Late Roman Shield Patterns



Dux Scythiae



This page last modified: 31 December 2014 (Maier reference numbers added)

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Frontpiece showing towns
Above: Frontpiece from the Bodleian manuscript.
The stations depicted are:
Flaviana, Capidava, Bireo, Cii,
Arubio, Aegissos, Thalamonio.
The following (cavalry units or detachments of units) are listed as being under the command of the Duke of Scythia (i.e. southeast Romania; the numbers in front of the names refer to Ingo Maier's numbering scheme):

74.2 Cuneus equitum scutariorum, at Sacidava
74.3 Cuneus equitum Solensium, at Capidava
74.4 Cuneus equitum stablesianorum, at Cii
74.5 Cuneus equitum stablesianorum, at Bireo
74.6 Cuneus equitum catafractariorum, at Arubio
74.7 Cuneus equitum armigerorum, at Aegissos
74.8 Cuneus equitum Arcadum, at Talamonio

along with the following Auxiliares units (or detachments of units):

74.10 Milites navclarii, at Flaviana
74.11 Milites superventores, at Axiupoli
74.12 Milites Scythici, at Carso
74.13 Milites secundi Constantini, at Trosmis
74.14 Milites Scythici, at Dirigothia
74.15 Milites primi Constantini, at Novioduro
74.16 Milites quinti Constantini, at Salsovia
74.17 Milites primi Gratianenses, at Gratiana

and the following (prefects and their) riparian legionary units (i.e. stationed long the riverine frontier):

74.19 Praefectus legionis secundae Herculiae, at Trosmis
74.20 Praefectus ripae legionis secundae Herculiae cohortis quintae pedaturae inferioris, at Axiupoli
74.21 Praefectus legionis Herculiae cohortis quintae pedaturae inferioris, at Iprosmis (see notes)
74.22 Praefectus legionis primae Ioviae, at Novioduro
74.23 Praefectus ripae legionis primaei Ioviae cohortis quintae pedaturae superioris, at Novioduro
74.24 Praefectus ripae legionis primae Ioviae cohortis quintae pedaturae inferioris, at Accisso
74.25 Praefectus ripae legionis primae Ioviae cohortis et secundae Herculiae musculorum Scythicorum et classis, at Inplateypegiis



Disclaimer: Remember, a lot of what comes below is speculation. Hopefully informed speculation, but speculation nonetheless. Comments welcome! (lukeuedasarson "at" gmail.com)


None of the shield patterns for these units are recorded. Note that Seeck amended (OR. XXXIX.31) the Praefectus legionis Herculiae cohortis quintae pedaturae inferioris to read Praefectus ripae legionis secundae Herculiae cohortis quintae pedaturae inferioris.

Legio I Iovia, or, as attested epigraphically, Legio I Iovia Scythica (see The Tetrarchic Reorganization of the Limes Scythicus, Mihail Zahariade; The Lower Danube in Antiquity, International Archaeological Conference, Bulgaria-Tutrakan 6-7.10.2005; Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, National Institute of Archaeology and Museum, Sofia, 2006; p 1-12, available here) was an early Tetrarchic creation, along with the co-located Legio II Herculia, established to defend the newly-organised province of Scythia. It may have been the parent unit of the Scythae under the Magister Militum Praesentalis II.

It is possible the men under the Praefectus alae Herculeae, under the command of the Comes Tingitaniae is a detachment of Legio II Herculia; see his entry for details. In addition to inscriptional evidence from far-off North Africa, men from Legio II Herculia are also attested in inscriptions from Kherson in the southern Ukraine: AE 1984,808 gives LE[...] ITAL ET [...]RCVLIA , which expands to "legiones I Italica et II Herculia"; while AE 1994,1539 gives VIXI[...]ONIS LE[...] ITAL ET [...]RCVLIA, which expands to "v[e]xillationis legionis I Italicae et legionis II Herculiae".

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