Legionary Officers and NCOs - Late Roman Army (284 - 565 AD)

[Nathan Ross]

I fear that the statement by Treadgold may have been a circular argument. Knowing the number of officers and assuming the number in a command, he may have deduced the number of 80 commanded by each ordinarius.

Is this the source you've sometimes mentioned for the late century being composed of 80 men? Or is there something else? It does sound a bit circular if so.

[Robert Vermaat]

Is this the source you've sometimes mentioned for the late century being composed of 80 men? Or is there something else? It does sound a bit circular if so.

Seems to be, unfortunately. Unless there is another who actually knows the number of that regiment in Elephantine. Or we should know the number of troops commander by a centurio / ordinarius, but as that was the original debate here, I fear these papyri give us no new answers as to the numbers. So I may have to change my article, or trust Treadgold to have had more sources for that claim that he shows in his notes!