Bracchiati or Brachiati?

[inkstain]

Were the Bracchiati/Brachiati named after their bracchia (armlets) or brachae (trousers?) I'm finding both spellings and both explanations in credible sources on the Late Roman Army. Similarly, I was sure that that Cornuti were named for their horned helmets, but now read in Ferguson that they were known as the "hornblowers."
Thanks for any answers,
Best regards,
Milo

[Flavivs Aetivs]

It's interesting. We are not certain if the names have anything to do with these units at all; The Cornuti Seniores translates to "Senior Horns" which could refer to either a Bull's Horns, or the Cornu, a Roman trumpet.

However, as Auxilia Palatina, this unit had nothing to do with being Trumpeters: They were Specialist Infantry.

The same applies to the Brachiati (Bracchati is not correct as far as I know). The wearing of trousers had become commonplace by the late 3rd cenntury, and the wearing of bracelets had been popular due to Celtic influence.

Again, the name may mean Bracelets or Trousers, but it likely has nothing to do with the actual unit.

That's the most I can help you with. I'm sure someone who knows more about the Early 4th century naming of these units can elaborate. 5th century is my specialty.

[AMELIANVS]

The Cornuti Seniores translates to "Senior Horns" which could refer to either a Bull's Horns, or the Cornu, a Roman trumpet.

I'm afraid it can mean also anything other horned or had no real connection with some horns at all.

[Nathan Ross]

Were the Bracchiati/Brachiati named after their bracchia (armlets) or brachae (trousers?)... I was sure that that Cornuti were named for their horned helmets...

Both spellings seem reasonable. The Notitia Dignitatum uses the first (i.e. Brachiati seniores), while the inscriptions from the cemetery at Concordia, of around the same date, use the latter (i.e. centenario numeri bracchiatorum). Either spelling means the same thing - 'arm', or more particularly I think, 'upper arm'.

However, the naming of auxilia units is a mysterious business, even in the case of the apparently easier 'ethnic' titles: we could assume that the Batavi were recruited from Batavians (or Franks living in Batavia?), or the Heruli from Heruls, but this isn't supported by any real evidence.

Cornuti could be a reference to horns, and Brac©hiati to arm-bracelets, and Petulantes to a particularly brash and aggressive attitude - or not. J.C Rolfe suggested that the Cornuti were originally raised in Cornutum, a town in Illyricum, which would be neat but doesn't help with the others...

Actually, if we take Petulantes as a guide, the other names might also relate to particular attitudes or attributes - Bracchiati being 'strong arm' men, Cornuti being, erm 'horny' (in the sense of aggressive, like goats or bulls)... The other units taking on the martial reputations of various barbarian tribes, etc.

A bit more discussion of the Cornuti in particular (and why I doubt they had horns) here:

Cornuti - or not?