The (literally: "count of

Strasbourg Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...

region") was in late antiquity commander of units of the mobile field army of the Western Roman Empire, operating along the Rhine frontier ( Danube–Iller–Rhine Limes) in the Diocese of Gaul.

Definition

The title '' Comes'' was usually awarded to members of the highest rank of the nobility (''vir spectabilis''), or to the closest confidants of the Emperor. In the late Roman army, it was then transferred to the commanders of mobile field armies ('' comitatenses'') or to officers who were entrusted with temporary special commands (''Comes rei militaris'') . His direct superior was the '' magister peditum praesentalis'' of the West, the supreme commander of the infantry troops. His area of responsibility (''Tractus'') mainly included the region around the Legion camp Argentoratum (in the present day Strasbourg and Alsace), in the province of

Germania Prima Germania Superior ("Upper Germania") was an imperial province of the Roman Empire. It comprised an area of today's western Switzerland, the French Jura mountains, Jura and Alsace regions, and southwestern Germany. Important cities were Besanço ...

. According to one source, the position was created around 408, following the barbarian occupation of most of Gaul, and lasted until Gaul was recovered in 416.

References

{{italic title Ancient Roman titles Argentoratensis, tractus Military ranks of ancient Rome