Military Commands in Late Roman Britain
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A.) The Duke of Britain (Dux Limitum Britannicarum).
- 14,000 infantrymen.
900 horsemen.
36 forts on the Antonine and Hadrian Walls.
Listed below are the commands and forces in the notitia Dignitatum as being under the command of the dux britannicarum , or Duke of the Provinces of Britain, at least in the late 4th century, early 5th century AD. Since the notitia is a complex document which has undergone a great many changes through history, there are a number of entries that are plainly wrong or confused. Where the veracity of the information can be checked against other literary and epigraphic sources, it proves to be generally reliable however, these inconsistencies aside. Unfortunately it does not give a complete picture of forces in the north at this time, as there is not a perfect match between the archaological evidence for the occupation of forts with the notitia evidence.
Notitia Dignitatum
Under the control of the vir spectabilis, the Duke of the Provinces of Britain (dux britannicarum):
Prefect of the VI Legion - York. Prefect of the Dalmatian cavalry at Praesidium.
Prefect of the Crispian cavalry at Danum [Doncaster?/Jarrow?]
Prefect of the armoured cavalry at Morbium.
Prefect of the numerus of Tigris boatmen at Arbeia [S.Shields]
Prefect of the numerus of Nervii of Dictum at Dictum [Wearmouth?]
Prefect of the numerus of Vigiles at Concangis [Chester-le-Street]
Prefect of the numerus of exploratores at Lavatris [Bowes]
Prefect of the numerus of directores at Verteris [Brough Castle]
Prefect of the numerus of defensores at Bravoniacum [Kirkby Thore]
Prefect of the numerus of solenses at Maglona [Old Carlisle]
Prefect of the numerus of pacenses at Magis [Burrow Walls?]
Prefect of the numerus of longovicani at Longivicium [Lanchester]
Prefect of the numerus of supervenientes of Petuaria at Derventio [Malton].
Also along the line of the wall:
Tribune of the 4th cohort of lingones at Segedunum [Wallsend]
Tribune of the 1st cohort of cornovii at Pons Aelius [Newcastle]
Prefect of the 1st ala of Asturians at Condercum [Benwell]
Tribune of the 1st cohort of Frixagores at Vindobala [Rudchester]
Prefect of the ala sabiniana at Hunnum [Halton Chesters]
Prefect of the 2nd ala of Asturians at Cilurnum [Chesters]
Tribune of the 1st cohort of Batavians at Procolitia [Carrawburgh]
Tribune of the 1st cohort of Tungrians at Borcovicium (=Vercovicium) [Housesteads]
Tribune of the 4th cohort of Gauls at Vindolan(d)a [Chesterholm]
Tribune of the 1st (recte2nd) cohort of Asturians at Aesica [Great Chesters]
Tribune of the 2nd cohort of Dalmatians at Magnis [Carvoran]
Tribune of the 2nd cohort of Hadrian's Dacians at (C)Amboglanna [Castlesteads]
Prefect of the ala petriana at Petriana [recte Uxeldonum, Stanwix] ?
Prefect of the numerus of Aurelian Moors at Aballaba [Burgh-by-Sands]
Tribune of the 2nd cohort of lingones at Concavata [Drumburgh]
Tribune of the 1st cohort of Spaniards at Axelodunum (Uxeldonum ?, Stanwix. see entry for ala petriana above)
Tribune of the 2nd cohort of Thracians at Gabrosentum [Moresby]
Tribune of the 1st cohort aelia classica at Tunnocelum
Tribune of the 1st cohort of morini at Glannibanta [Ravenglass]
Tribune of the 3rd cohort of nervii at Alione [Maryport] cuneus of Sarmatians at Brementen(r)acum [Ribchester]
Prefect of the 1st ala herculea at Olenacum [Elsack?]
Tribune of the 6th cohort of nervii at Virosidum [Brough by Bainbridge]
B.) The Count of Britain (Comes Militum Britannicarum)
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2,200 infantrymen.
200 cavalrymen.
37 forts.
Listed below are possible fortresses under the command of the Count of Britain:
- Deva(Chester)
Isca Dumnorum(Exeter)
Lindum(Lincoln)
Camulodunum(Colchester)
Wroxeter
Isca Silurium(Caerleon)
Glevum(Gloucester)
Leighton/Swindon
North Tawton
Newton on Trent
Great Chesterford
Clyno
Broxtowe
Kings
Kinvaston
Wall
Burrium(Usk)
Ratae(Leicester)
Farnsfield
Metchley
Mancetter
Longthorpe
Lakefarm
Noviomagus(Chichester)
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3,000 infantrymen.
900 horsemen.
9 fortresses.
8 signal stations
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Listed below are the nine Saxon Shore fortesses, plus the 8 signal stations.
Fortesses:
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1. Branodunum (Brancaster)
2. Garionnonum (Burgh Castle)
3. Othano (Bradwell)
4. Regulbium (Reculver)
5. Rutupiae (Richborough)
6. Dubris (Dover)
7. Lemanis (Lympne)
8. Anderida (Pevensey)
9.Portus Adurni (Portchester)
Signal stations:
1. Huntcliffe
2. Goldsborough
3. Ravenscar
4. Scarborough
5. Filey
6. Corton
7. Hadleigh
8. Stokehill
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