10-17-2018, 02:57 PM
(10-17-2018, 01:59 PM)FlavivsĀ Aetivs Wrote: I think many of these forts were detachments of units
That's possible, although all three of the forts above have a Principia, and two have praetoriums, which would suggest a complete unit, or at least the headquarters of one. Most of them are in fairly rural or thinly inhabited areas too; we'd have to assume large numbers of troops spread around the surrounding area, quartered in villages or endlessly patrolling and only returning to base on rotation, perhaps...
The eastern ND lists a number of alae and cohortes de minore laterculo; while most of the garrison sites are unidentified, they are probably mostly small forts like Khan al Hallabat, or El Kab. Perhaps this 'lesser list' comprises a lot of much-reduced old units now relegated to local policing or frontier patrolling? The numeri equitum of the main list would be the 'real' cavalry force.
As for the ratios of troops - the frontier infantry would be perhaps be in units of a similar size.
Nathan Ross