Games - The Empire

Home > Listing Index > Games > The Empire (Warhammer)

	Games - The Empire

:For the Empire from The Inheritance Trilogy, see The Empire (Inheritance).

The Empire is one of the political factions and armies of the Warhammer Fantasy
world, heavily based upon the real-world Holy Roman Empire, especially during the Renaissance; there is even a wealthy city-state which bears some similarity to Hamburg, and most of the place and character names are German; for example, the capital of the Empire is the city of Altdorf, which is the name of several real-world places.

The Empire is the largest and most powerful of all the nations of the Old World. The Empire is bordered by the nation of Kislev to the north and the Sea of Claws, the World's Edge Mountains to the east, and the Great Ocean, Black Mountains, and Grey Mountains to the south and west.

The Empire consist of ten large provinces: Nordland, Reikland, Middenland, Talabecland, Ostland, Hochland, Ostermark, Averland, Wissenland and Stirland. Each of these provinces is governed by an Elector Count, whose office is derived from one of twelve chieftains that followed Sigmar. Two of those provinces are now defunct: Drakwald (lands now under the jurisdiction of the Elector Counts of Middenland) and Solland (under the Elector Counts of Wissenland). Another, Westerland, originally incorporated the areas now divided between Nordland and the Marienburg/Wasteland area.

The Empire is nominally ruled by the Emperor. The Emperor is chosen by election of the various electors. The electors are the ten Elector Counts, the Grand Theogonist of the Sigmarite Church, the two Arch Lectors, the High Priest of Ulric and the Elder of the Moot. Karl-Franz, of the Holswig-Schliestein family, is the current Emperor. The Emperor is usually one of the Elector Counts; Karl-Franz is the Elector Count of Reikland.

The religion of the Empire is polytheistic, with the god Sigmar being the most important. Sigmar is exalted, having been a powerful warlord who unified various tribes to form the Empire. The Grand Theogonist is the leader of the Imperial Orthodox Church, which devotes itself entirely to Sigmar, and is analogous to the Pope. Sigmar's worship is strongest in Altdorf but runs throughout the Empire. However, some regions also worship other gods, such as the Middenheimers, who revere Ulric before all others.

The armies of the Empire are amongst the most diverse in the Old World. Older forms of troops like spearmen, swordsmen, archers and crossbowmen fight alongside more 'modern' troops like cannon, Handgunners and Pistoliers (pistol armed warriors on horseback), and even a steam-powered tank. The Empire is also noted for having excellent cavalry in the form of its Knights. Lastly, the Empire also often fields state-trained Battle Wizards and/or religious fanatics such as Warrior Priests and Flagellants. The armies can be led by Elector Counts, Grand Masters of the various Knightly Orders, captains chosen by the Counts, or even the Emperor, Karl Franz, himself.

An interesting side note is that a realm in the province of Stirland, named Sylvania (an obvious homage to Transylvania, the home of the Dracula of legend) has been ruled by a family of vampires for many centuries. These vampires have on more than one occasion attempted to conquer the rest of the Empire, generally at the head of an undead army.

The equivalent of the Empire in the Warhammer 40,000
science fiction setting is the Imperium. However, it should be noted that the Imperium is far more oppressive, bigoted, and violent than its Warhammer Fantasy counterpart.

Battle of Black Fire Pass

The First Battle of Black Fire Pass is the culmination of Sigmar's campaigns to cleanse the lands of the Empire of orcs and goblins, this battle saw the power of the greenskin races broken in the lands of Men, and drove them into the Bad Lands, their current domain. Taking place in the year IC -1, a year before Sigmar's coronation as the first Emperor, this battle is looked upon as Sigmar's greatest victory and the site is now a site of pilgrimage for members of the Sigmarite faith.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for The Empire (Warhammer) ]

Searches on eBay

the empire