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Primani
The ''Primani'' was a '' legio palatina'' of the Late Roman army, active in the 4th and 5th century. History They fought against the Alemanni under the ''Caesar'' Julian in the Battle of Strasbourg (357). They were deployed in the middle of the second line of the Roman formation, with three ''auxilia palatina'' units on their left and other three, among which ''Regii'' and '' Batavi'', on their right. During the battle, the Roman first line broke under the pressure of the Alamannic infantry, which pushed on the ''Primani''. The soldiers resisted and counter-attacked, causing the enemy to flee. The ''Notitia Dignitatum'', a document describing civil and military offices in the Western Roman Empire around 420 and in the Eastern Roman Empire in 395 circa, records the existence of the ''Primani iuniores'' under the command of the ''comes Britanniarum'', therefore within the ''comitatus'' of the ''Magister peditum'' of Gaul, and that of the ''Primani'' under the army of the second ' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Battle Of Strasbourg
The Battle of Strasbourg, also known as the Battle of Argentoratum, was fought in 357 between the Western Roman army under the ''Caesar'' (deputy emperor) Julian and the Alamanni tribal confederation led by the joint paramount King Chnodomar. The battle took place near Strasbourg (Alsace, France), called Argentoratum in Ammianus Marcellinus' account, ''Argentorate'' in the Tabula Peutingeriana (Section 2). Although possibly outnumbered, the Roman army won a decisive victory after a hard-fought struggle with the Alamanni. With negligible casualties of their own, the Romans drove the Alamanni beyond the river, inflicting heavy losses. The Roman force, the imperial escort army of Julian, was small but of high quality. The battle was won by the skill of the Roman infantry, with the Roman cavalry initially performing poorly. The battle was the climax of Julian's campaigns in 355–57 to evict barbarian marauders from Gaul and to restore the Roman defensive line of fortifications ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Regii Scutum
The ''Regii'' or ''Reges'' was a Germanic ''auxilia palatina'' (light infantry) unit of the Late Roman army, active between the 4th and the 5th century. There was also a ''legio comitatensis'' with the same name. The Regii had its main period of action in the mid-4th century when they were recruited to fight against the Alamannic incursions and invasions of the Roman Empire. Most likely the Regii themselves were composed of Alamannic or Suebi recruits, and were recruited for their extensive knowledge and familiarity with the Suebic Alamanni and their allies. History This unit was probably formed under Constantius II or Magnentius, even if another reconstruction suggests they originated during the Constantinian period and formed by the Alamannic king Crocus. The ''Regii'' belonged to the army of the emperor Julian. They fought in the Battle of Strasbourg (357): they were deployed on the second line and held, together with the '' Batavi'', the pressure of the Alamannic cavalry ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Notitia Dignitatum
The ''Notitia Dignitatum'' (Latin for "The List of Offices") is a document of the late Roman Empire that details the administrative organization of the Western and the Eastern Roman Empire. It is unique as one of very few surviving documents of Roman government, and describes several thousand offices from the imperial court to provincial governments, diplomatic missions, and army units. It is usually considered to be accurate for the Western Roman Empire in the AD 420s and for the Eastern or Byzantine Empire in the AD 390s. However, the text itself is not dated (nor is its author named), and omissions complicate ascertaining its date from its content. Copies of the manuscript There are several extant 15th- and 16th-century copies of the document, plus a colour-illuminated iteration of 1542. All the known, extant copies are derived, either directly or indirectly, from ''Codex Spirensis'', a codex known to have existed in the library of the Chapter of Speyer Cathedral in 1542, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Magister Militum Praesentalis
(Latin for "master of soldiers", plural ) was a top-level military command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Constantine the Great. The term referred to the senior military officer (equivalent to a war theatre commander, the emperor remaining the supreme commander) of the empire. In Greek sources, the term is translated either as ''strategos'' or as ''stratelates''. Establishment and development of the command The title of ''magister militum'' was created in the 4th century, when the emperor Constantine the Great deprived the praetorian prefects of their military functions. Initially two posts were created, one as head of the infantry, as the ''magister peditum'' ("master of foot"), and one for the more prestigious cavalry, the ''magister equitum'' ("master of horse"). The latter title had existed since republican times, as the second-in-command to a Roman ''dictator''. Under Constantine's successors, the title was also established at a territorial l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Legio I Flavia Pacis
Legio was a Roman military camp south of Tel Megiddo in the Roman province of Galilee. History Following the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-136CE), Legio VI Ferrata was stationed at Legio near Caparcotna. The approximate location of the camp of the Legio VI Ferrata was known from the persistence of its name in the form Lajjun by which a Palestinian Arab village was known. It was close to the ancient town of Rimmon, perhaps the Hadad-rimmon of , which in the 3rd century was renamed Maximianopolis (City of Maximian) by Diocletian in honor of his co-emperor Maximian. Both places were within a single episcopal see, generally called Maximianopolis, but in one list of such sees the name ''Legionum'' (genitive plural of the Latin word ''Legio'') is used, where the Greek original has "Maximianopolis". Legio lies along Palestine's Via Maris, an ancient trade route linking Egypt with the northern empires of Syria, Anatola and Mesopotamia in the early Bronze Age. Archaeological methods and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Comes Africae
''Comes'' ( ), plural ''comites'' ( ), was a Roman title or office, and the origin Latin form of the medieval and modern title "count". Before becoming a word for various types of title or office, the word originally meant "companion", either individually or as a member of a collective denominated a "''comitatus''", especially the suite of a magnate, being in some instances sufficiently large and/or formal to justify specific denomination, e.g. a "''cohors amicorum''". "''Comes''" derives from "''com-''" ("with") and "''ire''" ("go"). Ancient Roman religion ''Comes'' was a common epithet or title that was added to the name of a hero or god in order to denote relation with another god. The coinage of Roman Emperor Constantine I declared him "''comes''" to Sol Invictus ("Unconquered Sun") ''qua'' god. Imperial Roman curial titles and offices styled ''Comites'' Historically more significant, "''comes''" became a secular title granted to trusted officials of the Imperial ''Curi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Magister Peditum
(Latin for "master of soldiers", plural ) was a top-level military command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Constantine the Great. The term referred to the senior military officer (equivalent to a war theatre commander, the emperor remaining the supreme commander) of the empire. In Greek sources, the term is translated either as ''strategos'' or as ''stratelates''. Establishment and development of the command The title of ''magister militum'' was created in the 4th century, when the emperor Constantine the Great deprived the praetorian prefects of their military functions. Initially two posts were created, one as head of the infantry, as the ''magister peditum'' ("master of foot"), and one for the more prestigious cavalry, the ''magister equitum'' ("master of horse"). The latter title had existed since republican times, as the second-in-command to a Roman ''dictator''. Under Constantine's successors, the title was also established at a territorial l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Comitatus (classical Meaning)
''Comitatus'' was in ancient times the Latin term for an armed escort or retinue. The term is used especially in the context of Germanic warrior culture for a warband tied to a leader by an oath of fealty and describes the relations between a lord and his retainers, or thanes (OE þegn). The concept is generally considered by scholars to be more of a literary trope rather than one of historical accuracy. Scholars Bruce Mitchell and Fred C. Robinson describe the ''comitatus'' more fully:An heroic warrior brought up in this 'comitatus''tradition would show a reckless disregard for his life. Whether he was doomed or not, courage was best, for the brave man could win ''lof'' lory among menwhile the coward might die before his time. This is the spirit which inspired the code of the ''comitatus''. While his lord lived, the warrior owed him loyalty unto death. If his lord were killed, the warrior had to avenge him or die in the attempt. The lord in his turn had the duty of being genero ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Comes Britanniarum
The (Latin for "Count of the Britains") was a military post in Roman Britain with command over the mobile field army from the mid-4th century onwards. It is listed in the List of Offices as being one of the three commands in Britain, along with the Dux Britanniarum and the Comes litoris Saxonici. His troops were the main field army (''comitatenses'') in Britain and not the frontier guards ('' limitanei'') commanded by the other two. Appointment Archaeologists Timothy W. Potter and Catherine Johns believe that the ''Comes Britanniarum'' led an ''ad hoc'' force created to deal with a particular situation. They seem to have been appointed during times of crisis. It appears the title was temporary and did not remain for long, and certainly did not have the permanence of the Dux Britanniarum and the Comes litoris Saxonici, but for the duration of the crisis the ''Comes Britannarum'' had chief command of Roman military forces in Britain. The first "Count" in Britain was Gratianus F ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Batavi (military Unit)
The ''Batavi'' was an ''auxilia palatina'' (infantry) unit of the late Roman army, active between the 4th and the 5th century. It was composed by 500 soldiers and was the heir of those ethnic groups that were initially used as auxiliary units of the Roman army and later integrated in the Roman Empire after the ''Constitutio Antoniniana''. Their name was derived from the people of the Batavi. In the sources they are usually recorded together with the ''Heruli'', and it is probable the two units fought together. At the beginning of the 5th century two related units are attested, the ''Batavi seniores'' and the ''Batavi iuniores''. History ''Batavi'' The ''Batavi'' belonged to the army of the emperor Julian, and fought in the Battle of Strasbourg (357). Deployed in the second line, together with the ''Regii'', the ''Batavi'' sustained the assault of the outnumbering Alamannic infantry, which had broken the Roman first line. Pushed back until the hill where the Roman camp ha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ammianus Marcellinus
Ammianus Marcellinus (occasionally Anglicisation, anglicised as Ammian) (born , died 400) was a Roman soldier and historian who wrote the penultimate major historical account surviving from Ancient history, antiquity (preceding Procopius). His work, known as the ''Res Gestae'', chronicled in Latin the history of Rome from the accession of the Emperor Nerva in 96 to the death of Valens at the Battle of Adrianople in 378, although only the sections covering the period 353 to 378 survive. Biography Ammianus was born in the East Mediterranean, possibly in Syria Palaestina, Syria or Phoenice (Roman province), Phoenicia, around 330. His native language is unknown but he likely knew Greek as well as Latin. The surviving books of his history cover the years 353 to 378. Ammianus served as an officer in the army of the emperors Constantius II and Julian (emperor), Julian. He served in Gaul (Julian) and in the east (twice for Constantius, once under Julian). He professes to have been "a f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Palatini (Roman Military)
The ''palatini'' (Latin for "palace troops") were elite units of the Late Roman army mostly attached to the ''comitatus praesentales'', or imperial escort armies. In the elaborate hierarchy of troop-grades, the ''palatini'' ranked below the ''scholares'' (members of the elite cavalry regiments called the ''scholae''), but above the ''comitatenses'' (regiments of the regional ''comitatus'') and the ''limitanei'' (border troops). The term derives from ''palatium'' ("palace") a reference to the fact that the regiments originally served in the imperial escort armies only. Later they were also found in the regional ''comitatus'' (mobile field armies). There, however, they continued to enjoy higher status and pay than the rest of the ''comitatus'' regiments. At the time the ''Notitia Dignitatum'' was written (ca. 395 for the Eastern Empire), 80% of the regiments in the eastern ''comitatus praesentales'' were graded ''palatini'' and 14% of those in the regional ''comitatus''. The ''palati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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