Benin Imperial Army (Principia Moderni IV Map Game)

The Kuzir Imperial Army is a standing force maintained by Kuziria, and tasked with defending its lands and subjects. It was originally established as the army of Benin during the age of the Ogisos during the 12th century, though it was reorganized into the partially standing army of the empire during the reign of Oba Ewuare in 1413, and later into a truly professional army in 1431 under Oba Isokan. Under the reformer Isokan, the army was transformed into a multi-faceted, caste-driven fighting force made up of professional soldiers with regular wages, standardized armor and weaponry, and permanent combat units stationed across the empire.

The original purpose of the army was that of expanding the borders of Kuziria to capture slaves which formed the backbone of the empire's economy and wealth. However, a series of reforms under Oba Ewuare saw the Royal Regiment, the precursor to the Imperial Guard, transformed into the standing army of Benin, which was augmented by the Metropolitan and District Regiments of Benin during wartime. A series of conflicts with the nations of Oyo, Igala, Nupe, and Songhai witnessed a marked evolution in the transformation of the army of Benin in each war. The roles of the warriors as well as their fighting tactics developed with each conflict, and the method of managing and training these warriors, as well as their interaction with the conquered lands, saw them blossom into the fighting force they are today.

By the modern day, the Kuzir Imperial Army was divided into ogun, or "hosts", each of which consists of about 5,000 fully armed and armored men in total. Currently, there are 30 ogun in Kuziria, all of which can be deployed to a region at a moment's notice. Each of these units was named and numbered, and stationed throughout the empire as a garrison, with the Metropolitan Army protecting the land and the Imperial Army serving as the mobile force during wars and lengthy campaigns. Almost all of the military forces as of the reign of Oba Isokan are stationed along the borders of the empire, with the exception of the Imperial Guard, which operates in and around the capital city of Edo, as well as the surrounding districts.