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Military Rank
Valyria uses a standard military ranking scheme across all of its duchies for congruence and order on the field and chain of command. Valyrian military rank has its own hierarchy, but it is also influenced by and is juxtaposed with Valyrian social classes. Social class and military rank are not the same thing, but because of the feudal nature of the class structure, a high ranking social class prevents one from being of a low military rank, and vice versa. In short, Valyrian gentry and nobility take officer ranks, while Valyrian freemenn and bondsmenn take the enlisted ranks. However, aside from this great divide in the ranks, there is still room for variability within the enlisted and officer ranks themselves, and noble title, with the exception of the ducal title, does not guarantee the highest officer rank.
The enlisted ranks are based on a three tiered structure. Valyria uses various Latin terms for uniformity of rank identification between its various duchies, and also irrespective of the role or particular fighting style of a soldier. The ranking is based on quality of owned equipment, experience, and completion of in-game skill training, and if paying soldiers is feasible, then there will be a difference in pay grade. The third enlisted "rank" represents a fully trained and equipped soldier, designated some form of "sergeant." Therefore, although individual soldiers will spend most of their careers at the second rank, ultimately most soldiers in a company or the retinue of a knight will be sergeants.
Valyrian Enlisted Ranks
Enlisted ranks are assigned to free soldiers and sworn soldiers of the colonus class (called serjeants by fealty).
Valyrian Latin Generic Melee Missile Naval Artillery Cavalry
Pedes Footmann Bowmann Seamann Matross N/A
Miles Mann-at-arms Archer Marine Bombardier N/A
Serviens Sergeant Archer Sergeant Marine Sergeant Battery Sergeant Hobelar Sergeant
Individual sergeants may be selected for special appointments, such as provider of supplies or even as representatives of the enlisted men to the leader of a retinue or a company. Being fully trained and equipped is only a qualification, and not a guarantee of selection for these enlisted appointments. Warrant Officers are sergeants who have been appointed to make use of a special skill. In their case, the warrant operates like a contract.
Leadership Sergeant Role Melee Missile Naval Artillery Cavalry
3IC of a Retinue First Sergeant Ventenar Midshipmann Gynour Corporal of Horse*
Adjutant to a Captain Sergeant Major Centenar Master's Mate Battery Sgt. Major Staff Corporal**
Adjutant to a Colonel Rgmt. Sgt. Mjr. Millenar N/A N/A N/A
Adjutant to the Capt. Gnl. Sgt. Mjr. General N/A N/A N/A N/A
Guardian of an Ensign Color Sergeant ———————————————————————————————————————
* The Corporal of Horse is third in command of a lance, not a retinue.
** The Staff Corporal is a solitary position for each regiment, acting essentially as sergeant major to the cavalry squadron, never a company.
Warrant Officer Sergeant Roles (Examples)
Instructor of Troops Drill Sergeant ———————————————————————————————————————–
Manager of Supplies Quartermaster Sergeant (Storemann) ————————————————————————————
Maintainer of Horses Farrier Sergeant ——————————————————————————————————————–
Maintainer of Ship's Rigging Boatswain —————————————————————————————————————————–
Pilot of a Ship Shipmaster ——————————————————————————————————-
Valyrian Officer Ranks
Because of the feudal nature of Valyrian society, officer ranks are only for people of the gentry class or higher. The Valyrian term for gentry is equites, meaning those of "horse-rank", therefore it is a cultural imperative that the highest ranking warriors of the Valyrian Army are trained cavalrymen. Chivalry is not just a matter of courtly etiquette, but of class-based military training for officers. Missile and artillery designations only exist for enlisted level troops, and there are not officer level archers or artillerists. Archer and artillery units attach to retinues and companies under feudal knights, barons, or dukes, who serve as their officers. Former archer sergeants can find employment as rangers, however, and often technically proficient battery sergeants can find employment in sinecure yeomann posts such as "Master Engineer".
Naval officer positions do exist, but they are limited by the size of the berth. For a "captain" of a ship to hold a commissioned captain rank equivalent to company captains requires a ship that can support a comparable number of men. The commanding officers of smaller vessels are called "skippers" instead.
Cavalry Commission Unit Size Naval Commission Allowable Social Class
Cadet N/A Cadet Esquire, Gentlemann
Cornet Flag&Color Sgts. Ensign Gentlemann, Esquire, Knight Bachelor, Baronet-at-court, Prince
Cavalier (Subaltern) Solitary/Retinue Second Mate/Skipper Gentlemann, Esquire, Knight, Knight Bachelor, Baronet, Prince, Burgess (Naval Only)
Lieutenant 2IC of Company First (Captain's) Mate Gentlemann, Esquire, Knight, Knight Bachelor, Baronet, Prince, Burgess (Naval Only)
Captain Company/Ship Captain Baron, Knight Banneret, Baronet, Count, Prince, Burgess or Esquire (Naval Only)
Constable (Lt. Col.) 2IC of Regiment Commodore Baron, Knight Banneret, Baronet, Count, Prince, Burgess (Naval Only)
Colonel Regiment/Fleet Admiral Duke, Baron (Naval Only), Banneret (Naval Only), Count (Naval Only), Prince
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