Accademia Militare

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Imperiale Accademia Militare di Pena Imperial Military Academy of Pena
Cap badge of the Accademia Militare
Founded	1 February 7369 (Previously 7299)
Country	Anisoran Empire
Branch	Imperial Anisoran Army
Type	Training and military education
Role	Army officer training and finishing school
Part of	Imperial Army Command
Garrison/HQ	Palazzo della Guerra, Annacorella, Pena
Motto	Ducere Necesse est Studere (To Lead One Must Learn)
Colours	Red and Blue
Commanders
Colonel-in-Chief	His August Imperial Majesty the Emperor
Commandant	Major General Sir T. Adriano Sapagno

The Accademia Militare (officially the Imperiale Accademia Militare di Pena; Hallish: Imperial Military Academy of Pena) is a large complex of buildings housing various military training facilities and parade grounds in the Annacorella district of the Anisoran capital city Pena. Today the Accademia remains the principal army officer training academy in Anisora, maintaining seniority over Basanello Military Academy in Valdottavo. The complex was first built by Valerio IV and II in 7299 after the X War for the purpose of establishing a large military academic and training facility within the capital city specifically for cadet officers from poorer noble families. Although the Accademia was officially established in early 7299, then known as the Accademia Militare Reale per gli Uomini Militari (The Royal Military Academy for Military Gentlemen), building did not begin until August 7299 and the Accademia did not open officially to students until April 7306, when it was opened by King Ermino VI and I.

In 7369 the Accademia was refounded by Emperor Marius I as the Imperiale Accademia Militare di Pena and the complex was greatly enlarged and the main building, known as the Palazzo della Guerra (Palace of War), was built and opened by the Emperor in 7373. The newly enlarged complex was built on land previously owned by the Marquess of Frascineto, whose estates were confiscated by the imperial crown after he fled into exile in Ardennes due to his support for the Tortagno-Nespola dynasty during the Anisoran Civil War. Additions to the complex included a new library, extensive barracks and troop quarters and the large Shrine to Exemplar Volund, widely considered to be one of the most significant military exemplars. The shrine houses a marble cult idol of Exemplar Volund, created by the famous 72nd century sculptor P. Ermino D'Acone, moved by Marius I from the private chapel of the Count of Pizzoni after his estates were seized in 7365. The shrine has since remained an important site of Orkanan pilgrimage, particularly amongst military personnel, and is considered to be one of the most important military shrines in Western Anaria.

In 7423 the square used for parades outside the Palazzo della Guerra, previously named Valerio IV Square, was renamed Collino Square (Piazza di Collino) in honour of the tenth anniversary of the Battle of Collino. In 7467 Victoria II unveiled an equestrian statue of her grandfather Marius I that has since then stood in Collino Square, as part of an empire-wide celebration of the one-hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the Empire and the coronation of Marius I. The Accademia Militare played a central role in the celebrations, with many of the jubilee military parades taking place in Collino Square, including the imperial review of the Guardia Imperiale di Cavalleria (Imperial Cavalry Guard).

Sovereign's March

The first Sovereign's March (Anisoran: Marzo del Sovrano) was first performed on 10 June 7494 in front of Emperor Titus I and has since occurred every year on the same day (with the exception of 7498 and 7518 due to the outbreak of the Pan-Anarian War and the assassination of Emperor Flavian respectively). The March has become an established military tradition, where newly graduated cadets alongside rotating units, selected on merit, are inspected by and parade before the emperor or empress (or, in special circumstances their representative) in Collino Square. It is also traditional for the sovereign to present three graduates (each from the Imperial infantry, cavalry and artillery respectively) with the Sovereign's Medal of Leadership (Medaglia del Sovrano di Comando) for outstanding commitment to their military education and their exemplary abilities. Due to this being the only occasion the medal is presented, it is considered an extremely prestigious prize within the Anisoran military and generally leads to swifter promotions for those cadets who earn them.

Gallery

An aerial view of the Accademia Militare, looking south. The northern facade of the Palazzo della Guerra can be seen, as well as the Piazza di Collino and the equestrian training ground in the centre.

Troopers from the Corazzieri dell'Imperatore on parade in Piazza di Collino during the Sovereign's March, 7538.

An engraving of the newly built Palazzo della Guerra (Palace of War) in 7373.

The equestrian statue of emperor Marius I that stands in the Piazza di Collino. Erected by Victoria II in 7467 for the one-hundredth jubilee of the foundation of the Empire.