08-22-2011, 06:29 PM
Hi Francis,
Jerome lists both ranks and grades, Justinian has a nearly similar list of military clerks, which makes a conclusion possible that this was a list that’s useful for the entire army.
Vegetius, Anastasius and Lydus have less ranks, but a lot more ‘others’ in-between. The comparison of the three sources however makes me wonder whether these names were indeed still in use from the later 4th century (I follow the school dating Vegetius to the 4th, not the 5th c.). Vegetius may be looking to reconstruct an older army, but he may (as he does in other aspects) be using contemporary information. The chances that both Anastatius and Lydus are also using anachronistic titles are very slim.
What I think that we see here is a mix of New-style ranks (although we know that centurions and optiones continued, they are not mentioned here) such as the tribunus and the ordinarius, some functions (such as the standard-bearers and musicians of several types), plus what seems to be a number of titles (such as those augustales and armaturae) which denote a difference in pay scale or perhaps in privileges based on a system we don’t know. Lydus enhances the other two lists with all kinds of extra functions, such as some weapon manufactures, specialist troops and more of those. I would love to have a pay scale added to Lydus’ list, but the one from Anastasius will do for now.
As for the text of Lydus:
http://www.archive.org/details/joannisla...00hasegoog or
http://books.google.nl/books?id=KVQMAAAA...&q&f=false
Quote:To be honest, the grades themselves remain somewhat obscure to me as I still have some difficulty separating rank from grade as my knowledge here is still provisional! Jerome as I understand it lists ranks of the cavalry not grades and Vegetius is reconstructing the archaic legion or rather filtering it through the contemporary one and so presenting a somewhat anachronistic list which is both of grades and ranks. Lydus I am not that familiar with at all and would appreciate a source reference I can track down!I find it very difficult to seperate ranks from posts, grades (pay difference), titles and functions, if not impossible. After all, the Roman army (like the Roman state) did not function quite as ours do.
Jerome lists both ranks and grades, Justinian has a nearly similar list of military clerks, which makes a conclusion possible that this was a list that’s useful for the entire army.
Vegetius, Anastasius and Lydus have less ranks, but a lot more ‘others’ in-between. The comparison of the three sources however makes me wonder whether these names were indeed still in use from the later 4th century (I follow the school dating Vegetius to the 4th, not the 5th c.). Vegetius may be looking to reconstruct an older army, but he may (as he does in other aspects) be using contemporary information. The chances that both Anastatius and Lydus are also using anachronistic titles are very slim.
What I think that we see here is a mix of New-style ranks (although we know that centurions and optiones continued, they are not mentioned here) such as the tribunus and the ordinarius, some functions (such as the standard-bearers and musicians of several types), plus what seems to be a number of titles (such as those augustales and armaturae) which denote a difference in pay scale or perhaps in privileges based on a system we don’t know. Lydus enhances the other two lists with all kinds of extra functions, such as some weapon manufactures, specialist troops and more of those. I would love to have a pay scale added to Lydus’ list, but the one from Anastasius will do for now.
As for the text of Lydus:
http://www.archive.org/details/joannisla...00hasegoog or
http://books.google.nl/books?id=KVQMAAAA...&q&f=false
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
