The Frateris Militia are the Ecclesiarchy’s unofficial holy hordes, mobs of Imperial citizens who take up arms for a War of Faith. They exist because the official church army was outlawed, and they’re as dangerous to their own side as they are to the enemy.
What the frateris actually are
The Frateris Militia are masses of the faithful gathered by the Ecclesiarchy to fight Wars of Faith against enemies of the Emperor and mankind. They’re the unofficial successors of the Frateris Templars, which were forcibly disbanded by the Decree Passive after the Reign of Blood.
Their existence is tolerated only because they’ve got no formal connection to the Ecclesiarchy. On paper they’re just loyal Imperial citizens proving their dedication to the Imperial Cult. In practice, a rousing Preacher or Confessor can whip the local population into a holy mob, a Missionary might pick up a following of converts, or a temple under attack might open its vaults and arm everyone inside.
Why they matter
The Frateris Militia fill a gap the Ecclesiarchy isn’t legally allowed to fill with a standing army. When a War of Faith is declared, they turn up alongside the Imperial Guard and the Adepta Sororitas, often with nothing but faith and whatever weapons they can find.
That makes them useful and terrifying in equal measure. The Sororitas have been known to spend Frateris lives by the thousand if it stops the enemy. Some militia are zealous enough to charge straight into Chaos Space Marines, who see them as no different from their own cultists, just with a different name on their lips.
The problems they bring
The clergy is wary of raising a Frateris force, and with good reason. Mobs of ill-trained fanatics are hard to control and are just as likely to kill innocent civilians as they are to fight the actual enemy.
If the official forces of a War of Faith get beaten, the militia often loses focus and breaks into roving bandit hordes that pillage and slaughter the locals. When an inspirational figure holds them together, though, they’ve pulled off feats of courage that would make veteran Guardsmen go pale.
Who watches them
The Ordo Hereticus keeps an eye on the Frateris Militia to make sure they follow the spirit of the Decree Passive and that the prohibitions stay in force. After the Great Rift and into the Era Indomitus, the sheer desperation of the times means some worlds have seen the Ecclesiarchy push those boundaries further than usual.
The most notorious example of an extreme Frateris sect is the Crusade of the Red Redemption, better known as the Redemptionists. Their creed is violence, paranoia, and xenophobia, and they see humans as inherent sinners unless proven otherwise. They gather for Wars of Faith often.
Key facts
- The Frateris Militia are unofficial successors to the Frateris Templars, disbanded by the Decree Passive after the Reign of Blood.
- They’re raised for Wars of Faith and have no formal connection to the Ecclesiarchy, which is why they’re tolerated.
- They’re often ill-trained and hard to control, and can turn to banditry if their leaders fall.
- The Ordo Hereticus monitors them to enforce the Decree Passive.
- The Redemptionists are the most infamous extreme Frateris sect.
FAQ
What’s the difference between the Frateris Militia and the Frateris Templar?
The Frateris Templars were the Ecclesiarchy’s official military until the Decree Passive disbanded them after the Reign of Blood. The Militia are their unofficial successors, tolerated because they’re not formally tied to the church.
Are the Frateris Militia part of the Ecclesiarchy?
No. That’s the whole point. They’re technically just Imperial citizens who’ve chosen to take up arms, which lets the Ecclesiarchy use them without breaking the Decree Passive.
How do the Adepta Sororitas use the Frateris Militia?
They use them as expendable zealots, sometimes throwing thousands of them at an enemy to slow it down. Some militia are fanatical enough to charge Chaos Space Marines head-on.