Arcani
The Arcani were a group of elite Templar infantry and cavalry prevalent in the army of the Acrean Empire and the Kingdom of Acrea from their official establishment ca. 275 BCE, until the reformation of the Templars in 1320 CE, and then re-established in 1456 CE. The Arcani consisted of a core of heavy infantry, supported by a heavy cavalry corps. Arguably the most elite formation within the army of imperial-era Acrea, the Arcani were renowned for their exceptional combat prowess, intimidating battlefield presence, and high-quality expensive weapons and armour. Sabrian scholars and orators called them Praetorii, a name which referenced their high reputation amongst the Sabrians.
The Arcani have been the subject of intense modern historical scholarly attention. The legend of the Arcani's superior battlefield prowess and discipline has been variously attributed to their upbringing, training, usage, circumstance, or outright propaganda by various historians. Modern academic consensus takes a middle ground, pointing out that while the Arcani were exceptionally skilled and disciplined warriors, perhaps even among other elite soldiers of antiquity, their reputation for near-invulnerability both in antiquity and afterwards is in part due to the careful employment of the Arcani by Acrean generals. Arcani were rarely deployed in battle without adequate support and careful forethought, and were often deployed in critical positions. Historians also often point to the cultivation of the Arcani's reputation in the ancient world as an important part of their legend, as even when on the losing side of a battle the Arcani were often depicted in a heroic and determined light.