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Vexillatio Equitum, Equites, Numerus Equitum
#7
(09-13-2017, 12:48 PM)Julian de Vries Wrote: So my theory is that from the Tagma named Scholarii, two units of Arithmoi are formed: the Arithmon named Candidati, and the Arithmon named Protectores. Both these Arithmoi each forms two Scholae Palatinae.

But are you talking about the 8th century here, or the 3rd-4th? In the 3rd-4th the language of the military was Latin, rather than the 'Byzantine' mixture of Latin and Greek. So 'arithmoi' would be numeri, and there would not be a unit called a 'tagma'.

Constantinus Porphyrogenitos, de ceremoniis aulae 1.86, mentions that the Candidati comprised only 40 men. These seem to have been selected specially from the Scholae Palatina, and existed at least as early as Julian (cf Ammianus). Such a small body of men could hardly have been subdivided into other units.

The Protectores Domestici, on the other hand, form four scholae in the Notitia Dignitatum - Iuniores and Seniores Equitum and Peditum. The Protectores appear to have begun under Valerian and Gallienus as a title of distinction for senior officers; they did not form their own particular unit until (probably) Diocletian, and even then were perhaps just a single schola protectorum until the middle of the 4th century.

I think both George and Cedrenus (one quoting the other?) are wrong about the links between these guard units and Gordianus and/or Philippus.


(09-13-2017, 12:48 PM)Julian de Vries Wrote: Corentin Mea(page 394) says this arithmon was part of the ALA NOVA  FIRMA MILLIARIA CATAFRACTARIA.

Or the whole of ala catafractaria, perhaps? Numerus/Arithmos could mean any military unit, so it could be used to refer to an ala as well, perhaps.


(09-13-2017, 12:48 PM)Julian de Vries Wrote: CIL, V, 4320... Imp(eratori) [Caes(ari)] | L(ucio) Do[mitio] | Aur[eliano]... p(rae)p(ositus) n(umeri) e[q(uitum) Dalm(atarum) ?] | Fort[ensium ?].

Good one! I'd missed that completely. Although the 'dalmatarum' part is restored from a lacuna, it seems a pretty secure bet. And we have n(umeri) e(quitum) at least...
Nathan Ross
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RE: Vexillatio Equitum, Equites, Numerus Equitum - by Nathan Ross - 09-13-2017, 02:19 PM

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