Armsman

An Armsman was a Barrayaran term for an armed liveried guard.

Each District Count was allowed twenty according to the provisions in Vorloupulous's Law, meaning that there were a maximum of 1200 at any time (although some Counts, like the impoverished Vorfolse,  employed less than the twenty allowed).

An Armsman was (supposed to be) always a citizen of his Count's District, and his word was legally his Count's. Armsmen came from a variety of backgrounds, though they all usually had some military or law enforcement skill: Bothari had served as a Sergeant in the Imperial Service, Pym was in Imperial Security, and Roic was a member of the Hassadar Municipal Guard.

All Armsmen contingents had an Armsman-Commander who led the men. It is unknown how an armsman became a Commander, but some combination of seniority and choice on behalf of the Count or his family seems to be likely. 

"After a dozen off-world trips in m’lord’s wake, Roic was getting practiced at the scramble to arrange m’lord’s luggage, in his role of sometime-batman, m’lord’s and his own travel documents, in his role as personal assistant—the job title Roic traveled under, as explaining the ancient and honorable rank of Armsman to galactics was always a losing game—and m’lord’s security."

―Roic's job description

Vorkosigan Armsmen

• Konstantine Bothari
• Elena Bothari-Jesek (sworn to Lord Mark briefly as "armswoman")
• Pym
• Roic
• Esterhazy
• Jankowski
• Zai (it is unknown if this was a first name or a last name)
• Vogti - Piotr's armsman with wife and aged mother in Vorkosigan Surleau
• Arde Mayhew - sworn to Miles Vorkosigan and an exception to the rule of having to be a citizen of his Count's District
• Bazil Jesek - also sworn to Miles Vorkosigan and an exception to that rule
• Rykov

Vorbarra Armsmen

• Kevi (possible, but not likely - his only appearance did not have him dressed in Vorbarra livery)
• Gerard

Vorrutyer Armsmen

• Szabo
• Joris

Vorbretten Armsmen

• Kelso

Oaths Associated with Armsmen

The armsman oath took the following form (the swearer was X, the swearer's home District was W, the lord was Y, the emperor was Z):

I, X, do testify I am [an unsworn freeman | a freeman/freewoman of the District W | a forsworn military vassal of Z], and take service under Y as an Armsman simple, and will hold him as my liege commander until my death or his releases me.

The lord being sworn to responded as follows:

I, Y, vassal secondus to Z, do accept your oath, and pledge you the protection of a liege commander; this by my word as Y.

When an armsman wished to marry, the formula went like this (X is person to marry):

My lord, I ask your permission and aid to marry X that my sons may serve you.

A favorable response took the form:

Yes, may they all serve me as well as you do.

Miscellany

An Armsman's Shout was performed at a Count's or Count's heir's wedding. The armsmen shouted together when the wedding was completed and the couple stepped out of their circle.