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[Flavivs Aetivs]

Heya Rennie.

The Placidi Valentiniani are explicitly listed in the Notitia as Palatina, yes.

It's hard to say what units were at Chalons. We know the Romans at least were very well equipped and supplied because Tonatius Ferreolus had made preparations for a Hunnic Invasion of Gaul or Italy, as is recorded by Sidonius Apollinaris. He even records that the Barbarian allies were supplied by the Romans as well.

We can't say for certain the Valentiniani participated at Chalons - although I think it is likely. Jordanes mentions (aside from the Visigoths and Alans) "Olibrones, Riparii, Armoriciani, Saxons, and Liticiani" at Chalons.

The Armoriciani were the rebellious Armoricans of Brittany, which were a province of the Roman Empire supplanted with regional nobles in the provincial government.

The Liticiani were likely the Litaui from the areas of Cornwall and Wales, who were still loyal to the Roman state and many of whom had come across the straits from Exeter and settled in Brittany and Normandy.

The Saxons were the old tribe of the Frisii who were settled in Flanders and Kent in 297 and remained there as Foederati until at least 425.

The Riparii were Riparienses or Ripenses - Grades of Limitanei that were re-enforcing the core of the Gallic Field Army.

The Olibrones are probably what the Placidi Valentiniani Felices would have fallen under - "once Roman soldiers and now the flower of the allied forces" meaning they were likely Palatina and Bucellarii for Aetius and his Generals, and probably what was left of the Gallic field army.

In terms of numbers modern estimates could put the Romans and their allies at around 55,000 men:22,500 for the Roman Gallic Field Army (this is at 2/3 strength of AHM Jones listing of 34000) , 20,000-ish for the Visigoths (based on Peter Heather's estimates), and about 5000-10000 others (most of the Roman's gallic allies had been weakened by successful campaigning, the Franks and Burgundians were also split between the two sides).

Therefore you really cannot say what units participated.

You know I also have spent years working alone on my own total war mod (INVASIO BARBAROVM: VLTIMVS ROMANORVM), and from the perspective of a Total War Modder, here is what I reccomend for a Battle of Chalons:

Max out the nations on either side (5 I think for each, its been a while):

Romans:
Aetius and his Hunnic Bucellarii - Silver equipment, 3 silver experience bars
2 Auxilia Palatina - Silver Equipment, 3 Bronze Experience Bars
3 units of Comitatenses - bronze equipment, 2 bronze experience bars
6 units of Heavy Limitanei - 2 bronze experience bars
2 units of Archers (possibly a unit of Arcuballistarii) - 2 bronze experience bars
4 units of Cavalry - one catafractarii, one medium cavalry, two horse-archers - 2-3 bronze experience bars, maybe bronze equipment on the catafractarii

Visigoths:
Theodoric and his Comitatus Bodyguard - silver equipment, 1 silver bar
Thorismund and his Comitatus Bodyguard - silver equipment, 2 bronze bars
4 units heavy warband - Bronze equipment, 2 bronze bars
6 units light warband - 2 bronze bars
2 units archers - none
6 units cavalry - some light, some heavy, all lancers - 2 bronze bars

Alans:
Sambida and his Bodyguard - silver equipment, 1 silver bar
5 units Catafractarii - silver equipment, 2 bronze bars
4 units Horse Archers - bronze equipment, 2 bronze bars

Franks:
Merovaeus (name is dubious) and bodyguard - 2 bronze bars, bronze equipment
2 units lancer cavalry
5 units light infantry
2 units archers

Romano-British/Armoricans:
1 Bodyguard unit
2 units lancers/heavy cavalry
2 units heavy infantry
4 units light infantry
1 unit archers

Huns:
Attila and his bodyguard unit - silver equipment, 3 silver experience bars
9 units light lancers or swordsmen cavalry - 2-3 bronze experience bars
10 units horse archers - bronze equipment, 3 bronze experience bars

Ostrogoths:
Valamir and his bodyguard unit - silver equipment, 3 bronze experience bars
3 units lancer cavalry
6 units heavy infantry
8 units light infantry
1 unit archers

Gepids:
Ardaric and his bodyguard unit
1 unit lancer cavalry
4 units heavy infantry
4 units light infantry

Thuringians:
Bodyguard unit
1 unit lancer cavalry
4 units heavy infantry
4 units light infantry

Franks:
Bodyguard unit
1 unit lancer cavalry
4 units heavy infantry
2 units light infantry
2 units infantry archers

These armies are open to individual discretion of course, I just gave sort of a basic idea of what you're looking for. More and less experience on either side, etc.

Battle layout:

Romans and their allies should be on the top of a ridge running north-south the center of the map, with a small stream on the very south side running alongside a road. The roman and hunnic lines will run north-south.

From the Roman point of view:

Romans facing Gepids, Franks, and Thuringians on the Left, Roman cavalry should be on the right side of the left flank, the Roman infantry should be slightly wrapped around the overall enemy forces' left flank. As many as possible should be in Fulcrum formation

Alans, Franks, and Armoricans facing the Huns in the center.

Visigoths facing the Ostrogoths on the Right. Thorismund should command the cavalry on the left side of the right flank, and theodoric should be commanding the infantry on the right side of the right flank, but shouldn't have reached the top of the hill yet. Thorismund should be on the top of the hill.

Hope this helps you Rennie