Nauzica Brigade
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The Nauzica Brigade is the escort and personal force of the Holy Orenian Emperor, protecting both the Emperor and his Imperial Family. It was formed in 1487 by the Horen-scion Charles Henry Horen and the bastard general Frederick ver de Linde, the Nauzica Brigade, or Nauzicans for short, existed for little more than a century, fighting in nearly every war of the Johannian Emperors till the fall of the Empire in 1595, once the Empire was reformed as the sixth Empire, the Order of The Black Dragon took over the duties of protecting the Emperor and his family, at the death of John V, it was forthwith disbanded. Once Peter II ascended the Orenian throne, an attempt was made at his life. Without hesitation, he re-established the famed Brigade. It was heavily reconstituted. At the head of the organization sat Draken Lancefeld, who was raised to Grand Knight. The brigade would later be succeeded by Owein aep Cynan. After many years it would reform once more under the rule of Emperor Alexander II to be led by knighted Hanseti man named, Ser Thomas Raleigh.
History
The time of the establishment of the Nauzica Brigade can be attributed to the onset of the Hexer Uprisings in the Aeldinic province of Agathor. There, in 1487, the exiled prince Charles Henry of the House of Horen found himself charged by his host the governor Benda Chivay to quell an arcane insurrection in the prefecture of Nauzica. The governor invested the young pretender a body of two-hundred archers, one-hundred men-at-arms, and two dozen demi lancers to serve as his personal escort. Along with this host, Charles was granted command over the Bullion Band, a Landsknecht-mercenary company led by the infamous cavalier and minstrel Frederick ver de Linde. The Prince of Alstion and ver de Linde soon grew to be close companions in their travels hunting down seditious practitioners of maleficium. Their exploits on the field of battle earned them immense renown; it was not long until the Audemar, Emperor of Aeldin, son of Horos the Usurper, caught wind of their feats. In an uncommonly merciful ploy to secure the Horen claimant's allegiance and neutralize him as a threat, Audemar had the pair and their armies return to Nova Horos, the seat of the Horosid usurpers, to serve the empire as a vanguard.
This new and sumptuous company of soldiers was christened the Nauzica Brigade, a regiment, and company in service to the Empire of Aeldin. Charles Henry had no intention of betraying his new liege; already used as a pawn prior in countless Aeldinic civil wars, he contented himself with this pardon and bore no indignities over his birthright. Yet the ambition of Frederick ver de Linde knew few bounds. Sowing the seeds of dissent, he inflicted the young prince the notion that he could challenge the might of Aeldin and reclaim his father’s rightful position.
Their rebellion in the early winter months of 1498 collapsed within a year’s time. The expected de Sola detachments needed so desperately for the Horen claimant to prevail had arrived after the Battle of Ronda, where Emperor Audemar decisively prevailed over Frederick’s armies through the tactical brilliance of a double envelopment. The skulls of the avaricious Lieutenant ver de Linde’s along with thirteen of his senior officers were sent to the Horen prince’s camp; forced into exile in face of this staggering defeat, Charles fled to the continent of Athera in hopes of gathering fresh hosts to press his claim once more, leaving his wife and infant son at Governor Benda’s palace. Yet he would arrive in King Andrew’s court to only be forced to the cloisters, the paranoid sovereign wary of the prince’s intentions. Henceforth, the might of the Nauzican Brigade had dwindled; once a standing army, it now consisted of ill-more than a minor retinue in service of The Old Pretender Polycarp, Prince Charles’ new moniker as a friar of faith They took a new sigil thereafter, fourteen skulls on a black field in honor of those defiled at the Battle of Ronda.
Yet in 1526 with the ascent of Polycarp’s son, John Frederick, to the title of Holy Orenian Emperor, the Nauzican Brigade was once again granted imperial authority. At his coronation, the whole corps was on duty at the Cathedral of Saint Lucien, being formed into two guard companies in homage to the brigade’s roots. Under the helm of the veteran knight Vulpes Roke, ardent Horen loyalist, the Brigade once-more attained a level of distinction they had lost in exile. It was remarked that the band of soldiery lingered to the Emperor as wraiths, their presence never unnoticed by the courtiers of Praha Palace.
When Vulpes had expired of natural causes, the emperor’s baseborn son, John of Peremont presided over the palace guard. His ineptitudes, missteps, and greed had caused a decline in the corps’ ability; choosing to restyle the force as the Impera Brigade to appease Vailor natives, he lost the support of many veterans of the band who cherished their Aeldinic heritage and replaced them with the unsavoury sons of Felsen’s political elite in turn for bribes. John Jrent was exiled and the Nauzicans disbanded in 1546 after the imperial bastard and the corps were found embezzling city funds.
For ten years, the security of the imperial line and the palace of Ancelcourt was left to watchmen and conscripted courtiers of the palace. This martial atrophy was not noticed until the reign of John II, where incessant Dreadlander raids managed to threaten the governance of the state. In an effort to restore order in court and defend the imperial household, he proclaimed the Nauzican Brigade to be reinstated once more and charged Ser Drevin de Sarkozy as its Captain. Composed of noble cadets, various members of the gentry, and a smattering of lowborn's, the Nauzican Brigade now serves with utmost distinction and discipline as stalwart honor guard and a task force of the Emperor.
The fledgling brigade took great prominence during the Rurikid Uprising of 1557, performing skillful flanking and maneuverability against the enemy during the infamous Battle of Dogger Bay, where the young Michael Sunfield, later to be the 5th Captain of the Brigade, led a devastating front against the Dreadlander encamped line. Later in the war, the Brigade took a leading role in the capture of Seahelm in 1559, overwhelming the city’s defenses and butchering the Rurikid levy in a mass massacre. For the remainder of John II’s reign, the Nauzicans remained as palace guards; with the Emperor’s unwillingness to enter vassal conflict or even external conflict, the Brigade saw little action. The Krajian Revolt of 1560 led to Nauzica’s reentrance into the battlefield once more, however, the battles were mere skirmishes in comparison, and a majority of the fighting would be had by the Emperor’s loyal northern vassals. The Brigade soon dwindled in size from its compared bolstered ranks of years’ past.
With John II’s abdication in 1567 and his son, John III, taking the throne in his wake, the Brigade command was granted to his brother, Prince Alexander Sigismund, in replacement for the stepping-down of Ser Michael the Aengul. With time comes a change of course throughout the next 15 years many reforms would be made to the Nauzica including its brief inclusion in the order of Astlion then in 1579 it was integrated into the Imperial Legion. After the passing of John III, assassinated by what is presumed to be a descendent of the High Elven purists, and then John IV via the unorthodox northerners who took offense to the Imperial Liege - the official declaration of our previous Liege’s funeral’s set upon: 1585; 13th of Deep Cold. - The Nauzica was to be re-founded at the behest of Philip I with his uncle, Prince Philip Louis, to take the reigns of the Nauzica Brigade and bring it back to its righteous glory and stand stalwart against anyone individual aspiring to harm the imperial family.
With the death of Emperor John VI and Owein aep Cynan, the brigades last commander, the organization ceased to function, thus spelling an end to its long history
Structure
There have been many iterations of the Brigade, but the structure has usually stayed the same. At the top of the hierarchy sits the Emperor. Under the Emperor are the captains, who do the day-to-day managing of the Brigade, they have the ability to induct new members into the organization, as they are officers. Under captains are the Lieutenants are the mid-ranking officers, they hold some administrative duties in the Brigade, but are often the leaders of events happening. Then there's the adjutant who is a junior officer and an assistant to another higher ranking officer, they should however not be considered pen-pushers as they are more than likely fantastic combatants. Entering the lower hierarchy, the regular members of the brigade are the Gentlemen. Gentlemen have served the Empire for a long time and are often tasked with guarding doors and entrances, perhaps they aren't seen as such, but they are vital positions. At the bottom of the hierarchy is the inductee's who are the initiates.
Former Captains
- 1st Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Charles Henry Horen, Prince of Alstion
- 2nd Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Ser Vulpes Roke
- 3rd Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Ser John Godfrey Horen, King of Vandoria
- 4th Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Ser Drevin de Sarkozy
- 5th Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Ser Michael Hightower
- 6th Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Ser Alexander Sigismund
- 7th Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Ser Edwyn Harwyn
- 8th Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Philip Louis Horen-Marna, Duke of Marna
- 9th Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Owein aep Cynan
- 10th Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Ser Phillip Marshall
- 11th Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Ser Stefan Morovic
- 12th Captain of the Nauzica Brigade: Maxim Attenlund
Notable Members
Through the brigade's century of existence, many noticeable individuals have served in it ranks, including many Imperial Princes and lordlings of the former Imperial State.
- Iosif of Roiye, known as one of Emperor John I's tutors, served in the brigade during the Horen Restoration before being elevated as Metropolitan of Felsen.
- Count Vitallius of Lewes, served in the brigade during the Third Rurikid Uprising before being elevated to Baron of Castern by Emperor John II.
- Prince John Henry of Marna, son of Prince Alexander, Duke of Marna, served in the brigade during the Third Rurikid Uprising before being killed at the Battle of Seahelm.
- Count Bradshaw Gray of Cleves, served in the brigade during the Krajian Rebellion and the Felsen Coup, was Emperor John III's chief adviser before being elevated as the Count of Cleves.
