01-31-2021, 04:25 PM
Barker's list, with its 5-5-10 structure, is found on p.13 of his "The Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome" (1981).
I would suggest that, for the infantry at least, a more likely structure is 6-12. In his list of Legiones Palatinae Barker has the Lanciarii, Ioviani, Herculiani, Divitenses and Tungricani but omits the Mattiarii. To his 10 Auxilia Palatinae should be added the second Batavi (the one partnered with the Regii) and the Ascarii, making 12.
It is significant I think that, in the Notitia Dignitatum, Legiones Palatinae appear in groups of six; there are six in each of the two eastern praesental armies and in the west there are six old regiments and six recently promoted ones. There is of the course the anomalous case of the Britones Seniores in Illyricum, the 25th Legio Palatina, but I don't know of any explanation for that.
I would suggest that, for the infantry at least, a more likely structure is 6-12. In his list of Legiones Palatinae Barker has the Lanciarii, Ioviani, Herculiani, Divitenses and Tungricani but omits the Mattiarii. To his 10 Auxilia Palatinae should be added the second Batavi (the one partnered with the Regii) and the Ascarii, making 12.
It is significant I think that, in the Notitia Dignitatum, Legiones Palatinae appear in groups of six; there are six in each of the two eastern praesental armies and in the west there are six old regiments and six recently promoted ones. There is of the course the anomalous case of the Britones Seniores in Illyricum, the 25th Legio Palatina, but I don't know of any explanation for that.
