The army in Ostrogothic Italy
The army in Ostrogothic Italy
still a barbarian kingdom?
At the top level, the king was the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. There was tight relationship between the monarch and the conceptual Gothi whom he had led, as soldiers, from the Balkans to Italy. Theoderic had borne the title magister militum under Zeno in the East, and never relinquished it in the West, since no other magister militum is attested in Italy after the reign of Odoacer. The king may have had a personal following with strong ties of loyality to him. Like the Eastern emperors, he had spatharii and armigeri , but these need not translate into bucellarii. The imperial palace soldiers, the scholarii, domestici and silentarii, continued to exist. Procopius claims that Theoderic reduced these regiments to ceremonial functions, but he claims the same, falsely , about the East at this periode. Reported is also a massacre of a lot of soldiers serving in Odoacers Scholae and Domestici. The loyal troops were killed. The rest survived and was refilled with goths - later also with mercenaries. To emphasize his quasi-imperial or vice-imperial claims, Theoderic also seems to have taken the military title patricius praesentalis.
detailed informations
The gothic army had become larger than it had been in the Balkan, once an army of regular foederati, and had a wider range of tasks and regions to confront. This size led to the development of frontier forces and of military governors, both with Roman antecedents. Special frontier forces and military governors (called both dux and comes ) appear in the reqonquered provinces in Narbonnaise, Rhaetia, Noricum, Dalmatia and Savia (total: south gaul, austria, central alps, croatia, serbia).
Great parts of the gothic army left the rest of the barbarian tradition. In some cases this army became a typically Roman army again. After the long wars in Italy there was finally peace. An army with Latin names, officers with Roman titles. It is not difficult to follow this evolvement, the exercitus gothorum was a regular foederai army before. For many resasons it was simply the logical consequence.
Of course we still find typically gothic units, especially in the case of the nobles. Those units kept their germanic traditions. The standard infantry was organized, as nearly all other western germanic states, in Millenas - or as Millenarii . This was a unit divided in "thousands". For example, the Vandals organized their units in 80 millenas when they moved to north Africa. (note: that doesn't mean that they had 80.000 soldiers!! The complete group had about 80.000 together with children, old people and members of other smaller tribes like Alani or Suebi. The complete number of operating soldiers is suggested with 12.000-15.000max.
The next smaller division was the Cohors millenaria . Led by an Centenarius, it was simply another term of the germanic word of Hansa ( warband) or Hundafaps ( hundredmen) .
Furthermore we see the Discipulus , noble mounted warriors. One of the most famous mounted units, equipped with a long heavy lance.
The Taifali , also known from the Notitia Dignitatum, were a germanic tribe which settled in the south of Gaul - serving for the Franks, Visigoths and Ostrogothi - partially also for the Burgunds. Militondans were first line warriors, the best infantry the Ostrogoths could provide. This unit was also known in the Roman world as Antesignani (or in the ERE as Promachoi ). Militondans served often in the Roman army. Meanwhile - so many years later - also their sons served in those units.In general it was forbidden for all Romans to serve in the army. The state was strictly divided between civilian services and military services. The military column was "normally" provided by goths and their foederati. The civilian offices were most times performed by Romans (not really a difference compared to the Roman empire years ago). However, even in the gothic army some mixed units were filled by Romans, foreigners (gentiles ) and mercenaries - it was called Cohors Gentiles . A unit serving often as garrison. The gothic unit called Colonii was basically the same as the Laeti in the Roman empire. Foreign settlers and colonists from barbarian tribes. In this case those Colonii were gothic allies (which were also part of Theoderics army against Odovacer).
Most goths were garrisoned and settled in the north of Italy. The reason is very simple: in the case of emergency all warriors were called within few days to the weapons. Anyway, even some groups became settled in the south and in central Italy.
Little is known about the Milites Gothorum
Theoderic tried everything to keep the "imagination" of a new Roman Empire in the west. And indeed, concerning the official court, the basics of the tax system, law and the strong army (organized like a Roman army) we meet a country ruled by a germanic king in the name of the Emperor in the East. Officially still part of a complete united Roman Empire. Obviously the Empire in the West was not gone after the disposing of Romulus Augustus (or Nepos in Dalmatia).
Theoderic spend the rest of his life with the unity (or consolidation) of all germanic successor-states - always aspired to keep at least the appearance of a new Roman Empire in the west - officially ruled by the emperor in the East - de facto ruled by Theodericus rex.
sources
People and Identity in Ostrogothic Italy, 489-554
the AoD2 unit structure
you see an overview of our new developed army structure. It is not 100% complete, mising are the foederati and minor gentiles . It is - if you want - the core of the exercitus gothorum.
our modeller - empio
First of all, before we continue with our faction preview, I want say "thank you" to our unit-maker
One of the most talented guys and my friend from north Italy
"you made a great job, mate"
I rarely saw such detailed units, the love for details is incredible, worked out according new sources concerning the style of the linen tunica, weapons as well as helmets and/or caps.
He is that what we call in germany a perfectionist.
Mille grazie!
let's go!
Militondans Antesignani , or in the East well known as Promachoi - forefighters or front-line warriors (also called "heroes") and a lot of times used for sieges and important battles. Milites Gothorum. Centenari or Centenati Equites Taifali the last eye-catcher for today (for this preview) shows an officer with an Eagle standard of the gothic infantry.
Note: more standards are in work, banners as well as standards - dependend on the unit.
screenshots
...you think those unit-grafix were "reworked" for this preview?... take a look:
final note
We hope you enjoyed our army preview. The Ostrogothi are doubtless one of the most important factions in AoD2. Even after the death of the great king Theoderic, they were still one of the most important factions in Europe. Last but not least... it is always possible that we inlcude "last-minute-changes" concerning the shown units. And please understand that we show only a little part of the complete unit-pool. See you Your AoD2 team pm
primus inter pares
[PREVIEW] Ages of Darkness *** and the Ostrogothic army ***
Vicarius
is Deadpool
Artifex
Μέγαc Δομέστικοc
Campidoctor
Protector Domesticus
(Okay, just once)
"Mightyest Man Alive"
Domesticus
Originally Posted by karlost123456789
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- Now You Know -
Retired
Otium cum dignitate
Senator
Centenarius
Semisalis
The Philosopher King
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