The Magnificent 7 Plus 3 Part 3 - Legio Comitatensis
This is the last in the Magnificent 7 Plus series. Here we have the 10 legio comitatensis units.
The Comitatenses were the successors to the Sacer Comitatus (meaning sacred companions) that were created by Diocletian during the late third century as small field armies. Here each member of the Tetrarchs had a small sacer comitatus at his disposal. These small field armies were formed by guard units and a select number of permanently attached detachments from the provincial armies. The Ioviani and Herculiani were drawn from the legio I Iovia Scythica and legio II Herculia respectively, and the Lanciarii recruited among legionary light infantry (or from the legio II Parthica) were part of the initial Comitatus.\n\nUnder Constantine, the number of field armies grew and the number of legionary detachments that became Comitatenses also grew. These units were differentiated from Palatina troops by being regiments of the line, whereas Palatina troops were originally guard units serving the Emperor. These differed in status not in how they were employed. The size of comitatenses varied from 1000 to 1500 men.
From Left to Right:
Legio Comitatensis: Britones Seniores; Legio Comitatenses: Lanciarii Gallicani Honoriani; Legio Comitatensis: Tertia Iulia Alpina; Legio Comitatenses: Germaniciani Iuniores; Legio Comitatenses: Flavia Vitrix Constantina; Legio Comitatenses: Quinta Macedonica; Legio Comitatenses: Fectienses Seniores; Legio Comitatensis; Secunda Flavia Constantia Thebaeorum; Legio Comitatenses: Quartodecimani; Legio Comitatenses: Secunda Flavia Virtutis
Bodies have been adapted from Atilla Reloaded and Ramon y Garcia's designs.
Equipment (Helmets, Shields, Weapons) by Razor
Tunic textures by leif-erikson
Legio Comitatenses: Germaniciani Iuniores; Flavia Vitrix Constantina; Secunda Flavia Constantia Thebaeorum, Lanciarii Gallicani Honoriani by leif_erikson. The other shield designs come from Razor, and Atilla Reloaded
Information on the units:
Left of Picture: Legio Comitatenses: Quinta Macedonica. Its name means 'the legion from Macedonia'. This legion was probably recruited by consul Gaius Vibius Pansa and Octavian (the later emperor Augustus) in 43 BCE. Between 30 BCE and 6 CE, the fifth legion served in Macedonia, where it received its surname. After 400, these soldiers are found in Syria, which is the last time we hear from them. The old mother-legion had remained in Moesia, where it is still attested at the beginning of the fifth century. Both units must have been integrated in the Byzantine army.
Right of Picture: Legio Comitatenses: Flavia Vitrix Constantina. The shield design for this unit belongs to the Flavia Vitrix Constantina. It means 'the victorious flavians of Constantius'and was most likely founded when Constantius II was emperor.
These legionaries are armed with spiculum (heavy throwing weapon) and spatha. The spiculum was the late empire equivalent to the earlier pilum, though not as heavy but more suitable to holding off cavalry when retained in hand.
Left of Picture: Legio Comitatenses: Germaniciani Iuniores. The shield design for this unit belongs to the Germaniciani Iuniores.
Right of Picture: Legio Comitatenses: Fectienses Seniores. The Fectienses seniores are a (ficticious) unit of the Late Roman mobile field army of Gaul. The Fectienses seniores originally were a cohort on the Lower Rhine, stationed in the fort named Fectio.
These legionaries wear a mail coif and are armed with spiculum (heavy throwing weapon) and spatha.
Left of Picture: Legio Comitatenses: Lanciarii Gallicani Honoriani. The shield design for this unit belongs to the Lanciarii Gallicani Honoriani. Its origins may stem back to the VI Gallicana which belonged to the garrison of Mainz, when this city was part of the Gallic Empire (260-274), though this information is unreliable. Alternatively it was raised in Gaul under the reign of Honorius.
Right of Picture; Legio Comitatenses: Quartodecimani. The shield design for this unit belongs to the Quartodecimani. Its origins stem from the Legio quarta decima Gemina (Fourteenth Twin Legion), levied by Octavian after 41 BC. The cognomen Gemina (twin in Latin) suggests that the legion resulted from fusion of two previous ones, one of them possibly being the Fourteenth legion that fought in the Battle of Alesia. Martia Victrix (martial victory) were cognomens added by Nero following the victory over Boudica. Between 364 and 378, the emperor Valerian waged war against the Marcomanni, using Carnuntum as HQ. XIV Gemina must have been involved. At the end of the fourth, beginning of the fifth century, the fourteenth legion still guarded the Danube at Carnuntum. It must have disappeared when the frontier collapsed in 430.
These legionaries are armed with plumbartii (throwing darts) and spatha. They can hurl these with deadly effect and yet still fight hand-to-hand with enemy units.
Left of Picture: Legio Comitatensis: Secunda Flavia Constantia Thebaeorum. The shield design for this unit belongs to the Secunda Flavia Constantia Thebaeorum. Its name means 'the reliable Flavian legion', but the element constantia is also a reference to the emperor Constantius I Chlorus. This legion was probably founded in 296 or 297 by the emperor Diocletian, together with I Maximiana, to defend the southern part of Egypt against neighboring tribes. They were stationed in the neighborhood of Cusas. The legion is called after Constantius I Chlorus, one of the emperors in the western half of the empire.
Right of Picture: Legio Comitatensis: Tertia Iulia Alpina. The shield design for this unit belongs to the Tertia Iulia Alpina. It means 'the Julian Alpine legion' and was most likely founded by Julius Constans. The name Alpine suggets it may originally have been the garrison of a province in the Italian diocese, most likely Alpes Cottiae.
These legionaries are armed with a long hasta (spear) and spatha.
Left of Picture: Legio Comitatenses: Secunda Flavia Virtutis. The shield design for this unit belongs to the Secunda Flavia Virtutis. Its name means 'the Flavian legion of peace'. This legion belongs to a series that also included I Flavia Pacis and III Flavia Salutis. The three legions were probably formed by the emperor Constantius II (337-361) and fought in the eastern half of the Roman empire. It is possible that this legion is identical to the Second Flavian Legion that, together with II Armeniaca and II Parthica, defended Bezabde (modern Cizre) on the Tigris, and was unable to prevent its capture by the Persians (360).
Right of Picture: Legio Comitatensis: Britones Seniores. This legio probably originated from one of the legions stationed in britian.
These legionaries are armed with spiculum (heavy throwing weapon) and spatha.
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Originally Posted by legio_XX
thank you.
