Knightly Orders

 

The Empire is home to many knightly orders, some of them new, some very old. There are literally hundreds of orders on record but the majority of them have long ceased to exist, or exist only as purely honorary institutions (being a knight has certain social benefits, so people with money sometimes purchase knightly ranks).

At the end of the 25th century there about two dozen orders that are still militant and sizeable enough to field knights on the battlefield. The heavy cavalry charge is doubtlessly still a powerful battlefield stratagem, but many orders have adapted to the changing times. They dismount to fight, act more like officers and NCO than rank-and-file, and even employ artillery.

Five orders are hands down the largest and most famous. They are listed here:

Notable Templar Orders

The Orders Templar are sworn to a specific deity. Even gods like Morr (why does the god of the dead need knights?) and Taal (a wilderness/rural god) have templar orders dedicated to them. Shallya is about the only major god NOT to have a templar order.

Knights Griffon: Sigmarites. Protects the Grand Theogonist, other high-ranking clergymen, and key temples. Still fields heavy horse. HQ: Nuln (in practice Altdorf)

Knights of the Blazing Sun: Powerful champions of Myrmidia. Still fields heavy horse but typically fight using modern tactics and weapons. HQ: Talabheim.

Knights of the White Wolf: Ferocious warriors of Ulric. Still fields heavy horse. Its heavy foot is among the Empire's finest. HQ: Middenheim.

Notable Secular Orders

Secular does NOT mean godless. The members of Secular Orders will honour most gods in an equal measure. It's just that they don't have a particular patron god.

Knights Panther: Ancient roots. Rose to prominence during the Arabyan Crusades. Dedicated to human purity and the eradication of mutants. In practice this often means crusading in distant lands, seeking glory and treasure. Still fields heavy horse. HQ: Near Carroburg, Middenland. Major chapter houses in Talabheim and Middenheim (the Knights Panther traditionally guard the Elector-Count of Middenland).

The Reiksguard: Bodyguards of the Emperor. Still fields heavy horse. HQ: Altdorf.