Wetteran Military
Within the Stadts of Wetterau, each palatinate has the right and responsibility of raising their own army. This army is solely under the command of the palatinate, but can be requested by another palatinate or the Kaiser in times of need. Despite the lack of a defined central command, all of the palatinates do work well together when they need to and a fully organized Wetteran army is a fearsome opponent.
Structure
Each palatinate has the freedom to organize their armies how they see fit, but a few universalities are present throughout all of the Stadts of Wetterau. Firstly, the palatinates are one of the few political bodies on Serrus to have state-run armies. Regardless of personal heraldry, a noble is required to outfit their troops in the colors of the palatinate. Small details such as a sash or another item of personal heraldry are allowed though and each regiment may fly a unique banner as long as it contains the colors of the palatinate. Some elite units or personal bodyguards to a noble are exempt from these rules, but those are on a case by case basis acknowledged by the Minnesterrat.
Secondly, one universal troop type which is prevalent throughout the palatinates: the Landsknecht. A step above the common soldier, they are well equipped and better trained. Typically, these soldiers have some stature in society, such as a noble, a powerful commoner, or a grizzled veteran, to be chosen as a Landsknecht. These well trained troops are prepared to fight in the front line, taking an extra risk, in exchange for more payment. Typically a Landsknecht is equipped with a halberd, spear, pike, or firearm, but equipment and ratios may vary from palatinate to palatinate.
Even better trained than the average Landsknecht, the Doppelsöldner is the most elite troop throughout the palatinates. Those Landsknechts that schooled in the arts of the Kernig Krieschwert style are allowed by the Pfalzgrafs to take on the title "Master of the Kriegschwert", or in wetter, Meister des Kriegschwert. This title is relevant for the Landsknechts, because a certified master wielding the Hessen Flambarde or a Zweihander (Greatsword) is entitled to twice the pay of a normal soldier and thus granted the honorific of Doppelsöldner.
The stated ratio is usually that one Landsknecht in four are to be a Doppelsöldner. The training of Doppelsöldners is sometimes funded by the palatinate, but in general, most families must spend their own money to send a Landsknecht to train in one of the prestigious schools
or under a personal master.
