Black Company Lieutenant

Lieutenant is the second-in-command position of the Black Company, answering only to the captain. Military companies are usually between 100 - 300 soldiers, but the term is used regardless of the size of Black Company.

The lieutenant is appointed by the captain, unlike the captainship which is an elected position. Often the lieutenant is elected captain after the current captain is killed or resigns, but there are exceptions.

The office of lieutenant is not always filled. When the Company is reduced to a small number of brothers there are not enough soldiers to justify the lieutenant position. Examples include the time following the Battle of the Barrowland and the Kialune Wars.

In the Black Company series three different characters have held the position of lieutenant of the Black Company.

• The Lieutenant
  • Appointed sometime before or during the Company's service to the Syndic of Beryl. Elected captain after the Battle of Juniper, though he continued to be called the Lieutenant.

• Elmo
  • Appointed sometime after the Battle of Juniper, when the company joined forces with The White Rose and took refuge on the Plain of Fear.
• Lady
  • Appointed at the beginning of the Company's service to Taglios. Assumed captainship after the presumed death of Croaker and the isolation of other officers during the Siege of Dejagore. Later resigned the position when Croaker returned and was again appointed lieutenant.
• Suvrin
  • Appointed following the Battle for the Grove of Doom. Shorty afterward was elected captain during the Battle of Taglios.