4th century Roman legion composition

[Samariten]

As the title says what would be a historical composition of a roman legion when this mod takes place?

[Joar]

I'm sure someone will try and answer your question soon, but in the meantime you might find these links useful/interesting:

Click! and click!

[Diocle]

I would have liked to try.............but now I won't!..................it's impossible!

[wulfgar610]

The early legion was 10 cohorts of heavy infantry. Sometime in the 2nd and 3rd century AD, 2 out of the 10 cohorts were replaced by a special elite form of light infantry known as Lanciarii. The Legion had also acquired a small contingent of its own cavalry.

And in the theoretical 10 to 15 cohorts of the accompanying Auxiliaries, the original 2 Ala of cavalry seem to have been supplemented with another 1 or 2 Ala, often of the lighter illyrian type. Some of the Auxiliary infantry cohorts would be specialist light troops or all archer.

[julianus heraclius]

it gets complicated by the 4th Century. The Legio still exists but not as a tactical unit as such. A Legio that guards the frontier may be posted at a number of forts and may have been reduced in total number down to 2,000-4,000 men.
There are now mobile legions which consisted of between 1,200-1,500 men. These units were either comitatensis or palatinae and were usually drafted from existing border legions. It is thought by this time, and in fact even as early as the mid 3rd century, that they contained a proportion of light infantry such as lanciarii and/or sagitarii.
So by this time a field army would consist of a number of field legiones plus the new auxilia palatinae plus cavalry.

Here's a link to the make up of the 4th century Roman army: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=175023

[Constantius]

JH and Joar thanks for re-posting those links I forgot all about them, there is nothing better than a clear set of diagrams and screen shots to put you in the mood for a new campaign!
I would like to recommend this book for an overview of later Roman warfare http://histories.cambridge.org/book?...L9780521782746

[Joar]

JH and Joar thanks for re-posting those links I forgot all about them

Young man, you should visit our University more often!

[Constantius]

Wow I'd forgotten about that too, there is an article of the Constantine dynasty that needs finishing, and MMFA rather defunct Latin phrase book

[SeniorBatavianHorse]

Wait, MMFA not finishing something? Did I read that right?!

[Constantius]

[SeniorBatavianHorse]

Indeed.