The Gran Military Encyclopedia of Oleon

[Keymonus]

Unit name: Breshaun Sapeurs-Pompiers

 Type: Military engineers / Firefighters

Uniform description: dark blue coat with red facings and red epaulettes, dark blue trousers, brass helmet, leather haversack.

Equipment description: usually water buckets, axes, ropes and ladders. In Breshaun, horse-drawn fire engines, equipped with a short leather hose, are available too.

Recruitment centre: Breshaun and Eltina.

Unit history and description: Almost a century after the first wave of colonisation of the islands “behind the line” (the ones West of Terraversa), Breshaun has become a large city, with thousands of inhabitants and several hundreds of buildings. Therefore, the tasks of preventing and fighting the city fires can no longer rely only on improvised watches of citizens.
Breshaun was the first city in the New World to raise a professional fire brigade: these men are organised as small military units, with officers, uniforms and a specific training. In case of fire, the Sapeurs-Pompiers will try to fight it with water buckets and to circumscribe it, even demolishing nearby buildings: if a whole neighbourhood starts burning, there isn’t much more to do than watching it burn.

In Breshaun, the Sapeurs-Pompiers can also rely on a new innovation, the horse-drawn fire-engines. Those wagons carry a large water keg, an hand pump and a leather hose. Although they are quite effective in the optimal conditions, the fire-engines are slow and are limited by short hoses… however, they are rightfully considered a technological wonder!

Campaigns: Not properly a military unit. Firefighting duties in Breshaun and Eltina.

Motto: Toujours prêt!
(Always ready!)

Little historical note (IRL): I always build  later in our time frame, especially when I build in the Western and more “civilised” settlements. Here we are almost at the border of our time frame for some aspects, but surprisingly inside for others:

-public firefighters, organised as we know them, date back to early 1700s). They became common only later (with huge differences in different countries), coexisting for 150 years with private companies and volunteer units.

-the fire-fighting pumps, with my surprise, date back to late 1500s. They were, however, limited by the short hose, the local availability of water, and the slow speed.

-the uniforms are a little too modern. The brass helmets were invented around 1820, so at the very end of our time frame.

Edited June 2, 2022 by Keymonus

[Fraunces]

Beautiful! Lovely and realistic.

[Ross Fisher]

Unit name: The Sisters of Our Lady of Artemis (Sisters of Artemis, "Nunter-Killers")

Type: Light Infantry / Commando

Uniform description: Green nun's habit with a white wimple

Equipment description: Compound bow, arrows, daggers

Recruitment centre: Fatu Hiva, other similar convents can be found on the mainland.

Unit history: 
The Convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Artemis on Fatu Hiva was established by Padre François in 618, in response to the crisis suffered by the island in that year. 
The founding cohort of sisters was raised from similar convents on the mainland. They then set about recruiting and training additional converts to the religion from the surrounding islands. 
In 621 Fatu Hiva was invaded by Corrington and the Sisters, who were as yet unprepared to resist militarily, were overwhelmed by WTC marines. They ran a partisan guerilla campaign, but were unable to overturn the WTC military occupation. 
When it was lifted, the Sisters vowed to reorganise into a true military unit, and ensure they could better resist any future attack. They now operate as a specialised light infantry commando; effectively eliminating high-value targets in silence, and with no tell-tale gunpowder smoke. Thanks to their guerilla experience, they are also fully capable of living off the land, operating behind enemy lines, and otherwise working independently from military command structures. 

Campaigns:
The invasion of Fatu Hiva (as partisans)

The Lotii War

Motto:
Ad venatio

Note: These troops are not the same as the Huntress troops. Those are an elite version of this unit, typically operating individually.

Edited August 21, 2023 by Ross Fisher

[Ross Fisher]

Unit name: Tyree'dee Warriors

Type: Light infantry / native militia

Uniform description: Fibre skirts, tribal tattoos, jade or seashell jewellery

Equipment description: Obsolete matchlocks

Recruitment centre: Fort Arltrees, Jiankai, El Oleonda

Unit history:

A formal unit was established by Bishop François as part of the response to Lotii incursions into El Oleonda. The Bishop had previously fought alongside these warriors (under their own organisational structures) during the battle for Fort Arltrees, and was instrumental in recruiting them thanks to his understanding of Tyree'dee religious structures and liaison with fishing communities. 

Campaigns:

The Battle for Fort Arltrees

The Lotii War

Motto:

None

Edited December 16, 2022 by Ross Fisher

[Jeff of Clubs]

Unit Name: 4e Regiment de Triallieur Dionysian (4th Colonial Infantry, Island of Dionysus)

Unit type: Militia

Uniform: The black jodhpurs, Fleur du Lis tunic, and black neckerchief as used by many colonial militias. In the sweltering heat of the New Haven Sea, morion helms have been discarded in favor of a locally manufactured, felt bicorne with a magenta cockade, the color itself associated with military units raised on the island. As it is a local militia, most men report to duty in their personal clothing woth only their kit, tunics and hats to distinguishing their responsibilities.

Recruitment Centre: Neuvou Oleandia

Unit History: In the spring of 622AE, the mighty Lotus Empire reinitiated its conflict with the small seafaring nation of Carno. By virtue of a number of defensive treaties signed with the Carnites, Gran Oleon was drawn into the conflict almost immediately. This rushed a declaration of war upon the Lotii and turned Oleon's furthest colony, the island of Dionysus, into a massive military liability by any metric.

One thing that was playing into the settlement's fortunes, was the famous annual festival held in Neuvou Oleandia, the spring of each year. By cancelling all furloughs, the fledgling Provisional Command No. 1 was able to draw upon a handful of veteran campaigners. The soldiers ran the gambit of ranks and comissions. 

Though no more than an undersupplied militia company, this unit is the only permanent formation raised on the island. It is headquartered in the city of Neuvou Oleandia and charged with the enforcement of the King's laws and the defense of the island.

...

Credits to Khorne, Merc, and Keymonus for the parent unit concepts as can be found earlier in the topic.

Edited February 3 by Jeff of Clubs

[Keymonus]

Unit name: Jiangkai tirailleurs

Type: Light infantry/ tirailleurs

Uniform description: Dark blue single-breasted jacket, dark blue trousers, straw conical hat (wide-brimmed hat for the officers), brown leather backpack

Equipment description: standard infantry musket, dao or sabre, flintlock pistol (for officers)

Recruitment center: Jiangkai

Unit history: the tirailleurs were recruited immediately after Oleon had annexed Jiangkai, mostly from former Lotii soldiers and deserters. While undoubtedly loyal, the unit was considered not completely reliable in a war against the Lotus Empire, and was considered more suitable for law enforcement than for combat.

Things changed after the Lotii raid of Jiangkai in 622: the brutality of their former countrymen shocked most of the inhabitants, who still considered themselves as Lotii in the Oleon Empire.

The tirailleurs now will fight for honour and revenge against all the enemies of the Empire of Light. Betrayed by the ones they still considered brothers, they will repay them with the finest Oleander lead!

Campaigns: Lotii raid on Jiangkai (evacuation of civilians)

Motto: Ignis gladium excudit! (The sword is forged in fire)

 

Edited February 27, 2023 by Keymonus

[Keymonus]

 

[Jeff of Clubs]

Unit Name: Corps de Transmissions 

Unit Type: Support and Logistics

Fig.1: Enlisted men and an officer, second from left.

The lettered men of the Oleonese signal corps must all pass vigorous literacy and mathematic exams in order to join. 

Uniform: As they draw from the same depots as the infantry, the only defining characteristics of the Corps' uniform are the yellow epaulettes and bicorne, harkening back to the early nature of its founding.

Recruitment Centers: Members of the signal corps are very numerous but spread hither and yonder. The largest concentration of signalmen is one of their academies in Breshawn, Nola Mar, and Gran Oleon herself.

Fig.2: Troops of the Corps de Transmissions man a semaphore telegraph station.

Equipment: Their weapons are the ink and the pen. They are charged with communications across the Empire and all its various Service Branches.

The King's Own Grapevine

[Keymonus]

Astrapi Wolves - 2eme compagnie chasseurs coloniaux de Astrapi

 

At the border between the Terraversa Sea and the Sea of Thieves, Ile the Zeus is one of the Jewels of Oleon Empire. Before the imperial adventure on Terraversa and the colonisation of Blueton, Astrapi was the first Oleander settlement beyond the Line, and the only one a ship could reach with a direct journey from Breshaun.
Thanks to its geographic position and to the presence of strategic resources (wood, silver and gunpowder industry), the settlement of Astrapi has become a rich and important settlement.

To defend Astrapi from the enemies of the Empire, and to protect the silver extracted in the inland, a new company of chasseurs was raised in the settlement.

 

The Astrapi Wolves, formally the 2eme compagnie chasseurs coloniaux de Astrapi, are trained and equipped for the thick woods of Ile de Zeus. These soldiers wear a simple beret instead of the elegant but bulky shako hat, and are equipped with tomahawk and machetes: for sure they don’t look like the King’s Guards back in Granoleon, but they are what the Empire needs in this far corner of the map.

 

Due to a weird combination of warm winds and cold currents, Ile the Zeus is often shrouded by a thick fog. Therefore, the chasseurs are often accompanied in their patrols by large hounds, particularly useful to track brigands or runaway criminals.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 1, 2023 by Keymonus

[Khorne]

Dura Lex, Sed Lex

 

A LOOK at OLEON'S PEACEKEEPERS

 

 

I. la Force Publique

Captain (l.) and sergent-de-ville (r.)

 

Unit name: la Force Publique

Type: Urban police, public safety, crime fighting and investigation

Uniform description: A dark blue bicorne - often worn by militia or rear echelon troops (in contrast to the more impressive shako or tricorne for main line units), decorated with roundel, and a simple scarcely decorated dark blue uniform: single-breasted for troopers, which is somewhat more elaborate and double-breasted for officers. 

Equipment description: As they are not a true military force, members of la Force Publique seldom carry firearms. Their primary weapon is usually a billy club or a saber for officers.

Recruitment center: Large urban centers

Unit history and description: 

La Force Publique - the Public Force, is basically Oléon's local police and keeps the peace in major Oléonese cities. Only large cities house brigades of the Force, while smaller villages, hamlets or colonies outside of Oléon proper rely on militia, posses or the army for their public security. The Force originates in the amalgamation of a myriad of independently raised city watches, units of thief catchers and militant semi-religious orders who stood in for the protection and safety of a city's populace and surrounding hinterland. As the King and his central authority tightened their hold on the power of lords and cities and chipped away at feudal privileges, the independent organisations were abolished and its personnel was folded into a new force, under the direct control and authority of the administration of the King. This new public force would now answer to the département of the Defense of the Realm instead of a mayor, lord or local noble. Each companie of la Force stationed in a city or province is headed by a Prévôte - or Provost, chosen by the King's hand.

The Public Force mostly deals with petty crimes and keeping the cities safe at night. When larger threats are identified beyond the scope the Force can handle, they call in either the newly-raised Gendarmerie or the army.

Members of the Force Publique are paid relatively handsomely, but in order to join you must have a clean criminal record. They are trained in basic drill exercises and in time of need can be drafted into the military, even though la Force Publique falls under the authority of the Defense of the Realm and not of the War Council. They are, however, not up to par with a regular Oléonese soldier and only have value as meatshields on the battlefield. Instances in which they have actually fought on the battlefield are scarce and extremely rare.

As most of the middle class or lower upper class own horses and are able to buy commissions, many of them join the Dragoons or other cavalry units in the army. As such, the ranks of la Force Publique are mostly filled with lower middle class men and those of the working class, resulting in a reputation that sometimes leaves to be desired ...

Motto: "Protéger et servir"

More about the unit:

 

---

 

II. la Gendarmerie Royale

Captain (l., mounted) and trooper (r., dismounted) - both are wearing the secondary, less elaborate Gendarmerie uniform and peaked cap with badge often worn in the New World

 

Unit name: la Gendarmerie Royale

Type: Dragoons (mounted paramilitary infantry), counterinsurgency, policing

Uniform description: While normally outfitted in the same uniform as other dragoons, troopers of the Gendarmerie often choose to wear their informal working or encampment uniforms when posted in the New World. It allows for easier movement through the jungle and the cap is lighter to wear and easier to stow away when not needed. However, they are only allowed to wear this while out on campaign and should always wear the standard uniform when on active duty in a city or when posted in Oléon proper. 

As they are a mounted unit, they wear tall black jackboots suited for riding, and white trousers.

Equipment description: The Gendarmerie is equipped like regular dragoons, with a carbine, a saber and a pistol. In the New World, the saber is sometimes foregone for a machete.

Recruitment center: Currently a merger of existing units, but new members can be recruited in larger cities such as Granoléon, Breshaun or Nola Mar.

Unit history and description:

Dragoons have historically been the heavy-hitting arm of Oléon's judiciary enforcers. Where the watchmen of old or the newer Force Publique fail, the army steps in - usually in the form of a detachment of mobile dragoons, to quell any unrest. The Force Publique has always stood stronger in the cities, but lacks the necessary mobility to cover the roads and forests outside the urban areas, leaving it open to brigands and highwaymen. This, coupled with the need for a more permanent hard-hitting police force and to alleviate the army of its policing duties in the more far-flung colonies and reaches of the empire, has urged the interior department of the Royal Administration to merge together some sub-strength dragoon units into a new formation: la Gendarmerie Royale. Pulled away from the command of the War Council, this now paramilitary mounted force no longer fights on the frontlines, but finds itself securing the rear areas of Oléon's territories and protecting the populace from any threat. Next to their usual training as a dragoon, members of the Gendarmerie are also drilled extra in urban combat and light infantry exercises, coupled with asymmetric fighting in order to deal with their non-military adversaries better.

As its roots lay in the military, the Gendarmerie is drenched in military traditions and outlook, very much more so than its sister organisation, the Force Publique - which has a civilian origin. While they are usually quite capable of keeping the peace and doing their job, they also have a fiendish reputation of sometimes responding to threats in an exaggerated militaristic and violent fashion. One tale has it, that in search of rebels in some far-flung colony in the New World, they burned down large swathes of jungle in order to capture their target. Another story tells of the Gendarmerie raiding a house in Granoléon's pauper's district in search of a criminal which led to excessive collateral damage, both in materials and local lives lost due to brute force and intimidation.

Members of the Gendarmerie are usually staunch royalists and utmost loyal to the King, more so than is usually the case in the army. Because of their role in keeping the lands free of unwanted elements, they are sometimes referred to as the "King's Gardeners", rooting out any weeds.

Unlike la Force Publique, the Gendarmerie has no inspectors of its own to investigate crime and is usually brought in on behest of the Force or an agent of other interior departments concerned with security.

Campaigns: The War in El Oleonda

Motto: "Lex Paciferat" - The Law will bring Peace

More about the unit:

 

[Ross Fisher]

Unit name: Huntresses of Artemis

Type: Light infantry/Scouts/Assassins

Uniform description: A dark green habit, hood and scarf. Sometimes facepaint and other camouflaging. 

Equipment description: Compound bow and poisoned arrows.

Recruitment centre: Fatu Hiva, other centres in Mainland Oleon.

Unit history: Huntresses are among the highest ranking clergy of Artemis. However, as members of a niche cult, there are few of them active.

Until recently, the only active member of this priesthood is the unnamed sister who provided assistance to Oleon in their Travels to Terraversa.

While Huntresses typically operate as individuals, they can work together when significant threats emerge. 

Campaigns:

The Terraversa Campaign (as advisors)

The El Oleonda Campaign

Motto: Pro Venatio

Edited August 21, 2023 by Ross Fisher

[Keymonus]

Jiangkai, February 623

As new colonies are established more and more eastward, and the frontier of the Empire gets farther and farther from the motherland, the local recruitment of high-quality troops has become a paramount.

Officers born in the colonies and trained in Breshaun military schools lead to the victory men who have never been in the motherland, for a king they’ll only see on coins and medals.

 

In Jiangkai, this resulted in the recruitment of both line infantry and auxiliary light infantry: units equipped and trained according to Oleander military doctrines, but mostly made up of citizens of Lotii descent.

On the same line, a unit of chasseurs was raised in the settlement. Despite the inclusion of some Lotii elements in the uniform, these skilled marksmen are equipped and trained as the other metropolitan or colonial light infantry units.

Differently from the tirailleurs, the  chasseurs know how to fight in a battle line, but they are far more effective in open formations: their role on the battlefield is not to face the enemy in a tight formation, but to aggressively pursue and flank him, shooting without fail with the lethal Charleville rifled carabines!

 

 

Edited October 1, 2023 by Keymonus

[Keymonus]

I have done some long-due updates to our Military Encyclopedia. More will follow in the next few days. Thank you all for your great contributions, you are really giving a unique shape to our armed forces

[Jeff of Clubs]

Unit Name: 17eme Batterie de l'Armée

Unit Type: Foot Artillery

Uniform Description: Bicorne hat, blue shellcoat and trousers.

Equipment: Eight gun battery of Six-Oleonic-Pound Fieldguns. As a rule, artillerymen do not carry firearms. The sheer volume of black powder that they work with carries a high risk of accidental detonations. They rely on short pikes and sabres for personal defense.

Recruitment Center: Fort Arletrees

Campaigns: The Seawatch Campaign, Francois' March

Motto: "Dimittite Eam" - Send It

...

Love the recent editing work you've done, @Keymonus and I'm more than a little flattered at the use of some of the photos at the top. Thank you!

 

Edited February 13 by Jeff of Clubs

[Keymonus]

On 12/14/2023 at 5:34 PM, Jeff of Clubs said:

Love the recent editing work you've done, @Keymonus and I'm more than a little flattered at the use of some of the photos at the top. Thank you!

I'm starting to update again this little project, considering the variety of new units added (transmission corps, gendarmerie, regular police) I hadn't thought about! Your photos for sure deserved it, even if I couldn't properly position your posts in the index... I'll also add somewhere a reference to a couple of @Ross Fisher's entries (cavalry classes and navy uniforms) I couldn't index properly, but which shouldn't definitely be lost!

[Keymonus]

Unit name: Legion de Mardierennes, 1ere Terraversan Regiment

Type: Line infantry

Uniform description: Blue coat with white facings and white leather collar. Yellow trousers and tricorn with yellow plumes. Commanding officers wear a dark blue coat with gold facings, yellow trousers, a yellow cloak, and a morion helmet with elaborate plumings. The commander's guards are equipped as heavy cavalry, and wear a cuirass over a dark blue coat. 

Equipment description: Standard issue musket for the infantry. Heavy cavalry sword and wheellock pistol for the commander's guards.

Recruitment center: All the territory of Terraversa under Oleonese control, even if recruits from Nola Mar (already trained before the war by Oleonese advisors) are often drafted into regular army units.

Unit history and description: 

When Mardier lost most of its Empire, during the Catastrophe of 617, many Mardierians sought refugee in the nearby Oleonese settlements: notables and merchants, but also commoners, who preferred to leave their homes than live under the Eslandolan occupiers or, even worse, the new tyrant of Terraversa, the rebel Archduke Miro Oldis. Among them, hundreds of soldiers and officers, from garrisons and units that had ceased to exist.

In 620, a first company of expatriates was formed in Breshaun with veterans of the Mardierian colonial wars: the Mardierian Legion was born. In the following years, many more Mardierian and Terraveran recruits enlisted in the Oleonese army, and the Mardierian Legion became a usual presence in the Grande Armee of Oleon. During the Second Terraversan War, the Legion fought bravely in the Battle of King's Port, reaching the Archduke's Palace among the first vanguards.

Soon after the war, a new regiment of the Legion was created on the island, with the Loyalist militias and other Terraversan volunteers being trained and organized by Oleonese military advisors. At the same time, the former Terraversan officer corps -which had largely deserted to the Loyalists- was similarly reorganized, according to the Oleonese military doctrines.

The Terraversan Regiment of the Mardierian Legion is now ready to fight for the glory of the Empire of Light and -if the time will come- to finally overthrow the hated tyrant, and reunite all the island under the same banner!

Campaigns: Second Terraversan War (not as an organized unit)

Motto: 

Credit to @Ross Fisher for the picture and the idea.