Themiclesian Marine Corps (according to November Magazine)

Themiclesian Marine Corps
房冗人, bjang-njung-njing
Emblem of the Themiclesian Marines
Founded	1318
Current form	1880
Service branches	Naval infantry Naval aviation (helicopters)
Headquarters	№103, Gwrjang-′ar St., Tonning
Leadership
Defence Secretary	Geoffrey m-Lrjem Tsodh
Captain-general	Margaret Sui
Personnel
Military age	18 – 45
Conscription	not in effect
Active personnel	7,354
Reserve personnel	5,220
Deployed personnel	482
Expenditure
Budget	$2,319,000,000 (FY2018)
Percent of GDP	0.08%
Industry
Foreign suppliers	Hallia
Related articles
Ranks	Naval Ranks

The Themiclesian Marine Corps (房冗人, bjang-njung′-njing) is the naval infantry branch of the Themiclesian Navy (艦航, kramh-gang) and performs a range of tangent and peripheral duties.

Name and translation

Themiclesian Marines acquired their Tyrannian names confronted with Tyrannian Royal Marines, who fought them in 1791 during the Raid on Rad and gave them their present name. Hallians and Sylvans prior to this regularly called them the Exercitus Thimiensis, "Themiclesian Army". The term Exercitus Thimiensis was even used by Themiclesian diplomats. In modern times, this is deprecated due to confusion with the similarly-named Themiclesian Army, which would have been called just "Army" in the early modern period. "Themiclesian Marine Corps" is the sanctioned translation of the Shinasthana bjang-njung-njing (舫冗人) since around 1810.

Themiclesians do not use bjang-njung-njing to translate "marine corps" in general; rather, the term st′jur-prjang (水兵, "maritime army") is used. This is because, domestically, st′jur-prjang refers to the lake-based naval infantry that was part of the militia, which predates the institutional Navy by several centuries. st′jur-prjang being the more inutitive term, it is preferred in translating foreign terms.

bjang (房) is a proper name for a cabin located in the stern of a ship and constrats with stjit (室), a cabin in the bow of a ship. Both pjang and stjit are compared to parts of terrestrial buildings. There is currently disagreement about the proper reading of bjang: the 3rd Regiment, formed in 1524 and the oldest extant unit, reads it as bjang, while the 4th and 5th Regiments, both dating to the Pan-Septentrion War, read it as pjang’ instead. Philologically, bjang is likely the correct reading, since it is homophonous with the root word bjang (房, lit. "rear chamber"), and also pjang’ means jib. Various theories have been forwarded to explain their confusion by individuals who "have good reason to distinguish them".

The word njung-njing (冗人) means "passenger". Currently, this term is still used to identify passengers on both ships and aircraft, but not passengers on road vehicles. The source of this name is uncontroversially linked to the archaic custom that all passengers on ships sailing beyond the coastline are required to bear arms for its defence, under the captain's direction.

Since the word "marine" is used in a variety of translations of Shinasthana terms into Tyrannian, the Themiclesian Marines, in conjunction with the Society of Law Archivists, have instated guidelines for its servicepersons to observe. These guidelines are not binding outside the Marine Corps but are recognized in the press and some academic circles. When referring to servicepersons in the Marines, the term "marine" or "marines" is preferred, since it is a common noun for a soldier in a fleet. Referring to the Themiclesian Marine Corps or using it as a modifier, the spelling "Marines" (capitalized and plural) is appropriate. The upper-case and singular "Marine" is used exclusivley with respect to the Marine Prefect, who oversees the protection of forests and wildlife in Themiclesia. The guidelines further state that in all correspondence with foreign militaries, "the customs and usages thereof should in all cases be respected and preferred." For descriptive literature not addressed to foreign militaries, the Common Manual of Style (endorsed by the Consortium of Themiclesian Universities) is authoritative.

History

Early centuries

Main article: Themiclesian Navy § History

The original distinction between sailors and "passengers" is first attested in an royal edict dating to 503, forbidding passengers (anyone not a crew member) from defecting to enemies in case the ship was attacked. Maritime historian C. Larter belives these laws evidence the "increased militarization of the Rjang merchant navy, seeking to utilize every person onboard." However, he also recognizes that the role of passengers in these situations is "murky at best".

The oceanic navy was organized in 810 as a merchant then military fleet to fend off Hallians attacking Themiclesian outposts in Columbia and to control over the prized Maracaibean trade, which brought much gold to Themiclesia. In ensuing naval conflicts, enemy fleets, replenished locally, carried more troops. In comparison, Themiclesia carried ten months' provision to cover the four-month voyage to and from Meridia. If Themiclesia wished to match enemy deployments, ships would be set aside for grain storage; such ships would be weakly defended and useless in combat. Thus, many Themiclesia vessels were less crewed than their opponents. Good manoeuvring compensated to some extent, but the court searched for a permanent solution. A second problem arose that if experienced sailors died or were captured, the craft could be paralysed; carrying substitute crew created the same problem with provisions. As a result, the 503 statute was extended to the military navy, ordering the fleet's physicians, scribes, craftsmen, and priests to fight with the crew; however, such specialized officers were valuable to the fleet, and their engagement was considered a desperate measure.

In the Themiclesian fleet, crew member both manned the vessel and boarded enemy ships, a combination of duties that provisions constraints reinforced; however, it was then observed that enemy fleets were frequently augmented by soldiers that were not part of the ships' crew. Themiclesians called them passengers, like their own non-crew officers. After the capture of Portcullia, Themiclesians or their allies were found there in predictable numbers. After 945, that every Themiclesian there or elsewhere in Meridia was liable to be pressed and procure their own provisions, as long as the fleet compensated them with money, which could be transported much more easily than bulky grain. From that point, the fleet expecting battle would sail to Meridia with a small crew, press men into service for battle, and release them as soon as it was finished. Since these individuals were not sailors and served largely the same role as soldiers on enemy fleets, they were called passengers.

The first passengers augmented ships lacking sailors, navigating while crew members were aboard enemy craft; however, around 1050, crew and passenger were both used for combat, and by 1200, pressed men were responsible for most of it. The press was exceptionally unpopular with Themiclesians abroad engaging in commerce. Those who could afford it hired substitutes when it was imposed. Additionally, as the number of passengers waxed, they also became prone to mutinies, which hampered several important operations in the 12th and 13th centuries. In 1279, a particularly acute revolt was staged by marines ordered to fight two battles, when one at most was promised, forcing admirals to grant a wage. By 1300, ships had grown that expansions to complement was feasible, so in 1318, the fleet hired passengers that sailed with it permanently, reducing instances of impressment and the poison of mutiny.

Wax Tablet Case

Main article: Wax Table Case (1370)

Formula

The entry of Sylva into the race for colonies in Meridia has prompted Themiclesia to expand its fleet. In 1518, the Admiralty devised an formula for calculating how many marines were required on each ship. Advocates of the formula stated that, since ships and marines were both fixed costs, expenditure on either can be mathematically optimized. Beneath the optimum, the likelihood of capture increases dramatically, while above the optimum, deployment carried diminishing returns. This was compared to the current value of the ship they defended. Opponents of the formula asserted that it does not factor in the enemies and thus must be inaccurate. Nevertheless, the court adopted the formula, and the size of the Marine Corps seems to have followed it closely for the next two centuries.

Mutiny at Trjung-gwal

Four regiments of the Columbian Colonial Army were re-assigned to the authority of the Captain-general in 1731. Due to a history of conflicts with that force, the fleet docked at Trjung-gwal (中恆; now in Camia) turned away the four regiments in Jan. 1732. The fleet combined this with other grievances and refused to sail until addressed. While this took place at peace, the court was gravely troubled. The new regiments were required to take an oath before the crew of the ship on which they served, swearing to defend them as much as themselves. This is remarkable as it shows significant Casaterran influence, Themiclesians rarely swearing oaths before this time.

Mutiny at Smljin-ts′jêng

On August 2, 1740, the 11th Regiment of Marines mutinied at Smljin-ts′jêng (神清; now in Camia). Some of the regiment had been caned for a minor offence with a number of sailors. The sailors received their captain's protection, which commuted caning into amercement, but the marines did not enjoy the same. The mutineers barricaded themselves at a small, defensible position at Smljin-ts′jêng, presenting their grievances on an ensign, demanding, amongst other things, equal treatment. However, the fleet set sail on the night of the 5th, leaving the 11th in their barricade. The court disbanded the 11th on Nov. 22, 1740. While the grievance was not addressed, the Passenger Offences Act was amended in 1741, effectively granting their petition.

Maverican War

Main article: Maverican Wars

While the Marines saw combat against Ostlandic marines during both Maverican Wars, the conflict for which they are most famous occurred in 1765, known as the Great Firefight. The Colonial Army had launched a punitive campaign on Ostlandic settlements in Norfeld (then known as Njik-nem to Themiclesia), seeking out and executing (without trial) those that instigated or supported the revolt. The terror caused locals to flee from the countryside towards the coast, resulting in crop failures in 1766-67. Disrupted agriculture and a dry summer caused a widespread famine in 1768, which essentially made revictualing impossible for the navy, which had relied on plentiful Maverican grain for decades. The admirals ordered marines to investigate and, upon discovery why there was no food, to resettle dispossessed Mavericans. This directive contradicted the Colonial Army's desire to impose some harsh years on the locals as punishment for their rebellion. Skirmishes then broke out between the two force, the most deadly occurring on September 1, 1768, with 281 casualties. The locals marshalled in support of the Marines who appeared to be fighting for their security. The Colonial Army took this as proof that the Admiralty was in league with them and imported two regiments from the subcontinent to expel the marines; however, before any further conflict occurred, the court ordered the fleet to disanchor and procure its cereals from the Demesne Gramary instead.

Raid on Rad

Main article: Raid on Rad

Infamous island commissions

Main article: Sale of commisisons in the Themiclesian military

Salary reform

In 1820, the Lord of Rjar-lang was Navy Secretary and worked to eliminate corruption, which he reasoned was due to excessive reliance on officers, who inflated troops numbers and assessed fictitious fines to take salary money. Introducing the Casaterran use of primary documents to enhance control, he secured a law on the argument that if every salary payment was checked against the recipient's own calculations, willingness to fight would be increased. However, the permanent secretary to the Admiralty reported that marines were not examined for literacy and numeracy at enlistment. The policy was reversed after four years, when it became obvious that salaries went unapid because claims were not filed.

Battle of Rafts

Main article: Battle of Rafts (1840s)

Battle of Liang-la

Main article: Battle of Liang-la

Mediatization

Main article: Mediatization of the forces (Themiclesia)

Trjuk's reforms

Main article: Trjuk Krjên-magh

Trjuk Krjên-magh, the colonel who surrendered the Isle of Liang, became Captain-general in 1870 by order of the Secretary of State for Administration, for being a peer. He was silently hated and despised by most officers; however, he also introduced a number of important reforms that, historians believe, would not have been possible if he had not been a peer. In 1871, he secured a law that exempted marines from the militia fine, which was nominally assessed on all able-bodied males not participating in militias. Civilians usually claimed disability or family commitments to escape the fine, but this was not possible for marines. Trjuk also abolished in 1872 the Spiritful Benevolence, which was taxed on marines' salaries for the nominal upkeep of the Naval Cult but had become a exploit of embezzlement, since the Cult had long lapsed from relevance. In 1874, he appointed the first professional accountants to supervise the Marine Corps' purse. In 1875, he pioneered an initiative to teach ordinary marines to read, write, and count, which made them less susceptible to abuse from superiors and, most importantly, gave them a small chance to become officers. By his death in 1880, he had increased the marines' effective salaries by a fifth while reducing the running costs by 3%. C. Larter says that Trjuk "made the Marine Corps a lot less superstitious, oppressive, and medieval."

Textbook crisis

In 1887, the text Child's Tear (芻子淚, tsrjo-tsje′-rjebh), a long, tragic poem about a child starving in the streets of misgovernment, was included in the list of recommended texts for primary curricula. The poet's brother was seized by the marines, aged 16, and has not been heard of since. The poet recounts puerile hopes that he may return one day with candies (of which Meridia was famous and dates the poem to the late 1500s) and some wealth but gradually consigns himself to believe his brother's corpse is now in some part of the ocean. The poet contrasts what happened to the physical body of his brother (eaten by fishes) to his personhood (lost to the treasury). Critics read that the poet believed his brother's life was exactly like expendable tax money.

Records show that the Marines sent official letters in the hundreds, asking for the poem's retraction. These letters contained a variety of arguments against the poem, from an excess of blood for young children, to the detrimental effects it has on the reputation of naval service.   The inbox log (內書簿) at the Marines HQ show that only a fraction of letters generated replies. Journalist E. R. Kaw said that "the entire state is portrayed negatively, but you are the only ones who have complained to me." A Mr. Hrap replied that the poem makes a truthful account of known problems in Themiclesia during that time period and should stay in the textbook. A small number expressed sympathy with the Marines, saying that if the "poem causes a manifest odium to voluntary naval service, it should be recorded and submitted to the government," since "the very real tragedies past must not return to haunt us anew."

Merger

Between 1910 and 1916, several leaders of the Marine Corps advocated for merger with the Capital Defence Force, one of three professional armies at that time. Surviving documents indicate that Marines leaders believed that more advanced tactics and better equipment could be introduced to naval use this way, though some historians express qualified doubt about these stipulations. At any rate, the Admiralty was highly opposed to this plan, stating to Parliament that the "Capital Defence Force has no naval experience of any kind" when the matter was tabled. First Admiral Dek was particularly suspicious of such plans, in an era when around half of Marines officers were educated in the Army Academy. In Commons committee, he testified that nothing of value, or even economy, would be gained from merger, resulting in the bill's retraction. Merger with the South Army, which had expeditionary function, was evidently not discussed, in view of its persistent animosity with the Marines after the Great Firefight. In 1916, the Naval Academy Act established a seminar for Marines officers; however, at least until 1949 a degree from the Army Academy was considered at least as good, due to its immense prestige as the second-best university in Themiclesia.

Prairie War

The government passed the Special Conscription Act, 1935 to conscript organized men before the general public in response to mounting pressure from Menghean volunteers in Dzhungestan. The 1st and 2nd Regiments of Marines were sent to the front this way with a litany of others units not initially involved there. Anticipating a naval invasion from Camia, the Marines were ordered to recruit starting in 1937, progressing at a snail's pace as most able-bodied men were already conscripted or on notice for conscription. Dayashinese immigrants, feared regional discrimination, which was known to be rife in some units, responded to the the lobby encouraging them to join the Marines instead, where they would form a majority in the new regiments; some have called this phenomenon a "group-buy mentality", where minorities could band up and create or enforce a friendly environment. In 1940, Dayashinese men accounted for over 80% of the entire enlistment and 65% of the force.

PSW and D/ISOG infiltration

Main articles: Yamabe Oshimaro and Anabe Matakoshi

Current roles

The Themiclesian Marines currently have four distinct roles, as defined by the Admiralty's White Paper on Naval Defence, 2003.

1. Protection of the Themiclesian fleet and naval installations from land-based and personnel threats;
2. Conversion of foreign naval and land assets in support of naval operations;
3. Defence of areas not assigned to the Army's military districts and Themiclesia's "small islands" in the Halu'an Sea; and
4. Certain diplomatic and ceremonial duties.

Equipment

Gunpowder era

Cloud-streak Class (虔雲艇) landing platform dock

When gunpowder spread, boarding enemy ships became progressively less frequent. Themiclesian marines therefore receded in number and started to spend more time on land, manning naval fortifications and protecting the fleet in dock. In naval combat, where the gunpowder prepondered, they were one of the earlier adherents to hand-held firearms, only a century after ships were fitted with cannons. The argument was that the short range and inaccuracy of early firearms did not matter as much when the enemy had little cover and room to maneouvre on ships' decks.

The advent of firearms rendered most forms of armour, except the heaviest of plate, ineffective; however, that more engagements were shifting onto land allowed them to develop the medical apparatus that was only possible with territorial fortifications. Weaponry in this era generally followed Themiclesia's ability to supply them with modern firearms, though sidearms such as sabres were still retained. While essays were written arguing for an artillery department, the naval strategem did not include the Marines as a permanently land-based force.

In various campaigns in Njik-nem (now the north of Maverica), the Marines discovered that coating shoes in rubber increased their grip. Soaking these soles in rubber, common in Maverica, produced a much more resilient and comfortable sole; by the 1760s, most had their shoes regularly soled with rubber whenever available, and rubber was a commodity available on ships, since they were useful for stopping minor leaks. This fashion spread into other walks of Themiclesian society. The Army's shoe shop adopted the same technique with existing leather shoes in the 1800s, and this design survives into the modern age as the blue army shoe. When the Marines further learned to use old canvas to shell their shoes, wax was used to provide a water-resistent outer coat, offering protection against saline environments; this technique also found its way across the entire spectrum of military personnel soon.

Currently

• The Cloud-streak Class (虔雲艇, grjar-gwjen-lêng′) landing platform dock was introduced in 2000.

Culture

Religion

Venus on the dawning horizon

For a few centuries, the Themiclesian Marines resembled many of the units pledged by minorities to the royal court in terms of their symbolisms and mythology. The most prominent figure that has been recorded by contemporaries to be worshiped by marines is the planet Venus. Venus was called smrjang (爽) in Themiclesian astronomy, literally "dawning". This is consistent with the cross-cultural mythical position of Venus as the morning star. Authorities have discussed the relevance of the morning star to the Marines, if it was a belief adopted from a different culture or created by the fleet's reliance on astrology. Research into the Marines' archives have yielded no useful description of this belief due to its bias towards written records of an administrative nature, and due to changing recruitment practices in the 18th century it practically left no trace in the modern unit. Its absence from official records stands in stark contrast with multiple accounts of entire ships of marines bowing their heads at the rising of Venus. Another source of information are several airs that call upon Venus to protect marines, who address themselves as "sons of stars and the great dawning star".

Professionalism

Chang and Beecky (1984) asserts that some of the activities of the Themiclesian Marines in the 19th century were remarkably similar to trade guilds of the day. Craftsmen continued to migrate to major cities, particularly close to coast, after the restarting of trade with neighbouring states in 1796. Urban-dwelling craftsmen built on the medieval institution of trade guilds and, many enriched through enterprise, began to develop professional pride. It was not only founded on excellence in one's skill, but also the resulting economic security.

Recruitment by abduction was terminated in 1798 after Parliament reduced the size of naval infantry component from 12 regiments to 6, one-third of its peak at 18 regiments. Reduced strength and a recovering economy allowed the government to double naval pay, which corroborated notion that marines were professionals, in the financial sense. This concept was then foreign to Themiclesia, since until 1847 more than half of Themiclesian males were in militias; only after the Liberal policy to reduce regional militias did the notion of soldiers as professionals gain credence. Chang and Beecky considers the measures the Marines have taken to assert professional pride, such as publishing their own weekly newspaper, to be "a bit of a thin act".

Non-regionalism

The Themiclesian Marines are a non-regional force, like most of the Navy and Air Force. Recruits since the 1500s were placed into its units without regard for origin, though it is assumed that most recruits are from the coastal areas, where recruitment took place. The Navy has recruited foreign sailors, or even impressed them from formerly hostile fleets, to replenish its own crew, especially after engagements with large casualties. The same applies to the Marines, though in their case the subject of impressment would be normal civilians, rather than sailors. Since the recruitment of Dayashinese-Themiclesians in 1938, Dayashinese has also been added as an official language, though the main spoken language still appears to be Shinasthana, with foreign terms primarily appearing as jargon.

Emblem

The seal, adopted in 1843, consisted of a globe with orange longitudinal and latitudinal lines and red equator and prime meridian over a dark-blue field with the asterisms of the Great Dipper and the Boat. Three concentric rings, at various positions of obliquity, of gold, silver, and bronze, encircled the globe, representing the orbits of the sun and moon. The field was encircled by a thick verdigris border with increments.

The rings represent a traditional navigational instrument, whose functions were comparable to a sextant. The asterisms were key pointers for celestial navigation, the Great Dipper pointing to the north in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Boat to the south in the Southern. In 1872, the outer ring was added, with the Sylvanate translation added from sinister to dexter, like the Tyrannian text today, reading Legio Navitarum Thimiensis ("Themiclesian Sailor Legion"). Tyrannian was substituted in 1880. Notably, the Shinasthana text was only added in 1979; this is typical for Themiclesian unit sigils, which were adopted expressly for the purpose of identification by foreigners.

Liberalism

Stereotypically, Themiclesian marines are Liberals, espousing their values of minimalism, efficiency, and personal liberties. Prior to the PSW, when military officers openly wore their political affiliations, most Marines officers were members of the Liberal Party; however, an exit-poll conducted as far back as 1978 suggests that the actual voting preferences of enlisted men did not differ significantly from any other part of the military, most supporting the Conservative Party. The cause whereof, upon interview, is the Conservative plank on employee insurance, benefits, healthcare, infant daycare, and other social policies from which lower-income individuals, such as soldiers and sailors, would benefit.

The historic reason why Marines officers tended to be Liberals is, on the other hand, well-studied. Around 1830, the urban middle class began to explore careers in military service (under commissioned rank), which previously had been limited to the aristocracy. Due to the negative reputation of the Marines, the aristocratic interest was weak, leaving it open to middle class candidates, who could not compete with aristocrats for more popular and well-regarded regiments. As the middle class were predominantly Liberals, so did they carry their affiliations into the institution; due to Liberal suspicion of Conservative officers, those were soon pressured to resign, leaving a "most Liberal and sound force", as Liberal prime minister the Lord of Gar-lang described it in 1856.

Progressivism

Main article: Sexual orientation and gender identity in the Themiclesian military

The Admiralty has gone to great lengths to portray the Marines as a progressive force. This is the direct result of several decades of international deployments along with allied forces, which has encouraged the force to be experimental and flexible. During the post-war era, the government wished to retain an international military presence or capability, for the fulfilment of "debts of honour" to the states which assisted Themiclesia, but was unwilling to spend accordingly. The defence establishment sought to give them the character of motorized and naval infantry at the same time. Being too under-manned to specialize into different branches, this required the adoption of special vehicles and other equipment. To the extent this goes against the general trend of the Themiclesian armed forces to become more specialized over time, it was deemed progressive. While the Army leadership of the 1950s believed many of their reforms were "nothing short of suicidal", only some of them were credited to increasing casualties, and these were duly corrected by an attentive Admiralty.

In the landmark case of Hik v. the Secretary of State for War, the court ruled in 1951 that the prohibition of females from taking combat roles was unlawful in the Consolidated Army. While the Consolidated Staff Board was unsure how to react to such a momentous decision in an orderly manner, the Marines announced on Dec. 18, 1951 that they intend to respect the right of women to serve to their fullest potential. At the time, Marines divided battalions into first through third lines, corresponding to the width of the front they were expected to hold; first-lines, which had the widest frontage and thus the least depth, were initially not open to females. The Air Force announced 20 days later that they would abolish all regulations on the grounds of sex. While the TAF did not name, the phrase "respect the right of women to serve to their fullest potential" was criticized as paternalistic and hollow. This was one of the few moments when Themiclesian forces have seriously fallen out with each other in the 20th century.

Until 1959, Themiclesian Marines prohibited homosexual contact between service members on penalty of imprisonment and expulsion. The rule did not, until 1958, extend to civilians or members of other services. In the first half of the 20th century, it was seen as progressive in some academic circles to discourage homosexuality and traditional to be agnostic; this arose under Casaterran influence, which boasted a considerable body of (now discredited) academic work asserting that homosexuality caused problems in the armed forces. By 1950, much of the previous work stigmatizing homosexuality in the armed forces was found unsatisfactory. Previously, homosexual contact between marines and other servicepersons was not punished, as they were "civilians" under the Passenger Offences Act. In 1958, the Common Penal Code unified the definition of the word "civilian", which briefly made homosexuality with other service members illegal. But in 1959, that law was amended to decriminalize homosexual contact.

Unit names

Current units

A solar glory, after which the 1st Regiment was named in 1399

In the unit renumbering scheme of 1971, marines have started numbering at 201, since the Themiclesian Army are not using 2XX as unit numbers. This makes it less likely for unit numbers to be confused, which was a serious problem in the Pan-Septentrion War, in which each prefecture started numbering at 1. This meant there were as many "1st Regiments" as there were prefectures.

• 3rd → 203rd Regiment—Star Chasers (追星, tjul-stsêng), acquired by voice vote in 1918, in reference to the ancient traditions of celestial navigation that the Marines performed.
• 4th → 204th Regiment—Glory Seekers (榮益, gwrjing′-′ik).
• 5th → 205th Regiment—Sharpshooters (循射, sghjul-m-ljagh). But "sharpshooter" is homophonous with "missed by a long shot" (夷射, lir-m-ljagh) in many dialects, including the one most marines speak.

Former units

A circumscribed halo—the phenomenon after which the 2nd Regiment was named in 1548

This list is incomplete. For centuries, Themiclesian military units were named after auspicious natural phenomena or clouds, which were regarded as the portend of coming greatness and good fortune. Blem Mar, a 16th-century Themiclesian diarist, says that the navy's regiments all have "complimentary names" to bolster their confidence in the uncertainty and peril of oceanic travel, just as crews name their vessels. Becuase a great fire burnt down sections the Citadel of Kien-k'ang in 1792 and again in 1841, most of the disbanded regiments' names have been lost. While government authorities have used numbering to distinguish regiments from each other, debate continues whether numbers have been re-assigned at some point in history and if a regiment was in fact two regiments having used the same number at different times.

• 1st Regiment—Spectre (絢光, hwin-kwang), conscripted to the East Expedition Force in 1935.
• 2nd Regiment—Circumscribed Halo (繞虹, n-ngjawh-gong), as above.
• 6th Regiment—disbanded 1842.
• 7th Regiment—disbanded 1810.
• 8th Regiment—active 1512 – 1600, fate unclear, possibly lost in Meridia or amalgamated into another regiment.
• 9th Regiment—Aurora (極彩, grjek-ts′e′), disbanded 1810.
• 10th Regiment—disbanded 1860.
• 11th Regiment—disbanded 1740, due to mutiny.
• 12th Regiment—burnt to the waterline in 1791 in Raid on Rad.
• 13th Regiment—sank in 1762 off the coast of Camia.
• 14th Regiment—lost in Camia c. 1750.
• 15th Regiment—captured and massacred by the Tussle Nation of inland Columbia, c. 1710.
• 16th Regiment—disbanded 1810.
• 17th Regiment—lost in Meridia.
• 18th Regiment—burnt to the waterline in 1791 in Raid on Rad.
• 19th Regiment—disbanded 1868.
• 20th Regiment—disbanded 1869.

Nickname

The only known nickname that was applied to the Marines as a whole is lok (毓), usually translated as "metropolitans".

Uniforms

See also: Uniforms of Themiclesian armed forces

Themiclesian Marines' dress uniforms

The Navy Ministry commissioned uniforms for the naval establishment in 1809. It included a blue woolen jacket, waistcoat, cravat, shirt, trousers, and shoes. Collars were worn standing up, secured by the cravat, often a bow. Since uniforms were procured individually, considerable variation existed in colour and cut; as long as garments fell within the vague wording of the regulations, it was deemed acceptable. The new uniforms were initially shared between sailors and marines; however, different dressing habits, conditioned by their respective habits, soon took hold. Sailors frequently forewent the waistcoat and jacket, to avoid spoiling these garments while working, and captains augmented uniforms at their own expense. While sailors' uniforms seemed to follow the international trend towards spread collar and loose cravat, marines' uniforms followed civilian fashions instead.

The main dress uniform was updated in 1837 for a rounder look and was unchanged until 1880. A frock coat was introduced in 1837 for daytime drilling and informal meals. It was knee-lengthed and combined with a teal waistcoat and matching cravat. Tailoring uniforms being costly, many new recruits bought coats from dischargees, provided matching figures. Since the cut of both uniforms followed civilian fashion, a mixture of fashion eras is sometimes seen on photographs. In one case, a single set of uniform (dating to 1848) was sold four times and still in use in 1863. High-ranking officers were often seen out-of-uniform for a variety of reasons. The under-waistcoat fell out of use after 1860, but the waistcoat's lapels were cut from a different fabric since 1862, restoring the lost contrast.

By 1900, the stand-up collars and silk cravat appeared antiquated, but replacing them would stretch beyond what regulations permitted. In the civilian world, the frock coat gave way to the morning coat, and the lounge suit gained acceptance as informal wear. The Themiclesian Air Force adopted a no-lapel uniform in the style of the Tyrannian Royal Army, prompting a number of regiments to imitate it. In 1901, the Admiralty announced new uniforms for the fleet, but the Marine Corps did not follow suit as was customary. In 1923, a lounge suit was adopted for day use, following the TAF, in addition to a drab uniform for field work. The waistcoat was eliminated for both. Collars were worn folded down, making way for a four-in-hand necktie. The frock coat was promoted to full-dress status, both day and night; the tail coat was withdrawn from uniform regulations, though for many years marines were still expected to furnish their own "tails" attending formal civilian functions at night or appearing at court.

Oath

See also: Oathtaking in Themiclesia

Due to disruptions arising from the Columbian Colonial Army's augmentations in 1732, new marines regiments were required by law to take an oath before the ship on which they served, before they were allowed to board the ship. The oath, originally established for former members of the Colonial Army, was made mandatory for all members of the force in 1780, under a consideration of fairness.

I, A.B., swear, in naval war, I shall observe all laws of passenger aboard and defend your bodies as my own body and this ship as my home. In the event I do not do as I say, let me be abandoned.

To this, the captain or his mate would reply that he would treat marines as well as his crew, making no "unlawful distinctions".

In naval tradition, this bound marines to his crew; if they were found violating their oaths, they may be throw into the sea with impunity. The legal interpretation of this oath has been controversial. For example, it was disputed if a discharged marine continued to have a bond towards his ship, if he encountered it somewhere else; jurists in the 18th century seemed to agree that such a bond existed beyond discharge, while into the 19th this was deemed unreasonable. As the Themiclesian court generally allowed the naval establishment to distill its own traditions regarding such affairs, the legal effects of the oath were left unregulated until the Passenger Offences Act was amended in 1849, punishing marines who fail to defend any crew member in the Consolidated Fleet or to behave "in an unruly, objectionable, or provocative manner" on any ship therein.

In 1830, a new oath was added for individuals of aristocratic origin, who may not swear on life or limb, as they may only be judged by the emperor or their social peers.

I, A.B., peer [or gentlemen, as the case may be] declare upon my honour that I shall do right to each man under my charge, and I shall love, protect, and do every thing ought to others, as the law and accepted customs of this fleet require. This is my word of honour.

Scandals

Pervert (2019)

Main article: Pervert incident (2019)

In the 2019 deployment to Idacua along with the Royal Signals Corps, Themiclesian marines have captured an undisclosed amount of drug cartel members and paramilitaries they retained. A prominent paramilitary, based out of Kyrias and active in the Idacuan drug conflict, is Freedom Warriors, noted for their anarcho-capitalist beliefs. On Nov. 20, the Freedom Warriors tweeted that at least one of members were taken prisoner by the Themiclesian Marines, warning the latter that any abuse to the rights of prisoners would be reported. Captain-general Geoffrey Gwjang (王霾, gwjang mre) reportedly took insult and ordered an official tweet to call the Freedom Warriors "perverts". Reception has been overwhelmingly negative, with many satires appearing on the same platform. Many used the word "pervert" to put off those voicing legitimate complaints or concerns, e.g. the landlord of a leaky house calling a complaining tenant "pervert". By the end of November, "pervert" has become an Internet meme. Captain-general Kaw has been dismissed on Dec. 28, 2019, replaced with Colonel Margaret Sui. She says that the conduct of the Themiclesian Marines in Idacua "can stand up to the entire world's scrutiny" but apologizes for the "profoundly inappropriate tweet".

List of leaders

• Lord Tsjêng-gar (清河君, tsjêng-gar-kljul): Apr. 22 – May 3, 1348, later Prime Minister of Themiclesia.
• Pjang Ngjam (方巖): Jun. 23, 1745 – Nov. 12, 1749, pianist.
• Trjuk Krjên-magh, Lord M′reng (顭君筑簡莫): Nov. 30, 1870 – Feb. 15, 1880, mathematician.
• Dr. Geoffrey Gwjang L′jei (王晞): May 4, 2016 – Jan. 31, 2020.
• Dr. Margaret Skul: since Jan. 31

See also

• Themiclesia
• Deep Mission Troops
• Dayashina