Notitia Narbonensis

Being the Details of the Military Strengths of the Duxes Narbonensis from 450 Ad until 700 AD

PAYROLL OF the ARMY of The DUX Narbonensis 449 AD

(Note - the Narbonensian paymasters seem to have grouped All units for pay purposes into "elementae" of about 150 heavy horse, 100 light horse or 200 Legionaries or Auxilia, and their Foederatoi equivalents. In general terms, a cavalry Vexillatio seems to be about 2 "elementae" strong, an infantry unit 4.)

The Army was campaigning against a mixture of foes, Huns, so has a strong mounted command and cavalry in its other flank command. The crack Auxilia and all the heavy cavalry are in the main command. The aim seems to have been to use the Alan "sagitarii clibanarii" to bring the Huns to battle, whence the firepower of the foot and the weight of the heavy horse could deal them severe blows. It is clear that this army was intended to destroy hunnic forces rather than head them off.

I. Under the Command of the Dux Narbonensis.

• Equites - Heavy Horse - an interesting mix of Old and "new" units (Mostly probably lancers, as Alanus records that they are to operate "In the manner of the Alans"), giving a total of VIII "elementae": - Equites Alani Fideles, (heavy horse, probably lancers), Equiites Honoriani Taifali Iuniores (These were probably lancers), Equites Armigeri (Probably lancers), Equites Batavi Iuniores (maybe also lancers by now)

• Auxilia Palatina and PseudoComitatenses - total VIII "Elementae" of Auxilia spearmen and VIII of attached archers: Auxilia Palatina Mattiaci Et Atecotti, Auxilia PseudoComitatenses Superventores Iuniores and Abrincanteni.

• Exculcatores Iuniores - the "Squashers", said to be Auxilia Palatina that operated in open formation (once a British unit and definitely operational in Gaul earlier, so this could be the same unit) - IV Elementae

(It is fairly clear that the Dux's main body was designed for frontal combat, using the Auxilia to pin or hold, and striking a heavy blow with the heavy cavalry.)

II. Under the command of the Praefectus Alae (Master of Horse)

• "Heavy" horse archers (Equites clibanarii sagitarii) - clearly armoured horse archers, probably many of them Alan kinsmen: Some of the units are familiar from the Notitia Dignitatum, but not from Gaul - these could be new units created by western Patricians. Listed are: Comites Seniores, comites Iuniores, equites sagittarii cordueni - a total of VI Elementae

• Light Horse Equites Scutarii Seniores - II Elementae

• Numerii AueliAnsis and Minervensis - IV elementae Auxilium et IV elementae Sagittarium

(This was clearly a mobile command, but also had attached the more dubious of the Patrician's field units (although they could be recruited for this campaign only)

III. Under the command of the Comites Germanicum "Count of the Germans" (clearly a rank for the leader of a strongly German command)

• "Heavy" horse archers - II Elementae, again clearly armoured horse archers. Here we find Alanus's old Equites Sagittarii Clibanarii

• Foideratoi Units - VIII Elementae

• Equites Sagitarii Parthi Iuniores - II elementae (A light horse unit that originally appears in Aetius' earlier army, perhaps it was never returned to africa)

(This command was primarily foot, and appears to be a flank command. unfortunately we are unclear if these were still the warband of earlier days or were now regular troops, but they are paid and uniformed by the Patrician.)

In addition to the above, it appears that at times the army would call on numbers of Irregular Alan auxilliaries, garrison troops (auxilia and archers) and there was clearly some form of training system for regulars and foideratoi.

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