The Milities Linari are the standard freeman medium-footman in the Thardic Republican army. Comprised of field fife and volunteers, their ranks include both freedmen and citizens. Each Milities Linari is responsible for the purchase and care of his weapons, armor and equipment. Most volunteers can not afford to purchase the minimum required and thus go into debt.
All members who join from the ages of 16 to 21 who are freemen or citizens become Milities Linari for their first four years when they join the legion - either as part of the field fife or as volunteers.
[Top]
Numbers
Landowners must provide the legion with a certain type of legionnaire, dependant on the amount of land they own. This soldier must be replaced should the one currently in service be killed, maimed or required for duty (like tending his own land) by the landowner.
The draft assessment for the year 720TR states that 1 Milities Linari / Primus must be provided per two Carucates and two Bovates within the estate (approximately 270 acres). The Thardic Republic should generate approximately 2456 Milities Linari due to field fife, only 2320 will be required. This does not include the 5-10% each year that volunteer for service.
Training
The Milities Linari goes through three types of training before finally loosing the name "Recruit". Each training period is 3 months long.
Boot Camp
A Milities Linari gains the following skills upon their first week of Boot Camp:
| Rank | I n i t i a t i v e |
S w o r d |
D a g g e r |
S h i e l d |
J a v e l i n |
S i c k l e |
A x e |
R i d i n g |
U n a r m e d |
F o r a g i n g |
S u r v i v a l |
H e r a l d r y |
P h y s i c i a n |
Military |
S c r i p t |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milities Linari | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
In the first trimester of training the majority of the time is spent in one-on-one practice, with lectures and instruction given by veteran legionnaires. The drills are practiced until they become automatic. Basic tactics are taught without explanation of their use, or development. It is sufficient that the legionnaire know how to parry with sword or shield, to counter strike, to shield strike and to hit exposed areas with his short sword or javelin. The whys are taught through real-world experience later.
Boot Camp is difficult, with only about 3/4 of the applicants being injury free after the first three months, and able to continue. Most who fail, or wash out, may try again the following year, although few do. The camp is often the first time away from friends and family for most. This plus the strain of rigorous duties, training and discipline forge a legionnaire. As an incentive often tenacus of veterans are brought in to teach lessons and speak to the new legionnaires. These talks help the new legionnaires overcome fears and seem to make the training easier.
Boot Camps are located near, if not within, the provincial capital. Usually the trip to the Boot Camp is considered the first test of the metal of an aspiring Milities Linari. Since all applicants receive this three months of training, it has become standardized.
Legion Fortification (2nd Trimester)
In the second trimester the legionnaires work with experienced legionnaires, learning more on the job than in one-on-one practice. Their improvement is slower, but each legionnaire has a chance to learn real-life situations, as oppose to dry drill and practice. Their days are as regimented as bandits, raiders and other legion problems will allow. The legionnaire is exposed to punishment parade; where the guilty are brought before the assembly so that all can witness the punishment. This is suppose to harden the legionnaire against crime, but often it just sickens most of them.
Legionnaires are welcome to partake in any money-making scheme they can, so long as it does not break the law. Door duty, performing extra labours on their day off and adventuring all provide a small source of income. Smuggling goods and being tipped for good service are the two most common sources. Neither are considered evil, so long as one is not caught. Any monies made must be divided three ways. One part to each person who made the money, one part to their commanding officer and one part to the legion. The Commanding Officer receives this money or goods to assure his silence and so that he will give each group of legionnaires as much time as they need for their next adventure, within reason. The legion's part goes towards the widows and orphans fund. It is from this money that a dead legionnaire's debt is paid and his funeral is paid for.
In this phase of training, legionnaires are permitted to question their instructors as to why things are done the way they are. Tactics take on a less surreal nature when your life is on the line. Legionnaires fresh out of training are also given the worst jobs and the longest hours. Age does have its privileges after all.
Legion Outpost (3rd Trimester)
Each year after training development rolls are determined based on experience, instruction and practice. The exact amounts differ greatly from outpost to outpost - depending on the commanding officer, and how much he works his troops.
Duties and Obligations
The Duties and Obligations of a Milities Linari are limited only to whatever their commanding officer orders. To protect them from corrupt, sadistic or evil commanding officers the legion holds each man responsible for their own actions as well as the actions of those under their command. So, should a Milities Linari die due to an officer's incompetence, at least his relatives will have the satisfaction of seeing that officer punished.
When Alone
A Milities Linari is only a Legionnaire when he is dressed either in his linens or full kit. If he is dressed as a civilian, then he is treated as a civilian of his own birth rank and clan. A Milities Linari may only wear the uniform of the Legion when on official Legion business.
A Milities Linari is expected to help keep the peace at all costs when on duty. They may never start a fight, but are always expected to finish any around them. This allows them to question, torture and hold for indefinite periods of time any slave or freeman in the Republic. Equestrians and Citizens cannot be tortured, and Equestrians expect to be treated according to their rank.
In foreign lands
A Milities Linari in foreign lands and in full uniform is either lost, scouting or part of a legally dispatched delegation or invasion force. They are expected to be on their best behavior, and return home alive. Brooking no insults and other such feudal finery is a foreign concept lost on most practical Thardians.
When off duty
A Milities Linari when off duty is out of uniform (no weapons other than a dagger, and not wearing the armour, cloak, belt or boots of a legionnaire). Any crime committed while off duty is committed as a republican of their natural birth rank. Officially no legion equipment, personnel or monies may be used by the Milities Linari when they are off duty.
Mustering Out
A tour of duty is four years long. Each legionnaire receives one day off each calendar month whenever possible. Leave time, like pay, can be accumulated by the legion for up to three months before any trouble can, officially, begin. A Milities Linari takes his leave the same time as his tenacus. Individual leave is rare and offered only in the rarest of cases.
Awards and Achievements
There are several awards and achievements. The most popular are:
- The Brass Crown: This cloak pin has a crown engraved deeply on a circular piece of brass. In the center of the circle, the legion's unit number is marked in Runic. It is awarded for bravery. Most refer to this as "the coin" - and as with the saying, the reception of this achievement is most often posthumous.
- The Sword: This silver ring is worn on the left hand. It is an award for obedience and discipline. To gain the sword one must have never carried demerits over a pay day, nor committed a crime in the legion. Swords are given by the highest ranking officer to all eligible regulars after serving their tour of duty. A legionnaire rarely gains more than one or two swords in a lifetime.
- The Mantle: This is a leather cloak with special markings of rank and resilient trim colors. It is presented to Milities Linari who best represented the ideal legionnaire during their term. Only one mantle is presented to each Legion each year. The cloak is of superior quality (+2) and said to be very lucky to own.
Becoming a Reservist
Any Milities Linari, after a full tour of duty, may opt to become a reservist, serving 9 ten-days a year. To become a reservist, one only has to request it from the local legati or ones commanding officer. Exactly when the reserves are called up differs from fort to fort and outpost to outpost.
Any Milities Linari too injured to remain on duty can be temporarily placed on Reservist pay. This allows them to return home and recuperate until their unit is called. Usually they are called up after the longest amount of delay possible (9 months) and thus may end up serving with people from other manors and villages. This form of reservist service is temporary and after one reservist term of service, they are welcomed back as regular soldiers.
If the Milities Linari still cannot server, he is either mustered out, becomes part of the support personnel, or is forced to pay scutage. If he is popular, he is often transferred to a less-rigorous posting, if possible.
Becoming a Regular Again
While it is rare, occasionally, a Milities Linari Reservists will want to become a Regular. To do this he or she must petition the local Triberties and once again pass the entrance examination.
Unfortunately, the Milities Linari then has to serve a number of years equal to his time as a Reservist, beyond the age of 40, to gain the right to retire with a land grant and citizenship. This is only possible during times of war for, currently, all legionnaires at the age of 40 are forced into retirement.
Promotion
On the rare occasion that a Milities Linari is promoted, it is either to the position of a Milities Fabrica, or a Milities Primus. By tradition, on the night before accepting the honors of rank, a Milities Linari must treat his old Tenacus to a night of entertainment (drinks, girls/boys, games, etc.) at the legion's favorite tavern or any gathering place. Such parties cost around 100d on average.
Retirement
A Milities Linari may retire at the age of 20. Retirees become reservists in the legion. Reservists serve 9 ten-days out of the year in an outpost, or fortification in the vicinity of their home. They are paid 9d for each 10day that they serve. Their pay can be fined in a similar fashion to that of the regular Milities Linari.
If a Milities Linari remains in the legion for a full 20 years (5 terms of four years each), he is eligible for Senatorial Dispensation. This includes an undisclosed parcel of land and a rise in social rank to that of citizen. Often the Milities Linari will receive his parcel of land on an officer's estate, or in some frontier manor.
[Top]
This page was last updated on
March 2, 2002
Questions/Comments should be directed to the Webmaster.
All works are Copyright their respective
authors, 2002.