The size and equipment of Germanic Warbands in the 4th and 5th Centuries

[Magister Militum Flavius Aetius]

I noticed people have been discussing how large Barbarian warbands could potentially be, so I decided to start an official topic for it.

In the finds at Esjbol Mose, they dated a stash of weapons from a defeated warband shortly after ca. 300 AD. This find showed a force of about 200 men, accounting for 193 Barbed Light Javelins, 187 Barbless spearheads, 63 belt buckles, 60 swords and 62 daggers. They also found 10 bridles and 7 sets of spurs, but no Armor or Maile of any kind.

This shows a force of about 180 Troops and 10 Horsemen. Not surprisingly, Ammianus also mentions that Chnodomarius had a personal warband of 200 men when he was cornered and he surrendedred. It also mentions that he was distinguished by the fact he was wearing armor, so this shows most Barbari, in th 350s, still did not wear Maile or any other form of Armour (with the exception of helmets, probably).

[wulfgar610]

The general theory is maile being very heavy and with the Roman period Germanics fighting a light style of infantry warfare and ambush, the two did not mix. Particulary fighting against the Romans were a set piece battle was mostly suicide for the Germanics.

Later on as the Dark Ages progressed the Germanics fought stand up battles more often and the use of maile became extensive.

But the extreme absence of maile is not the result of metal poverty, at the very least the use of maile would be affordable for a small Germanic minority.

The use of maile was common enough amongst Germanic cavalry. The African Vandals are believed to have been completely equipped with maile by the time of their Tunisian kingdom. But then you got 500 kg of horse to help you carry the maile.

The tendency to portray Germanics with mailed infantry in Sheildwall belongs to a later age.

What evidence there is suggests that about 10% of the able bodied Germanic freeman were nobles of some variety and their immediate followers. Increasingly these would be joined by the other 90% of the general levy with everyman only called up in a national emergency. Typically only a half levy would be called up leaving Germanic settlements with some male protectors.

[Pompeius Magnus]

It is important to say that THE barbarian unit has never existed. One should always differ between tribes and the time period we are talking about.
The somewhat vulgar formulation of a so called warband applies much for the fourth and early/mid fifth century only (and of course in the centuries before those dates).
The gothic system however of the late 5th and 6th century was similar to the Roman system. Units were divided in 1000 (Millena or Chilliarchia) and in 500 (Quingenaria) - subdivided by 100 (Centenaria or Centena).

[Blatta Optima Maxima]

The system of which Goths? The Visigoths or the Italian Goths?

[Magister Militum Flavius Aetius]

Fascinating. Probably the Vivigoths by the way.

[Pompeius Magnus]

When the Goths arrived in Spain - the military language was still dominated by the gothic - but it was probably quickly replaced by the Latin (terms like Thiufadus for the leader of 1000 men are evidenced, in other latin documents those leaders are called Millenari).
Unlike the Vandalic thousands/Millena (which was probably an administrative unit) we are confronted here with real military units (in case of the Goths)

In principle, the system is applicable to both tribes. The connection however to the Roman Empire and its latin communication (and names for military units) was much stronger in Ostrogothic Italy. But it's in the nature of things, since the Gothic group was quite small compared to the italian population.
While this was also the case in Spain, however, the actual Romanization, was just applicable to the coastal regions and a few urban centers (in spain!).
While on the other hand, Italy was still very Roman - trapped in their own role - as we say in german - at least until the 7th century!

But that does not mean that Gothic was no longer spoken. Quite the contrary. Especially the Goths were a caste of warriors who were also very proud of their roots until the end. This discrepancy led to discord between the royal family and nobles regarding the education of Athalaric.
And exactly this example shows very clearly that the gothic community was not integrated into the italian one.

Finally, one can say that both tribes and its military systems were Roman orientated.
But ultimately it was probably implemented faster and more extensively in Italy than in the pre-feudal Spain.
But I must say again that this is probably only applicable for the second half of the fifth century, and beyond.