The Witcher dropped all eight episodes of its first season on Netflix last December 20, which means there's been plenty of time to make it through Season 1 already. However, if you are unfamiliar with the hit video game franchise or the Polish fantasy series created by Andrzej Sapkowski, you may still be a little confused about the makeup of the greater Witcher world and the history of its antagonist, the Empire of Nilfgaard.
There is a lot of information out there about the world of The Witcher but we want to break it down into easily digestible pieces. So, here are ten things you might not already know from the show about the Nilfgaardian Empire.
Nilfgaard is Old
Nilfgaard is a very old kingdom on the continent. It didn't just appear in Ciri and Geralt's lifetime, but existed has existed over a thousand years. It was not always as large or as strong, however.
In the beginning, Nilfgaard was no more than a small kingdom of no real renown in the south. It has obviously had lots of time in between to grow and gain power, but so have many of the kingdoms we have seen Nilfgard attack. Suffice it to say, Nilfgaard is a new problem on the continent, but by no means a new kingdom.
It was Once a Republic
Nilfgaardian history lacks a bit in detail, which is why it is impossible to say when in its 1000 year history it was a republic but, sometimes early on, the kingdom became a republic under the rule of a senate. This was a short-lived era in Nilfgaard's history, but still of note.
Nilfgaard, in its long existence, has changed rulers and governments multiple times. Its greatest threat to the countries surrounding it grew up recently, not during its time as a republic or kingdom, but rather as an empire.
The First Settlers Mixed with Elves
The first settlers who came to the continent and settled in the area that would grow to become the Nilfgaard Empire, mixed with the elves who already called the south home. The elves in the area were called the Black Seidhe, and most Nilfgaardians in Ciri and Geralt's time have at least some elven blood in their family lines.
Nilfgaard also embraced many aspects of the elven culture they found upon settling in the south and even took on their language.
The Ruler of Nilfgaard is Called The Emperor
Nilfgaard in Ciri and Geralt's time is an absolute monarchy. They do not have a king as head of state, however, rather they have an Emperor. The Emperor is sometimes also referred to as the Imperator. Emperors/Imperators have ruled Nilfgaard since the fall of its short-lived republic sometime at the beginning of its thousand year history.
The current Emperor of Nilfgaard is Emhyr var Emreis. He is the one who ordered the attack on Ciri's home kingdom of Cintra.
Emhyr var Emreis Had to Reclaim His Thrown
The current emperor, Emhyr var Emreis, had to reclaim his kingdom from a usurper, almost twenty-five years after his father was overthrown. The usurper's name is not a known detail in Nilfgaardian history.
Emhyr's father was overthrown when Emhyr was just a boy, but Emhyr has since been responsible for most of Nilfgaard's growing power and its growing reach over surrounding territories.
Kingdoms Who Surrender Are Spared
The provinces that Nilfgaard has recently taken over as the empire expands are usually ruled by a steward or a king, who then reports and is overseen by the emperor. In areas where a king willingly surrenders to Nilfgaardian forces, that king is allowed to retain his throne and his rule over that particular province.
However, his territory becomes a part of the Nilfgaardian Empire and the king becomes a vassal to the Emperor. Cintra, obviously, was not interested in this sort compromise, thus the loss of life that was seen in the first season of The Witcher.
Nilfgaard has a Huge Standing Army
Despite Cintra's refusal to surrender, Nilfgaard is known for having the largest standing army on the continent. At the time of the attack on Cintra, they hade over 320,000 troops. Almost 300,000 of them were sent to Cintra, the rest remaining behind to protect Nilfgaard's borders. Witchers and Sorcerers do not seem to be enough to take on such numbers.
They may be able to hold them back, as was seen at the Battle of Sodden Hill, but Nilfgaard's numbers are impressive and extremely hard to work around.
Southern Nilfgaardians See Themselves as Superior
Though the empire continues to grow under the guidance of Emperor Emhyr var Emreis, not all citizens of the empire are seen as equal.
Inhabitants from the southernmost part of the empire, the area originally inhabited by the elves and the original settlers, see themselves as being real Nilfgaardians. They do not believe citizens from the new provinces (whether they surrendered or were conquered) are real of Nilfgaard society.
The Capital of Nilfgaard is The City of Golden Towers
The City of Golden Towers is situated in the southern heart of the Nilfgaard Empire. It is the capital and the location of the Emperor's Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace is the main court for the Empire, the seat of power for Emperor Emhyr var Emreis.
The City of Golden Towers is also known as the City of Nilfgaard. The capital and its surrounding lands are where the real Nilfgaardians claim to live and claim to be from.
The National Symbol of Nilfgaard is The Sun
The Great Sun, with 16 rays protruding around it, is the national symbol of Nilfgaard as well as found on the royal coat of arms. It is meant to symbolize both radiance as well as heat and is also a symbol of all the Nilfgaard people. It is found on banners amongst the armed forces, as well as on heraldry and coins.
On Netflix's The Witcher, the sun is often depicted with fewer rays extending from the middle of the sun when presented on banners and soldiers' armor but otherwise, the national symbol remains the same.