Sexta Parthica

"The Devout Sixth"

In 296 the Sassanid King Narseh invaded Armenia starting a war with the Roman client King Tiridates III, in response Galerius (Diocletian son in Law) invaded Mesopotamia. Three battles were fought subsequently, the first two of which were indecisive. In the third fought at Callinicum, Galerius suffered a complete defeat and was forced to retreat to Antioch. Galerius then made preparations throughout the winter of 297 and invaded Armenia with 25,000 men.

Galerius supported by the Armenians inflicted a crushing defeat on the Sassanids at the Battle of Satala. Narseh’s wives, his sisters and a number of his children were captured along with huge amount of treasure. Eastern Mesopotamia was recovered by the Romans and Tiridates III was reinstated as the monarch of Armenia.

According to this treaty,

·         Five provinces beyond the Tigris were to be ceded to the Romans. One writer gives these provinces as Intilene, Sophene, Arzanene, Carduene, and Zabdicene; by another as Arzanene, Moxoene, Zabdicene, Rehimene, and Corduene.

·         The semi-independent kingdom of Armenia was to be extended up to the fortress of Zintha, in Media.

·         Persia was expected to relinquish all her rights over Iberia.

·         Formal dealings between Persia and Rome would henceforth be conducted at Nisibis.

The Sexta Parthica was raised by Diocletian sometime after this war as a Limitanea Legio to garrison the new provinces possibly stationed at Cepha (modern Hasankeyf) or in one of the provinces east of the Tigris. Either in the late 4^th or early 5^th the VI Parthica was raised to the level of a pseudocomitatense  unit in the eastern field army. By the 5^th Century the Sexta Parthica was still a pseudocomitatense legio under the command of the Magister Militum per Orientem.

The unarmoured unit is all Musketeer miniatures with hand painted shields, from the description in the Notitia Dignitatum.

cheers

Matt

Quarta Italica

Quarta IIII Italica only has one real references to its existence and  a number of vague references; 

The raising of  novae Italicae suae ( a new Italica legion, next in line would be IIII Italica)  raised by Serverus Alexander in Transpadana (Cisalpine Gaul) sometime between 222 to 230, presumably for the Campaign in Sassanid Persia and returning for the Alamannic invasion of Gaul.

During this period Gaius Lulius Verus Maximinus (commonly known as Maximinus Thrax as he was likely born in Thrace)  was appointed a tribune in the IV Italica.  

The next reference is when Maximinus  made his bid for the purple he referred to the Italica legion as his legion, and finally at Aquileia shortly before the death of  Maximinus and his sons.

The only certain reference is in the Notitia Dignitatum, when it appears as a pseudocomitatensis unit under the command of the Magister Militum per Orientem .

I have used Crusader miniatures for the Quarta Italica, like most of my pseudocomitatensis units they are unarmoured. My Roman army is almost complete two more units to go and I am done!

cheers

Matt

References

Notitia Dignitatum

http://www.uni-koeln.de/phil-fak/ifa/zpe/downloads/1999/126pdf/126228.pdf

Equites Tertii Stablesiani

Another addition to my roman army, my last unit of light cavalry......I think! This unit will be used as CL in Impetus.

This  unit served in the east under the command of the Magister Militum per Orientem, they served along the roads around Cyrrhus in provence of Euphratensis. A great article has been written regarding this unit by Phillip Rance it can be found here

The meaning of Equites Stablesiani has much discussion around it, I tend to believe one theory that Spiedel has, that stablesiani means quick response unit, not light mounted infantry made up of grooms etc.

  I have used A and A miniatures for this unit, the shield is entirely conjectural, but is similar to  Equites Stablesiani Africani.

cheers
Matt

Decima Gemina

Raised by Octavian by the merger of two legions of Mark Antonys following the Battle of Actium in 31BC.

In the third century, the tenth legion received several surnames, which suggest its loyalty to the emperors Caracalla or Heliogabalus (211-217 or 218-222; Antoniniana), Gordian III (238-244; Gordiana), Decius (249-251; Deciana), Florianus (276; Floriana), and Carinus (283-285;Cariniana). From this set of rulers, Caracalla, Decius, and Carinus waged Germanic wars. Gordian III is known for a war against the Sasanian dynasty in Persia, and may have used a subunit of X Gemina. Why Florian, who ruled for a mere 88 days and never left Asia Minor, would award an honorific to a unit that was stationed on the banks of the Danube, is unknown.

 During the conflict between the emperor Gallienus (260-268) and his rival Postumus of the Gallic Empire, the legion certainly supported the first-mentioned, for which it was rewarded with surnames like Pia VI Fidelis VI ('six times faithful and loyal'). This proves that it was awarded the titles Pia II Fidelis II to Pia V Fidelis V in the 164 years between Domitian and Gallienus.

The tenth, 'twin' legion,  like almost all Caesarian legions, the emblem of this legion was a bull. (Some historians believe it may of been raised by Ceasar in 61AD in Nearer Spain)

4th century

At the time of the Notitia Dignitatum, the first detachment of Decima Gemina was under the command of the Magister Militum per Orientem, and was a comitatensis unit.The other detachment was still in Vindobona, under the command of the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis.

Cheers

Matt

Literature J. Gómez-Pantoja, "Legio X Gemina", in: Yann Le Bohec, Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000 Lyon) 169-190 J.K. Haalebos, "Römische Truppen in Nijmegen", in: Yann Le Bohec,Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000 Lyon) 465-489 M.C.J. Miller, "Legio Decima Equitata. The Tenth Legion after Caesar and the colonists of Patrae", in Ancient World 2 (1979) 139-144 A. Morillo Cerdán & V. Garcia Marcos, "Nuevos testimonios acerca de las legiones VI Victrix y X Gemina en la region septentrional de la península Ibérica", in: Yann Le Bohec, Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000 Lyon) 589-607 I. Piso, "Les légions dans la province de Dacie", in: Yann Le Bohec,Les légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire (2000 Lyon) 205-225

Primae Legio Armeniaca

Another  pseudocomitatensis Legio, possibly founded in the third century by  Diocletian. Under the command of Magister Militum per Orientem per Pontica.

  I have only found one reference to garrison of the Primae Legio Armeniaca, the coastal city of Anemurium (on the tip of Cape Anamur, opposite Cyprus)  the city was sacked by the the Sassanids in 260 AD. The unit was raised to the Field Army status to take part in Julian's' campaign of 363, and was still part of the feild army in 395AD (ND).

The figures are from the Crusader Late Roman range, the shields are hand painted, and this is my second last infantry unit in this army.

Cheers

Matt 

I Parthica Severiana Antoniniana

One of the three Parthian Legions (raised in Thrace and Macedonia), by the Emperor Lucius Spetimius Severus for his successful campaign against the Sassanids in 197AD (sacking Ctesiphon). After the campaign I Parthica was then posted to the fortress city of Singara (Sinjar, Iraq)controlling the road between Edessa and Nisibis for the next 150 years. 

 From Inscriptions we also know that the Legio was at one time in Lycia and Cyrenaica. The First Parthian were all but destroyed in the siege of Singara in 360AD, sub units retired  to Bezbade (modern Cizre, Turkey) but this also fell to the Sassanids. Some must of escaped these disasters and the Legion was reformed and  transferred to Constantina (Tella, on the road between Edessa and Nisibis) and later Cepha where they remained until the 5th century.

Gordian III & Tranquillina. 238-244 AD. Æ 33mm (26.18 gm). Singara mint.Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian, right, facing diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina left Tyche seated left on rock, holding small branch over river god swimming left; above Centaur Sagittarius shooting arrow from bow.

The units emblem was a Centaur, the figures are from the crusader range, the shields are hand painted and are copied from a tile mosaic which is attributed to a Parthian Legio. 

cheers
matt

Cuneus Equitum Secundorum Clibanariorum Palmirenorum

Next unit off the table for my is my last unit of heavy cavalry for my Romans, the Cuneus Equitum Secundorum Clibanariorum Palmirenorum, this unit was stationed in Antioch under the command of the Comitatus Orientis.  

The Units name has caused a lot of confusion among historians for some time, Cuneus means wedge in latin, so did the Palmirenorum fight in a blunt wedge, or were they a small part of the whole unit, the Secundorum is the second; the second Clibanariorum Palmirenorum, where is the first, was it destroyed, disbanded? And finally who raised it? Is it a unit that was raised by the Lion of Palmyra and did not take part in Zenobia's rebellion?

I wanted to do a unit that was a little different from my first unit, with a mix of open faces. I have not found out yet if they campaigned with any of the Roman campaigns in the east, but I suspect that they may have. The Miniatures are all A & A except two horses (face armour) which are Gripping Beast, the colours are all conjectural.

cheers

Matt

Hunnoi light cavalry

These units are the real start to my multi-allied or enemy units for my Sassanids and Late Romans.

Most of us are aware of the Hun invasions of the west, but I, like possibly you, was unaware of the troubles the Sassanids faced against the Nomadic tribes in the East.

 The Sassanids were constantly invaded by the Chionite, Ephthalite (Hephtalite)  and Hunnoi tribes in the 4th, 5th and 6th centurys'. The Sassanids like the Romans decided to settle the invading Nomadic tribes on their borders. Mostly along the great Golestan wall, this wall starts on the Caspian coast, circles North to the city Gonbade Kavous, continues towards the Northwest and finises in the Pishkamar Mountains of Afghanistan ( around 155klms long) and on the opposite bank of the on Caspian from the Derband pass (Caspian Gates) to the mountains (50klm) . The Sassanids' like the Romans had trouble controlling these Foederatus allies, even a Sassanid King, Kavad was put on the throne in 488 by the Ephthalites,  and he married a Ephthalite princess and had a Ephthalite bodygaurd whilst he was on the throne, and the Sassanid empire paid a heavy tribute  for 43 years.

These figures are from the Essex Mongol range, I have cut off the stirrups and pointed their feet downwards, I found them a nice change from painting regular Roman troops.

cheers
Mat

Hunnoi General

Off the desk this week is a Hun General,  the beginning of another allied army for my late Romans and Sassanids'. He is actually from the Essex Mongol range,I shaved off his stirrups and mounted him on a Essex horse.

 I still have the one heavy, two medium and 3 light cavalry unit units to complete this little force, enjoying the change!
I may need to take a better photo I think as it was hammering rain outside, so this one was done inside.......

cheers

Matt

Tertiaci Herculea

The Legio III Herculia ("the 3rd Legion dedicated to Hercules") raised by Diocletian  (284-305). The nickname of the Legion is from his co-emperor Maximian who called himself Herculius, 'the man like Hercules'.
 The legion had originally been a limitanei unit and was responsible for the defense of the province Raetia. During the 4th Century, it was raised to comitatenses status. Tertia Herculea came under the command of Master Peditum and was part of the army of the Comes Illyrici, stationed with the Legio III Italica . It is mentioned in Julians' army  for the Sassanid campaign. the Legions symbol is quite possibly Hercules.

The figures are again Crusader Miniatures, the shields are again hand painted and were a pain in the A! Only four more units to go and I am finished my Romans!

cheers

Matt

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Legio III Pia Parthica Serveriana

A pseudocomitatensis Legio, raised by the Emperor Lucius Spetimius Severus for his campaign against the Sassanids in 197AD. After the campaign III Parthica was stationed in Mesopotamia on the Upper Chaboras (modern Khabur on the border of Turkey and Syria) around Rhesaena, controlling the road between Edessa and Nisibis. They fought in the campaigns of Serverus' son Caracalla and Macrinus (217 AD), Serverus Alexander and Gordian III (244) and Philip the Arab. they took part in Valerians disastrous campaign, but must of been reformed as they also campaigned with Odaenathus of Palmyra(261-267) and Diocletian (284-305), They also made up the field army of Justinian campaign in 530AD.

Coinage

• Coins with the legend LE III P S (Legio III Partica Severiana)
• Coins bearing the legend L III PIA may prove that the unit had received the surname Pia, 'pious.
• Coins, from Sidon, suggest that veterans of III Parthica were settled in that city.
• A Gold Coin that was found in the Roman theater of Orange, minted by the Gallic Emperor Victorinus in 271, and mentioning LEG III PARTHICA. It is of course possible that a sub unit was in the West, but it is not very likely. The reverse of this coin also has a centaur that may of been the legions emblem

According to the Notitia Dignitatum (East, 35), written at the beginning of the fifth century, the third Parthian legion was at Apadna in Osrhoene along with its sister unit the IIII Parthica, near the confluence of the rivers Chaboras and Euphrates.

The unit is unarmoured figures from Crusader Miniatures and the shields are hand painted from a description of I and II parthica shields, therefore the cross pattern and colours are hypothetical.

cheers

Matt

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Equites Scutarii Indigenae Pafenses

Another unit of the desk for my late Roman army, the  Equites Scutarii Indigenae Pafenses, were stationed in (Mesoptamia) on the border at Tell Fafan, at the confluence of the Tigris and Bohtan Su rivers. The unit was known as the "Uholders or Defenders" and were used to patrol between the fortress crossing points along the border between Cepha (modern Hasankeyf) and Bezbade. The miniatures are again from the A & A range. The sheild is based on the Equites Scutarii, and I gave them the oversize scutum from A & A.Still waiting to pick up some long silfor tufts to finish of the base, but otherwise done!

Cheers
Matt

Auxilium Palatina Raetobari (Raetovari)

Raised by from the defeated Alamannic tribes from the Nordlinger Ries, north of the Danube, they apparently spoke a Etruscan  dialect.  This unit was based in the east and fought in Julian's Persian Campaign.

Again finished some weeks ago, this unit has also seen a few battles already and so far behaved very well. The second last Auxilium Palatina unit before I start painting the Legio and Limatani. 

Cheers
Matt

Equites Dalmatae Passerentiaci

Equites Dalmatae Passerentiaci "Dalmatian Sparrows" Vexillatio Comitatensis

Another unit off the table, some weeks ago, I have a new job so a little behind in the posting department, these have already seen action twice and performed quite well both times, even managing to run down some shot up heavy Sarmatians cavalry in one of the campaign games.

Again A and A miniatures for my eastern Roman army, the casualty is from Foundry I think.

"Why don't he write"

cheers

Matt

Auxilium Palatina Constantiani

The next unit off the table is Auxilium Palatina Constantiani, another unit of BTD figures, the most challenging shields so far, in the end I got sick of trying to get them perfect. 

cheers

Matt

Auxilium Palatina Salii

One of the more famous Auxilium Palatina units, the Salii were raised from Frankish tribes, from the region south of the Meuse river and the Scheldt river. Again Black Tree design figures with hand painted shields.

I just noticed I have a few repairs to be done to skin!!!! Also need to add tufts when i pick them up in a week or so..

cheers

Matt

Transtigritani Auxilium

Finished the first of the Auxilium units, this unit may have its shields swapped to become a different Aux unit after doing a little study I found out that Transtigritani Aux and the legio Transtigritani (pseudocomitatensis) were raised from Persian exiles, so the figures should be a little darker skinned...........All of the figures are from Musketeer and BTD, shields are hand painted.

cheers
Matt

Equites Promoti Seniores

Another cavalry unit off the desk, these guys have been sitting around half finished for some time, so I decided to hand paint some shields for them, add the draco, spears, finish the skin and clothing highlights, and do the eyes, I am very happy with them. The Black Tree design late Romans are quite good, I think i will get another two units of these to act as medium cavalry and do some more  heavy's with A and A .

cheers

Matt

Lanciarii Iuniores

Next unit off the desk this week Lanciarii Iuniores, I used a mix of armoured and unarmoured Musketeer and Crusader miniatures in this unit. All hand painted shuiled with a GB draco, which i intend swapping with a Vexillum soon, I have armed them with a Lancea and two 'subarmales'-light lancea. Speidel suggests that they may of had up too five lanceae.

A few interesting arguments continue about the actual role of the  lanciarii.. 

Brian Campbell believes  that lanciarii were associated with the 'sacer comitatus' ("sacred retinue") and was part of the small mobile field force accompanying the emperors,  he also argues that the lanciarius ranked above a legionary, but below a guardsmen.

Phil barker suspects that the are light armed troops that performed the skirmishing of a Legio and later in the period were formed into their own troop type.

Speidel argues that thier were two types of legionary in a legion and uses Arrian description of two types of longchopohoroi - fully half of the regular legionaries, who throw their weapons overhead of the other half.  Arrian's legions in Cappadocia (XII Fulminata and XV Apollinaris) deployed in 10 rank deep formation, ranks five to eight were armed with lancea, nice was archers and ten was horse archers to counter the Alan Cataphracts. 

Duncan Head suggests imperial Roman lanciarii had their origins in the republican Antesignani.Duncan also notes that a similar split among the legionaries can be found in a papyrus detailing donative records of Legio II Traiana in Egypt ca. 300 AD, from which it appears something like 45% of the men mentioned are lanciarii.

cheers

Matt

German heavy cavalry

Another addition to the Late Roman army some German Heavy cavalry a real mix of ranges, gripping beast, foundry, old glory on gripping beast horses (I think?), the shields are a mix of hand painted and LBM dark age transfers. The Draco is from the WF plastic Saxons I think..... I will be using these in my Frank, Goth, Alamannii and Roman armies

cheers
Matt