End of Antiquity Campaign: The First Crusade (612 - 710)

[romano britones]

Will these helmets appear in the mod?

[Caudillo87]

No, a century too late.

[romano britones]

No, a century too late.

But, won't the lower quality soldiers wear this helmet?

[MathiasOfAthens]

Work on a new map, but later. For now you can include the Goturks in an ahistorical location on the corner of the map. It is better than cutting off the western half and its better than waiting several more months for a new map. Please just go with plan C.

[Rampante-Cid]

Do you have plans to include the optimatoi unit in the roster of the roman army?

Picture:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EZMBzEBVgA...Web++copia.jpg

Optimatoi

The Optimatoi (Greek: Ὀπτιμάτοι, from Latin: Optimates, "the Best Men") were initially formed as an elite Byzantine military unit. In the mid-8th century, however, they were downgraded to a supply and logistics corps and assigned a province (thema) in north-western Asia Minor, which was named after them. As an administrative unit, the Theme of the Optimatoi (Greek: θέμα Ὀπτιμάτων, thema Optimatōn) survived until the Ottoman conquest in the first decades of the 14th century.

History

The Optimates were first set up in the late 6th century (c. 575), by Emperor Tiberius II Constantine (r. 574–582). According to the Strategikon of Emperor Maurice, the Optimates were an elite regiment of Foederati, most likely of Gothic origin. They were a cavalry corps, somewhere between one and five thousand strong, and formed part of the central reserve army, their commander bearing the then unique title of taxiarchēs. The presence of descendants of these men, called Gothograeci (Γοτθογραῖκοι) by the chronicler Theophanes the Confessor, is attested in northern Bithynia as late as the early 8th century.At that time, Warren Treadgold estimates that the corps numbered 2,000 men, a figure that possibly corresponds to its original size as well.

In the mid-8th century, under the rule of Emperor Constantine V (r. 741–775), and as part of his measures to reduce the power of the thematic generals following the revolt of Artabasdos, the Count of the Opsician Theme, the corps was downgraded. Split off from the Opsician Theme, the region where the Optimates had settled, including the peninsula opposite Constantinople, both shores of the Gulf of Nicomedia and stretching to the shores of the river Sangarius, was then constituted as the separate thema of the Optimatoi (Greek: θέμα Ὀπτιμάτων) with Nicomedia as its capital. The first mention of the Optimatoi as a separate thema in the sources occurs only in 774/775, but it is clear that its creation must have come in the years after the suppression of Artabasdos's revolt. The same period also saw the further dismemberment and weakening of the once powerful Opsician Theme with the creation of the Bucellarian Theme.

Henceforth, unlike the other themata, the Optimatoi no longer provided armed troops, but formed a corps of 4,000 mule-drivers with their animals, which provided the baggage train (touldon) of the imperial tagmata in Constantinople. The unique role of the Optimatoi set it apart from all other themata: given their non-combatant functions, the Optimatoi were not divided into intermediate-level commands (tourmai or droungoi), a fact pointed out by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959) as a sign of inferior status. Consequently, their commanding domestikos held the lowest rank of all provincial stratēgoi in the imperial hierarchy. As with the other themata, for the administration of his duties as governor of the province, the domestikos was assisted by a deputy (topotērētēs), a chief financial official (chartoularios) and a secretariat headed by a prōtokankellarios.
The rural districts of the thema were raided by Seljuk Turks after the Battle of Manzikert, but Nicomedia was retained, and the area secured again under Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118) with the help of the First Crusade.The area was occupied by the Latins after the dissolution of the Empire by the Fourth Crusade in 1204, but the thema was re-established by John III Vatatzes when he retook the region in 1240, and survived until the area was gradually conquered by the rising Ottoman beylik in the first half of the 14th century.

[Caudillo87]

@Rampante-Cid: Maybe, if I do add them they will be recruited only in Constantinople or at the other four power centers.

@Romano Britones: the limitanei will still have ridge helmets. The pics you showed me were worn by mainly cavalry and cavalry by this time only wore spangenhelms.

[Caudillo87]

Auxillia Tertiadecima Gemina









The Tertiadecima Gemina along with the Quinta Macedonica serve the Praefectus Augustalis as the main defense force of Egypt. I am not sure if they still existed at all but in End of Antiquity they will serve the Roman Emperor in defending his province to the death.

Credits:
Lief_Erikson for his primary shield patterns.
Sandy for his face textures.
Absinthia for primary texture.

[G|I|Sandy]

Caudillo87,

This is awesome! Especially the details on poaches/belts, legs too. I need to work harder to reach up to your standards guys.

Sandy

[tomySVK]

Excellent update

[Stath's]

Fantastic!!

[Reno Melitensis]

Caudillo87,- fantastic unit. Lets pretend that the XIII Gemina was still there along side the V Macedonica.

Cheers.

[Caudillo87]

Thank you, yes indeed - I was originally going to make them the Auxillia Secunda Felix Valentis Thebaeorum but I made the Gemina shield myself and I really wanted to use it so I made them so. With all of the Eastern unique units finished I will now work on the Western troops. Beginning with the Numerus Invictorum from Ravenna which will have a more Germanic look to them because of their Gothic and Lombardic influxes to the peoples living in the Exarch's capital.

[romano britones]

Will the Lanciarii appear?
Also what type of unit will that picture of the fresco (concord publishing) be?

[Caudillo87]

Yes, they are, light infantry and heavy infantry. Some church in Ravenna the unit is the bodyguard of the exarch, the unit from which your avatar comes from.

[romano britones]

Yes, they are, light infantry and heavy infantry. Some church in Ravenna the unit is the bodyguard of the exarch, the unit from which your avatar comes from.

Do you mean the Obsequium Protectores Exarchae, I thought that they would be scutati.

[Caudillo87]

Unique Units of Italy

Numerus Invictorum









Close up of the Germanic Influenced Helmet





Very well done if I do say so myself.

The Invictorum were one of the last attested units chronicled in Ravenna. Easily seen is the Germanic influence from decades of Gothic Rule and constant conflict with the Lombards. They will serve the Exarch in defending what remains of Roman Italy.

Auxillia Primi Theodosiani









The Primi Theodosiani were also last attested in Ravenna defending the Imperial capital from Lombardic incursions and may have lasted all the way until 750 AD when Ravenna fell. Again heavily influenced by Germanic styles, they serve the Exarch in addition to the Invictorum.
Credits:
Leif_Erikson for his Shields
Rusichi and Absinthia for Primary Material
Sandy for his faces for the Auxillia

[Razor]

Hey there, looking pretty good! I see you've decided to give the Auxilia Palatina units no body armour?
Also, Auxilia is spelled with one 'l'.

I'd rep you if I could, but can't atm.

Cheers!

[Heathen Storm]

Wonderful! I'd say the gold could use a bit of a reduction in the contrast... but other than that, it looks great!

[Caudillo87]

The fresco quote was about the obsiquium exarchae not scutati.

@Razor: I spent a lot of time on the textures of the auxilia palatina and would be a great same if no one saw them. I might change them though we shall see.

@Heathen Storm: it took me a while to figure out the gold color, are you referring to all gold color in general or just a certain part?

[Heathen Storm]

@Heathen Storm: it took me a while to figure out the gold color, are you referring to all gold color in general or just a certain part?

I know how you feel, it's very tough to get right. Mainly I'm referring to the helmet; it's just a bit too yellow. Lowering the contrast and/or the saturation should reduce the amount of yellow and make it more of a dull gold.