Defences of the western Roman empire in 5th century

[Robert Vermaat]

I've re-read parts of Vegetius and he seems to speak of the fleet in the present tense. He wrote his 'Epitome' just a few years before Constantius III so I'm not sure if this sheds any light on our discussion.

We don't know exactly when Vegetius wrote, other go for a late 4th c. date, during the reign of Theodosius. But that hardly matters, a fleet in existance during the reign of Constantine III or even Constantius III might have been out of use during the 430s.

A thought :

• if a fleet is not in use (due to a shortage of marines / oarsmen, etc.) then wouldn't ships be dry-docked to shield them from the elements ?

I can't be sure of course, but the Romans often built fleets when they had use for them, letting them rot away after the expedition was over.

We see a similar attitude over here on the Lower Rhine: rather than sailing upriver, Roman barges were only used locally for a longer period of time, or else scrapped and/or used as a harbour defence.

But getting back to the main issue : was it militarily, strategically unfeasible to transfer troops from Gaul to Africa ? Let's leave aside the political obstacles for a moment.

Of course it would have been possible, but not logical. We always see that, in the case of Late Roman expeditions to Africa, the troops come either from Spain or, more commonly, from Italy and/or the East.

But Africa did not belong to Aetius' diocese, and only later may have fallen under his sphere of influence. But by that time he was beset with enough problems about Goths, Franks, Alamanni and Huns, to even have to luxury to worry about Africa. Before that, it was Boniface's job, and after him Aspar. Then, Rome recognises Gaiseric as Roman ally.

Let's see - a timeline:

424 - The governor Boniface supports Valentinian and is rewarded with the rank of comes Africae.
425 - Aetius becomes magister militum per Gallias.
426 - The Visigoths are raiding in southern Gaul.
427 - Aetius lifts the Visigothic siege of Arelate (Arles). Vandals and Alans raid the African provinces. The comes Africae Boniface is suspected of planning a revolt. He is recalled, but refuses and is declared an “enemy of the Republicâ€