Imperial Order

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, the Imperial Order is the brutal empire from the Old World, founded and run by Emperor Jagang. Their philosophy is a lifestyle of constant sacrifice and service to the "greater good" of mankind in which individual rights and accomplishments are viewed as selfishness and evil. The Order teaches that mankind is purely evil and the only way to overcome their evil natures is by constant charitable and good works designed to help their fellow man in service of the Creator.

There are many contrasts made by Goodkind throughout the story, between the religious zealotism, and a socialist reigme. Many view the Order as a Hypocritcal, in their practices and procedures. A likeness can be drawn to the Blood of the Fold who were introduced earlier in the series, although the Imperial Order functions on a far grander scale, they also employ magic in an effort to eradicate it, and hunt those who are gifted in a similar manner to the Order. The Order is brutal and thorough but can be very cunning and diplomatic when the need arises, many nations throughout the series have welcomed the Imperial Order into their lands, as saviors, only to be shown their ‘True Colours’.

The ultimate goal of the Imperial Order is to create a world free of magic and to bring the world under the brutal rule and philosophy of the Order. Though they seek to exterminate magic they utilize wizards and Sisters of the Light and Sisters of the Dark to accomplish their goals. Jagang controls these gifted slaves with his ability as a DreamWalker.

The Imperial Order ruled only the Old World until Richard Rahl destroyed the Towers of Perdition, blocking the way between the Old and New World. The destruction of that boundary allowed the massive armies of the Order to invade the New World.