The Maximillian Knights (マクシミリアン騎士団, Makushimirian Kishi-Dan), also known as the Knights of Maximillian were a knightly order that existed in the old Scarlet Moon Empire.
Information
The Maximillian Knights were established by their namesake, Maximillian. They fought for the Scarlet Moon Empire though they were not an official recognized organization. As such, records of their activities are spotty though it is known they enjoyed popular support due to their championing of justice.
At some point in the past, they chose to aid the City-State of Jowston in one of their invasions by the Highland Kingdom. For acting without permission, the order was officially disbanded by imperial authorities, fearful of the political repercussions of a quasi-official order fighting in a conflict between two foreign powers.
During the Sun Rune War, Isabel and Mathias fought for the ideals of the Maximillian Knights as part of the Imperial City Recapture Army. Isabel's father had been a Maximillian Knight before the group's censure.
During the Gate Rune War, Maximillian and his squire, Sancho, joined forces with the Toran Liberation Army to overthrow the corrupt Scarlet Moon Empire. There were still many who admired Maximillian, and many former members of the Knights joined the Liberation Army alongside him. 1,200 soldiers in all joined the Liberation Army alongside Maximillian, an enormous number.
Three years later, Maximillian, now without his squire, aided the New State Army during the Dunan Unification War, once again fighting against the Highland Kingdom. He then retired, his grandson Fred Maximillian taking over the leadership of the Maximilian Knights. Fred would later join the forces of the Fire Bringer.
Emblem
The emblem of the Maximilian Knights is a gold bird with both wings spread. This emblem is always worn on the front of the armor of a Maximilian Knight. The symbol was spotted first on an amulet worn by Gary, a hundred years before Maximillian's birth. It is unknown if he is connected to the Maximillian Knights in any way, but he already represented the ideal of justice of the order. Mathias, while not a Maximillian Knight himself, wore a similar symbol, but instead of gold, it was red.
References
- Genso Suikoden Encyclopaedia (ISBN 4-575-16297-3), page 261
- Genso Suikoden Genso Shinsho Vol.15 (ISBN 4-7753-0252-3), page 57
- Genso Suikoden Kiwami Encyclopedia, pages 98, 216, 665