Posts: 46
Threads: 17
Joined: Nov 2007
Reputation:
0
I've just read an article about the fourth century restructuring of the army in Britain which seems to suggest that the Sixth Victrix was 'downgraded' to a lower status when the new Comitatensian mobile forces were created.
If this is true how did this affect the Legion ? I was always under the impression that the Legion had always been considered as a crack unit and had a vital part to play in the security of Britain right until the 'end'.
What was the composition of the newly formed mobile forces if the VI was not included ?
The article (a thread from Roman-Britain.ORG) didn't shed any light on these aspects and conversely, raised other questions in my mind if the stated 'facts' were to be accepted. Or am I missing something ?
:?
Romanonick/Nick Deacon.
Romanonick/Nick Deacon
Posts: 15,118
Threads: 417
Joined: Mar 2002
Reputation:
79
Hi Nick,
During the 3rd c., many legions sent vexillations to serve with other forces or to act as stop gap defences. Most of these vexillations never returned, but grew into independent units.
At the end of the 3rd c., a mobile field army was created, first out of all cavalry units of the legions, later with crack units gathered 'in the presence' of the emperor. The reason for this was manyfold, but guarding the emperor and creating a defence in depth were the main ones.
Under Contantine at the latest, this evolved into an army reform, where two main classes emerged: the limitanei units that guarded the border as they had done before, and the comitatenses that formed the mobile field army. These units, cavalry as well as infantry (60%) had no fixed station but moved across the empire.
That's very basically what happened, and how the old 'mainstay', the legion, was in fact 'downgraded' if you want.
We don't actually know what happened to the Legio VI. It never stayed as long as to make it into the Notitia Dignitatum. What happened is unknown. It may have been transferred en bloc in earlier times, posssibly even by Constantine (it was this legion that hailed him emperor!), but posssibly even as late as the late 4thc.
Posts: 46
Threads: 17
Joined: Nov 2007
Reputation:
0
Thanks, Robert.
So could it be reasonably assumed that the VI was 'incorporated' into the comitatensis thereby losing its identity - rather in the same way as individual British infantry regiments have lost individuality over the years having become part of a greater 'whole' ?
Regards,
Nick.
Romanonick/Nick Deacon
Posts: 46
Threads: 17
Joined: Nov 2007
Reputation:
0
Yes, ND illustrates Legio VI as a representation of a fort and not at Eburacum and therefore presumably under the direction of the Dux Britanniarum.
Therefore, any views as to the legion mentioned by the poet Claudian and withdrawn by Stilicho in 401 being the sixth ?
Or was it the other legion (the 2nd) or both? Or indeed the complete package - mobile army and all (apart from a basic 'holding operation' formation consisting of the frontier 'grunts' etc.) :?: :?
Romanonick/Nick deacon.
Romanonick/Nick Deacon
Posts: 1,468
Threads: 79
Joined: Dec 2006
Reputation:
1
I have always favoured the idea that the VI was used the form the basis of other units, and that a much reduced number of troops were left in York. Say 400 men, a typical under strength later formation.
John Conyard
York
A member of
Comitatus Late Roman
Reconstruction Group
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.comitatus.net">http://www.comitatus.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.historicalinterpretations.net">http://www.historicalinterpretations.net
<a class="postlink" href="http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com">http://lateantiquearchaeology.wordpress.com