This page created 9 August 2014, and last modified: 9 August 2014

The Equites prima Gallia is listed as the second of the vexillationes comitatenses in the Magister Equitum's cavalry roster; it is assigned to his Gallic command. Its shield pattern as shown in various manuscripts is as below:

Note that Seeck used the name Equites primi Gallicani in the distribution part of the list, because this is the form found in the Munich manuscript there; but not only is this form not found in the other manuscripts, but even the Munich manuscript uses Equites prima Gallia in the cavalry roster and for the labels, so I am unsure why Seeck did this.

The pattern features a red rim, and a blue four-pointed star in the middle with concave sides (white in B) with a yellow border that extends to the rim. The four curved vesicae piscis between the yellow border and the red rim are green (faded to yellow in M; while in W, only the top two are green; the bottom two are yellow). No indication of a boss is present. Accordingly, the shape of the pattern, but not the colours, is somewhat similar that of the Equites Constantiani felices, which is also in the Magister Equitum's Gallic command, as a comparison of the following patterns taken from the Parisian manuscript shows:

The pattern is perhaps even more similar to that ascribed to the infantry unit the Honoriani ascarii seniores, also in the Magister Equitum's Gallic command, as can be seen by examining its shield pattern, as found in various manuscripts:

The name Gallicani refers to the region of Gaul, and probably indicates the unit was either stationed as a limitanei unit somewhere there before attached to the Gallic (pr possibly another) field army, or else that it was raised there.

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