03-10-2012, 02:36 AM
Quote:'stablesiani' came from the Emperor's stables, like the 'palatini' came from his palace.Which would imply they were indeed a sort of bodyguard unit. Is there actually any evidence for that? (There may well be, but I've never heard of it! :wink: )
Quote:I had always taken the stablesiani to be a descriptor of function of the unit NOT the unit itself. Could it not be a stabilization force hence the derivitive of stabilis as opposed to stabulum?Could well be. I must say, 'Stablesius' (as the putative founder) doesn't sound much like a genuine Roman name... Plus surely that would make the name 'Stablesiana' (like the Ala Indiana, formed by Indus, etc)? Or would the word conjugate differently with 'Equites'?
Nathan Ross
