The Scarlet Moon Imperial Army (赤月帝国軍, Aka Gatsu Teikoku-gun) is the national military force of the Scarlet Moon Empire. It serves as the antagonistic forces of the first Suikoden.
Organization
The "military government system" in place in the Scarlet Moon Empire divided its territory into regions, with each region ruled by a general appointed by the emperor. In addition, a "military governor" was appointed for each town or village, to whom the administration was delegated. In this sense, both administration and military affairs were controlled by the overarching organization of the Imperial Army.
The Imperial Army was essentially subdivided into three different sections.
Imperial Central Army
The Imperial Central Army (中央軍, Chūō-gun) is the core of the entire army. These were the actual fighting soldiers of the army, called on dispatch foes the Regional Army were not equipped to handle, such as lake pirates or battles with other powers, such as the City-State of Jowston. Including the first army, there are up to six companies within the Central Army, each led by one of the Great Generals of the Empire.
Generals of the Central Army are expected to be extremely loyal to the emperor and the Scarlet Moon Empire as a whole. Only the Imperial Guard, the Defense Force and the First Army are under the direct control of the emperor, however. The Second through Sixth Armies, meanwhile, more resemble the private armies of their generals.
Therefore, the actions of each army are usually left to the discretion of its commander. This gives each army extreme responsiveness when it comes to changing situations and considerations in times of warfare. However, it almost meant that the defection of one general could mean the loss of an entire company, making it a somewhat fragile force.
Imperial Regional Army
The Imperial Regional Army (地方軍, Chihō-gun) is permanently stationed in each region of the Empire. Under the command of military government officials, they take the role of law enforcement at the town and village level, rather than that of an army.
These military commanders are appointed by the Great General overseeing each region. Many of these commanders are people of great importance or influence in their hometowns. The majority of regional army soldiers were also recruited from and stationed in their locality.
The Empire collects taxes from these commanders, who gathers taxes from the people in exchange for their governance and protection. With a weak emperor, this system would lead to a lack of control and a sharp rise in corruption and embezzlement from said military commanders.
Imperial Guard
- Main article: Imperial Guard
The main role of the Imperial Guard, meanwhile, is to protect the emperor and his immediate surroundings. They are stationed in Gregminster Palace but have no effective role in the governing of the Empire.
Imperial Defense Guard
The main mission of the Imperial Defense Guard (帝国守備, teikoku shubi) was to defend Gregminster itself. They are assigned to Gregminster and its surrounding defenses, such as the Fortress of Kwaba. They were not involved in the active administration of the city and similar to the Imperial Guard were under the direct authority of the emperor.
Rank
There is no system of knighthood in the Scarlet Moon Empire. It is a hierarchal system beginning with common soldiers and working up through officers to general to commander-in-chief.
The ranks of the soldiers were divided into four categories: Junior, senior, squadron leader, and centurion, and needed to be of noble lineage in order to be appointed to the rank of officer or higher, meaning Imperial Army leadership was usually drawn from the aristocracy. Even soldiers in prominent positions, such as Pahn and Cleo were considered ordinary soldiers.
However, those who had distinguished themselves on the battlefield could be promoted to the rank of officer or higher by the judgment or recommendation of their immediate superiors, such as generals and military commanders. Humphrey Mintz, who was once under Kasim Hazil's command as a Centurion, apparently repeatedly refused Kasim's offer of promotion despite his prowess in battle.
Recruitment
For the replenishment of common soldiers, generals would often employ conscription drives. For officers, however, those with the desire and the ability to pay the enrolment fee and attend the Imperial Academy at Gregminster. Graduates of the academy are assigned to generals at their own volition. Detailed education on the use of runes is also taught at the academy. Children of prominent families, on the other hand, were usually assigned directly by the emperor.
Other languages and releases
| Japanese kanji | 帝国軍 |
|---|---|
| Japanese romaji | Teikoku-gun |
| Chinese simplified (HDR) | 帝国军 |
| Chinese traditional (HDR) | 帝國軍 |
| Chinese pinyin | Dìguó jūn |
| English | Imperial Army |
|---|---|
| French | Armée impériale |
| German | Kaiserliche Armee |
| Italian | Esercito imperiale |
| Spanish | Ejército Imperial |
References
- Genso Suikoden Encyclopaedia (ISBN 4-575-16297-3), pages 133, 170, 172, 334-5
- Genso Suikoden Genso Shinsho Vol.14 (ISBN 4-7753-0217-5), pages 58-9
- Genso Suikoden Kiwami Encyclopedia, page 50