07-12-2003, 12:21 AM
Thank you for replying Caius.<br>
Quote:</em></strong><hr>or still moving to the scene of the event, or maybe even lost and trying to find out where they were supposed to be! Valens could not bring all the troops in the theatre to the vicinity of the Adrianopolis conflict, there were too many other little problems going on at the time. Troops on other parts of frontier, guarding passes, watching other areas, securing supplies and dozens of other duties.<hr> I have never read about units left behind on the march without them catching up. Nor that they lost their way while in Roman territory. It is true that certain troops were dealing with other Goths in the vicinity, and achieving some small victories ! But they were troops already present, so a mixture of limitanei and local comitatenses. And of course troops on other borders were kept there. But all of this would have no effect on the mobile army. How come it is only 20,000 strong ? And what good is a mobile field army if it has to fight without comitatenses. So, what about the legions elsewhere in Great-Illyricum ? Isn't it a well known fact that in case of a major battle, all troops available in the vicinity (hundreds of miles away) are being brought together.<br>
So, in short : what's the point of having an Eastern Roman army of 200,000 men if you can only use 20,000 soldiers in one of the greatest invasions into the Roman Empire ever ?? Even Gratianus had to come to the rescue !!<br>
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Don't understand it...<br>
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Quote:</em></strong><hr>or still moving to the scene of the event, or maybe even lost and trying to find out where they were supposed to be! Valens could not bring all the troops in the theatre to the vicinity of the Adrianopolis conflict, there were too many other little problems going on at the time. Troops on other parts of frontier, guarding passes, watching other areas, securing supplies and dozens of other duties.<hr> I have never read about units left behind on the march without them catching up. Nor that they lost their way while in Roman territory. It is true that certain troops were dealing with other Goths in the vicinity, and achieving some small victories ! But they were troops already present, so a mixture of limitanei and local comitatenses. And of course troops on other borders were kept there. But all of this would have no effect on the mobile army. How come it is only 20,000 strong ? And what good is a mobile field army if it has to fight without comitatenses. So, what about the legions elsewhere in Great-Illyricum ? Isn't it a well known fact that in case of a major battle, all troops available in the vicinity (hundreds of miles away) are being brought together.<br>
So, in short : what's the point of having an Eastern Roman army of 200,000 men if you can only use 20,000 soldiers in one of the greatest invasions into the Roman Empire ever ?? Even Gratianus had to come to the rescue !!<br>
<br>
Don't understand it...<br>
<p></p><i></i>
