Knights Jareche

The Order of the Knights of the Holy Crown of Jareche Edos, also known as the Knights of the Holy Crown, the Soldiers of the Citadels, or more commonly as the Knights Jareche, were the predominant knightly order of the Kingdom of Iadria. Sworn to defend the Holy Crown and its keeper to their last breath, the Knights functioned both as an elite military force and as a monastic order. The Order was founded by King Castor I Menestas, the direct successor of the Iadrian God-King Jareche I. The Knights were the most respected and feared fighting force in Iadria, and served as the protectors of the Holy Land of Leogoth until the Epherian Invasion of 6A 715. Led by an anointed Lord-Commander, the Knights' primary base of operations was the Citadel of Jareche, deep within the Jareche Forest in the Duchy of the same name. The Lord-Commander sometimes fulfilled the role of Duke of Jareche in addition to his command of the Knights, but power was often shared between the Ducal government and the knightly lords. The ambiguous nature of the Knights' vows to specifically protect the Holy Crown itself, rather than the King, resulted in the Order taking a prominent role in several civil wars throughout Iadrian history. Often fighting alongside the Royal Legions, the Knights were considered the finest soldiers in Iadria, yet less reliable than the state-controlled Legions.