07-05-2003, 01:11 AM
Quote:</em></strong><hr>My current OB has 19,000 Romans and 23,000 Goths/Allies. <hr><br>
Well, even though I believe those figures may be right, I still cannot understand how they can be so low !!<br>
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Even though there is no consensus about the size of the Roman army in any period. I think it's safe to say that the entire Roman army was between 300,000 and 500,000 men strong. More than half can be limitanei. And west and east have half. So 70,000 to 100,000 'mobile forces' meaning palatines and comitatenses. Perhaps adding bucellarii.<br>
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And I'm sure you can pinch off many thousands of troops for other activities and a range of reasons. But still ?<br>
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Plus, it is well known that limitanei do their share of fighting if a battle occurs in their region. So that should augment the numbers. But 19,000 ?? That would be 1/4 of the men available. Or was it so important to keep comitatenses behind to deter the Persians ?? <p></p><i></i>
Well, even though I believe those figures may be right, I still cannot understand how they can be so low !!<br>
<br>
Even though there is no consensus about the size of the Roman army in any period. I think it's safe to say that the entire Roman army was between 300,000 and 500,000 men strong. More than half can be limitanei. And west and east have half. So 70,000 to 100,000 'mobile forces' meaning palatines and comitatenses. Perhaps adding bucellarii.<br>
<br>
And I'm sure you can pinch off many thousands of troops for other activities and a range of reasons. But still ?<br>
<br>
Plus, it is well known that limitanei do their share of fighting if a battle occurs in their region. So that should augment the numbers. But 19,000 ?? That would be 1/4 of the men available. Or was it so important to keep comitatenses behind to deter the Persians ?? <p></p><i></i>
