(

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

for "master of soldiers", plural ) was a top-level military command used in the later

Roman Empire The Roman Empire ( la, Imperium Romanum ; grc-gre, Βασιλεία τῶν Ῥωμαίων, Basileía tôn Rhōmaíōn) was the post-Republican period of ancient Rome. As a polity, it included large territorial holdings around the Mediterr ...

, dating from the reign of

Constantine the Great Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to Constantine the Great and Christianity, convert to Christiani ...

. 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 Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

sources, the term is translated either as ''

strategos ''Strategos'', plural ''strategoi'', Linguistic Latinisation, Latinized ''strategus'', ( el, στρατηγός, pl. στρατηγοί; Doric Greek: στραταγός, ''stratagos''; meaning "army leader") is used in Greek language, Greek to ...

'' or as ''

stratelates ''Stratēlatēs'' ( el, στρατηλάτης, "driver/leader of the army") was a Greek term designating a general, which also became an honorary dignity in the Byzantine Empire. In the former sense, it was often applied to military saints, such ...

''.

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 prefect The praetorian prefect ( la, praefectus praetorio, el, ) was a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders be ...

s of their military functions. Initially two posts were created, one as head of the

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

, as the ''magister peditum'' ("master of foot"), and one for the more prestigious

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

, the ''

magister equitum The , in English Master of the Horse or Master of the Cavalry, was a Roman magistrate appointed as lieutenant to a dictator. His nominal function was to serve as commander of the Roman cavalry in time of war, but just as a dictator could be nomi ...

'' ("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 level: ''magistri peditum'' and ''magistri equitum'' were appointed for every praetorian prefecture (''per Gallias'', ''per Italiam'', ''per Illyricum'', ''per Orientem''), and, in addition, for

Thrace Thrace (; el, Θράκη, Thráki; bg, Тракия, Trakiya; tr, Trakya) or Thrake is a geographical and historical region in Southeast Europe, now split among Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, which is bounded by the Balkan Mountains to t ...

and, sometimes,

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

. On occasion, the offices would be combined under a single person, then styled ''magister equitum et peditum'' or ''magister utriusque militiae'' ("master of both forces"). As such they were directly in command of the local mobile field army of the ''

comitatenses The comitatenses and later the palatini were the units of the field armies of the late Roman Empire. They were the soldiers that replaced the legionaries, who had formed the backbone of the Roman military since the Marian reforms. Organization ...

'', which acted as a

rapid reaction force A rapid reaction force is a military or police unit designed to respond in very short time frames to emergencies. When used in reference to police forces such as SWAT teams, the time frame is minutes, while in military applications, such as with t ...

. Other ''magistri'' remained at the immediate disposal of the emperors, and were termed ''in praesenti'' ("in the presence" of the emperor). By the late 4th century, the regional commanders were termed simply ''magister militum''. In the

Western Roman Empire The Western Roman Empire comprised the western provinces of the Roman Empire at any time during which they were administered by a separate independent Imperial court; in particular, this term is used in historiography to describe the period fr ...

, a "commander-in-chief" evolved with the title of ''magister utriusque militiae'' often abbreviated MVM. This powerful office was often the

power behind the throne The phrase "power behind the throne" refers to a person or group that informally exercises the real power of a high-ranking office, such as a head of state. In politics, it most commonly refers to a relative, aide, or nominal subordinate of a poli ...

and was held by

Stilicho Flavius Stilicho (; c. 359 – 22 August 408) was a military commander in the Roman army who, for a time, became the most powerful man in the Western Roman Empire. He was of Vandal origins and married to Serena, the niece of emperor Theodosius ...

Flavius Aetius Aetius (also spelled Aëtius; ; 390 – 454) was a Roman general and statesman of the closing period of the Western Roman Empire. He was a military commander and the most influential man in the Empire for two decades (433454). He managed pol ...

Ricimer Flavius Ricimer ( , ; – 18/19 August 472) was a Romanized Germanic general who effectively ruled the remaining territory of the Western Roman Empire from 461 until his death in 472, with a brief interlude in which he contested power with An ...

, and others. In the east, there were two senior generals, who were each appointed to the office of ''magister militum praesentalis''. During the reign of Emperor

Justinian I Justinian I (; la, Iustinianus, ; grc-gre, Ἰουστινιανός ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was the Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565. His reign is marked by the ambitious but only partly realized ''renovat ...

, with increasing military threats and the expansion of the Eastern Empire, three new posts were created: the ''magister militum per Armeniam'' in the Armenian and Caucasian provinces, formerly part of the jurisdiction of the ''magister militum per Orientem'', the ''magister militum per Africam'' in the reconquered African provinces (534), with a subordinate ''magister peditum'', and the ''magister militum

Spania Spania ( la, Provincia Spaniae) was a province of the Eastern Roman Empire from 552 until 624 in the south of the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. It was established by the Emperor Justinian I in an effort to restore the western prov ...

e'' (c. 562). In the course of the 6th century, internal and external crises in the provinces often necessitated the temporary union of the supreme regional civil authority with the office of the ''magister militum''. In the establishment of the ''exarchates'' of

Ravenna Ravenna ( , , also ; rgn, Ravèna) is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire from 408 until its collapse in 476. It then served as the cap ...

and

Carthage Carthage was the capital city of Ancient Carthage, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classi ...

in 584, this practice found its first permanent expression. Indeed, after the loss of the eastern provinces to the

Muslim conquest The early Muslim conquests or early Islamic conquests ( ar, الْفُتُوحَاتُ الإسْلَامِيَّة, ), also referred to as the Arab conquests, were initiated in the 7th century by Muhammad, the main Islamic prophet. He estab ...

in the 640s, the surviving field armies and their commanders formed the first ''

themata The themes or ( el, θέματα, , singular: , ) were the main military/administrative divisions of the middle Byzantine Empire. They were established in the mid-7th century in the aftermath of the Slavic invasion of the Balkans and Muslim con ...

''. Supreme military commanders sometimes also took this title in early medieval Italy, for example in the

Papal States The Papal States ( ; it, Stato Pontificio, ), officially the State of the Church ( it, Stato della Chiesa, ; la, Status Ecclesiasticus;), were a series of territories in the Italian Peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope fro ...

and in

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

, whose

Doge A doge ( , ; plural dogi or doges) was an elected lord and head of state in several Italian city-states, notably Venice and Genoa, during the medieval and renaissance periods. Such states are referred to as " crowned republics". Etymology The ...

claimed to be the successor to the

Exarch of Ravenna The Exarchate of Ravenna ( la, Exarchatus Ravennatis; el, Εξαρχάτο της Ραβέννας) or of Italy was a lordship of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) in Italy, from 584 to 751, when the last exarch was put to death by the ...

List of ''magistri militum''

Unspecified commands

* 383–385/8:

Flavius Bauto Flavius Bauto (died c. 385) was a Romanised Frank who served as a ''magister militum'' of the Roman Empire and imperial advisor under Valentinian II. Biography When the usurper Magnus Maximus invaded Italy in an attempt to replace Valentinian II, ...

, ''magister militum'' under

Valentinian II Valentinian II ( la, Valentinianus; 37115 May 392) was a Roman emperor in the western part of the Roman empire between AD 375 and 392. He was at first junior co-ruler of his brother, was then sidelined by a usurper, and only after 388 sole rule ...

PLRE I, p. 1114 * 385/8–394: Arbogast, ''magister militum'' under

and

Eugenius Eugenius (died 6 September 394) was a usurper in the Western Roman Empire (392–394) against Emperor Theodosius I. While Christian himself, Eugenius capitalized on the discontent in the West caused by Theodosius' religious policies targeting p ...

PLRE I, p. 1114 * 383–388:

Andragathius {{short description, Roman army officer Andragathius was the Magister equitum of Magnus Maximus. He captured and murdered the Roman Emperor Gratian in 383, between Lyons and Grenoble. Andragathius threw himself into the ocean following the defeat o ...

* ?–480:

Ovida Ovida or Odiva (died 481/482) was a late Western Roman general and warlord of likely Gothic origin and the last Roman ruler of Dalmatia. Ovida initially served Julius Nepos, ruler of Roman Dalmatia and later western Roman emperor in Italy from 4 ...

''Comes et magister utriusque militiae''

* 392–408:

Flavius Stilicho Flavius Stilicho (; c. 359 – 22 August 408) was a military commander in the Roman army who, for a time, became the most powerful man in the Western Roman Empire. He was of Vandal origins and married to Serena, the niece of emperor Theodosius ...

* 411–421: Flavius Constantius * 422–425:

Castinus Flavius Castinus held the position of ''patricius'' in the court of Roman Emperor Honorius at the time of the Emperor's death, and most likely for some time before. He also served as consul for the year 424. Career In 422 he fought an unsucce ...

* 425–430:

Flavius Constantius Felix Flavius Constantius Felix (died 430) was a general of the Western Roman Empire, who reached the prominent rank of patrician before being killed probably by order of Flavius Aetius. For his consulate, in 428, he issued some consular diptychs, one ...

* 431–432:

Bonifacius Bonifatius (or Bonifacius; also known as Count Boniface; died 432) was a Roman general and governor of the diocese of Africa. He campaigned against the Visigoths in Gaul and the Vandals in North Africa. An ally of Galla Placidia, mother and adv ...

* 432–433:

Sebastianus Sebastianus (died 413), a brother of Jovinus, was an aristocrat of southern Gaul. After Jovinus usurped the throne of the western Roman Emperor Honorius in Gaul in 411, he named Sebastianus as Augustus (co-emperor) in 412. Coins bearing Sebastia ...

* 433–454:

* 455–456:

Avitus Eparchius Avitus (c. 390 – 457) was Roman emperor of the West from July 455 to October 456. He was a senator of Gallic extraction and a high-ranking officer both in the civil and military administration, as well as Bishop of Piacenza. He o ...

and

Remistus Remistus (died September 17, 456) was a general of the Western Roman Empire, commander-in-chief of the army under Emperor Avitus. Life Remistus was a Visigoth, as shown by his Germanic name. In 456 Remistus reached a high military rank under Empe ...

* 456: Messianus * 456–472:

* 472–473:

Gundobad Gundobad ( la, Flavius Gundobadus; french: Gondebaud, Gondovald; 452 – 516 AD) was King of Burgundy, King of the Burgundians (473 – 516), succeeding his father Gundioc of Burgundy. Previous to this, he had been a Patrician (ancient Rome), ...

* 475:

Ecdicius Avitus Ecdicius Avitus (c. 420 – after 475) was an Arverni aristocrat, senator, and ''magister militum praesentalis'' from 474 until 475. As a son of the Emperor Avitus, Ecdicius was educated at ''Arvernis'' (modern Clermont-Ferrand), where he lived a ...

* 475–476:

Orestes In Greek mythology, Orestes or Orestis (; grc-gre, Ὀρέστης ) was the son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, and the brother of Electra. He is the subject of several Ancient Greek plays and of various myths connected with his madness and ...

''Per Gallias''

* 352–355:

Claudius Silvanus Silvanus (died 7 September 355) was a Roman general of Frankish descent, usurper in Gaul against Emperor Constantius II for 28 days in AD 355. Origin and career Silvanus was born in Gaul, the son of Bonitus, a Laetic Frankish general who had ...

* 362–364:

Jovinus :''Jovinus is a Roman cognomen, most often used for a 5th-century Roman usurper emperor. This article is about the Roman usurper. For the saint, see Saint Jovinus. For the Frankish duke, see Jovinus of Provence.'' For the 4th century Roman general ...

, ''magister equitum'' under

Julian Julian may refer to: People * Julian (emperor) (331–363), Roman emperor from 361 to 363 * Julian (Rome), referring to the Roman gens Julia, with imperial dynasty offshoots * Saint Julian (disambiguation), several Christian saints * Julian (give ...

and

Jovian Jovian is the adjectival form of Jupiter and may refer to: * Jovian (emperor) (Flavius Iovianus Augustus), Roman emperor (363–364 AD) * Jovians and Herculians, Roman imperial guard corps * Jovian (lemur), a Coquerel's sifaka known for ''Zoboomafo ...

PLRE I, p. 1113 * ?–419: Gaudentius * 425–430:

* 435–439:

Litorius Litorius (died 439) was a Roman general of the closing period of the Western Roman Empire serving as Magister militum per Gallias mainly in Gaul under magister militum Flavius Aetius (from 435 until his death). Litorius is noted for being the last R ...

* 452–458: Agrippinus * 458–461:

Aegidius Aegidius (died 464 or 465) was the ruler of the short-lived Kingdom of Soissons from 461 to 464/465AD. Before his ascension, he became ''magister militum per Gallias'' (Master of the Soldiers for Gaul) serving under Majorian, in 458AD. An arden ...

* 461/462: Agrippinus * 462-473:

Gundioc Gondioc (died 473), also called ''Gunderic'' and ''Gundowech'', was a King of the Burgundians, succeeding his putative father Gunther in 436. In 406, the Burgundians under King Gundahar (Gundihar, Guntiar) at Mainz had crossed the Rhine and ...

* ?–472: Bilimer

''Per Hispanias''

* 441–442:

Astyrius Flavius Astyrius or Asturius ( 441–449) was a general and a politician of the Western Roman Empire. Biography Astyrius was the father-in-law of Merobaudes and belonged to an aristocratic family. He followed a military career: between 441 an ...

* 443: Merobaudes * 446:

Vitus Vitus is a Latin given name meaning lively and may refer to: *Saint Vitus (c. 290 – c. 303), a Christian martyr *Vitus of Hungary (died 1297), beatified friar *Vitus (bicycles), a French bicycle manufacturer * ''Vitus'' (film), a 2006 Swiss film ...

''Per Ilyricum''

* ?–350:

Vetranio Vetranio (died c. 356) was a Roman soldier, statesman and co-Emperor, a native of the province of Moesia (in modern Serbia). Life and career Early life Vetranio was born in the Roman province of Moesia to low-born parents, sometime in the ...

, ''magister peditum'' under

Constans Flavius Julius Constans ( 323 – 350), sometimes called Constans I, was Roman emperor from 337 to 350. He held the imperial rank of ''caesar'' from 333, and was the youngest son of Constantine the Great. After his father's death, he was made ...

PLRE I, p. 1112 * 361: Iovinus, ''magister equitum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1113 * 365–375:

Equitius Saint Equitius ( it, Sant'Equizio) was an abbot of the 6th century. He was born between 480 and 490 in the region of Valeria Suburbicaria (present-day L'Aquila-Rieti- Tivoli). Gregory the Great refers to Equitius in his ''Dialogues'' (I,4 in PL, ...

, ''magister utriusquae militiae'' under

Valentinian I Valentinian I ( la, Valentinianus; 32117 November 375), sometimes called Valentinian the Great, was Roman emperor from 364 to 375. Upon becoming emperor, he made his brother Valens his co-emperor, giving him rule of the eastern provinces. Vale ...

* 395–?

Alaric I Alaric I (; got, 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃, , "ruler of all"; c. 370 – 410 AD) was the first king of the Visigoths, from 395 to 410. He rose to leadership of the Goths who came to occupy Moesia—territory acquired a couple of decades ...

* 448/9 Agintheus (known from

Priscus of Panium Priscus of Panium (; el, Πρίσκος; 410s AD/420s AD-after 472 AD) was a 5th-century Eastern Roman diplomat and Greek historian and rhetorician (or sophist)...: "For information about Attila, his court and the organization of life generall ...

to have held office as the latter's embassy proceeded towards the court of Attila). * 468–474:

Julius Nepos Julius Nepos (died 9 May 480), or simply Nepos, ruled as Roman emperor of the West from 24 June 474 to 28 August 475. After losing power in Italy, Nepos retreated to his home province of Dalmatia, from which he continued to claim the western i ...

* 477–479:

Onoulphus Onoulphus, also Onoulf, Unulf and Hunulf (died 493) was a general of the late fifth century of Scirian origin. He served as ''magister militum per Illyricum'' from 477 to 479 as a general of the Eastern Roman Empire, then afterwards was a general fo ...

* 479–481:

Sabinianus Magnus Sabinianus Magnus (died 481) was a general of the Eastern Roman Empire, who fought in the rebellion of Theodoric Strabo against Emperor Zeno. Biography Much of the biography of Sabinianus Magnus is known through the Chronicle of Marcellinus Come ...

* 528:

Ascum Ascum ( el, ) was a general of the Byzantine Empire, active early in the reign of Justinian I (r. 527–565). He was in command of the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum. His name is reported by John Malalas. Both Theophanes the Confessor and Georg ...

* 529–530/1: Mundus (1st time) * 532–536: Mundus (2nd time) * c. 538:

Justin Justin may refer to: People * Justin (name), including a list of persons with the given name Justin * Justin (historian), a Latin historian who lived under the Roman Empire * Justin I (c. 450–527), or ''Flavius Iustinius Augustus'', Eastern Rom ...

* c. 544: Vitalius * c. 550: John * 568–569/70:

Bonus Bonus commonly means: * Bonus, a Commonwealth term for a distribution of profits to a with-profits insurance policy * Bonus payment, an extra payment received as a reward for doing one's job well or as an incentive Bonus may also refer to: Place ...

* 581–582: Theognis

''Per Orientem''

* c. 347: Flavius Eusebius, ''magister utriusquae militiae'' * 349–359: Ursicinus, ''magister equitum'' under ConstantiusPLRE I, p. 1112 * 359–360: Sabinianus, ''magister equitum'' under

Constantius II Constantius II (Latin: ''Flavius Julius Constantius''; grc-gre, Κωνστάντιος; 7 August 317 – 3 November 361) was Roman emperor from 337 to 361. His reign saw constant warfare on the borders against the Sasanian Empire and Germani ...

PLRE I, p. 1112 * 363–367: Lupicinus, ''magister equitum'' under

and

Valens Valens ( grc-gre, Ουάλης, Ouálēs; 328 – 9 August 378) was Roman emperor from 364 to 378. Following a largely unremarkable military career, he was named co-emperor by his elder brother Valentinian I, who gave him the eastern half of ...

PLRE I, p. 1113 * 371–378: Iulius, ''magister equitum et Peditum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1113 * 383:

Richomeres Flavius Richomeres or Ricomer (died 393) was a Frank who lived in the late 4th century. He took service in the Roman army and made a career as ''comes'', ''magister militum'', and ''consul''. He was an uncle of the general Arbogastes. He is pos ...

, ''magister equitum et peditum''PLRE I, p. 1114 * 383–388: Ellebichus, ''magister equitum et peditum''PLRE I, p. 1114 * 392: Eutherius, ''magister equitum et peditum''PLRE I, p. 1114 * 393–396: Addaeus, ''magister equitum et peditum''PLRE I, p. 1114 * 395/400:

Fravitta Flavius Fravitta (Greek: ; died 404/405) was a leader of the Goths and a top-ranking officer in the army of the Eastern Roman Empire. Fravitta was a member of the Visigoth aristocracy. He was also a pagan, and for this reason he was praised by Eun ...

* 433–446:

Anatolius Anatolius is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Anatolius of Laodicea (died 283), Bishop of Laodicea in Syria, also known as Anatolius of Alexandria * Anatolius, Vicarius of the Diocese of Asia in 35 ...

* 447–451:

Zeno Zeno ( grc, Ζήνων) may refer to: People * Zeno (name), including a list of people and characters with the name Philosophers * Zeno of Elea (), philosopher, follower of Parmenides, known for his paradoxes * Zeno of Citium (333 – 264 BC), ...

* 460s: Flavius Ardabur Aspar * –469:

Flavius Iordanes Flavius Iordanes was a Roman general and politician. He was holding the office of ''magister militum per Orientem'' when the Western Emperor Anthemius appointed him consul with Messius Phoebus Severus Messius Phoebus Severus (''floruit'' 469–470 ...

* 469–471:

* 483–498:

Ioannes Scytha John the Scythian ( la, Iohannes Scytha, el, ; ''floruit'' 482–498) was a general and a politician of the Eastern Roman Empire who fought against the usurper Leontius (484–488) and in the Isaurian War (492–497). Biography John was an off ...

* c. 503–505:

Areobindus Dagalaiphus Areobindus Flavius Areobindus Dagalaifus Areobindus ( grc-gre, Ἀρεόβινδος; 479–512) was an Eastern Roman general and politician. The scion of a distinguished line, he led troops in the Anastasian War, and served as consul in 506. During an urba ...

* 505–506: Pharesmanes * ?516–?518: Hypatius * ?518–529: Diogenianus * 520–525/526: Hypatius * 527: Libelarius * 527–529: Hypatius * 529–531:

Belisarius Belisarius (; el, Βελισάριος; The exact date of his birth is unknown. – 565) was a military commander of the Byzantine Empire under the emperor Justinian I. He was instrumental in the reconquest of much of the Mediterranean terri ...

* 531: Mundus * 532–533: Belisarius * 540:

Buzes Bouzes or Buzes ( el, Βούζης, ''floruit, fl.'' 528–556) was an East Roman (Byzantine) general active in the reign of Justinian I (r. 527–565) in the wars against the Sassanid Persians. Family Bouzes was a native of Thrace. He was like ...

* 542: Belisarius * 543–544: Martinus * 549–551: Belisarius * 555: Amantius * 556: Valerianus * 569:

Zemarchus Zemarchus ( el, Ζήμαρχος, fl. c. 569) was a Byzantine official, diplomat and traveller in the reign of Justin II. Biography In the middle of the 6th century, the Göktürks conquered the Sogdiana and thus gained control of the silk trade, ...

* 572–573:

Marcian Marcian (; la, Marcianus, link=no; grc-gre, Μαρκιανός, link=no ; 392 – 27 January 457) was Roman emperor of the East from 450 to 457. Very little of his life before becoming emperor is known, other than that he was a (personal as ...

* 573: Theodorus * 574: Eusebius * 574/574–577:

Justinian Justinian I (; la, Iustinianus, ; grc-gre, Ἰουστινιανός ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was the Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565. His reign is marked by the ambitious but only partly realized ''renovat ...

* 577–582:

Maurice Maurice may refer to: People *Saint Maurice (died 287), Roman legionary and Christian martyr *Maurice (emperor) or Flavius Mauricius Tiberius Augustus (539–602), Byzantine emperor * Maurice (bishop of London) (died 1107), Lord Chancellor and L ...

* 582–583:

John Mystacon John, surnamed Mystacon, "the mustachioed", ( el, , '' fl.'' 580–590),. was a prominent East Roman (Byzantine) general in the wars with Sassanid Persia during the reigns of Byzantine emperors Tiberius II (r. 578–582) and Maurice (r. 582–602) ...

* 584–587/588:

Philippicus Philippicus ( la, Filepicus; el, Φιλιππικός, Philippikós) was Byzantine emperor from 711 to 713. He took power in a coup against the unpopular emperor Justinian II, and was deposed in a similarly violent manner nineteen months later. ...

* 588:

Priscus Priscus of Panium (; el, Πρίσκος; 410s AD/420s AD-after 472 AD) was a 5th-century Eastern Roman diplomat and Greek historian and rhetorician (or sophist)...: "For information about Attila, his court and the organization of life generall ...

* 588–589:

* 589–591:

Comentiolus Comentiolus ( el, Κομεντίολος, ''Komentiolos''; died 602) was a prominent Eastern Roman (Byzantine) general at the close of the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Maurice (). He played a major role in Maurice's Balkan campaigns, a ...

* 591–603:

Narses , image=Narses.jpg , image_size=250 , caption=Man traditionally identified as Narses, from the mosaic depicting Justinian and his entourage in the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna , birth_date=478 or 480 , death_date=566 or 573 (aged 86/95) , allegi ...

* 603–604 Germanus * 604–605

Leontius Leontius ( el, Λεόντιος, Leóntios; – 15 February 706), was Byzantine emperor from 695 to 698. Little is known of his early life, other than that he was born in Isauria in Asia Minor. He was given the title of ''patrikios'', and ma ...

* 605–610 Domentziolus

''Per Armeniam''

Sittas Sittas ( el, Σίττας; died 538) was a Byzantine military commander during the reign of Emperor Justinian I (r. 527–565). During the Iberian War against the Sassanid Empire, Sittas was given command of forces in Armenia, similar to the status ...

*Peter, direct predecessor of John Tzibus *

John Tzibus John Tzibus or Joannes Tzibus ( la, Ioannes Tzibus, Greek: ) was a general of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. He served as the ''magister militum per Armeniam'', replacing the unpopular Peter by 535 at the latest. He founded the port city of Pet ...

(?–541) * Valerian *

Dagisthaeus Dagisthaeus (, ''Dagisthaîos'') was a 6th-century Eastern Roman military commander, probably of Gothic origin, in the service of the emperor Justinian I. Dagisthaeus was possibly a descendant of the Ostrogothic chieftain Dagistheus.* In 548, Da ...

(?–550) *

Bessas Bessas is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France. Population See also *Communes of the Ardèche department The following is a list of the 335 communes of the Ardèche department of France. The communes cooperate in th ...

(550–554) *

Martin Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austral ...

Heraclius the Elder Heraclius the Elder ( el, Ἡράκλειος, ''Herákleios''; died 610) was a Byzantine general and the father of Byzantine emperor Heraclius (r. 610–641). Generally considered to be of Armenian origin Heraclius the Elder distinguished hims ...

(c. 595)

''Per Thracias''

* 377–378:

Saturninus Saturninus may refer to: * Lucius Appuleius Saturninus (died 100 BC), tribune, legislator * Gaius Sentius Saturninus, consul 19 BC, military officer, governor * Marcus Aponius Saturninus (1st century AD), governor of Moesia, and partisan of first ...

, ''magister equitum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1113 * 377–378:

Traianus Trajan ( ; la, Caesar Nerva Traianus; 18 September 539/11 August 117) was Roman emperor from 98 to 117. Officially declared ''optimus princeps'' ("best ruler") by the senate, Trajan is remembered as a successful soldier-emperor who presid ...

, ''magister peditum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1114 * 378: Sebastianus, ''magister peditum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1114 * 380–383: Flavius Saturninus, ''magister peditum'' under

Theodosius I Theodosius I ( grc-gre, Θεοδόσιος ; 11 January 347 – 17 January 395), also called Theodosius the Great, was Roman emperor from 379 to 395. During his reign, he succeeded in a crucial war against the Goths, as well as in two ...

PLRE I, p. 1114 * 392–393:

, ''magister equitum et peditum''PLRE I, p. 1114 * 412–414:

* 441: Ioannes the Vandal, ''magister utriusque militiae'' * 464–467/468:

Basiliscus Basiliscus ( grc-gre, Βασιλίσκος, Basilískos; died 476/477) was Eastern Roman emperor from 9 January 475 to August 476. He became in 464, under his brother-in-law, Emperor Leo (457–474). Basiliscus commanded the army for an inva ...

* 468–474:

Armatus Flavius Armatus (died 477), also known as Harmatius, was an Eastern Roman military commander, ''magister militum'' under Emperors Leo I, Basiliscus and Zeno, and consul. He was instrumental in the rebellion of Basiliscus against Zeno, and in his s ...

* 474:

Heraclius of Edessa Heraclius of Edessa (Greek: Ήράκλειος, died 474) was an Eastern Roman Empire general who took part in the failed campaign against the Vandals in 468. Biography Heraclius was born in Edessa, Mesopotamia, according to Theophanes the Confe ...

* 511: Hypatius * 512– 513: Cyrillus * 513– 515:

Alathar Alathar (fl. 513) was an Eastern Roman ''magister militum'' of Hunnish descent. Biography Alathar was appointed ''Magister militum per Thracias'' by Anastasius I Dicorus. He succeeded the deceased Cyrillus in this capacity. It is possible that he ...

* 515: Vitalian * 525-c. 530: Germanus * 530–533:

Chilbudius ChilbudiusMartindale, Jones & Morris (1992), p. 286-287 or ChilbuldiusCameron, Ward-Perkins, Whitby (2000), p. 474 ( el, Χιλβούδιος, ''Khilboudios'') was a Byzantine general, holding the rank of magister militum per Thracias in the early ...

* 550–c. 554:

Artabanes Artabanes ( el, , Armenian: ''Artawan'', from Parthian ''Artawân'', '' fl.'' 538–554) was an East Roman (Byzantine) general of Armenian origin who served under Justinian I (r. 527–565). Initially a rebel against Byzantine authority, he fle ...

* 588:

(1st time) * 593:

(2nd time) * 593–594:

Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a sur ...

(1st time) * 594–c. 598:

(2nd time) * 598–601:

* 601–602:

(2nd time)

''Praesentalis''

* 351–361:

Arbitio Flavius Arbitio ( fl. 354–366 AD) was a Roman general and Consul who lived in the middle of the 4th century AD. In the Reign of Constantius II Arbitio was a general of Constantine I. Under Constantius II, the son and successor of Constantine ...

, ''magister equitum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1112 * 361–363:

Nevitta Nevitta ( 357–363) was a Roman military leader and official in the Roman Empire. His career is closely linked to that of the emperor Julian. He was master of the cavalry and in 362 served as consul. Life Nevitta is first mentioned regarding a b ...

, ''magister equitum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1113 * 363–379:

Victor The name Victor or Viktor may refer to: * Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname Arts and entertainment Film * ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film * ''Victor'' (1993 film), a French shor ...

, ''magister equitum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1113 * 366–378:

Flavius Arinthaeus Flavius Arintheus (or Arinthaeus; died AD 378) was a Roman army officer who started his career as a middle-ranking officer and rose to senior political and military positions. He served the emperors Constantius II, Julian, Jovian and Valens. H ...

, ''magister peditum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1113 * 364–369:

Flavius Iovinus The gens Flavia was a plebeian family at ancient Rome. Its members are first mentioned during the last three centuries of the Republic. The first of the Flavii to achieve prominence was Marcus Flavius, tribune of the plebs in 327 and 323 BC; ...

, ''magister equitum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1113 * 364–366: Dagalaifus, ''magister peditum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1113 * 367–372: Severus, ''magister peditum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1113 * 369–373: Flavius Theodosius, ''magister equitum'' under

PLRE I, p. 1113 * 375–388: Merobaudes, ''magister peditum'' under

Gratian Gratian (; la, Gratianus; 18 April 359 – 25 August 383) was emperor of the Western Roman Empire from 367 to 383. The eldest son of Valentinian I, Gratian accompanied his father on several campaigns along the Rhine and Danube frontiers and wa ...

and

Magnus Maximus Magnus Maximus (; cy, Macsen Wledig ; died 8 August 388) was Roman emperor of the Western Roman Empire from 383 to 388. He usurped the throne from emperor Gratian in 383 through negotiation with emperor Theodosius I. He was made emperor in B ...

* 388–395:

Timasius Flavius Timasius (died 396) was a general of the Roman Empire, a relative of the Empress Aelia Flaccilla, wife of Emperor Theodosius I (r. 379–395). Biography Timasius was a Roman officer, serving under the command of Emperor Valens (r. 364–378 ...

* 394–408:

, ''magister equitum et peditum''PLRE I, p. 1114 * 399–400:

Gainas Gainas (Greek: Γαϊνάς) was a Gothic leader who served the Eastern Roman Empire as ''magister militum'' during the reigns of Theodosius I and Arcadius. Gainas began his military career as a common foot-soldier, but later commanded the barb ...

* 400:

* 409: Varanes and ArsaciusPLRE I, p. 152 * 419–:

Plinta Flavius Plinta ( 418–438) was a Goths, Gothic politician and general of the Eastern Roman Empire. He held the title ''Comes#Imperial Roman curial titles and offices styled Comites, comes'', and then became Roman consul, consul and ''Magister mi ...

* 434–449: Areobindus? * 443–451: Apollonius * 450–451:

* 475–477/478:

* 485–:

Longinus Longinus () is the name given to the unnamed Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus with a lance and who in medieval and some modern Christian traditions is described as a convert to Christianity. His name first appeared in the apocryphal G ...

* 492–499:

John the Hunchback John the Hunchback or John ''Gibbo'' (Greek: Ίωάννης ό Κυρτός, la, Flavius Ioannes qui est Gibbus; ''floruit'' 492–499) was a general and a politician of the Eastern Roman Empire. Biography John was a native of Selymbria, modern ...

* 518–520: Vitalian * 520–?:

* 528: Leontius * 528–529: Phocas * 520–538/9:

* 536: Germanus * 536: Maxentianus * 546–548:

* 548/9–552: Suartuas * 562: Constantinianus (uncertain) * 582: Germanus (uncertain) * 585–c. 586:

* 626:

(uncertain)

''Per Africam''

Western Empire

* 373–375: Flavius Theodosius, ''magister equitum ''PLRE I, p. 1113 * 386–398:

Gildo Gildo (died 398) was a Roman Berber general in the province of Mauretania Caesariensis. He revolted against Honorius and the Western Roman Empire (Gildonic war), but was defeated and possibly committed suicide or was assassinated. Etymology The ...

, ''magister equitum et peditum''

Eastern Empire

* 534–536:

Solomon Solomon (; , ),, ; ar, سُلَيْمَان, ', , ; el, Σολομών, ; la, Salomon also called Jedidiah (Hebrew language, Hebrew: , Modern Hebrew, Modern: , Tiberian Hebrew, Tiberian: ''Yăḏīḏăyāh'', "beloved of Yahweh, Yah"), ...

* 536–539: Germanus * 539–544:

* 544–546: Sergius * 545–546: Areobindus * 546:

* 546–552:

John Troglita John Troglita ( la, Ioannes Troglita, el, ) was a 6th-century Byzantine general. He participated in the Vandalic War and served in North Africa as a regional military governor during the years 533–538, before being sent east to the wars with t ...

* 578–590:

Gennadius Gennadius or Gennadios may refer to: People * Gennadius of Constantinople (died 471), Patriarch of Constantinople from 458 to 471 * Gennadius of Massilia (5th century) Roman historian, best known for his work ''De Viris Illustribus'' * Gennadius (m ...

''Magister militae'' in Byzantine and medieval Italy

Venice

* 8th century: Marcellus * 737:

Domenico Leoni Domenico Leoni (Latin: ''Dominicus Leo Abrogatis''; life dates unknown) was a Byzantine ''magister militum per Venetiae'' in charge of Venice in 738. Following the murder of the doge Orso Ipato in 737, the Exarch of Ravenna imposed administration b ...

under

Leo III the Isaurian Leo III the Isaurian ( gr, Λέων ὁ Ἴσαυρος, Leōn ho Isauros; la, Leo Isaurus; 685 – 18 June 741), also known as the Syrian, was Byzantine Emperor from 717 until his death in 741 and founder of the Isaurian dynasty. He put an en ...

* 738:

Felice Cornicola Felice Cornicola (Latin: ''Felix Cornicula''), also Felicius, was a Byzantine ''magister militum per Venetiae'' of Venice in 739. Following the murder of the doge Orso Ipato in 737, the Exarch of Ravenna imposed administration by annual magistri mi ...

under

* 739: Theodatus Hypatus under

* 741:

Ioannes Fabriacius John Fabriacus (Giovanni Fabriciaco in Italian) was a Byzantine ''magister militum per Venetiae'' in charge of the duchy of Venice in 742. Following the murder of the doge Orso Ipato in 737, the Exarch of Ravenna imposed administration by annual '' ...

under

* 764–787: Mauricius Galba

Later, less formal use of the term

By the 12th century, the term was being used to describe a man who organized the military force of a political or feudal leader on his behalf. In the ''

Gesta Herwardi Hereward the Wake (Traditional pronunciation /ˈhɛ.rɛ.ward/, modern pronunciation /ˈhɛ.rɪ.wəd/) (1035 – 1072) (also known as Hereward the Outlaw or Hereward the Exile) was an Anglo-Saxon nobleman and a leader of local resista ...

'', the hero is several times described as ''magister militum'' by the man who translated the original

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

account into

Medieval Latin Medieval Latin was the form of Literary Latin used in Roman Catholic Western Europe during the Middle Ages. In this region it served as the primary written language, though local languages were also written to varying degrees. Latin functioned ...

. It seems possible that the writer of the original version, now lost, thought of him as the ''hereward''' ( and ) – the supervisor of the military force. That this later use of these terms was based on the classical concept seems clear.Gesta Herwardi
The term is used in chapters XII, XIV, XXII and XXIII. Se

for details.

References

Citations

Sources

* *

Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire ''Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire'' (abbreviated as ''PLRE'') is a work of Roman prosopography published in a set of three volumes collectively describing many of the people attested to have lived in the Roman Empire from AD 260, the date ...

(PLRE), Vols. I-III {{DEFAULTSORT:Magister Militum Ancient Roman titles Positions of authority Byzantine military offices Late Roman military ranks Military ranks