03-07-2014, 05:41 PM
I just finished an analysis of the Western Half of the Notitia Dignitatum, this is what I got:
I used the following numbers:
- 1200 for a "half legion" (any unit that did not have iuniores or seniores in its name was treated as 2400, with exceptions of course)
- 800 for a Milites unit (as 3 milites units of the Fortenses from across Africa = 2400 man legion, and 2 milites and 1 cohortis of Ursarienses from Armorica, Raetia, and Pannonia would equal a 2200 man Ursarienses)
- 600 for a Cohortis or Auxilia
- 300 for a Numerus (or in the case of Palatina where an Iuniores or Seniores is not mentioned, 600)
- 350 for cavalry units (going on Ammianus and a bit on the Panopolis Papyrii)
This gives in the year 419:
17250 men in Britain
76360 men in Gaul
25400 men in Spain
57250 men in Africa
27750 men in Italy
58900 men in Dalmatia
Totalling: 262,910 men
When compared side-by-side, Gaul seems unnecessarily large, and Italy unnecessarily small; Gaul did have a massive field army, but also a portion of Limitanei and a chunk of British units as well. Unlike the other armies, Italy has almost no Limitanei. This gives the West quite a formidable defence force: this paper strength number was probably more in the range of 185,000 (about 2/3 of the above total) in 419.
EDIT: I will soon begin the Eastern Half
I used the following numbers:
- 1200 for a "half legion" (any unit that did not have iuniores or seniores in its name was treated as 2400, with exceptions of course)
- 800 for a Milites unit (as 3 milites units of the Fortenses from across Africa = 2400 man legion, and 2 milites and 1 cohortis of Ursarienses from Armorica, Raetia, and Pannonia would equal a 2200 man Ursarienses)
- 600 for a Cohortis or Auxilia
- 300 for a Numerus (or in the case of Palatina where an Iuniores or Seniores is not mentioned, 600)
- 350 for cavalry units (going on Ammianus and a bit on the Panopolis Papyrii)
This gives in the year 419:
17250 men in Britain
76360 men in Gaul
25400 men in Spain
57250 men in Africa
27750 men in Italy
58900 men in Dalmatia
Totalling: 262,910 men
When compared side-by-side, Gaul seems unnecessarily large, and Italy unnecessarily small; Gaul did have a massive field army, but also a portion of Limitanei and a chunk of British units as well. Unlike the other armies, Italy has almost no Limitanei. This gives the West quite a formidable defence force: this paper strength number was probably more in the range of 185,000 (about 2/3 of the above total) in 419.
EDIT: I will soon begin the Eastern Half
Evan Schultheis | MODERATOR
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