The Flag of the Dual Republic

The Democratic Republic of Favonia-Hesperia

At the time of the Union of the Two Kingdoms, Favonia was a landlocked country with no navy but a strong army. The Hesperian Navy was maintained as it had been, later to be enlarged when the cities of Aximes and Xifteris were annexed (which only reinforced its Greek character). The Hesperian Army was whittled down and incorporated into the Favonian Army as the Legio graeca. After the founding of the Republic, conscription was introduced and as a matter of course, Favonian-speakers were inducted into the Army and Greek-speakers into the Navy. Metics were now allowed to enlist in the "Greek Legion," and soon outnumbered the remaining Greeks. The Republic finally recognized this by renaming it the "Foreign Legion" and making Latin the language of command, as in the rest of the Army.

All able-bodied men are obliged to one year of military service at the age of majority, 20 years old, when they first assume the rights and duties of citizenship. (It is legally permissible to refuse this duty, but at the cost of citizenship. Few choose to do so.) Thereafter they spend nine years in the first-line reserves and twenty years in the second-line reserves, serving 15-16 days of active duty each year. It is possible to enlist in the service voluntarily at the ages of 15-19, for a period of two years, with higher pay and the freedom to choose one's branch of service and unit. Likewise, enlistees and conscripts may re-enlist for various lengths of time and for similar benefits: this is how career NCOs are typically recruited. Enlistment in the Legio externa is for five years, then fifteen in the first-line reserves.

The Army comprises nine corps (not counting the air corps and Legio externa), which are raised from particular areas: I Corps, Pysame and Fenakteron; II Corps, Tabernarum; III Corps, Fresnum; IV Corps, Fetratus; V Corps, Urbinova; VI Corps, Muronum; VII Corps, Castraparva; VIII Corps, Uxidium; IX Corps, Lacustrinum and Hesperia. These are organized into three armies: 1st Army (I-III Corps) in the northwest, 2nd Army (IV-V Corps) in the north, 3rd Army (VI-VIII Corps) in the northeast. In peacetime, the Army is primarily responsible for patrolling the border to prevent illegal entry. Each Army has an attached Aerial Command. IX Corps, the Legio and the Central Air Wing are the nucleus of the country's strategic reserve.

The modern system of divisions and corps, products of a republican army composed by levy-in-mass, was superimposed on the old monarchist system of regiments that itself evolved over centuries and superimposed tradition upon tradition. Thus, various regiments retained their particular identities, defined by their original, but now outmoded, arms, and numbered accordingly. The Peditatus, or infantry, regiments include such units as the Musketeers, Grenadiers, Fusiliers, etc. The Equitatus, or cavalry, regiments include such units as the Lancers, Hussars, Dragoons, etc.

All these ancient regiments have retained their continuity, but with the foundation of the republic and the expansion of the army, new regiments were formed, and together with the old ones were folded into the larger organizations. Regular infantry regiments are now denominated simply Pedites or Rifles -- there seems to be no rhyme or reason to it -- plus the name of the city or province of their provenance: e.g. Pedites Lacustrini Primi, 1st Lacustrinum Foot regiment. But there are also specialist regiments such as the Venatores (scouts and raiders) and Montanarii (mountain troops). All the obsolescent cavalry regiments have been folded together into Equites Divisions 1-2, which have been experimenting with newfangled armored vehicles.

The uniform is grey-green. The branch-of-service insignia (crossed rifles for infantry, crossed cannon-barrels for artillery, etc.) are on the front of the kepi or helmet. The tunic has a standing collar with the legend "F-H" on the left and the regimental designation (e.g. "1LE," 1st Legionary Regiment) on the right. Rank is designated by the number and size of silver stripes: on the cuff for privates and NCOs, on the shoulder for officers, and on the epaulets for generals. Boots are knee-high and trappings are of brown leather. The standard rifle is an 8 mm bolt-action with an 8-round detachable box magazine; the standard sidearm, a 12 mm 6-round revolver.

The ancient Roman salute -- straight right arm extended with open palm -- is still used, as is the ancient Roman war-cry "eia, eia, alala!" Each regiment has an eagle-topped standard with its designation and battle-honors.

The southeastern border is the bailiwick of the Navy and the pezonauteV (Marines). The Navy comprises three fleets: the 1st Fleet is raised from the provinces of Argentiferix, Angurax, and Enyges; the 2nd, from Pysame, Fenakteron, Morfidax, and Glyme; the 3rd, from Aximes, Xifteris, Uxidium, and Lacustrinum. The peacetime role of the Navy is primarily to patrol the coasts, to prevent illegal entry and to provide aid to civilian ships and seamen as necessary. The naval and marine uniform is blue-green; rank-markings are parallel to those of the Army.

Tables of Ranks, Armed Forces of Favonia-Hesperia

© 2003 by Karl Jahn

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