the Maeryxian Empire worked hard to gain a stable and intact military and standing army, which in the start, was made up of slaves, but as they became larger and stronger, the need to utilize slaves in such ways became less of a necessity, and they began conscripting and recruiting from their ever growing mass of population and citizens, along with hiring and recruiting mercenary companies into their ranks. As such, the Maeryxian military became less of a slave army and more as a stable career for those who joined.

And through the course of the last few centuries, has gone through several reforms, where the current design has been in use for the last 100 years. And have become heavily influenced by the armor and equipment of the Knights and warriors of Westeros, in both design and use, but even so, show many signs of their Essosi heritage and twist to it.

The Maeryxian military is commanded and lead by several generals, who (along with the military as a whole) answers only to the Emperor himself.

Their standard armors is made high quality steel and leather, and is armed with various forms of weaponry and equipment to further aid them in their efforts to protect and expand the Empire.  

Along with the army, the Maeryxian Empire have a fleet of warships, and uses different tools and siege weaponry such as ballistas/scorpions, trebuchets, siege towers, as well as war elephants and more.

To serve in the Maeryxian Army is mandatory for men of age, usually serving within the Legions as a soldier for 4 years at least, where they are payed weekly, along with housing, food and supplies during their service. 

(Longer, if you make an actual career out of it of course)

However, those that are of fighting condition even after their mandatory service, can be called upon as needed.  

The Maeryxian Army

Conquest, Progress, Peace

(The official words/motto of the Maeryxian military)

Currently, the design is rather simple, by splitting the army as a whole into several, evenly numbered "Legions", making up of about 5000-6000 soldiers each (infantry/footsoldiers, spearmen, archers etc.), who is lead by a single Legion Commander, the Legion is then again split into several smaller Units of about 400 men in each Unit, called a "Cohort", lead by a Centurion/Captain.

The soldiers, who are called "Legionaries" (singular Legionary), all have a chance to rise through the ranks and gain promotions, if they show enough skill and talent to hold on to their responsibilities as a higher rank.

Each rank is recognizable not only through their higher quality armor, but the color of the feather plumes that decorate their helmets. 

And added with these, Maeryx, much like what is quite common among the Free Cities of Essos, hires mercenary companies if needed, among these, the Khanites are quite common to be found within the Imperial ranks, as cavalry and skirmishers.

Consul of Maeryx

The Consul is a military and political title given to an individual, usually someone of high rank within the army. 

A Consul is usually only chosen when the Empire is at war and becomes the de facto leader, and commanding officer of the entire Maeryxian military campaign. Though usually, this title only lasts for as long as the current war/conflict holds, and becomes nullified once the campaign is over, be it in victory or defeat. But even so, the holder of the title of Consul is still seen as a hero of the Empire, and is greatly honored upon their return (and success of course). 

A Consul is chosen by the Conclave through a vote. Upon their acceptance, the Consul is then regarded as the Champion of the Imperium. 

Legion Legate

The Legate, or "General", is a commanding officer in charge of their own Legion, as such, they are distinctive from their Legion subordinates do to the higher quality and value of their armor, along with it's more detailed and decorated design, to further depict the status of the Commander of his armies. 

Legion Centurion 

The Legion Centurion, or "Commander" if you will, is an officer within the Imperial Legion, in charge of a Cohort (400 men), they are equipped for the most part with standard armors and equipment (though slightly better quality), but is recognized as a Centurion because of the golden badge attached/engraved into their pauldrons, and the dark orange-yellow feather plumes that decorate their helmets. 

Legion Praefect

The Legion Praefect, or "Captain" if you will, is a low ranking commanding officer within the Maeryxan Army. They are usually in charge of a small unit within a Cohort (usually anything between 50-100 men). They are equipped with the standard armors, but slightly more decorated then the common legionary's, but with deep blue feather plumes decorating their helmets.

Legionary

The infantry and foot soldiers of the Legion, the backbone of the Empire. Equipped with armors made from good quality steel and leathers. They are usually equipped with swords and shields or spears. But some are seen using war hammers, maces, axes etc. depending on if they have a talent for it or been trained in it's use, the feather plumes on their helmets are the Maeryxian red, to symbolize their rank as a soldier in the Empire. 

Legion Armor

From left to right

Imperial Acolyte (Healers, scribes, often priests form the Chantry), Imperial Legionary, Imperial Officers)

- Footsoldier, Archer, Scout (lower ranked/peasant soldier) - 

- Imperial/Maeryxian Hoplite, essentially, they are the Maeryxians version/answer to the Westerosi knights, heavily armored infantry/horsemen that hold a social ranking and status just underneath that of nobility (in some ways, even holds an equal ranking to nobility), and is often affiliated/employed to a noble family or House- Their helmets often hold several different colors of plume, some to show which noble family they represent, whole others to show what rank they have obtained in the Army, some doesn't even bother with the plumes at all. 

-Legate, Nobleman, along with other high ranked individuals within the military, the feather plumes on their helmets are usually white, red or black, or a mix of two or all three-

Sun Guard

There is another position within the military. Founded almost 200 years ago. 

Known as The Imperial Sun Guard, or The Sun Guard, often called the Emperor's Blades, or simply The Blades, is an elite regiment that acts as the Emperor's personal guard, answering only directly to the monarch. They are a small in numbers however (comparably), only having anywhere between 500-700 men within it's ranks. 

They make up for it however with their discipline, prowess and talent for combat and warfare. Along with acting as spies, agents and a "secret police force" of sorts for the Emperor. 

They are considered the elite of the Empire.

Their armor is foreign compared to the rest of the Empire, as their origins depicts, the Sun Guard originates from the Further East, where a band of warriors had arrived in Essos with the intent of war and conquest. 

However, after their defeat at the hands of Maeryxian Forces, they bent the knee and declared their loyalty to the Emperor.  

Sun Guard Armor

They are easy to recognize do to their exotic and iconic armor, of a deep crimson color with gold engravings and vibrant opal colored feathers decorating their helmets. Do to their heritage and origins, they are excellent swordsman, but also well versed in archery and horse riding as well.

Their signature weapon is a single edged, curved sword from their distant homeland. 

Cavalry

The Legions Calvary is a separate Regiment from the rest of the Legion forces, made of of soldiers who are trained in combat and warfare on horseback, and are often used to flank enemy lines, using shock tactics to strike, overwhelm and disorientate the enemy. Unlike the Legions, the Cavalry wears sets of heavy(er) armor, of metals overlapping each other over chainmail, with their main weapons being lances or spears, with swords and daggers as backup, some cavalry soldiers would also wield axes or maces/hammers as well. Their horses too are garbed in chainmail and metal for added protection. These Maeryxian soldiers are known as a Katiphrakt.

The Cavalry Regiment make up a rather small percentage of each Legion however, making up roughly 200-500 horsemen, depending on region/campaign/necessity, lead by a Cavalry Commander, which would usually be broken down into troops of about 30 Horsemen for each troop.

Each Cavalry Regiment is mostly made up of the Maeryxian Katiphrakt, along some some light cavalry and horse archers. 

Maeryxian Skirmishers

The Maeryxian Skirmishers has a bit of mixed purpose within the army do to their history within the Empire, originally, they trace their origins and roots back to the Khanite, a people that hails from the south-eastern regions of the Dothraki Sea. 

The Khanite carry quite a bit of similarities with their Dothraki cousins, such as they prowess in combat and horse riding. As such, many of the Khanite often join the Maeryxian military as mercenaries, and make up most of the army's light cavalry, horse archers, scouts and skirmishers/raiders, as well as using their nomadic heritage to form up "clans" that is spread across the Empire's territory, usually acting as the Empire's patrol and border guards/scouts when not in war, especially against their Dothraki cousins in the north.

They are the least organized units within the Maeryxan Army, and is often used to skirmish with the enemy forces, plunder/raid towns and villages etc.

They are often equipped with bows and sabers/curved swords and horse riding, much like their Dothraki cousins. However, unlike the Dothraki, the Khanite wears armor, and have long since stopped the tradition of keeping braids, but now wear helmets with masks, designed to look like faces (both human and beast-like) for intimidation. 

Auxiliary 

The Auxiliary are mercenaries under the employment of the Imperium. They are paid decently enough, but often rely on claiming plunder and looting on campaigns for most of their payment. 

Each Auxiliary Unit is made up of around 500-600 troops each. They often work as skirmishers and the like. 

Oftem times, these Auxiliary units, after their contract with the Maeryxian Army is completed, will often gather their comrades from the same old Auxiliary unit and form mercenary companies. Using their experience as soldiers to earn money and make names for themselves.    

Navy

Do to the Empire's location and role as a trading hub in the southern parts of Essos, they have built up a decent navy to protect the merchants and ships sailing within their territory.

They have designed war galleys that rely upon speed, with both sails and oars to make it adaptable and less dependent on the weather to sail. As well as a ram head on the front of the ship. They come in different sizes. 

There is even rumors of some of the ships being equipped with strange weapons, said to be able to breathe fire like the dragons of old. 

Maeryxian Navy Soldiers

The soldiers of the Maeryxian Navy is made up of sailors, who, unlike the Legions, don't wear much armor, if any at all, with only helmets, and leather armor as protection. They prefer to use sabers or short swords, as well as bows or crossbows. 

The Maeryxian Navy is made up of several fleets (anywhere from 5-10(ish) ships of various sizes)

Grand Admiral 

The Grand Admiral is the highest rank within the Naval forces of Maeryx, the one who is in charge of the Navy as a whole, and takes orders directly from the High Sovereign himself. 

Navy Admiral

The Maryxan Admirals are the commanding officers of their own fleets, an can be identified from their dark, and higher quality and better made designed armors,

Navy Captain

The Captains are identified by their golden helmets and green uniforms, usually seen wearing leather vambraces and vest/cuirass. The Captains, as the name suggests, is the officer in charge of their own ship. 

Maeryxian Navy Sailor/Crew.

The crew of the Navy wears next to no armor, if any at all, wearing dark red robes with only a steel helmet for protection.