Late Roman Unit Sizes

[ValentinianVictrix]

Actually this one: Ammianus (20 4 2-3) “he sent Decentius, the tribune and secretary, at once to take from Julian his auxiliaries, namely, the Aeruli and Batavi35 and the Celts with the Petulantes, as well as three hundred picked men from each of the other divisions (numeri) of the army.”

Good catch Steven, I had not realised the Ammianus used the term.

Here is the latin for those who are interested-

'2 Ob haec et similia percitus metuensque me augerentur in maius, stimulante, ut ferebatur, praefecto Florentio, Decentium tribunum et notarium misit auxiliares milites exinde protinus abstracturum Aerulos et Batavos cumque Petulantibus Celtas et lectos ex numeris aliis trecentenos, hac specie iussos adcelerare, ut adesse possint armis primo vere movendis in Parthos.'

Unfortunately Ammianus does not specify what kind of units the 300 men were taken from, nor how many groups of 300 were taken.