Corps of Dragoons (Montecara)
| Corps of Dragoons | |
|---|---|
| Corpo dei Dragòni | |
| Active | 1642–present |
| Country |  Montecara |
| Role | Gendarmerie |
| Size | 2,439 (2020) |
| Motto(s) | Legem servimus (Solarian: We serve the law) |
The Corpo dei Dragòni (Montecaran, Corps of Dragoons), commonly referred to simply as the Dragòni, is a gendarmerie force responsible for armed police duties. The Dragòni are approximately equal to a small brigade or large regiment in size; their designation as a corps is for reasons of tradition and history. The overall commander is a colonel with pay grade O-6.
History
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There had long been a need for patrols in Montecara's hinterland to combat tax evasion and common crime. The Dragòni were established by Doxe Coràdo Muràca in 1642 to fulfill these needs. They were intended as a form of mounted infantry that would use their mounts to reach distant villages that would otherwise be beyond the routine reach of the state. Unfortunately for the citizens they patrolled, the Dragòni quickly earned a reputation for heavy-handed policing and for engaging in criminal behavior themselves, helping themselves to wine and liquor from inns and farms and abusing isolated women. Efforts by the Doxe and state apparatus to instill discipline were only occasionally successful, but their dread reputation had its positive side as well. The most unruly members of the corps found themselves shipped off to the outlands of the Stado Ultramarìn on colonial duty, where their fearsome ways proved useful for keeping locals in check.
The Dragòni have long had a reputation for exercising a reactionary political influence and for being one of the most scandal-plagued organs of the Montecaran state. Nevertheless, they remain an integral component of the state security apparatus which few have challenged successfully.
Scuadròn di Coraçièri
The elite bodyguard unit of the Dragòni is the Scuadròn di Coraçièri (Montecaran, Squadron of Cuirassiers). It consists of approximately 300 elite dragoons tasked with protecting the most important people and buildings in Montecara. They are known for their brass helmets and breastplates as well as their strength and height, and can be seen in the background at most major state events.