Comitatenses

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Comitatenses is the Latin plural of comitatensis, originally the adjective derived from comitatus ('company, party, suite'; in this military context it came to the novel meaning of 'the field army'), itself rooting in Comes ('companion', but hence specific historical meanings, military and civilian).

However, historically it became the accepted (substantivated) name for those Roman imperial troops (legions and auxiliary) which were not merely garrisoned at a limes (fortified border, on the Rhine and Danube in Europe and near Persia and the desert tribes elsewhere) — the limitanei or ripenses, i.e. 'along the shores' — but more mobile line troops; furthermore there were second line troops, named pseudocomitatenses, former limitanei attached to the comitatus; palatinae, elite ('guard') units typically assigned to Magistri militum; and the scholae palatinae of actual palace guards, notably under the magister officiorum, a major court official of the Late Empire.

[edit] List of comitatenses units

Among the comitatenses units listed by Notitia Dignitatum there are:

under Magister Peditum:
1. Undecimani.
2. Secundani Italiciani (Legio II Italica, Africa);
3. Tertiani Italica (Legio III Italica, Illyricum);
4. Tertia Herculea, Illyricum;
5. Secunda Britannica, Gallias;
6. Tertia Iulia Alpina, Italia;
7. Prima Flavia Pacis, Africa;
8. Secunda Flavia Virtutis, Africa;
9. Tertia Flavia Salutis, Africa;
10. Secunda Flavia Constantiniana, Africa Tingitania;
11. Tertio Augustani (Legio III Augusta);
under the Magister Militum per Orientem:
1. Quinta Macedonica (Legio V Macedonica);
2. Septima gemina (Legio VII Gemina);
3. Decima gemina (Legio X Gemina);
4. Prima Flavia Constantia;
5. Secunda Flavia Constantia Thebaeorum;
6. Secunda Felix Valentis Thebaeorum;
7. Prima Flavia Theodosiana;
under the Magister Militum per Thracias:
1. Prima Maximiana Thebaeorum;
2. Tertia Diocletiana Thebaeorum;
3. Tertiodecimani (Legio XIII Gemina?);
4. Quartodecimani (Legio XIV Gemina Martia Victrix?);
5. Prima Flavia gemina;
6. Secunda Flavia gemina.

[edit] External links

Comitatus (A Late & Post-Roman Romano-British Historical reenactment & Living history group portraying the Legio Praesidiensis, a comitatensis unit listed in the Notitia Dignitatum under the Gallic command, but based in Britain during the late 4th century.)