The Balistarii seniores



This page created 7 April 2014, and last modified: 13 April 2014 (some links added)

Spear

The Balistarii iuniores is listed as one of the legiones comitatenses units under the Magister Militum per Thracias. Its shield pattern is shown in various manuscripts as below:

Shield patterns



Disclaimer: remember, I'm not an expert in the field of Notitia studies, so take my comments with a grain of salt...


Unlike the patterns of the balistarii under the Magister Militum per Orientem, the pattern of the Balistarii iuniores does not bear a close resemblance to another legionary unit under the same command, nor does it resemble those of the other balistarii units. Instead it most closely resembles that of the Scythae under the command of the second Master of the Soldiers in the Imperial Presence. Perhaps the Balistarii originated as a detachment of that unit; although the resemblance is not particularly close, as the following patterns from the Paris manuscript show:

Shield patterns

Perhaps it is more likely, if there is any relationship between the two at all, that is, that they were merely brigaded together at some point.

Spear

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