Quote:Why did they go after Spain instead of Carthage, like Alaric planned and the Vandals did?
Invading southern Spain (Baetica) was an easier option since no legions were stationed there. The only legion was Legio VII Gemina and it was based in northern Spain (Tarroconesis) in modern León.
Also, the straits of Gibraltar seem to have been infested with Frankish pirates at this time which raises questions about the state of the Roman navy in the third century.
Carthage had a far more powerful garrison but it wasn't safe from raids either, hence, the war Maximian conducted against the Berber/Moorish tribes.
Quote:What source are you using? I know there were a couple of vexillations from the Danube in Mauretania at the time, and possibly a praetorian cohort attested there too, but beyond that I didn't think there was any information on Maximian's army...
I am using AHM Jones (
The Later Roman Empire, pg. 59) who gives the numbers for Mauretania.
And Stephen Williams (
Diocletian and the Roman Recovery, pg. 75) who says Maximian collected a considerable force, made up from Praetorian cohorts, contingents from the legions of Aquileia, Egypt, and the lower Danube, Gallic and German auxiliaries, and new Thracian recruits. With this force he crossed the straits from Spain, closing both coasts to Frankish pirates, and pursued the Moorish tribes back to the mountains deep into their territory.
~Theo