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Thecomitatenses and later thepalatini were the units of the field armies of thelate Roman Empire. They were the soldiers that replaced thelegionaries, who had formed the backbone of the Roman military since the late republic.
Units such as theJoviani and Herculiani had 5,000 soldiers and 726–800 cavalrymen. Many units' sizes would vary. There were three types of units, theheavy infantry,medium infantry, andlight infantry. Thecomitatenses were the heavy infantry. Theauxiliaries,auxilia palatina, and thepeltasts were the medium infantry, and thepsiloi were the light infantry.Comitatenses regiments consisted of 1,024 soldiers.Comitatenses legions could consist of 6,000 to 7,000 soldiers. Some of these soldiers would be lightly armed, while others would be heavily armed. During a battle the army would divide into 3-4 divisions. The army might use a double phalanx to protect its rear. Reserves would be located behind or between each division.[1]
In the Late Roman Empire the army was divided into two major units, thelimitanei border guards and mobile armies consisting ofcomitatenses. Thelimitanei would deal with smaller raids, or, in the case of larger invasions, try to defend or stall long enough for thecomitatenses legions to arrive. Thesecomitatenses would be grouped intofield armies.[2] This strategy has been described as "defense in depth." To conservemanpower, the general would do his best to avoid apitched battle. Rather than attack the enemy, the legions would form ashield wall and wait for the enemy to attack the Romans. The Romans would use their superior coordination to defeat the enemy. TheEmperor would command acomitatenses field army to put downrebellions.[3][4][5]
Comitatenses is the Latin nominative plural ofcomitatensis, an adjective derived fromcomitatus ('company, party, suite'; in this military context it came to the novel meaning of 'the field army'), itself derived fromcomes ('companion', but hence specific historical meanings, military and civilian).
However, historically it became the accepted (substantiated) name for thoseRoman imperial troops (legions and auxiliary) which were not merely garrisoned at alimes (fortified border, on the Rhine and Danube in Europe and near Persia and the desert tribes elsewhere)—thelimitanei orripenses, i.e. "along the shores"—but more mobile line troops; furthermore there were second line troops, namedpseudocomitatenses, formerlimitanei attached to thecomitatus;palatini, elite ("palace") units typically assigned to themagister militum; and thescholae palatinae of actual palace guards, usually under themagister officiorum, a senior court official of the Late Empire.[citation needed]
Among thecomitatenses units listed byNotitia Dignitatum are: