This page created 26 August 2014, and last modified: 26 August 2014

The Comites iuniores is listed as one of the vexillationes comitatenses in the Magister Equitum's cavalry roster; its shield pattern as shown in various manuscripts is as below:

The shield pattern has a white boss (yellow in M) divided (except in B) into 8 sectors. It is surrounded by a yellow band, and then a green band (faded to yellow in M, and white in B); the outermost band is the broadest, and is blue. As such, it does not bear a close resemblance to any other shield pattern in the Notitia.

The Comites iuniores is apparently not assigned to any of the western field commands; as its neighbouring units in the cavalry roster are assigned to the Comes Africae, it is quite likely that this unit too belongs there.

The name Comites means "companions"; specifically, companions-in-arms of the Emperor; it is where the aristocratic title "Count" comes from. All units of Comites in the Notitia are cavalry; moreover, of the eleven (or twelve, depending on the counting), all but two (or three) are palatine units. The Comites iuniores is thus unusual in being a non-palatine unit of Comites, but which makes its assignment to the provincial Comes Africae, as opposed to either of the two western Praesental Magistri, more likely.

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