DBA Armies

II/82 PATRICIAN ROMAN 408 AD - 493 AD

This list runs from the murder of the great general Stilicho by the ungrateful western emperor Honorius, until the eastern empire organised an Ostrogothic move from Illyria into Italy which destroyed Odovacar’s west Roman army; and also conveniently ended the east’s dependence on barbarians. While this period lasted, successful generals such as Odovacar sought to become the “Patrician” commander in chief of a puppet Roman emperor. Regular Late Roman units continued in existence, but service in the legions had become unpopular due to their heavier equipment, leading to a shrinkage in number, while the survivors of the Gothic foederati that Stilicho had used and other barbarians had been formed by him into new vexillationes and auxilia (often with the titles “Honoriani” and “ Arcadiani”after the two young emperors) enlisted as individuals under Roman discipline. After the fall of Attila’s Hunnic empire, many stray Huns and Hunnic groups were similarly recruited, which provided expertise that led in time to the replacement of cavalry javelins by Hunnic bows. The loss of territory in the west (especially that of Africa to the Vandals in 439) damaged recruitment; and the gap was increasingly filled by barbarian groups enlisted under their own leaders as foederati who fought in their own native style. References: Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome P. Barker, Armies of the Dark Ages 1. Heath, Notitia Dignitatum O. Seeck (ed), Emperor Prefects & Kings P.S. Barnwell, The Rise and Decline of the Late Roman Field Army R. Cromwell, Warfare in Roman Europe AD 350-425 H. Elton, The Fall of the West A. Goldsworthy, The Rome That Did Not Fall S. Williams & G. Friell.

II/82a — Western Patrician Roman Army 408 AD - 493 AD

List: 1 x General (Cv or 3Kn), 1 x equites (Cv), 2 x equites (Cv or 3Kn or LH) or Gothic foederati (3Kn), 1 x legionaries (4Bd), 2 x auxilia palatina (4Ax), 3 x auxilia palatina (4Ax) or German foederati (4Wb), 2 x archers (Ps)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 0
Enemies:
Allies: II/40 or II/58 or II/70 or II/72 or II/73 or II/80d or II/81a or II/81c or II/82b or II/83a
⚠ Unresolved allies: II/70, II/72

II/82b — Eastern Patrician Roman Army 408 AD - 493 AD

List: 1 x General (3Kn), 1 x equites (3Kn or Cv), 2 x horse archers (LH), 1 x equites clibanarii (4Kn) or Gothic foederati (3Kn), 2 x legionaries (4Bd), 2 x auxilia palatina (4Ax), 2 x legionaries (4Bd) or German foederati (4Wb) or archers (Ps) or Isaurian javelinmen (Ps), 1 x archers (Ps or 4Bw)
Terrain: Arable
Aggression: 1
Enemies:
Allies: II/23a or II/67b