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 late republic.

Organization

Units such as the Joviani and Herculiani had 5,000 soldiers and 726–800 cavalrymen. Many units' sizes would vary. There were three types of units, the heavy infantry, medium infantry, and light infantry. The ''comitatenses'' were the heavy infantry. The auxiliaries, '' auxilia palatina'', and the '' peltasts'' were the medium infantry, and the '' psiloi'' were the light infantry. ''Comitatenses'' regiments consisted of 1,024 soldiers. ''Comitatenses'' legions could consist of 6,000 to 7,000 soldiers. Some of these soldiers would be lightly armed, while others would be heavily armed. During a battle the army would divide into 3-4 divisions. The army might use a double phalanx to protect its rear. Reserves would be located behind or between each division.

Command structure

* Comes
* Primicerius (Commander of the first cohort)
* Ducenarius (Commander of 200 soldiers)
* Centenarius (Commander of 100 soldiers)
* Centenarius Protector
* Centenarius Ordinarius
* Centenarius Ordinatus
* Biarchus (former Optio)
* '' Semisallis''

Tactics and usage

In the Late Roman Empire the army was divided into two major units, the '' limitanei'' border guards and mobile armies consisting of ''comitatenses''. The ''limitanei'' would deal with smaller raids, or, in the case of larger invasions, try to defend or stall long enough for the ''comitatenses'' legions to arrive. These ''comitatenses'' would be grouped into field armies. This strategy has been described as " defense in depth." To conserve manpower, the general would do his best to avoid a pitched battle. Rather than attack the enemy, the legions would form a shield wall and wait for the enemy to attack the Romans. The Romans would use their superior coordination to defeat the enemy. The Emperor would command a ''comitatenses'' field army to put down rebellions.

Terminology

Comitatenses is the Latin nominative plural of ''comitatensis'', an adjective derived from ''comitatus'' ('company, party, suite'; in this military context it came to the novel meaning of 'the field army'), itself derived from ''comes'' ('companion', but hence specific historical meanings, military and civilian).

However, historically it became the accepted (substantiated) name for those Roman imperial troops ( legions and auxiliary) which were not merely garrisoned at a '' limes'' (fortified border, on the Rhine and Danube in Europe and near Persia and the desert tribes elsewhere)—the '' limitanei'' or ''ripenses'', i.e. "along the shores"—but more mobile line troops; furthermore there were second line troops, named ''pseudocomitatenses'', former ''limitanei'' attached to the ''comitatus''; '' palatini'', elite ("palace") units typically assigned to the ''magister militum''; and the '' scholae palatinae'' of actual palace guards, usually under the '' magister officiorum'', a senior court official of the Late Empire.{{Citation needed, date=July 2008

List of ''comitatenses'' units

Among the ''comitatenses'' units listed by '' Notitia Dignitatum'' are:

Under the Western ''magister peditum''

# Undecimani (originally formed from the Legio XI Claudia pia fidelis, Moesia);
# Secundani Italiciani (originally formed from the Legio II ''Italica'', Africa);
# Tertiani Italica (originally formed from the Legio III ''Italica'', Illyricum);
# Tertia Herculea, Illyricum;
# Secunda Britannica, Gallias;
# Tertia Iulia Alpina, Italia;
# Prima Flavia Pacis, Africa;
# Secunda Flavia Virtutis, Africa;
# Tertia Flavia Salutis, Africa;
# Secunda Flavia Constantiniana, Africa Tingitania;
# Tertioaugustani ( Legio III ''Augusta'');

Under the ''Magister Militum per Orientem''

# Quinta Macedonica ( Legio V ''Macedonica'');
# Septima gemina ( Legio VII ''Gemina'');
# Decima gemina ( Legio X ''Gemina'');
# Prima Flavia Constantia;
# Secunda Flavia Virtuti, Africa;
# Secunda Felix Valentis Thebaeorum;
# Prima Flavia Theodosiana;

Under the ''Magister Militum per Thracias''

# Prima Maximiana Thebaeorum;
# Tertia Diocletiana Thebaeorum;
# Tertiodecimani ( Legio XIII ''Gemina''?);
# Quartodecimani ( Legio XIV ''Gemina Martia Victrix''?);
# Prima Flavia gemina;
# Secunda Flavia gemina.

References

Infantry units and formations of ancient Rome