04-28-2003, 11:46 AM
The references will agree that there are 2 praesental armies in the east as the information comes from the eastern section of the Notitia, the western section shows the western armies :-)<br>
<br>
Although the 2 parts are dated at different times it seems reasonable to say that the western and eastern army dispositions are a reasonable reflection of how they might have stood after Theodosius' death.<br>
<br>
As for trying to work out the order of battle for Adrianople the Notitia can only be of limited use as it is likely that there were quite major changes during the reign of Theodosius and just after. For example I have read that it seems likely that until after Theodosius' return from the west after his first civil war after Gratian's murder there was only 1 eastern praesental army, but that the second was created after this war partly from units brought back from the west.<br>
<br>
If you read Ammianus and try and work out the distribution of the major armies at about the time of Adrianople I think you will come up with 4/5 major troop groupings: an army on the eastern frontier, and army in Illyricum a praesental army with Valens, an army in Gaul and perhaps another praesental army with Gratian/based in Italy unless this is more or less one with the Gallic army. From this it would appear to me that Theodosius changes the structure of the eastern army quite dramatically and this was complicated by the dispute over Illyricum after his death. <p></p><i></i>
<br>
Although the 2 parts are dated at different times it seems reasonable to say that the western and eastern army dispositions are a reasonable reflection of how they might have stood after Theodosius' death.<br>
<br>
As for trying to work out the order of battle for Adrianople the Notitia can only be of limited use as it is likely that there were quite major changes during the reign of Theodosius and just after. For example I have read that it seems likely that until after Theodosius' return from the west after his first civil war after Gratian's murder there was only 1 eastern praesental army, but that the second was created after this war partly from units brought back from the west.<br>
<br>
If you read Ammianus and try and work out the distribution of the major armies at about the time of Adrianople I think you will come up with 4/5 major troop groupings: an army on the eastern frontier, and army in Illyricum a praesental army with Valens, an army in Gaul and perhaps another praesental army with Gratian/based in Italy unless this is more or less one with the Gallic army. From this it would appear to me that Theodosius changes the structure of the eastern army quite dramatically and this was complicated by the dispute over Illyricum after his death. <p></p><i></i>
