Comitatus
From IVe century, the Roman army undergoes deep transformations. The changes initiated by Gallien and Dioclétien, are amplified under the reign of Constantin. The army of countryside made up takes the name of comitatus (of the Latin comes , which accompanies) because it belongs to the entourage of the emperor who can order it itself.
In the late Antiquity
The Roman army is unscrewed in two parts: the comitatus and the limitanei . The Comitatus is an army of countryside is consisted the veterans and best infantrymen and auxiliaries of the Roman troops. It is reinforced with a powerful cavalry which tends to supplant at the tactical level the body of the troupiers. It is able to make the movements necessary to push back the advance or to cut the retirement of the cruel armies. The comitatus stations in the capitals of the emperors and is mobilizable quickly in the event of danger. According to the nature of the operations, committed manpower are variable: from 8.000 to 20.000 men for the cruel revolts and invasions; up to 65.000 or 80.000 men at the time of the civil wars or the Persian invasion.
The high command of the comitatus is ensured by the Master of infantry, Magister Peditum , and by the Master of cavalry, magister Equitum who depend directly on the emperor. They are assisted by counts ( Comes ). These senior officers are often of barbarian origin, as most of the troops which they order. The Praetorian guards are dissolved by Constantin and come to reinforce the comitatus . They bear from now on the name of Scholae Palatinae . They form the elite of the armies of operation.
The cavalry is made up soldiers often of Germanic origin. It carries out missions of political police under the supervision of the Comes domesticorum . The various army corps which compose the comitatus are better paid and considered that the legions of cover on the Limes. The legionary, that he is infantryman or riding, passes between 20 to 24 years in the army. They are recruited among the colonists of large the latifundia and the barbarians with whom was signed a treaty. The difficulties of recruitments have a consequence the obligation from 319 for wire of veterans to enter the military career.
After 378, the soldiers massively recruit among the federate cruel , which invaded the Empire and settled there by treaty.
With the Middle Ages
See too
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