![[factions_banner.webp]]
`Sep. 22, 2025` · [[Horseapple]] · #Fragment #Factions #Bannerlord
> [!quote-custom]+ [[3-heroes-(Bannerlord)]]
> “The northern third of the Empire is ruled by Lucon, who represents a long-standing oligarchic trend in imperial politics. It holds that strict adherence to imperial law is the best guarantee that the empire will not become a tyranny. Oligarchs like Lucon also tend to believe that only landowners can have the extensive education, experience in government, and stake in property to really understand and appreciate the law, and thus the Senate should be supreme.” **~ TaleWorlds**
![[northern-empire-banner.webp|left|150]]**Who are they, What do they believe, and Why?** Centuries ago, when the Calradian Empire was the Calradic Republic, the oldest families of the Empire first moved to where the Northern Empire is today. They arrived as marcher lords (ie. nobles stationed as border guards). They were also members of the Senate, and were granted vast tracts of land: Large slices of drained marshes, dried floodplains with wheat fields, and deforested hillside pastures. All this from their colleagues in the Senate in return for protecting the frontier. These families were protecting the border from the “pacified” northern tribes: the Battanians, Sturgians, and Khuzait. But then the Calradic Republic became the Calradian Empire, and its emperors became more and more dependent on money and lands to reward its soldiers. And so the families of the north began to fear that their land would some day be seized by some tyrannical emperor. [^5]
> [!tip-custom]- Clans
> | <br>**Clan**<br>**Banner** | [![[osticos-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Osticos.md) | [![[argoros-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Argoros.md) | [![[neretzes-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Neretzes.md) | [![[impestores-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Impestores.md) | [![[dolentos-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Dolentos.md) | [![[Phalentes-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Phalentes.md) | [![[Vatatzes-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Vatatzes.md) | [![[Chonis-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Chonis.md) | [![[Serapides-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Serapides.md) |
| :------------------------: | :----------------------------------------------: | :----------------------------------------------: | :------------------------------------------------: | :----------------------------------------------------: | :------------------------------------------------: | :--------------------------------------------------: | :------------------------------------------------: | :--------------------------------------------: | :--------------------------------------------------: |
| **Name** | [[Osticos]] | [[Argoros]] | [[Neretzes]] | [[Impestores]] | [[Dolentos]] | [[Phalentes]] | [[Vatatzes]] | [[Chonis]] | [[Serapides]] |
| **Tier** | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| **Leader** | [[Lucon]] | [[Manteos]] | [[Penton]] | [[Encurion]] | [[Gyphor]] | [[Tasynor]] | [[Maritzios]] | [[Nicasor]] | [[Porphalios]] |
| **Wealth** | 7616 | 4602 | 6261 | 1731 | 4715 | 1810 | 939 | 1140 | 1414 |
> [!tip-custom]- Settlements
> | **Banner** | **Name** | **Town(s)** | **Castle(s)** | **Villages** |
| :---------------------------------------------------: | :------------: | :---------------: | :------------------------------: | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------: |
| [![[osticos-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Osticos.md) | [[Osticos]] | Diathma · Argoron | Atrion-castle · Mecalovea-Castle | Agalmon · Alatys · Alosea · Atrion · Hetania · Jeracos · Masangara · Mecalovea |
| [![[argoros-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Argoros.md) | [[Argoron]] | Epicrotea | Ataconia-Castle | Ataconia · Gymos · Marathea · Potamis · Stathymos |
| [![[neretzes-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Neretzes.md) | [[Neretzes]] | Saneopa | Varagos-Castle · Gaos-Castle | Aeoria · Crios · Enoisa · Gaos · Themys · Varagos |
| [![[impestores-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Impestores.md) | [[Impestores]] | Amprela | *none* | Avasinton · Boreagora |
| [![[dolentos-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Dolentos.md) | [[Dolentos]] | Myzea | *none* | Orthra · Samatha · Vealos |
| [![[Phalentes-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Phalentes.md) | [[Phalentes]] | *none* | Epinosa-Castle | Epinosa · Pons |
| [![[Vatatzes-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Vatatzes.md) | [[Vatatzes]] | *none* | Syratos-Castle | Syatros · Tememos |
| [![[Chonis-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Chonis.md) | [[Chonis]] | *none* | Lochana-Castle | Lochana · Nortanisa |
| [![[Serapides-clan-banner.webp\|50]]](Serapides.md) | [[Serapides]] | *none* | Rhesos-Castle | Dyopalis · Rhesos |
The Northern Empire believes that a strict obedience to law guarantees the Calradian Empire won’t become tyrannical. Lucon and others claim it’s only landowners with their educations, experience in government, and stake in property who can truly understand and appreciate law. Now in 1084, during yet another imperial civil war, the northern families have united around Lucon Osticos. An honorable - *if stiff-necked* - aristocrat whose said a Senate of established property-holders should be the supreme authority in the Empire, and the emperor as its servant. [^1] [^5] [^2]
Lucon aims to re-establish old Calradic law, and turn the Empire back to how it should be. “The Senate chooses the next Emperor.” That’s been a rule for centuries, believes Lucon. A rule found unchanged in the majesty of old imperial law. But this rule has gone unnoticed for sometime. It has either been twisted, broken, or ignored for the last 100 years. Since 984. Back then, Emperors had stopped going before the Senate. Instead, they began naming the Empire’s heirs themselves. The Senate was weak at the time, forced to acquiesce, as the Empire was on the verge of splitting itself apart. But yet, the Senate never actually overturned Calradic law. And according to Lucon, even if the Senate wished to, they wouldn’t even have the right to do so… It was the Heavens bestowment which placed upon them this sacred duty and ancient right to choose and dismiss emperors. And so this holy mission, written into law, remains. But continuing as they are, without law… Without fealty to the written word… There is only tyranny and rule of the mob. How does he know? Because in the past 100 years, since the old Calradic laws stopped being enforced, what has occurred time-and-time-again? Bad emperors — few admittedly good ones, but also some absolute lunatics. It’s Lucon’s firm belief that a strong Senate can pull the Calradian Empire back from the brink. [^6] [^7]
Overview of Lucon’s / Northern Empire’s philosophy:
- No — Women cannot join the Senate.
- No — Soldiers should not be given pensions by the Empire.
- No — Foreigners cannot become citizens.
- No — Slaves cannot buy their freedom.
- Yes — The Senate chooses the next emperor. [^7]
**How does their economy and military work?** The Northern Empire’s economy offers a *great* amount of: cattle, fish, silk, and grain. The north also has a *decent* amount of: hardwood, horses, iron, and silver — but only a *little* amount of: sheep.
See list below counting villages, from the `Cultures > Economy` fragment.
> [!tip-custom]- Northern Empire Economy
> | **Cattle** | **Fish** | **Silk** | **Grain** | Hardwood | Horses | Iron | Silver | *Sheep* |
| :--------: | :------: | :----------: | :-------: | :------: | :----: | :--: | :----: | :-----: |
| 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Finally, when it comes to the soldiery-makeup of the military, I decided for the Calradian Empire and its different inner factions to differentiate them through focuses. And so for the Northern Empire, their armies are made up primarily of three main troop types:
1. `Imperial Infantrymen` (skirmishers): “The core of the empire's armies are its professional infantry and heavy cataphracts, but today's hard-pressed imperial commanders will usually bring along a sizeable force of volunteer auxiliaries to pad out the numbers. They're expected to stay out of melee, flank the enemy and pelt them with javelins.” [^8]
2. `Imperial Bucellarii` *“Raiders”* (horsearchers): “Literally called the Raiders, these cavalry excel at hit and run tactics. Being excellent riders, they are usually serve as army scouts. On the battlefield, they are positioned on the flanks and are expected to screen friendlies or outflank enemies. Other times, they are ordered to hunt down routers and chase the enemy light cavalry, who are too fast for the cataphracts.” [^8]
3. `Imperial Cataphract` (horsemen): “Gone is the dominance of the legionary. These days, when one thinks of imperial shock troops, one pictures the famed cataphracts, armored from head to toe in the best steel the Empire's forges can forge. Maintained as full-time soldiers at the palace's expense, these professional cavaliers have nothing else to do but train with lances, composite recurve bows, swords and axes.” [^8]
**When did this faction begin?** It is currently impossible to know the exact date of when the Imperial Civil War began and the Northern Empire seceded from the Calradian Heartlands. However, we can certainly make an educated-guess. Mine is that this current imperial civil war, and Arenicos’ tragic poisoning, started in 1082 in May of Late Spring
As for my rationale… *well uh*, the “Travels in Calradia” by Asaios in the DLC to Bannerlord is recounted just before Arenicos’ assassination and carries on afterward. And while the scribe doesn’t explicitly mention any year, he does mentioned the seasons as they progress. That said, Arenicos dying in May could be any May after 1077, before 1084, and before 1083. I chose 1082 as it’s closest. Breakdown:
- Drosios Neretzes dies in 1077 - Arenicos crowned
- Asaios started working with Istiana 1-year ago in March of Early Spring
- — 28-months ago
- Arenicos dies 2-months later and Empire shatters in May of Late Spring
- — 26-months ago (2-years and 2-months ago)
- Asaios begins his journey in March of Early Spring
- — 16-months ago
- Journey ends in Late Autumn or Fall, in November and Vostrum captured
- — 8-month gap
- Bannerlord begins in Early Summer of June in 1084
**Where are they located?** The Northern Empire is located at the very top of the Imperial Heartlands, and is nested between the Diathmic Bay and the Portages of Iltan. Visual below:
See [[Toponyms]] under `Geography > Maps > Toponyms` for more.
![[map-northern-empire.webp|center|600]]
>   <br> [![[Encyclopedia_Calradica_Logo_2.png|center|400]]](Calradica.md)<br>
>“A massive **Mount & Blade** wikipedia!” <br> [— About Calradica](Calradica.md) <br>[— About Project](Project.md) <br>[— About Author](Horseapple.md) <br>  
[^1]: [[Blog_42_Empire_Pt.1]]
[^2]: [[3-heroes-(Bannerlord)]]
[^5]: [[3-spkingdoms-(Bannerlord)]]
[^6]: [[3-wanderer_strings-(Bannerlord)]]
[^7]: [[3-world_lore_strings-(Bannerlord)]]
[^8]: [[3-multiplayer_strings-(Bannerlord)]]