Corps of Dragoons (Montecara)
| Corps of Dragoons | |
|---|---|
| Corpo dei Dragòni | |
| Active | 1642–1792 1935–1944 1946–present |
| Country |  Montecara |
| Role | Gendarmerie |
| Size | 5,139 (2020) |
| Motto(s) | Legem servimus (Solarian: "We serve the law") |
The Corps of Dragoons (Montecaran: Corpo dei Dragòni), commonly referred to simply as the Dragòni or Dragoons, is a gendarmerie force responsible for armed police duties in Montecara. The Dragoons are approximately equal to a brigade in size; their designation as a corps is for reasons of tradition and history.
As a paramilitary force, the Dragoons are responsible for duties falling between the remit of the military and of civilian police. These include enforcing customs and immigration laws at Montecara's borders, safeguarding courts and penal institutions, patrolling national waters, and serving as a military provost.
Their elite unit is the Squadron of Cuirassiers (Montecaran: Scuadròn di Coraçièri), consisting of approximately 300 elite troops tasked with protecting the most important people and buildings in Montecara. Cuirassiers are known for their brass helmets and breastplates as well as their strength and height.
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 Dragoons 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 Dragoons quickly earned a reputation for heavy-handed policing and for engaging in criminal behavior themselves, helping themselves to wine from inns and farms and harassing 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.
Organization
The bulk of Dragoons are tasked with the standard police duties of protecting public safety by preventing and investigating crime. Specialized units include:
- Border police
- Judicial police
- Maritime police
- Military police
- Special operations