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Thread: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

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    Default [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)


    Introduction

    Thanks to Domaszewski’s essay (Flags in the Roman Army, together with a review of Mommsen/Gesammelte Schriften Bd. VI, pp. 134-144) we have an excellent view and knowledge about the insignia and the flags of the early Roman Imperial era. In the first 3 centuries after Christ, it is not possible to discern much change regarding their use and significance within the military.

    The first time we read of an alteration in the use of the Flags and the Banners is in the pages of Ammianus. And it is with him that we must start our analysis of the later Roman period and its use of such Flags.

    Most units in the time of Ammianus were detachments although in some cases it is true that he writes about full Legions also. We can say with certainty that the Eagle was still the main symbol and standard of a fully-assembled Legion only as it seems implausible that that the Eagle was carried aloft or attached merely to such detachments (or vexillatios). Detachments were single units marching independently from their mother Legion.
    That some single Vexillations - also cavalry units - were deployed without any kind of mother Legion is not part of this chapter. The used analogy here analyses the full-Legions and its signs only.

    Robert Grosse has suggested that all fully-assembled Legions still had a fixed headquarters location and that in that headquarters the Eagle was stored. The Eagle served to represent the presence of the commander or praefectus legionis (e.g. in egypt or other eastern provinces)/ furthermore the legatus.
    A detachment had no Legatus as such and this is why we can be reasonably certain that those independent units had no Eagles within their ranks.

    Ammianus mentioned the field insignia and symbols of the Roman units frequently when he is describing units or battles – however, I cannot find any text where he mentions the Aquilifer, the officer charged with carrying the Eagle although the Aquila itself is mentioned 8 times!
    AMM. XV; 8,4 XVI; 12,12 VXII; 13,25 XVIII; 2,17 XX; 5,1 XXVI; 2,11 XXVI; 7,17 XXVIII; 5,3

    In AMM. XXVI; 17,7 he writes about the Aquila of the Iovii and the Victores. At first it is a little startling as those units are in fact Auxilia (ND Or. V 63; Occ. V168, etc.) but the solution to this discrepancy lies in his writings a little earlier. In XXVI; 7,15 (and furthermore in XXV; 6,3), Ammianus describes those units as ‘legiones’. Which is a surprise.
    In my opinion – and this is speculation, of course – he confused these units with the Ioviani and the Herculiani. These Legions had a strength of some 6,000 men as is evidenced – or at least described – by Vegetius (I; 17). In the time of Ammianus, those Legions were obviously still intact and not yer broken up into detachments.

    In the instance, the Iovianorum signifier (XXV; 5,8) was probably an Aquilifier – particularly because Ammianus describes him as a very important person.

    Conclusion:
    The Eagle still existed and was stored in the Legion’s main Headquarters’ building. However, due to the fact that a single detachment was no longer led by the Legion’s commanding officer, it is deduced that all the parent’s separate units or detachments now no longer carried the Eagle.





    Draco

    Now this raises a further question, namely: what sort of sign was used by the detachments themselves?

    It is safe to say that the Dragon (draco) was used RARELY in the 2nd Century AD in the Roman Army – to be more precise, it was rare in the 2nd and the 3rd Centuries but became more frequent in the 4th Century.
    The Draco is a very ancient sign and was originally used by the Indian people, the Persians, the Parthi, the Scythians and the Dacians.
    It was probably adopted or assimilated (gradually at first) by the Roman Army in Trajan’s wars against Dacia.

    Without doubt, it was first introduced as a common symbol by the Numeri – respectively by the post-Diocletianic auxiliae.
    Ammianus mentions (XX4,18) a Draconarius in the unit of the Petulantes (Auxilia Palatinae Iuniores – Or. IX26; Seniores Occ V160).
    In Vegetius, we hear that the Dracones were main standards used as field-signs or army flags.
    Vegetius I20; I23 (26,2); II7 (41,6 Signiferi qui signa portant, quos nunc draconarios vocant); and further at II13 (46,8); III5 (74,4)

    For Vegetius, these ‘draco-signs’ were the Cohortal-signs for the Full Legions. The New Legions (the newly deployed units such as the Numeri/Arithmoi) were not sub-divided into Cohorts.
    These ‘New Legions’ had a similar size to the Cohors Miliaria and for those newly-deployed units the Draco the is attested as well.
    Finally we can come to the conclusion that the draco remained the sign for the old detachments also.

    Further evidence is illustrated by the fact that a ‘drakonarios’ is mentioned (in Maurik. Fragm. VII p308) in all units titled Arithmos and Bandon around 700 AD. Whether the standard carried by the drakonarios was in fact a Dragon is another question! Perhaps it was nothing more than a title.

    Basically, the Draco-standard is no longer mentioned by Procopius. In this case, it is a fair question as to why a drakonarios is still being referenced in 700 AD. Probably the Draco was no longer in use since Procopius (and even earlier). It is important to realise that the use of the title ‘drakonarios’ is not necessarily evidence that a Draco-standard was still existing in the late 5th, 6th and 7th Centuries.
    Especially as all sources in the 6th Century are now speaking of the Bandon (banner). The continuation of outdated/archaic words and titles is symptomatic in the history of Rome – for example, the use of ‘augustalis’ or ‘flavialis’.

    There are numerous other examples in reference to the mid and late Byzantine period – as when officers with the title of an admiral are leading infantry regiments, or officers with the title of ‘judge’ are leading the mercenaries – that, however, is another huge topic.

    The translation is often not the problem – in my opinion, a problem occurs if the texts from Ammianus, Vegetius and the later Procopius are read out of context or wrongly interpreted.

    Examples:
    if Procopius is complaining about the reliability of the Comitatenses concerning 2 or 3 battles - then the common opinion by many ill-informed historians is that ALL Stratiotai (Comitatenses) of Belisarius were cowards and of poor quality - which is simply not true.
    If Procopius is praising the credits and achievements of the Beliasarian cavalry in North Africa and Italy - then some historians are informing us that the backbone of the entire army was based on cavalry only - which is also not true.
    If Procopius is describing the composition of the Belisarian expedition army - then some historians claim "falsely" that Justinian's army was based on mercenaries, and so on . . .

    Back to topic
    The draco standard is found rarely on inscriptions – however, this is symptomatic for the time of the 4th and early 5th Centuries - especially because the Eagle or the Vexilla or the Imagines were nominally still the figurehead of the empire.
    It is also no evidence if Ammianus mentiones the Draco rarely. His wording is sometimes not very clear and he is "jumping" between the times concerning the grammar. It is always very important to know that Ammianus is speaking sometimes in the present tense and some sentences later in the past tense.

    It is also no evidence that the Eagle was commonly used by the Legions - just because Amm. mentioned the eagle 8 times . . . and it is also no evidence that the Draco was rarely used because the Draco is just mentioned 3 times by him.

    The historian A.Müller - for example - said that the term "Signum" was also sometimes falsely used to describe the "draco" and vice versa.
    This "theory" is underlined by some sentences from Ammianus if we read that the "sign of the Legion" produced anxiety and terror to the barbarians. (in German "Angst und Schrecken").
    Amm. XVIII 2,17 ; XXVII 2,6 ; XXVIII 5,3 ; XXIX 5,15

    Well, in my opinion Eagles and Flags were producing (probably) awe and respect - but is it really possible that an eagle or a simple flag can produce "anxiety and terror"?
    Furthermore the tale/description from Ammianus excludes the possibility that this sign was "pars pro toto" a regular army sign which produced the "anxiety and terror".
    Obviously a so called "sign" was sometimes a Draco which made a loud noise if the cavalry was riding fast or the soldiers were running with the Dragon.




    ...about Dragons and Signs

    Another Draco-Standard is mentioned by Ammianus XVI 12,39 - which identified Julianus "per purpureum signum draconis, summitati hastae longioris aptatum".
    It was an imperial standard - and differed in colour and size from all the other standards. (obviously by being purple). And this "event" (a draco with another colour) was so important to Ammianus that he chose to describe it.

    Another interesting text is given in AMM XV,5,16 and is worth having a closer look:
    [...]And by degrees, having secretly conferred with the chiefs of the principal legions, and having excited them by the magnitude of promised rewards, he tore for use on this occasion the purple silk from the insignia of the dragons and standards, and so assumed the title of emperor.[...]

    Obviously some imperial Dracos were equipped with a purple windsock – together with the normal standards (obviously also purple) - worn by imperial elite units (like the Candidati, Scholae and probably some Palatinae Legions).
    Concerning the previous quoted text there is no doubt that some Dracos had a purple windsock. But it is highly unlikely that the complete army was equipped with that kind of imperial colour - esp. because as we have seen that a Draco was a commonly introduced Roman standard and which was carried by many (if not all) military units.

    Beside the old Eagles and Dracos (standards used in the 4th century) we find also the old "signa". Ammianus mentioned the word "signa" many times beside aquilae et vexilla
    AMM. XV8,4 ; XVII 13,25 ; XVIII2,17 ; XXVI7,17 ; XXVIII5,3 ; XX5,1
    Only the signa (without any other standard) is mentioned at AMM XVI10,6 ; XXIII5,21 ; XXVII10,10 ; XXIX5,15+16 and many others.

    ...but he never mentioned the word "signa" together with "dracones"!
    Another indication that signa and draco were - at least sometimes - possibly the same??
    The question becomes more difficult concerning the time frame of Vegetius (+/-430AD). In this era it seems (not evidenced!) that the signa didn’t exist anymore.
    After Vegetius has written in present tense (II 13 (46,9 and on)) about Eagles and Dracos he writes: "sed antiqui...singulis centuriis singula vexilla constituerunt"
    and furthermore (II 7 (41,6)): "Signiferi qui signa portant, quos nunc draconarios vocant"
    furthermore III 5 (74,4): "aquilae dracones vexilla"

    The last 2 sentences show indirectly that the signa was replaced by the draco.
    The first sentence is more interesting.
    About which time does he write when he says that "the ancients gave the vexilla/signa to the centuries"?

    As a pre-condition it is evident that the old Manipular-system has been removed. And indeed, in the other thread, I explained that the old system was most probably gone by now. It is possible that (according Vegetius) the cohorts of Ammianus were sub-divided in centuriae only - and not in Manipulares.
    However, historians like Marquardt (röm.Staatsverwaltung II page 372) suggest that the old Maniple-System was still in use.






    Concerning the "imagines" and "imaginiferi", I can't find any source or trace of them anymore - which is doubtless to do with the religious reasons to do with Christianity.

    If Vegetius writes about them - then he wrote (in the past tense!!) antiqua ordinatio legionis (ancient delegated Legion).
    And if Vegetius is speaking about "ancient legions" then it is self-evident he is not referring to the present.

    About imagines, Veget.II 6 (39,12 ; 40,4) ...and about imaginarius II 7 (41,3)
    The usage of the "vexilla" is another question and leads to another conclusion.
    Obviously the vexilla was still used. It was mainly (not always!) a flag of the cavalry troops if we have in mind that several mounted troops were separated from its parent Legion (post Constantin era) and called "vexillationes". The name derived - and this is consensus - from the army sign.
    According Ammianus - every Turma had its own vexillum:
    AMM. XXIV 3,1 perfertur...nuntius gravis Surenam...tres turmas inopinum adgressum paucissimos trucidasse, inter quos strato tribuno unum rapuisse vexillum.

    However, the cavalry also used the draco standard. Known is a draconarius ex numero Octava Dalmatarum Fl.Iovianus Biarchus - serving in a gallic vexillatio comitatensis.




    The 6th century - the time era of Ages of Darkness 2

    Concerning the written sources of the 6th century (figurative description are rare and nearly not as available) are writing basically about one army sign only: the "Bandon".

    gothic bandwa = Zeichen = sign or banner ; medieval bandum = army sign or field-sign.

    Purists like Procopius and Agathias avoid the use this word as it has such a barbarian "background".
    (Sometimes Procopius mentions the bandon: BV II2,1 and BV II10,4)
    As good roman patriots they used the good greek word "semeion" (sēmeion).

    The first author and historian who used always the term "Bandon" was Theophylaktos Simokattes. Probably the last famous author of the antiquity. He explained clearly that the banner of the roman army was called bandon.
    Simok. III 4,4 ; 6,4 ; VII3,3 ; also Malalas page 464 3-4 and 10-11

    It is the flag of the complete Romano-Byzantine medieval era.

    If - beside the bandon - any kind of eagle or draco was existing in "normal" army units (Arithmoi/katalogoi) is not known. Such a famous sign would normally be mentioned in any kind of scripts.
    However - according the "liber de ceremoniis" the kandidatoi were wearing the "Roman Eagles" listed among the imperial skeptra.
    TER330-1461p20
    Another interesting note is described in the Strategikon of Maurice in the chapter:
    VII. The soldiers from each Arithmos who are to be assigned to special duties
    text: [...]in each Meros one in command of all the trains. Just as with the horses, a special mark should identify the oxen which belong to each arithmos so the men can easily recognize them. It is also very important, if possible, to have two eagle bearers.

    The real greek word used to describe the eagle bearers is ornithoboras - literarily "bird bearer".
    Anyway, the question remains if it was just a title of an officer or really an "eagle bearer".

    Anyway, the Eastern Romans continued to use the old imperial "single-headed" eagle motif - (for example for reliefs) which finally leads into the transformation to the double-headed eagle.
    Palaiologos recaptured Constantinople from the Crusaders in 1261 and adopted the double-headed eagle as his symbol of the dynasty's interests in both Asia and Europe.

    In my opinion it is at least theoretically possible that the former Full-Legions like the Palatinae near Constantinople had the Eagle-Standard in their headquarter (at the beginning of the 6th century!) - even if it's purpose was reduced to representative duties and it was never taken to war. This theory is based on the fact that we have no evidence that the old and famous Palatinae unit like Herculiani were sub-divided by any Numeri - or better said we don't have any note that those old Legions were spreaded around the empire and serving as independend detachments. Very possible that those elite guards had still a size of 2000-3000 men.

    Back to the 6th century:
    Perhaps all units had just one army sign - however - this is not evidenced and can't be proven 100% by ancient sources. But it's possible due to the small size of the new units.
    A new deployed Numerus had a strength of +/-508. A Numerus of an old Legion was 200 strong (+/-).
    In Procopius' BV II 12,17 you can read a story about 1000 men who took several banners - to baffle the enemy and suggest a bigger unit-size.

    The tactical usage of the Banner was the same as before concerning the eagle-standard. It was used as a connection between the commander, his men and the unit (Proc. BV II3,5). It was used as collecting point for the troops and to show the direction of the units' march (Proc. BG IV 9,23).
    Many other sources are available too.
    The adoration (and the cult) of the Bandon was the same as before regarding the Eagles.

    In the city of Zenobia near the river Euphrates special houses were built by Justinian - just to store the banners inside.
    de Aed. II 8 (page 234 8-10)
    It is also described that churches stood or were built beside those houses. In this case we can guess that those banners were sanctified by monks or priests.
    as implied by Agath. 3,24 page 194






    Ages of darkness 2 offers several new banners for the roman troops (at least 6).
    Different banners with different standard bearers.

    Here you see one of our reconstructed Banners with Theotokos - sēmeion/bandon of the 6th century.

    semeion















    Responsible for the content of all texts
    Pompeius Magnus

    The shown Roman unit was produced by Empio

    The reconstruction and design of the banner was a team-work between Jermagon and me.
    Many thanx to Jermagon for his phantastic support - for this one and many other banners.

    Text revision, cross reading and text improvement was performed by our team-member Senior Batavian Horse.

    Best regards
    AoD2 Team
    Last edited by Pompeius Magnus; April 05, 2012 at 04:43 PM.

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    Pompeius Magnus's Avatar primus inter pares
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons

    content moved to post#1
    Last edited by Pompeius Magnus; October 18, 2010 at 07:06 PM.

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    Pompeius Magnus's Avatar primus inter pares
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons

    content moved to post#1
    Last edited by Pompeius Magnus; October 18, 2010 at 07:17 PM.

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    Pompeius Magnus's Avatar primus inter pares
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons

    content moved to post#1
    Last edited by Pompeius Magnus; October 18, 2010 at 07:24 PM.

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    Pompeius Magnus's Avatar primus inter pares
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    content moved to post#1
    Last edited by Pompeius Magnus; October 18, 2010 at 07:27 PM.

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    SeniorBatavianHorse's Avatar Tribunus Vacans
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    A fascinating topic, PM, and as usual very informative! I wonder if I might direct your attention to a post here where there is some discussion about the possibility of the draco representing the sacerdotal presence of the Augustus upon the battlefield? Any input, I am sure, would be appreciated.

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    Magister Militum Flavius Aetius's Avatar δούξ θρᾳκήσιου
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    But anyways it's an excellent thread you have here.
    Last edited by Pompeius Magnus; July 19, 2010 at 02:38 PM.

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    jermagon's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    Great research, especially the Bandon post it's very informative and very important due to the few info you know about the 6th century Roman banners, and in my Opinion the whole 6th century Roman army was depicted in mosaic in many churches allover the empire but thanks to fire, invasions, looting all this thing had gone forever.


    George Galloway ''You don't give a damn !!!!!!!!''







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    Pompeius Magnus's Avatar primus inter pares
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    content moved to post#1
    Last edited by Pompeius Magnus; October 18, 2010 at 07:46 PM.

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    jermagon's Avatar Domesticus
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    Great preview Pomps both the units and the banner are awesome, I wish all our friends enjoy them as I do.


    George Galloway ''You don't give a damn !!!!!!!!''







  11. #11

    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    I'm surprised about the high degree of quality of tunics and banners. The screenshots are amazing.

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    SeniorBatavianHorse's Avatar Tribunus Vacans
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    Beautiful. Truly beautiful. I am desperate for this mod to arrive so I can march units and banners like that into battle.

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    julianus heraclius's Avatar The Philosopher King
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    Can somebody pass the tissues please. Again, just beautiful. I love the crest in the roman officer's spangehelm helmet.

    Avatar & Signature by Joar

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    messiah's Avatar Semisalis
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    Beautiful!


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    Pompeius Magnus's Avatar primus inter pares
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    post #1 updated

  16. #16

    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    I've read half of it today. Well written.
    That's why I love AoD2

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    Magister Militum Flavius Aetius's Avatar δούξ θρᾳκήσιου
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    The Banner is Beautiful! The Tunics are Incredible!
    Is that an Attic helmet by the way?

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    AnthoniusII's Avatar Μέγαc Δομέστικοc
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    Congratulations to the entire team for this result.
    TGC in order to continue its development seak one or more desicated scripters to put our campaign scripts mess to an order plus to create new events and create the finall missing factions recruitment system. In return TGC will give permision to those that will help to use its material stepe by step. The result will be a fully released TGC plus many mods that will benefit TGC's material.
    Despite the mod is dead does not mean that anyone can use its material
    read this to avoid misunderstandings.

    IWTE tool master and world txt one like this, needed inorder to release TGC 1.0 official to help TWC to survive.
    Adding MARKA HORSES in your mod and create new varietions of them. Tutorial RESTORED.


  19. #19

    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    Nice layout Pomp.

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    juvenus's Avatar Campidoctor
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    Default Re: [Historiae] ...about Flags, Banners, and Dragons (4th 5th and 6th century)

    just stumbled upon this thread now, it's great!


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