Salve,<br>
<br>
These weapons were discussed in
this recent thread. Arrianus describes handheld devices used by cavalrymen in his <i> Tactica</i>.<br>
<br>
DeVoto, J.G., <i> Flavius Arrianus: Technè Taktika (Tactical handbook) and Ektaxis kata Alanoon (The expedition against the Alans)</i> (Chicago 1993)<br>
132p.<br>
<br>
In addition similar weapons may be mentioned in Vegetius.<br>
<br>
Vegetius, <i> Epitoma</i> 2.15<br>
<br>
<i> ... erant tragularii, qui ad manuballistas vel arcuballistas dirigebant sagittas. ...</i><br>
<br>
'... there used to be <i> tragularii</i>, who shot arrows with <i> manuballistae</i> or <i> arcuballistae</i>. ...'<br>
<br>
The <i> manuballista</i> may have been handheld, the <i> arcuballista</i> may have been bow powered rather than by torsion springs. Much of the technical terminology surrounding artillery is disputed though.<br>
<br>
It has been suggested that the units of <i> ballistarii</i> recorded in the <i> Notitia Dignitatum</i>, Vegetius (2.2; 3.14; 3.24) and Ammianus Marcellinus (16.2.5) would use crossbows/handheld torsion guns rather than heavy artillery pieces. The
western part of the ND lists a unit of <i> balistarii</i> among the troops under the <i> magister equitum Galliarum</i>. The <i> dux Mogontiacensis</i> had a <i> praefectus militum balistariorum</i> under his command. The
Eastern part of the ND has a <i> legio comitatensis</i> of <i> Balistarii seniores</i> and a <i> legio pseudocomitatensis</i> of <i> Balistarii Theodosiaci</i> in the army of the <i> magister equitum per Orientem</i>. The <i> magister militum per Thracias</i> had the <i> legiones comitatenses</i> of the <i> Balistarii Dafnenses</i> and <i> Balistarii Iuniores</i>. The <i> magister militum per Illyricum</i> commanded the <i> pseudocomitatenses</i> of the <i> Balistarii Theodosiani iuniores</i>.<br>
<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i></i>
