03-06-2008, 11:45 AM
Now for some interesting estimates on the army of the Western Empire in the 5th C. :
Heather estimates that by the year 420, the Western Empire's field forces probably had a paper strength of 181 units, approximately 90,000 men, baesd primarily in Gaul, Italy, and Illyricum.
Outside of a decade later that number decreased to a paper strength of no more than 160 units, approximately 80,000 men.
As for the foederates and other invading Germanic tribes, they could field collectively about 120,000 fighting men. Heather extropolates his figures by looking at reliable sources like Ammianus and by sizing up one tribe's forces against another's based on 5th century conflicts in Gaul, Spain, etc...
So, the situation facing the Western Empire is all the more stark when we look at these estimates. Especially since the Empire's are only paper figures.
hock:
~Theo
Heather estimates that by the year 420, the Western Empire's field forces probably had a paper strength of 181 units, approximately 90,000 men, baesd primarily in Gaul, Italy, and Illyricum.
Outside of a decade later that number decreased to a paper strength of no more than 160 units, approximately 80,000 men.
As for the foederates and other invading Germanic tribes, they could field collectively about 120,000 fighting men. Heather extropolates his figures by looking at reliable sources like Ammianus and by sizing up one tribe's forces against another's based on 5th century conflicts in Gaul, Spain, etc...
So, the situation facing the Western Empire is all the more stark when we look at these estimates. Especially since the Empire's are only paper figures.
hock: ~Theo
Jaime
