Invocato.

[Pict]

I understand that invocati were retired and or former legionary troops and officers that were directly invited to re-up for special campaigns or projects. I assume that these men would be either specialists or respected and decorated warriors used to entice conscripts to join or bolster less than enthusiastic troops (if such existed).

Can anyone point me to more information?

As always all information is appreciated.

Cheers,
Pict (Andy)

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Invocati? I think evocati is the correct word. Literaly "the called".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evocati

[Tiberius Clodius Corvinus]

the thread contains some further links to threads on RAT ;-) )

http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic. ... ht=evocati

[Lupianus]

In my understanding the evocati were a (late) Republican ad hoc-solution, when commanders could call settled veterans back into service.
This was institutionalized under the reign of Augustus as, after 16 years' service, veterans to serve some further 4 years. That's what Tacitus, Annals 1.36 actually describes. So the terms vexillarius and evocatus aren't really interchangable, but displace each other.
I find that quite interesting, since it might shed a different light on debates about the use of vexilla and in particular the term vexillarius...

Slow typing.

[Pict]

Thank you all for the clarification and information. That might explain my difficulty in finding out about them :oops:

I think I need to learn to read Latin.

Cheers,
Spyug

[Tiberius Clodius Corvinus]

In my understanding the evocati were a (late) Republican ad hoc-solution, when commanders could call settled veterans back into service.
This was institutionalized under the reign of Augustus as, after 16 years' service, veterans to serve some further 4 years. That's what Tacitus, Annals 1.36 actually describes. So the terms vexillarius and evocatus aren't really interchangable, but displace each other.

So you think evocati were basically the same as the troops of the vexilatio veteranorum (VV) or at least were made up of soldiers from VV?

[Lupianus]

So you think evocati were basically the same as the troops of the vexilatio veteranorum (VV) or at least were made up of soldiers from VV?

Practically, calling veterans back into service (as evocati) became a necessity at least during the Civil Wars, thus in the end Augustus institutionalized this system under the name of vexillatio veteranorum. I think that's probable.

However, I went a bit to far in suggesting that the term evocatus itself was replaced by veteranus/vexillarius. A quick research has revealed evocati Augusti/Augustorum until Late Antiquity. Interesting that many evocati are linked to the praetorians or at least the urban cohorts, but that's no rule.

There seems to be no real differentiation between terms. So it's a careful "yes" to your question, Carsten. Perhaps the members of the vexillatio veteranorum simply called themselves evocati.

[Tiberius Clodius Corvinus]

thanks for that Til.

[Lupianus]

Another adjustement has to be made: Checked my references, and there seems to be no evidence for a further existence of the vexillatio veteranorum beyond 69AD (according to Lawrence Keppie). Whereas J C Mann has been argued that some kind of organisation for a legion's veterans was still in use under Diocletian's reign.
For discussion see: D J Breeze, The flag of legion II Augusta on the Bridgeness distance slab, in: Proceedings of the Society of Antiquarians of Scotland 119 (1989), 133-142 (online version).

Back to topic: Have also checked Lawrence Keppie's account on the evocati. He sounds quite sure about them being ALWAYS veterans of the Praetorian guard, who were sent to the legions as high ranking officers. After another look on the epigraphical evidence, found that convincing.
For reference see: L Keppie, Legions and Veterans: Roman Army Papers 1971-2000, 2000 (limited access online).

Whew. :lol: