Gilnean Army

The Gilnean Army is the Kingdom of Gilneas's primary land force of their military. The Army is led by a collection of officers and members of the Gilnean Peerage. Traditionally, the Gilnean Army was both ceremonially and practically led by the King of Gilneas and still is to certain extents, though much of the load has been transitioned to it's leaders and the Alliance High Command following Gilneas' readministration into the Alliance.

The Gilnean Army, along with its maritime counterpart, the Gilnean Navy has seen long service to the Kingdom including service in the Second War and more recently, the Fourth War, continuing on into the War against the Iron Horde.

Over time, the Gilnean Army accumulated many barracks and garrisons which housed personnel, armaments and necessary facilities. Since 172 F.A., the Gilnean Central Barracks in Gilneas City has acted as the Army's ceremonial and tactical main base of operations. While housing several of the largest regiments, the Central Barracks have also been the base for the Gilnean Ceremonial Guard and a few militias.

History
The Gilnean Army was established shortly after the beginning of the Kingdom of Gilneas. It began as the remnants of Aderic's forces, fused together into a single, more consitutionalised army. While over time, various arms and units within the Army splits off for town militias and nobility house protection, much of the original army still remains.

Command
The Army is led by the ruling King or Queen of Gilneas as its Commander-in-chief, with a High Commander taking an active leadership of the army. While there may sometimes be more than one High Commander, it is usually the senior-most of the rank appointed to the role as Commander of the Gilnean Army, with the others leading large units or regiments within the Army. However, since the Army's dramatic plumet in numbers and strength, few of these High Commanders remain, and so much of the command is simply split among Commanders instead.

The Monarchy of Gilneas also commands the Gilnean Navy and other military aspects of the Kingdom. Army Commanders also aid in the operation of the army and militias alongside the King and act as his primary advisers in the military field. Many of these advisers hold the High Commander or Commander rank.

During periods of mass war, General Ranks were instated, with these peers holding these ranks until death or resignation. In low war time, Senior ranks were often enough.

General Officers

 * High General - The ceremonial and practical leader of the Gilnean Army, the High General of Gilneas is the only General Officer rank to be normally held in peacetime and is typically the nation's King or Queen, although at times they would be another member of the royal family, the monarch's regent or rarely a powerful noble such as a Duke. The current High General is King Genn Greymane.
 * General - Only filled for ceremonial matters or during times of conflict, the rank of General was the highest rank normally reachable by a member of the Gilnean Army and typically granted command over multiple deployed brigades and at times naval units.
 * Known Generals include: Garn Talton, Lord Darius Crowley
 * Lieutenant General - Serving as the Second-in-Command to a General, the rank of Lieutenant General was held by distinguished High Commanders and would take over command the General's Army if they were captured, killed or disabled.
 * Known Lieutenant Generals include: Sir Connor Buckley
 * Major General - Rarely seen on the field of battle, Major Generals were charged with roles such as supplying the Gilnean Army during wartime or acting as military governors of captured provinces.
 * Brigadier General - Regional generals, Brigadier Generals, as their name suggests, were promoted High Commanders who still led their brigade and required a higher rank for diplomatic reasons or for a more concentrated command. They were the most likely General to be found in peace time, where they would be found in command of borderland brigades such as those from Silverpine or Nambitus.
 * Known Brigadier Generals include: Marcus Ebongrove, Lord Berenal Grayblade

Senior Officers

 * High Commander - The highest Senior Officer rank of the Gilnean Army and the highest rank normally obtainable in peace time, High Commanders are typically the most experienced and decorated officers of the Gilnean Army and are assigned to command of each of its brigades. In many brigades the High Commander will also command their own regiment, which due to the high birth or knightly status of most High Commanders will be a Regiment of the Horse. Originally noble High Commanders were known as "Lords High Commander", although this fell out of use a few centuries before the First War.
 * Known High Commanders include: Lord Vincent Godfrey, Prince Liam Greymane, Lord Walden, Lord Hewell, Lord Candren, Princess Tess Greymane
 * Commander - The regimental commanders of Gilneas, equivalent to the Commander or Colonel rank of other kingdoms, Commanders are experienced officers who are charged with the leadership of their regiment, with the senior-most Commander in a brigade serving as the second-in-command to the High Commander or Brigadier General. Although rare, Commanders are sometimes charged with leading a brigade in their own right, which would usually occur due to the brigade's High Commander being too young or inexperienced or a brigade being reduced to regimental size due to attrition . Noble Commanders are typically known as "Lords Commander".
 * Known Commanders include: Commander Springvale, Lady Lorna Crowley
 * Lieutenant Commander - Seconds-in-command of Gilnean regiments, Lieutenant Commanders are typically found serving as logistical officers for their regiments, directing supply and marching orders and generally staying out of harms way in case their Commander was killed and they had to take command. Unlike Commanders and High Commanders, Lieutenant Commanders are never known as "Lord Lieutenant Commanders".
 * Major - The lowest rank of Gilnean Senior Officer, Majors serve as the commanders of a regiment's twin battalions, with one of them deploying with their battalion while the other remains at the regiment's home province to see to recruitment. Majors are also found as the staff officers of brigades, taking on roles similar to those of the Major Generals of the greater army.
 * Known Majors include: Catil White, Aeliren Chesterhill, Huntsman Blake, Dame Catherine Lunn

Junior Officers

 * Captain - The highest ranking Junior Officers, Captains are some of the most common Gilnean officers, serving as the commanding officers of a company of around 100 men, with the senior-most Captain of a battalion serving as the second-in-command to the Major. As with Commanders, noble Captains are sometimes known as "Lords Captain", although this has become rare.
 * Known Captains include: Captain Broderick, Hugh Luxford
 * First Lieutenant - Much like the higher ranking Lieutenant Commanders, First Lieutenants, generally simplified to "Lieutenant", serve as the seconds-in-command of companies and, in regiments that combine their ranged and melee infantry into the same company, will typically lead one of these units while the Captain leads the other. Otherwise they can be found in charge of a company's supplies or commanding in the place of an injured Captain.
 * Known First Lieutenants include: Lieutenant Walden
 * Second Lieutenant - A rare junior form of Lieutenant, Second Lieutenants are most commonly found serving as platoon leaders, although some regiments leave this job to Non-commissioned officers such as Sergeants. Second Lieutenants can also be found serving as aides-de-camp and Staff Officers of battalions.
 * Third Lieutenant - A form of trainee officer, Third Lieutenants, also known as Ensigns, are typically young and newly enlisted officers, who are generally found as aides-de-camp to Senior Officers or, pre-invasion, at one of the relatively recent Military Schools. They have become rather rare since the Forsaken invasion, due to many of the more recent Gilnean officers being experienced Warrant Officers who have been promoted from the ranks, resulting in this rank being skipped as the new officers already have the leadership and martial skills needed.

Warrant Officers

 * Warrant Officer of the Army - The highest non-officer rank obtainable in the Gilnean Army, the Warrant Officer of the Army was an experienced Warrant Officer First Class who had been appointed to advise the High General and his staff. Since the Invasion of Gilneas this rank has been unfilled due to the much reduced size of the army (being that there are only two main brigades remaining) and it is unknown if it will be revived before the Kingdom's reclamation.
 * Warrant Officer First Class - Rarely found in peacetime, Warrant Officers First Class are typically only created during wartime when armies were raised and deployed. They are attached to a General's staff, where they would serve as the main enlisted liaison for the entire army.
 * Warrant Officer Second Class - High ranking enlisted soldiers, Warrant Officers First Class are typically assigned to each brigade as a liaison between brigade's officers and the enlisted personnel.
 * Warrant Officer Third Class - The most junior rank of Warrant Officer, Warrant Officers Third Class are assigned to each regiment as the Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officers Second Class serve in much the same role as other Warrant Officers, working with the regimental commanders as a part of their staff.

NCOs

 * Sergeant Major - Unlike in most other Kingdoms, where Sergeants Major are assigned to regiments, Gilnean Sergeants Major are assigned to each of a regiment's battalions and are responsible for the training and well-being of their enlisted personnel while deployed and the recruitment of new recruits while at home.
 * Colour Sergeant - Named for their role of carrying the company's banner or "Colours", Colour Sergeants are responsible for the training of the enlisted personnel of their company, having much the same responsibilities for them as Warrant Officers do for larger units.
 * Sergeant - Serving as platoon leaders in some regiments and platoon second-in-commands in others, Sergeants are experienced soldiers who have been trained and shown ability in leadership.
 * Known Sergeants include: Sergeant Cleese, Kyoto Ashley
 * Lance Sergeant - Generally experienced Corporals or Junior Sergeants, Lance Sergeants serve a variety of roles, with some regiments using them as section leaders and others using them as the seconds-in-command of platoons or Sergeants being trained in logistics. More recently some surviving regiments have taken to using Lance Sergeants as platoon leaders due to lack of other NCOs.

Soldiers

 * Corporal - The generally the lowest rank of NCO, Corporals are the most common of NCOs and serve as the leaders of most sections, which typically number around eight men.
 * Lance Corporal - Seen in some regiments as Veteran Privates and in others as junior NCOs, Lance Corporals are typically assigned important roles such as leaders of small patrols or as the second-in-command of some sections.
 * Private - The rank and file of the Gilnean Army, Privates are soldiers who have completed their basic training and signed their "Private Contract" with the army.
 * Recruit - The newly enlisted members of a regiment, Recruits are soldiers who have yet to complete their basic training. In more peaceful times they were typically not sent to major combat until they had completed their training, although in more recent years with the army needing all the manpower they can find this practice has been dropped.

Gilnean Army Units and Organizations

 * Gilnean Liberation Front
 * The Blackhowl Regiment
 * The Blades of Greymane
 * Duskhaven Militia (Inactive)

Brigades
At its height, the Gilnean Army consisted of thirteen active brigades, though this has changed more recently. With smaller brigade numbers, the existing brigades have swelled in terms of actual number and instead now are usually broken into divisions.

Post-Invasion brigades have been given names, as opposed to traditional numbering. While they do have traditional numbering, these names have been put forward to attempt a stronger sense of camaraderie and identity among the militant forces.

1st Brigade: The Gilneas Brigade

 * Leader - High General Genn Greymane
 * Size - 65,000
 * Original Size - 65,000
 * Status - Active.
 * Headquarters - Gilneas City/Stormwind City

The merge of several remaining brigades into one, the Gilneas Brigade is broken up into three divisions, the first, led by King Greymane himself, the Second, led by Darius Crowley, and the third, led by Lorna Crowley.

Gilneas Brigade: 1st Division

 * Leader - High General Genn Greymane
 * Size - 35,000
 * Original Size - 35,000
 * Status - Active.
 * Headquarters - Gilneas City/Stormwind City

''The merge of several remaining brigades into one, the Gilneas Brigade is broken up into three divisions, the first, led by King Greymane himself, the Second, led by Darius Crowley, and the third, led by Lorna Crowley. The largest of the three divisons, King Greymane personally saw to the creation of this part of the Brigade, pulling in every bit of force he could to creating it. As a result, the Gilneas Brigade numbers far larger than any single Gilnean military set up prior, a huge wave of recruitment as a result of the actions of the Broken Shore.''

Gilneas Brigade: 2nd Division

 * Leader - General Darius Crowley
 * Size - 20,000
 * Original Size - 20,000
 * Status - Active.
 * Headquarters - Gilneas City/Stormwind City

''The merge of several remaining brigades into one, the Gilneas Brigade is broken up into three divisions, the first, led by King Greymane himself, the Second, led by Darius Crowley, and the third, led by Lorna Crowley. Darius' forces have been seen as the primary reserves, taking relief positions after the King. As a result, the Second usually does not see frontlines combat as the third and first do.''

Gilneas Brigade: 3nd Division

 * Leader - Commander Lorna Crowley
 * Size - 10,000
 * Original Size - 10,000
 * Status - Active.
 * Headquarters - Gilneas City/Stormwind City

''The merge of several remaining brigades into one, the Gilneas Brigade is broken up into three divisions, the first, led by King Greymane himself, the Second, led by Darius Crowley, and the third, led by Lorna Crowley. While Tess Greymane was originally slated to lead the third, she opted that the position be passed to Lorna in favor of taking a non-full time leadership position. It is unknown what the Princess has opted to do with her time instead, but she is apparently active in some capacity. The Third follows behind the first or scouts ahead, often taking point for the much larger force to move more safely. As a result, the Third is the one that branches further away from the other two divisions at times.''

2nd Brigade: The Ebonguard

 * Leader - Brigadier General Marcus Ebongrove
 * Size - 12,500
 * Original Size - 12,500
 * Status - Active.
 * Headquarters - Keel Harbor

''The Ebonguard is the result of merging several of the Western Gilneas companies with that of the original 2nd brigade of Gilneas. Led by Marcus Ebongrove, a prominent military veteran from the Second War, Ebongrove was placed above the lord Candren in position for his expertise. The Lord Candren still holds a position of power, though his duties as a relegate for supplies in the various Gilnean fronts keeps him off the front lines. The Ebonguard is one of several extended brigades which operates alongside or away from the 1st Brigade on command.''

3rd Brigade: The Blades of Greymane

 * Leader - Brigadier General Berenal Grayblade
 * Size - 20,000
 * Original Size - 20,000
 * Status - Active.
 * Headquarters - Ashen Coast

''The Blades of Greymane act as the replacement for several of the southern brigades in modern times, having absorbed several smaller orders and militant groups over time. Having served with the 1st and defended Gilneas during the invasions at the time of the Broken Shore, the Blades are known as one of the more proactive Gilnean groups, participating in numerous alliance operations over the years.''

4th Brigade: Redemption Company

 * Leader - Commander Reina Barracas
 * Size - 10,000
 * Original Size - 10,000
 * Status - Active.
 * Headquarters - Marrow Keep

''Redemption Company is a group formed by those who wish to continue aiding at home, led by the last of the Black Knights of Gilneas, Reina Barracas. Having reformed the knights within this group, the company mostly busies themselves with the restoration of the homeland, primarily that in the Blightlands.''

5th Brigade - The Fallen
''The 5th Brigade is not restored as the others were. It is held in memoriam for those who perished in defense of the region, as well as Liam's unfortunate demise.''
 * Leader - High Commander Liam Greymane
 * Size - None, permanently retired.
 * Original Size - 8000
 * Status - Retired. Mostly destroyed, surviving soldiers were merged into the 1st Brigade.
 * Headquarters - Greymane Manor
 * Notable Regiments
 * 1st Regiment of the Horse - Greymane Royal Guard
 * 2nd Regiment of the Horse - Crownlands Provincial Cavalry
 * 3rd Regiment of the Foot - Duskhaven County Reserve
 * 4th Regiment of the Foot - Dusken Deanery Reserve

6th Brigade - Royal Gilnean Marines
'' When the Gilnean Navy was dismantled following the creation of the wall, the Royal Marines were reassigned to Keel Harbor, which they later defended against the Orcish invaders. Surviving marines have since been reassigned to the rebuilding Gilnean Navy. They are attached to the Gilnean Navy as a formal land brigade for the group, and as such, take orders from Isobel Crestdown and her various captains.''
 * Leader - Currently attached to the Gilnean Navy.
 * Size - 4,500
 * Original Size - 18,000
 * Status - Rebuilding.
 * Headquarters - Keel Harbor Barracks

7th Brigade - Royal Gilnean Artillery
''The one of the two brigades not assigned to a specific region, the Royal Gilnean Artillery was in practice split among the other brigades of the Gilnean Army and contained a Regiment of the Artillery for each of them. Following the Invasion, the 12th took heavy casualties, although they were involved in major victories such as the retaking of Gilneas City alongside the Gilnean Militia and the First Brigade. After the reordering, the Royal Gilnean Artillery is attached almost permanently to the 1st, though it is known to train artillery squads to be distributed to the other brigades after a noted lapse in quality of Cannoneers in some of the other brigades.''
 * Leader - Major Cromwell Hughes.
 * Size - Less than 3000.
 * Original Size - 18,000
 * Status - Active, Rebuilding.
 * Headquarters - Gilnean Central Barracks

1st Brigade - Gilneas City
(Although named for and assigned to Gilneas City, only approximately half of the 1st Brigade were raised from the city, with the remaining 50% being raised from the area's surrounding counties.)
 * Leader - High General Genn Greymane
 * Size - None, retired.
 * Original Size - 12,000
 * Status - Active, Rebuilding.
 * Headquarters - Gilnean Central Barracks
 * Notable Regiments
 * 4th Regiment of the Horse - Gilneas City Cavalry
 * 5th Regiment of the Horse - Light's Dawn Cavalry
 * 1st Regiment of the Foot - Gilneas City Guard
 * 6th Regiment of the Foot - Stoneward Guard
 * 7th Regiment of the Foot - Blackhowl County Reserve

2nd Brigade - Headlands

 * Leader - High Commander Candren
 * Size - None, retired.
 * Original Size - 18,000
 * Status -
 * Headquarters - Keel Harbor

3rd Brigade - Eastern Nambitus/Northgate
(Many members joined the Gilneas Brigade on Darius Crowley's orders, with the remainder being reformed into a short lived "Northgate Army" during the Northgate Rebellion, before being crushed and mostly destroyed. Surviving soldiers eventually joined the Gilnean Liberation Front.)
 * Leader - High Commander Darius Crowley
 * Size - None, retired.
 * Original Size - 18,000
 * Status - Became the Gilnean Liberation Front.
 * Headquarters -

''Following the creation of the Front, Genn Greymane reorganized both the First and Third together into one unit, named after Crowley's Gilneas brigade. Formed up of many of the other smaller, devistated brigades, the new Gilneas Brigade is personally led by the king.''

4th Brigade - Western Nambitus/Northern Headlands
(Many members joined the Gilneas Brigade, as with the Eastern Nambitus brigade. Unlike the Eastern brigade, they remained loyalists. After the wall was erected and eventual contact with those beyond the wall was lost, the brigade was re-branded and housed within Coldbrick Hold rather than Shadowfang Keep as they were previously, a base they periodically shared with the 13th.)
 * Leader - Leaderless, formerly Commander Springvale
 * Size - None, retired.
 * Original Size - 18,000
 * Status - Destroyed, many of the brigade were either raised by the Forsaken in their corpse hunts, or turned into the Blighted.
 * Headquarters - Coldbrick Hold

5th Brigade - Crownlands (Duskhaven)
(The 5th Brigade is not expected to be rebuilt following Gilneas' reclamation, due to Duskhaven's slight "water issue". It is held in memoriam for those who perished in defense of the region, as well as Liam's unfortunate demise.)
 * Leader - High Commander Liam Greymane
 * Size - None, permanently retired.
 * Original Size - 12,000
 * Status - Retired. Mostly destroyed, surviving soldiers were merged into the 1st Brigade.
 * Headquarters - Greymane Manor
 * Notable Regiments
 * 1st Regiment of the Horse - Greymane Royal Guard
 * 2nd Regiment of the Horse - Crownlands Provincial Cavalry
 * 3rd Regiment of the Foot - Duskhaven County Reserve
 * 4th Regiment of the Foot - Dusken Deanery Reserve

6th Brigade - Blackwald
(The majority of the 6th Brigade became worgen, with those who regained their minds joining Darius Crowley and the Gilnean Liberation Front. The surviving non-worgen members eventually retreated to Tempest Reach with the Stormglen Villagers, where they remained until they were slain in Godfrey's betrayal, or defected back after his defeat.)
 * Leader - High Commander Walden
 * Size - None, destroyed.
 * Original Size - 12,000
 * Status - Destroyed, most members became Worgen, remainder were slain in Godfrey's betrayal or defected back following his defeat, shuffled into other brigades.
 * Headquarters - Stormglen Barracks
 * Notable Regiments
 * 3rd Regiment of the Horse - Blackwald Provincial Cavalry
 * 6th Regiment of the Horse - Blackwald Decanal Cavalry
 * 5th Regiment of the Foot - Walden County Reserve
 * 9th Regiment of the Foot - Blackwald Deanery Reserve

7th Brigade - Eastern Reaches

 * Leader - High Commander Vincent Godfrey
 * Size - None, destroyed.
 * Original Size -12,000
 * Status - Destroyed, many members killed in Godfrey's betrayal.
 * Headquarters - Tempest Barracks
 * Notable Regiments
 * 11th Regiment of the Foot - Tempest County Reserve
 * 13th Regiment of the Foot - Tempest Deanery Reserve
 * 5th Regiment of the Horse - Eastern Reaches Provincial Cavalry
 * 7th Regiment of the Horse - Tempest Decanal Cavalry

8th Brigade - Emberstone
(Cut off from much of the rest of Gilneas by the Forsaken's advance through the wall, the 8th Brigade was soon surrounded by the Forsaken Army and butchered, with survivors being made to work in the mines and the dead being used by Valnov the Mad to make abominations. Although at least the unit's commander, Lord Hewell and some of its members escaped, it is unknown how many managed this due to the desecration of corpses and destruction of records by the Forsaken. All known survivors were merged into the 1st Brigade or left the army.)
 * Leader - High Commander Hewell
 * Size - None, disbanded.
 * Original Size - 12,000
 * Status - Destroyed, most members killed by the Forsaken with survivors enslaved.
 * Headquarters - Ember Hold
 * Notable Regiments
 * 8th Regiment of the Foot - Emberstone County Reserve
 * 10th Regiment of the Foot - Ember Deanery Reserve
 * 10th Regiment of the Horse - Emberstone Provincial Cavalry
 * 11th Regiment of the Horse - Ember Decanal Cavalry

9th Brigade - Zul'Dare

 * Leader - Unknown.
 * Size - Unknown.
 * Original Size - Unknown
 * Status - Unknown, disappeared with Zul'Dare.
 * Headquarters - Daring Castle

(Zul'Dare's sudden disappearance and a lack of organized records on them has resulted in a significant lapse in modern day bookkeeping. Their last recorded leader, size, and status are all unknown.)

10th Brigade - Royal Gilnean Marines
(When the Gilnean Navy was dismantled following the creation of the wall, the Royal Marines were reassigned to Keel Harbor, which they later defended against the Orcish invaders. Surviving marines have since been reassigned to the rebuilding Gilnean Navy, although the Brigade lacks centralised leadership.)
 * Leader - Leaderless.
 * Size - 4500
 * Original Size - 18,000
 * Status - Rebuilding.
 * Headquarters - Keel Harbor Barracks

11th Brigade - Ashen Coast
(One of the first brigades to become fully re-active, aside from the Liberation Front, they are predominantly represented by the Blades of Greymane, which is the spiritual successor to the 11th in action.)
 * Leader - High Commander Berenal Grayblade
 * Size - Several Thousand.
 * Status - Active.
 * Headquarters - Bannhurst

12th Brigade - Royal Gilnean Artillery
(The one of the two brigades not assigned to a specific region, the Royal Gilnean Artillery was in practice split among the other brigades of the Gilnean Army and contained a Regiment of the Artillery for each of them. Following the Invasion, the 12th took heavy casualties, although they were involved in major victories such as the retaking of Gilneas City alongside the Gilnean Militia and the First Brigade.)
 * Leader - Leaderless.
 * Size - Less than 3000.
 * Original Size - 18,000
 * Status - Active, Rebuilding.
 * Headquarters - Gilnean Central Barracks
 * Notable Regiments
 * 1st Regiment of the Artillery - Gilneas City Cannoneers
 * 2nd Regiment of the Artillery - Headlands Cannoneers
 * 3rd Regiment of the Artillery - Eastern Nambitus Cannoneers
 * 4th Regiment of the Artillery - Western Nambitus Cannoneers
 * 5th Regiment of the Artillery - Crownlands Cannoneers
 * 6th Regiment of the Artillery - Blackwald Cannoneers
 * 7th Regiment of the Artillery - Tempest Cannoneers
 * 8th Regiment of the Artillery - Emberstone Cannoneers
 * 9th Regiment of the Artillery - Daring Cannoneers
 * 10th Regiment of the Artillery - Royal Marine Cannoneers
 * 11th Regiment of the Artillery - Coastlands Cannoneers
 * 12th Regiment of the Artillery - Greymane Cannoneers

13th Brigade - Greymane Wall
(The 13th retained the wall, a special brigade as it was made up of servicemen from across the country. It was always on task, patrols swapped out daily, and mostly took the place of regional defense from the 3rd and 4th brigades after the Northgate Rebellion.)
 * Leader - N/A.
 * Size - N/A.
 * Status - Destroyed, survivors merged into the 1st Brigade or Gilnean Liberation Front
 * Headquarters - The Wall itself, several wall keeps such as Coldbrick Hold.

Currently
Currently, the Gilnean Army is in a major repairing state. While several regiments and external organizations exist, they lack the proper command is once held prior to the Invasion of Gilneas. Today, the Gilnean Army has mostly blended in with the rest of the Grand Alliance Military and is led by the Alliance High Command.