Late Roman Army Grade/Rank List under Anastasius

[Flavivs Aetivs]

Interesting stuff! Shame we don't have a full english translation though...

Aside from the estimated number in the legion (1550-1600), the rank/grade list on pp61-63 is the meat here. What does 'kisi' mean? Anybody know Turkish? If it's the number of men of each grade in the legion, this gives us 20 ordinarii (ie centurions, giving a neat 80 men per century!*) but only 10 signiferi... And there's no mention of an aquilifer, or any other standard bearer for the whole unit.

Does Prof Onur reckon this is a comitatensis legion based on the address to the Magister Militum, or are there other indications? Based on the grades or ranks listed, it could as easily be a limitanei legion - they look very similar to the ones given on late Egyptian papyrii.

[Edit - * actually, how does he figure out the numbers in the legion? Adding all the 'kisi' figures together I get about 1245 including officers... :unsure: )

I don't know if the fragments give actual figures of value for the annonae and stuff assigned, but if not he may be extrapolating from the same figures used to estimate the Early 4th Century Panopolis Papyrii. If it [the Perge Fragments] provide figures though, then a whole reevaluation of the Panopolis Papyrii is in order.

Alternatively, it may be 1245 actual individuals in the legion and the actual strength based on its structure is supposed to be 1550 to 1600 men. (An actual strength of 77.8%)