03-19-2014, 12:36 PM
Renatus wrote:
This is Zos. 6.8.2: 'Just then six cohorts sailed in which had been expected since the time of Stilicho but which had only now arrived from the East in accordance with the alliance; they numbered four thousand.' (Ridley's translation)
The 4000 men means my exploration into 1500 man legions is going the way of the Titanic. The Zosimus translation I have gives six regiments numbering 6000 men and not 4000 men. I’ve been working under the impression that there were two references by Zosimus to 6000 man units, one reference of five units numbering 6000 men (1200 per unit) and six units numbering 6000 men (1000 per unit).
Evan has discussed the possibility of the 4000 men being organised into units of 666 men. This does align with a Vegetius cohort, which consists of 600 infantry and 66 cavalry, but if it was just 666 infantry I have to disagree as I have found the Romans like to work with round numbers. There is the possibility the six units each numbered 600 men for a total of 3600 men, which has been rounded to 4000. I’ve gotten some insights into how Ammianus’ numbers could work in regard to rounding, but this is mainly concentrated on his cavalry numbers.
In the pre-maniple legion, the Romans had a fixed size for a legion, which was used for the city legions and the seniores. It was a small legion, but depending on the situation they would increase its size by adding more military tribunes for a particular campaign. My hunch is the Romans could be repeating the same procedures again.
This is Zos. 6.8.2: 'Just then six cohorts sailed in which had been expected since the time of Stilicho but which had only now arrived from the East in accordance with the alliance; they numbered four thousand.' (Ridley's translation)
The 4000 men means my exploration into 1500 man legions is going the way of the Titanic. The Zosimus translation I have gives six regiments numbering 6000 men and not 4000 men. I’ve been working under the impression that there were two references by Zosimus to 6000 man units, one reference of five units numbering 6000 men (1200 per unit) and six units numbering 6000 men (1000 per unit).
Evan has discussed the possibility of the 4000 men being organised into units of 666 men. This does align with a Vegetius cohort, which consists of 600 infantry and 66 cavalry, but if it was just 666 infantry I have to disagree as I have found the Romans like to work with round numbers. There is the possibility the six units each numbered 600 men for a total of 3600 men, which has been rounded to 4000. I’ve gotten some insights into how Ammianus’ numbers could work in regard to rounding, but this is mainly concentrated on his cavalry numbers.
In the pre-maniple legion, the Romans had a fixed size for a legion, which was used for the city legions and the seniores. It was a small legion, but depending on the situation they would increase its size by adding more military tribunes for a particular campaign. My hunch is the Romans could be repeating the same procedures again.
