Sub-Roman Britain (Cavalry etc)

[Alanus]

Agreed!

When I mentioned the Equites Taifali, I was referring to the cavalry unit rather than its ethnicity. I believe the original unit was formed around 380, with the Taiflai transferred to the Po Valley in 379. If-- as some of us believe-- the Taifali Juniors and Seniors went into Britain at the commencement of Honorius' reign, this would be 15 years after they were formed and they would have had a high number of Alans from the large recruitment conducted by Gratian. (I've read as high as 40,000, with 30,000 on the low end.) The Equites Taifali could have also had Huns, since they were ardently recuited by Stilicho.

So the Roman cavalry presence in Britain must have had a goodly number of Alans, Taifali, and maybe Huns. (I mentioned on another thread that the Gloucester Goth was more likely an Alan or Taifalus; and those buckles & akinakes are identically found in "late Sarmatian" graves in Ukraine.) The other supposed influence-- the early Sarmatians of Arthur Castus-- I consider more "whimsical" than real. The 2005 film on this subject has been heavily criticized for good reason, but surprisingly it showed a fairly accurate cultural cross-section if we view them as NOT Iazyges.

As you say, in Gaul we are looking at the early fortification of towns, a prelude to the medieval period, and even the reception of Ecdicius by the townsfolk after the skirmish reads very much like admiration of the "Holy Knight."

Speculation, yes. But? 8)

If anyone can find them, please send me anything used by Ecdicius. :wink: "Some turned back the pommels of the horses' saddles which were bathed in sweat; others, when you wished to free your head from the skull-piece of a helmet, unclasped the bands of pliant steel; some entangled themselves in disentangling the fastenings of your greaves; some counted the dents on the edges of swords blunted with slaughter..."