Cormyrean Military Ranks |
Unit Type Number of Men Composition Squad 12 First Sword leads 10 blades and a Royal Scout Company 28 Swordcaptain leads two squads, a swordmajor, a royal scout, and a guidon (standard-bearer). The company swordmajor fills the same role as a modern American platoon sergeant. Kadrath 92 Lionar leads three companies and has a staff consisting of a guidon, two swordmajors (a drillmaster and a campmaster), two Royal Scouts and two battlepriests. Batallion 289 Ornrion leads three kadrathen and has a staff consisting of a lionar as an executive officer, three orderlies, a guidon, one swordmajor (a quartermaster), three Royal Scouts and three battlepriests. Regiment 600 Constal leads two batallions and has a staff consisting of an ornrion as an executive officer, six orderlies, a guidon, a regimental swordmajor, six Royal Scouts, and six battlepriests. |
Purple Dragon Organization |
Ranks in the Purple Dragons |
Rank Modern American Equivalent Blade Private or corporal First Sword Sergeant or staff sergeant Swordmajor Master Sergeant, gunnery sergeant, sergeant major Swordcaptain Lieutenant Lionar Captain Ornrion Major - Lieutenant Colonel Constal Colonel Oversword Bridier General -Major General (1-2 stars) Battlemaster Lieutenant General - General (3-4 stars) Lord High Marshal* General of the Army (5 star) |
Sources: Ed Greenwood's Article on Purple Dragon Ranks and Titles Military Forces of Cormyr, v1.0 [Annotated] by Jerry Davis of the Forgotten Realms Listserv (All credit for compiling the above tables, in addition to providing a comprehensive exploration of the Cormyrean military, goes to Jerry). |
* Although the Lord High Marshal is indeed a rank, it is also more than just a rank. It is also a specific position within the command structure of the military. There is only one Lord High Marshal at any given time, and he is the commander of all the military forces of Cormyr and is second only to the King in matters of military authority. Since Duke Bhereu's death in 1368 DR (during the Abraxus Incident), this position has been vacant. |
The professional standing army of Cormyr is collectively known as the Purple Dragons, named after the device of the kingdom's heraldcric banner of a Purple Dragon on a black field (which itself is named after the legendary dragon Thaugmagloraus the Black, who ruled the region of modern-day Cormyr before it was ceded to the elves). Widely known for their discipline and bravery under fire, the Purple Dragons are divided into two main branches of service: the Purple Dragons (consisting of all land-bound infantry, cavalry, archers, and the Mounted Airborne), and the Imperial Navy (whose marines are commonly called Blue Dragons). Organizational structure in these units varies, but the organization of infantry units (the most common unit in the army) represents the "basic" structure of the military as a whole. |
Home | Allies | Anthynian's Journal | Dalelands Map | Dialogues | Graveyard | House Rules | Interludes | Magic Items | Members of the Hand of Valor | Seeds of Prophecy | Spells |