The Field Armies of the East Roman Empire, 361-630

A new history of the leadership, organization, and disposition of the field armies of the East Roman Empire between Julian (361–363) and Herakleios (610–641) is presented, challenging the traditional understanding based on the Notitia dignitatum. The study gathers all available evidence to demonstrate that the Notitia system emerged in the 440s and underwent significant reforms during Justinian's wars of reconquest. This calls for a reassessment of military policy and has broad implications for the period.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This book offers a fresh perspective on the leadership, organization, and disposition of the field armies of the East Roman Empire between Julian (361-363) and Herakleios (610-641). Scholars studying this topic have traditionally relied on a poorly understood document, the Notitia dignitatum, and applied it to the entire period from 395 to 630. In contrast, this study gathers all available narrative, legal, papyrological, and epigraphic evidence to demonstrate empirically that the Notitia system emerged only in the 440s and underwent significant mutations by the late fifth century before being fundamentally reformed during Justinian's wars of reconquest. This realization necessitates a new and revised history of the Eastern armies. Reassessing every aspect of military policy will have far-reaching implications for the period. The volume presents a new military narrative for the period 361-630 and includes appendices revising the prosopography of high-ranking generals and advocating for a later Notitia.

Introduction:
The study of the leadership, organization, and disposition of the field armies of the East Roman Empire between Julian (361-363) and Herakleios (610-641) has long been a subject of scholarly interest. However, the traditional understanding of this period has been largely shaped by the Notitia dignitatum, a poorly understood document that has been imposed on the entire period from 395 to 630. This study aims to challenge this prevailing narrative by gathering all available narrative, legal, papyrological, and epigraphic evidence to demonstrate empirically that the Notitia system emerged only in the 440s and underwent significant mutations by the late fifth century before being fundamentally reformed during Justinian's wars of reconquest.

The Notitia System:
To date, scholars studying this topic have privileged the Notitia dignitatum and imposed it on the entire period from 395 to 630. However, this study argues that the Notitia system emerged only in the 440s and underwent significant mutations by the late fifth century before being fundamentally reformed during Justinian's wars of reconquest. The Notitia system was a comprehensive system of military organization and administration that was developed in the late Roman Empire. It was designed to provide a detailed account of the personnel, equipment, and organization of the field armies.

The Emergence of the Notitia System:
The Notitia system emerged in the 440s, during the reign of the Eastern Emperor Leo I (440-474). It was initially developed as a tool for administrative purposes, to ensure that the field armies were properly organized and equipped for warfare. However, it quickly became a valuable source of information for scholars studying the military history of the East Roman Empire.

The Mutations of the Notitia System:
Over time, the Notitia system underwent significant mutations. These mutations were primarily driven by changes in military policy and the political landscape of the East Roman Empire. For example, in the late fifth century, the empire faced a series of military challenges from the Sasanian Empire, which posed a significant threat to the stability of the empire. In response, the Notitia system was reformed to better accommodate the needs of the field armies in combat.

The Reform of the Notitia System:
The most significant reform of the Notitia system occurred during the reign of the Eastern Emperor Justinian I (527-565). Justinian was determined to restore the stability and strength of the empire, and he saw the field armies as a critical component of this effort. He commissioned a new edition of the Notitia dignitatum, which was more comprehensive and detailed than its predecessor. The new edition included information on the organization and equipment of the field armies, as well as the personnel and leadership of the units.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this study offers a fresh perspective on the leadership, organization, and disposition of the field armies of the East Roman Empire between Julian (361-363) and Herakleios (610-641). By gathering all available narrative, legal, papyrological, and epigraphic evidence, it demonstrates empirically that the Notitia system emerged only in the 440s and underwent significant mutations by the late fifth century before being fundamentally reformed during Justinian's wars of reconquest. This realization calls for a new and revised history of the Eastern armies, one that reassesses every aspect of military policy and its implications for the period. The volume provides a new military narrative for the period 361-630 and includes appendices revising the prosopography of high-ranking generals and advocating for a later Notitia.

Weight: 705g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009296946