03-05-2014, 02:24 PM
Macedon wrote:
Yes, In Leo's Tactica, a usual tagma, arithmos or vandon (bandon) consists of 200-400 men, an average of 300 men and is led by a comes. The same information (but as regards cavalry alone IIRC) is given by Maurice. His tagma, arithmos or vandon is 200-400 man strong, led by a comes or a tribunus and gives the additional information that one of Optimates can have more.
Thank you Macedon. Much appreciated.
This question had arisen from a discussion on another forum. Julian (Letters to the Athenians 280D) himself writes that he dispatched four, then another three arithmoi of infantry to Constantius.
Now I understand arithmoi here could mean a contingent, but the fact Ammianus mentions bodies of 300 men being selected had raised my curiosity. The Pythagorean etymology for arithmoi means a purity composed of units – at least two units. I’m still trying to track down the source for this (Arixonthes?) but somehow I don’t believe the Pythagoean arithmos applies to Julian’s arithmoi.
Could the mathematical gap between the organisation of Vegetius and Maurice be smaller than we think?
Yes, In Leo's Tactica, a usual tagma, arithmos or vandon (bandon) consists of 200-400 men, an average of 300 men and is led by a comes. The same information (but as regards cavalry alone IIRC) is given by Maurice. His tagma, arithmos or vandon is 200-400 man strong, led by a comes or a tribunus and gives the additional information that one of Optimates can have more.
Thank you Macedon. Much appreciated.
This question had arisen from a discussion on another forum. Julian (Letters to the Athenians 280D) himself writes that he dispatched four, then another three arithmoi of infantry to Constantius.Now I understand arithmoi here could mean a contingent, but the fact Ammianus mentions bodies of 300 men being selected had raised my curiosity. The Pythagorean etymology for arithmoi means a purity composed of units – at least two units. I’m still trying to track down the source for this (Arixonthes?) but somehow I don’t believe the Pythagoean arithmos applies to Julian’s arithmoi.
Could the mathematical gap between the organisation of Vegetius and Maurice be smaller than we think?
