elective Monarchy: Ever since the hero Echerion slew the tyrant Cypegos, the institution of the monarchy was banned for the Calradoi, in theory at least. The Emperor is an office, he nominated an heir, the senate ratified his choice, and the people (meaning the army) acclaimed it.
- Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Of the Late Roman Empire, with some Byzantine Empire thrown into the mix, The three-way civil war is reminiscent of the Crisis of the Third Century, with the Southern Empire corresponding to the Palmyrene Empire and the Western Empire corresponding to the Gallic Empire.
- Shocking Defeat Legacy: Neretzes' Folly - or more formally the Battle of Pendriac in 1077 - where an Imperial force with Aserai and Khuzait auxiliaries met a force of Vlandians and Sturgians while marching into the Battanian heartland.
- The Empire: At the Empire's heyday, it conquered most of the map, trampled most ancient tribes and nations such as the Palaic people into dust and assimilated them. At the borderlands where their influence waned, the Empire would influence local client and puppet states, and make them fight each other to prevent a foreign king uniting the barbarian tribes and invading the Empire;
Historical Figures
Calradios the Great
The eponymous founder of Calradia, he led his band of exiles to the shores of the land that now bears his name, founding Charasea (the future Charas/Shariz) and Baravenos (the future Pravend/Praven). The earliest recorded wielder of the Dragon Banner.
- Egopolis: The entire continent is named after him.
- Expy: Of Aeneas, the mythical Trojan hero and progenitor of the Romans who led the exiled Trojans to find a new home and who eventually settled in Italy.
- Founder of the Kingdom: It isn't clear if he was an emperor, but all three of the current claimants to the throne trace their legitimacy to him.
- The Magnificent: Calradios the Great.
Sarapios
A general who was responsible for many of the victories the Empire had in its westward expansion over the Palaics. Well documented for being an eccentric.
- Barbarian Longhair: His long hair is brought up everytime the encyclopedia mentions him. It was apparently one of his eccentricities.
- Bunny-Ears Lawyer: A military version, known for his eccentricities and his skill in strategy and tactics.
- Egopolis: Not directly, but Epicrotea's name means "All-Conquering", which was an epithet Sarapios bore.
- The Magnificent: Apparently his full name was "Sarapios the All-Conquering."
Archacos
The founder of Vostrum, Archacos was a rogue officer who founded his own dynasty.
- A God Am I: How he presented himself. It's not stated whether he himself bought it or not, but by the time Vostrum was unified with the Empire, haloed statues of himself and his descendents dotted the city.
- Founder of the Kingdom: Founder of Vostrum
- God-Emperor: In contrast to other rogue Calradics, Archacos set himself up as this.
- Once Done, Never Forgotten: His actions led to Northern and Western Senators suspecting the Southerners of being closet monarchists, which Rhagaea's actions have seemingly confirmed.
Emperor Darusos
Emperor roughly a century before Arenicos, Darusos was a teenager when he came to the throne. Remembered as saintly but ineffective, he was quickly toppled by one of his generals. The Embers of the Flame worship him as a messiah.
- A Child Shall Lead Them: How the Embers of the Flame view his reign. The historical reality was a deconstruction, as he was an ineffective ruler and swiftly overthrown.
- Expy: As a deeply spiritual teenage emperor who was deposed, he would most closely resemble the Roman Emperor Elagabalus.
- Messianic Archetype: To the Embers of the Flame, at least.
Drosios Neretzes
Arenicos's predecessor, Drosios Neretzes was emperor until his death in 1077 at the Battle of Pendraic, which since has been mockingly called "Neretzes's Folly."
- The Good King: How he was apparently viewed before Pendraic, according to Lucon and Istiana.
- Last-Name Basis: For some reason, he is only ever referred to as Emperor Neretzes, not Emperor Drosios. This isn't a cultural aspect of the Calradians either, as his succesor Arenicos is remembered by his first name.
- Once Done, Never Forgotten: The Battle of Pendraic, aka Neretzes's Folly. This has so poisoned his reputation that a grand total of one character - Lucon - speaks of Neretzes warmly. Even his own son considers him a failure.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: And it backfired on him, big-time.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: His attempts to restore the Empire led to his death at Pendraic, which allowed Arenicos to become Emperor, whose own death would lead to the three way civil war that is implicitly the reason the Empire no longer exists by Warband's time.
Arenicos Pethros
The last ruler of a unified Calradia, Arenicos managed to save the remnants of the Imperial army at the Battle of Pendraic, and this led to him becoming Emperor. Sometime before the start of the game, he was assassinated by an unknown party, and the resulting succession crisis split the empire.
- The Good King: How everyone(except Penton Neretzes) saw him at first. The soldiers loved him for saving their lives at Pendraic, the commoners loved him for the stability and compotency he brought to governance, and his respect for the law brought him the respect of the Senators in turn.
- Irony: The entire argument for the Southern Empire centers around the idea that Arenicos's daughter Ira should be his successor. Arenicos himself gained the throne in place of Neretzes's son Penton, who is more than a little salty about this.
- Messianic Archetype: How the commoners eventualy came to view him, which he did little to counteract. Given the legacies of Archacos and Darusos, this unsurprisingly made the traditionalists be wary of him.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: How the Western and Northern factions feel about him. He pissed away the army's support by abolishing the legions in favor of cheaper feudal levies(leading to the creation of the Legion of the Betrayed in the process), and continuously overstepped the Senate's authority in his edicts. It's entirely possible that Ira would have been fully supported as Empress if Arenicos had been more tactful about his rulership.
Empire Factions
Troops
Recruits
Recruits
Imperial Recruits are the base of the Imperial troop tree. They are equiped with a pitchfork, a tunic with shoulder pads, a leather cap, and horseman's boots.- Cannon Fodder: Pretty much the only thing they're good for - their tunics are slightly better than going into battle naked, and their pitchforks are good only in that they count as polearms and can be used to break a charge.
Tier 2
Infantrymen
Infantrymen
Imperial Infantrymen are trained from Recruits. They replace their pitchforks with iron spathas and kite shields, equip gauntlets, and wear gambesons.- Elite Mooks: In contrast to Recruits, Infantrymen have, if not good, then at least usable armor, which is further improved with their shields. Their big drawback is that the spatha is considerably shorter than the pitchfork, meaning they have to get close and personal with their opponents.
Archers
Archers
Vigla Recruits
Vigla Recruits
Tier 3
Trained Infantrymen
Trained Infantrymen
Trained Archers
Trained Archers
Equites
Equites
Tier 4
Veteran Infantrymen
Veteran Infantrymen
Menavliatons
Menavliatons
Veteran Archers
Veteran Archers
Crossbowmen
Crossbowmen
Heavy Horsemen
Heavy Horsemen
Tier 5
Legionaries
Legionaries
- Jack of All Stats: Decent skills across the board along with a very good kit means Legionaries can perform well no matter where they're fighting.
- Simple, yet Awesome: Good armor, decent weapons, and a shield. No frills or gimmicks, and one of the single best infantry units in the game.
Elite Menavliatons
Elite Menavliatons
Palatine Guard
Palatine Guard
Bucellarii
Bucellarii
- Horse Archer: Though rather lackluster compared to their Khuzait or even Aserai counterparts.
- Master of None: Has both worse riding and bow skill than other archer cavalry, with their decent armor and bow not being enough to compensate.
Sergeant Crossbowmen
Sergeant Crossbowmen
- Boring, but Practical: They're not nearly as flashy as other Tier 5 units, but their combination of good skills across the board and decent armor means they can form the backbone of an army.
Cataphracts
Cataphracts
Tier 6
Elite Cataphracts
Elite Cataphracts
- Lightning Bruiser
- Master of All: Have strong skills in riding, polearm, and one-handed, which along with their heavy armor makes them one of, if not the, most well-rounded units in the game.
- Not the Intended Use: While their primary role remains top-tier heavy cavalry, their heavy armor and good one-handed skill means they can prove surprisingly effective as heavy infantry.
