Acta Ant. Hung.

44, 2004, 115122

0044-5975 / 20.00 2004 Akadmiai Kiad, Budapest
PTER KOVCS
THE LATE ROMAN ARMY IN PANNONIA





GREEK TT
Summary: In this paper the author gives a short summary of the question of the late Roman army in Pan-
nonia with special regard to the Notitia Dignitatum and the changes in the military organisation during
the 4th5th centuries. The presence of the foederati in this region was examined again on the basis of
antique sources.
Key words: Roman military history, archaeology of Pannonia.

The question of the late Roman army has been discussed several times but be-
cause of the shortage of data most of the problems are hard to solve.
1
The most im-
portant source, the Notitia Dignitatum (and Ammians works) failed to give compre-
hensive information about the structure of the late Roman military organisation in the
Pannonian provinces during the whole late Roman period. The Notitia shows only the
situation around 395 (and later to 425430), when it was compiled and later partially
corrected.
2
The earlier system cannot be exactly identified on the basis of the NotDig.

1
A shorter version of this paper was published in The Roman army in Pannonia. An archaeo-
logical guide of the ripa Pannonica. Ed. ZS. VISY. Budapest 2003, 3136. MOMMSEN, TH.: Das rmi-
sche Militrwesen seit Diocletian. Hermes 24 (1889) 195279 = Gesammelte Schriften VI. Berlin 1910,
206283; ALFLDI, A.: Der Untergang der Rmerherrschaft in Pannonien III. BerlinLeipzig 1924
1926; SZENDY, K. (szerk.): Budapest trtnete I. Budapest 1942, 514518; VAN BERCHEM, D.: Larme
de Diocltien et la rforme Constantinienne. Paris 1952, 58, 93100; VRADY L.: Ksrmai hadgyek
s trsadalmi alapjaik. Budapest 1961, 8283; VRADY, L.: New evidences on some problems of the
late Roman military organization. ActaArchHung 9 (1961) 333396, 389391; NAGY, T.: Die Militr-
bezirke der Valeria nach der Notitia Dignitatum. ActaArchHung 7 (1959) 183194; MCSY, A.: Panno-
nia. PWRE IX. Suppl. Stuttgart 1962, 515776, 629630; VRADY, L.: Das letzte Jahrhundert Panno-
niens. Budapest 1969, 376476; HOFFMANN, D.: Das sptrmische Bewegungsheer und die Notitia
Dignitatum. Epigraphische Studien 7. Dsseldorf 1970; VISY, ZS.: Megjegyzsek Valeria vdelmi rend-
szereinek krdshez. AntTan 15 (1978) 246252; SOPRONI, S.: Die sptrmische Limes zwischen Esz-
tergom und Szentendre. Budapest 1978, 156184; Pannonia rgszeti kziknyve. Ed. MCSY A. FITZ
J. Budapest 1990, 8485; DIETZ, K.-H.: Cohortes, ripae, pedaturae. Zur Entwicklung der Grenzlegionen
in der Sptantike. In Klassisches Altertum, Sptantike und frhes Christentum. Adolf Lippold zum 65.
Geburtstag gewidmet. Wrzburg 1993, 279329, 295296, 313314; FITZ, J.: Die Verwaltung Panno-
niens in der Rmerzeit IIV. Budapest 19931995, 11891193, 12661304, 13151324, VISY, ZS.: A ripa
Pannonica Magyarorszgon. Budapest 2000, 129130.
2
POLASCHEK, E.: Notitia Dignitatum. PWRE XVII (1937) 10811097.
116 KOVCS, PTER
Acta Ant. Hung. 44, 2004
The military inscriptions belonging to the late Roman period are very rare
3
with the
exception of stamped tiles (bearing stamps of troops, duces, tribuni, magistri (figlina-
rum), centuriones and OFAR-types).
4
During the tetrarchy the two Pannoniae were
divided into four: Pannonia I, Savia, Valeria and Pannonia II.
5
The Pannonian troops
were also divided, the riparienses were under the command of duces,
6
the comitaten-
ses under the command of the comites rei militaris or magister militum (per Illyri-
cum), later comites Illyrici (Occ. VII,4062).
7
As suggested by the NotDig, the prov-
inces of Pannonia INoricum and Pannonia IISavia were governed by the same
duces. The earliest dux, Aurelius Ianuarius is mentioned in the RIU 699 altar from Al-
msfzit in 303.
8
The official name of the Valerian dux appears in the RIU 770 fort
building inscription of Solva in 364367: dux Valeriae limitis. In Pannonia II 2 new
legions were set up, the legiones V Iovia and VI Herculia. One of the most important
(and very rare) late Roman epigraphic sources is the ILJ = Ap 1964, 226 building
inscription of the legio VI Herculia from 307 found at Ad Militare.
9
This inscription
shows that the first garrison of the legion was here and ad Militare belonged to Pan-
nonia II. However, in the NotDig Ad Militare belonged to the Valerian ducate (Occ.
XXXIII,45. Cf. Rav. Geog. IV,20) and the legion was mentioned as serving in Aureus
Mons, Teutoburgium and Castellum Onagrinum (Occ. XXXII,45, 46, 48). Similarly,
there is no mention in the NotDig of the milites Histricorum
10
or the numerus equi-


13
Gravestones: Mannersdorf: UBL, H.-J.: Grberfeld und Siedlung von Mannersdorf. In Actes du
IXe Congrs international dtudes sur les frontires romaines. BucuretiKlnWien 1974, 419, T. 66,
Poetovio: ILJ 1134, Savaria: RIU 80 (), 81 (), 84 (), Scarbantia: RIU S 38, Mosonszentjnos: RIU
237, Levl: RIU S 44, Arrabona: RIU 273 = CSIR Ungarn II. No. 86, Brigetio: RIU 507, 600, 604, 622,
658 (BARKCZI, L.: Beitrge zur Steinbearbeitung in Pannonien am Ende des 3. und zu Beginn des 4.
Jahrhunderts. FolArch 24 (1973) 6777), Solva: RIU 789, S 106, Ulcisia Castra: RIU 903b, 906, Aquin-
cum: CIL III 3523, 3529, 10509, CBFIR 391, Cskberny: RIU S 166, Intercisa: RIU 1161, 1165, 1167,
1168, 1191, 1205, 1217, 1239, 1228, 1261 (Intercisa I, 193196), Alcsutdoboz: RIU 1365, Pusztavm:
RIU 1411, Sirmium: CIL III 10232 (), 10686, ILJ 272, 273, Taurunum: Ap 1964, 256. Altars: praefec-
ti legionis: RIU 871 (Ulcisia Castra 264267), CIL III 3524 (Aquincum 267), RIU 385 (Brigetio 269),
CIL III 3469 (Aquincum 283285), CIL III 10406 (Aquincum 290), duces: RIU 699 (Azaum 303), CIL
III 4039 (Poetovio, beginning of the 4th c.). Officers: CIL III 3424 (Aquincum 267), AIJ 362 (Poetovio
264267), CIL III 3228 p. 2328 (Sirmium 260), ILJ 1134 (Poetovio after 262), CIL III 3249 (Sirmium,
end of the 3rd c.), RIU 178 (Scarbantia, 1st tetrarchy), RIU S 139 (1st tetrarchy), CIL III 3522 (Aquin-
cum 305307). Building inscriptions: Poetovio: CIL III 4039: Mithraeum, Forts: 305 A.D.: Batina: ILJ
1072, 375: Carnuntum: 14358
11
, 364367: Esztergom: RIU 770, bath of the legionary fort of Aquincum
(Thermae Maiores): 268 (CIL III 3525 = 10492 = Ap (1944) 85 = (1956) 7), schola: beginning of the
4th c.: Aquincum: unpublished, burgi: 371 A.D.: Esztergom: RIU 771, Visegrd: RIU 804, 372 A.D.:
Visegrd: RIU S 133.
14
LRINCZ, B.: I bolli laterizi militari in Pannonia. Risultati delle ricerche cronologiche. In Pan-
nonia e limpero romano. Roma 1994, 115138, 126131.
15
FITZ: Die Verwaltung Pannoniens 11751183.
16
FITZ: Die Verwaltung Pannoniens 12661275.
17
FITZ: Die Verwaltung Pannoniens 11891193, 12411255, 13161319, 13901402.
18
FITZ: Die Verwaltung Pannoniens 12671268, Nr. 904.
19
NAGY, T.: Zu den Militrreform und Verwaltungsreformen Diokletians im pannonischen Raum.
In Akte des IV. Internationalen Kongresses fr Griechische und Lateinische Epigraphik. Wien 1964,
274280. Cf. KOVCS, P.: Adatok a tetrachia-kori katonai ptkezsekhez Pannoniban. AntTan 45
(2001) 141168.
10
FITZ: Die Verwaltung Pannoniens 12851286, Nr. 935, 1303, Nr. 962a, HOFFMANN: op. cit. 74.
THE LATE ROMAN ARMY IN PANNONIA 117
Acta Ant. Hung. 44, 2004
tum scutariorum in Intercisa which were mentioned in the RIU 1205 and 1365 grave-
stones. Meanwhile a few cohortes which were based on the earlier auxiliary troops of
the principate are mentioned in the NotDig: cohors I Thracum c. R.Caput Basentis
(Bassiana), III AlpinorumSiscia, I Aelia sagittariaKlosterneuburg.
11
The origin of the
only ala (Sirmiensium) is unknown (Occ. XXXII, 54). As indicated by its honorific title
the cohors prima Iovia was established during the tetrarchy (Occ. XXXII, 58).
12
The
cohortes without ordinal numbers and epithets under the command of tribuni men-
tioned in the lists belonged most probably also to the earlier, but unidentifiable troops
of the principate (NotDig Occ. XXXIII, 5964, XXXIV, 2930).
The remnants of the earlier structure of the legions can still be observed in the
NotDig.
13
The 1st fact to be mentioned is that the system of the legions in the NotDig
is fragmentary because several parts of the legions did not exist and they have been
deleted from the lists when the laterculum was compiled or renewed (and not be-
cause of the fragmentary manuscripts). In my opinion the earlier structure was pre-
served in the Lower Danubian provinces, esp. in Scythia and Moesia II. There were
two parts of the legion, a pars (or pedatura) superior and a pars inferior with five co-
horts in each under the command of the praefectus ripae.
14
The existence of this
system also in the other Danubian provinces was pointed out by Dietz on the basis of
the data of stamped tiles as well.
15
This separation of the legio IIII Flavia from Moesia
I is the best example of par(s) sup(erior) and cit(erior) stamps being known
16
denoting
a unit which was not mentioned even in the NotDig. The system used at the time when
the NotDig was compiled, and described in it, came to be abolished later, with only
fragments left for observation. It is noteworthy to mention that from the Pannonian
lists all (and only) the partes inferiores of the legions disappeared with the exception
of the legio II adiutrix (XXXIII, 53). This fact can probably be connected to the par-
ticipation of the Pannonian troops in the battle of Hadrianapolis.
17
In the Notitia only

11
LRINCZ, B.: Die rmischen Hilfstruppen in Pannonien whrend der Prinzipatszeit I. Die In-
schriften. Wiener Archologische Studien 3. Wien 2001, 101; Pannonia rgszeti kziknyve 85; ROXAN,
M.: Pre-Severan auxilia named in the Notitia Dignitatum. In Aspects of Notita Dignitatum. Papers pre-
sented to the conference in Oxford December 1315, 1974. BAR SS 15 (1976) 5980, 66, 73, T. I/25,
75, T. II/17, 75, T. III/16. In my opinion there is no evidence that the equites sagittarii in Intercisa (Occ.
XXXIII, 38) would have based on the earlier cohors I mill. Hemesenorum sag. eq.: ALFLDI: Der Unter-
gang der Rmerherrschaft 8789.
12
SOPRONI: Die sptrmische Limes (n. 137) 136.
13
POLASCHEK: op. cit. 10891090, 10951096.
14
MOMMSEN: op. cit. 222225; VRADY: Ksrmai hadgyek 6061; VRADY: New evidences
368. It is unnecessary to modify Mommsens emendation c(o)h(or)t(ium) V to c(o)h(or)t(i)u(m): DIETZ:
Cohortes 309312, because the earlier cohortes (with their ordinal numbers) did not cease to exist in this
system as it was proved by DIETZ (Cohortes 282291), and the expansion c(o)h(or)t(i)u(m) seems to be
very unusual, and most probably and logically five cohorts belonged to a pars/pedatura.
15
DIETZ: Cohortes 295296; DIETZ, K.-H.: Zu den sptrmischen Grenzabschnitten. In Germa-
nen bei derseits des sptantiken Limes. KlnBrno 1999, 6368.
16
DIETZ: Cohortes (n. 5355) 293294. In Pannonia there is no data on this separation on the ba-
sis of the stamps (there is no p(ars) s(uperior) stamp of the legio X gemina, cf. DIETZ: Cohortes (n. 66)
296; LRINCZ, B.: Die rmischen Ziegestempel des Territoriums von Vindobona. (forthcoming) Typ
186, T. XII/2 (p(ia) f(idelis).
17
Amm. XXXI.7.3. JONES, A. H. M.: The later Roman empire. Oxford 1964, 153154; MCSY:
Pannonia 577. For an analogy to the lack of seniores-iuniores pairs, see: HOFFMANN: op. cit. 449458.
118 KOVCS, PTER
Acta Ant. Hung. 44, 2004
the partes superiores were mentioned. The case of the Valerian list is more difficult
because besides the cohorts belonging to the pars inferior there are some belonging
to the pars superior (XXXIII, 52, 54 [Alisca, Aquincum]) and there are only praefec-
tus legionis without any data (XXXIII, 5557 [Contra Tautantum, Cirpi, Lussonium]).
Part of line XXXIII, 54 was emended or deleted
18
because of the expression praef.
leg. II ad. tertiae partis superioris. In my opinion the text can be interpreted without
the missing words: the tertia pars (one third) of the pars superior was under the com-
mand of this praefectus in Aquincum. According to Vrady, the praefectus without
any further specifications were leaders of reestablished cohortes, while others tried to
explain these scanty entries of titles with the fragmentary character of the text.
19
The
latter would be logical because they were inserted in the text after the earlier praefec-
tus regardless of the earlier topographical order. To the very end of the list one more
(the latest) praefectus was added (pr. legionis Transaquinco [XXXIII, 65]). It appears
logical that the legion should be the legio II adiutrix but in the counter forts a mixed de-
tachment of the legions was stationed: e.g., in the castellum Onagrinum (XXXII, 48).
20

The building activity of a detachment of the legio I Martiorum under a praepositus is
known from Valeria (at the Danube bend) from the burgus building inscriptions from
the years 371372 (RIU 771, 804, S 133: Solva and Visegrd).
21

The auxilia were stationed in the forts along the limes, the inner fortifications
(Vincentia, Iovia, Quadriburgium)
22
and in towns (e.g., Scarbantia: XXXIV, 30; Sir-
mium: XXXII, 49, 54; Siscia: XXXII, 57; Bassiana: XXXII, 59) as well. The classes
of Pannonia II also garrisoned towns (Sirmium, Mursa, Siscia: XXXII, 50, 52, 56)
elsewhere along the limes (XXXIII, 58; XXXIV, 2628). One of the most debated
questions of the NotDig is the coexistence of the equites and auxilia-cunei troops.
23
It
is clear that the equites must have survived Constantines reform because there are
several forts where only equites were stationed and these forts were used in the post-
Valentinian period as well.
24
From among these forts I will mention only two, Mat-
rica and Annamatia where I had the chance to execute excavations recently. Here the


18
Ed. SEECK 194; NAGY: Die Militrbezirke 188; DIETZ: Cohortes 311312.
19
VRADY: Ksrmai hadgyek 83; VRADY: New evidences 391392; NAGY: Die Militr-
bezirke, DIETZ: Cohortes 313314.
20
SOPRONI, S.: Die letzte Jahrzehnte des pannonischen Limes. [Mnchner Beitrge zur Vor- und
Frhgeschichte. Band 38.] Mnchen 1985, 78; DIETZ: Cohortes (n. 50) 313.
21
The legion was stationed at Kaiser August (GANSCHINIETZ: legio. PWRE XII (19241925)
14181419; DRACK, W. FELLMANN, R.: Die Rmer in der Schweiz. Stuttgart 1988, 280281) and it has
got nothing to do with the Pannonian army: ALFLDI: Der Untergang der Rmerherrschaft 8183; VRADY:
Ksrmai hadgyek 273274; HOFFMANN: op. cit. 348349.
22
SOPRONI: Die sptrmische Limes 1328146, 172177; SOPRONI: Die letzte Jahrzehnte 100
102; TTH, E.: Az alshetnyi 4. szzadi erd s temet kutatsa 19811986. Eredmnyek s vits kr-
dsek [Vorbericht ber die Ausgrabung der Festung und des Grberfeldes von Alshetny 19811986
Ergebnisse und Umstrittene Frage]. Archrt 114 (19871988) 2261.
23
Stratum hypothesis: ALFLDI: Der Untergang der Rmerherrschaft 8891; VAN BERCHEM: op.
cit. 93100; NAGY: Die Militrbezirke; MCSY: Pannonia 630; coexistence: SOPRONI: Die sptrmische
Limes 156168, VRADY: Ksrmai hadgyek 8283; VRADY: Das letzte Jahrhundert 389391; Pan-
nonia rgszeti kziknyve 85; FITZ: Die Verwaltung Pannoniens.
24
MCSY: Pannonia 630, SOPRONI: Die sptrmische Limes 156168, 159160.
THE LATE ROMAN ARMY IN PANNONIA 119
Acta Ant. Hung. 44, 2004
equites Dalmatae and promoti were stationed (Not. Dig. occ. XXXIII, 3639). On the
basis of the excavations and the finds (Valentinian stamped tiles, money circulation)
the building activity can be pointed out under Valentinian in both forts and in Mat-
rica a post-Valentinian garbage pit was unearthed in the shrine of the HQ-building.
25

The equites could not have belonged to a later period (after the cunei) either
26
be-
cause the equites Dalmatae are attested as having served in Pilismart already during
the tetrarchy (RIU S 139). This can only mean that the troops mentioned in the NotDig
existed at the same time. The co-garrisoning of riparienses does not exclude the si-
multaneous validity of the NotDig either. Just as the system of legions, the auxiliary
troops failed to preserve their intactness after 378. Another fact is that we do not know
exactly the strength of the troops (the earlier hypotheses are not convincing) and after
378 the concentration of the remnants of the earlier troops in a castellum can be sup-
posed as well.
27
Therefore it is not necessary to suppose Intercisa, for example, to
have been fortified with 2500 men (XXXIII, 2526, 38).
28
This is proved by the fact
that later troops were posted in a burgus (2nd period counter landing-place) as well
(XXXIII,44).
29
Another fact must also be considered. From the 360s the auxiliary
vici were given up and the rest of the civilian population moved to the forts. This is
supported by the observations that the area of the earlier vici was used as part of the
Late Roman cemeteries and by civilian (female and puerile) finds recovered inside
the forts (e.g., ear-rings, pearls).
30

On the grounds of archaeological data further guesses can be made about the
lists. There are three Pannonian forts which are not attested in the NotDig but they
were surely still used in the 370s. The 1st is the fort at Esztergom-Hideglelskereszt
(to this fort could have belonged to the RIU 770 building inscription
31
) built between
364 and 367, the 2nd one is the Roman counter fort at Izsa (Celamantia) which, on
the basis of coin evidence (Theodosiuss coin) and stamped tiles of the Valentinian
period, was given up in the 380s.
32
The last one may be the 4th c. inner fortification
at Tc. The earlier Roman settlement was rebuilt as an inner fortification in the 4th c.
but in contrast with the other forts (Alshetny, Sgvr, Krnye, Fenkpuszta) only
the 1st section was built (with fan- and U-shaped towers). The other forts had 2nd


25
KOVCS, P.: Matrica Excavations in the Roman fort at Szzhalombatta (19931997). [Stu-
dia Classica Series Historica 3.] Budapest 2000, 54, 60, 88, 90, 108, KOVCS, P.: Annamatia (Baracs)
A Roman auxiliary fort in Pannonia. Acta Antiqua Hungarica 41 (2001) 5580, 7476, 7980.
26
MCSY: Pannonia 630.
27
JONES: op. cit. 683; VRADY: Die sptrmische Limes 358, 361; MOMMSEN: op. cit. 263;
SOPRONI: Die sptrmische Limes 166168; DEMANDT, A.: Die Sptantike. Mnchen 1989, (n. 3) 256.
28
MCSY, A.: Pannonia-Forschung 19691972. ActaArchHung 23 (1971) 57; FITZ: Die Verwal-
tung Pannoniens (n. 1) 1316; SOPRONI: Die sptrmische Limes 166168. Line XXXIII, 26 of the list in-
dicates a later date as suggested by the adverb nunc.
29
VISY: A ripa Pannonica 130.
30
KOVCS, P.: Castellum s vicus kapcsolata az als-pannoniai limes mentn. [Studia Classica
Series Historica 1.] Piliscsaba 1999, 123131, 166169.
31
SOPRONI: Die sptrmische Limes 2629; SOPRONI: Die letzte Jahrzehnte 61, 107108.
32
KUZMOV, K. RAJTR, J.: Bisherige Erkenntnisse zur Befestigung des Rmerkastells in Ia.
SlovArch 34 (1986) 204, 220.
120 KOVCS, PTER
Acta Ant. Hung. 44, 2004
sections with circular towers which date back to around 375.
33
It means that Gorsium
had been given up as a military fort before that date. In the Notitia Gorsium is not at-
tested. These data clearly show that the Valerian list was compiled after Valentin-
ians reign.
The next point under discussion is the exact date to be associated with the time
adverb nunc in the Pannonian lists.
34
The adverb is a special Pannonian term of the
NotDig (XXXII, 56; XXXIII, 26, 27, 44, 47; XXXIV, 28). Outside Pannonia it was
mentioned only in Raetia (XXXV, 15, 17). In Pannonia it can be found in the case of
the Praefectus classis Aegetensium sive secundae Pannonicae, nunc Sisciae, the
Cuneus equitum Constatntianorum, Lusionio, nunc Intercisa, the Cuneus equitum
stablesianorum, Ripa Alta, nunc Concadcuha, the Equites sagittarii, Altino, nunc in
burgo contra Florentiam and the Auxilia Ursarensia, Pone Navata, nunc ad Statuas
and it means that the original list was later supervised. The only question is when it
happened: in 380, 409 or between 425 and 430? The 1st and the 3rd possibilities can
be ruled out, because the 1st date has been arrived at on the basis of the supposition
that the Pannonian lists were compiled under Valentinian (which, as we could see, is
not true). The 3rd one (the date of the last registrations in the Notitia) is absolutely
unlikely because the province Valeria was evacuated and reestablished as Valeria
Media after 425.
35

The case to be mentioned last is that of the Pannonian foederati. It is generally
supposed that the GothAlanHun people of Alatheus and Saphrac settled down here
in 380 under a foedus.
36
The sources that might be referred to in this context are pas-
sages by Jordanes and Zosimos (Jordanes Get. 27.40141, Zosimos IV.34.24). The
main problem with this hypothesis is that Zosimos continues the story and they are
said to have left the Pannonian provinces.
37
The archaeological finds from the end of
the 4th c. do not even show their presence and the foederati did not serve in the Ro-
man army, only their leaders became duces or comites or magistri militum.
38
The
only gens mentioned in the NotDig is the gens Marcomannorum in Pannonia I (Occ.
XXXIV, 24).
39
Naturally, this fact does not mean that the widely known Barbarisation


33
TTH: Az alshetnyi 4. szd. erd.
34
VRADY: Ksrmai hadgyek 83; SOPRONI: Die sptrmische Limes 160164; SOPRONI: Die
letzte Jahrzehnte 95100; FITZ: Die Verwaltung Pannoniens 13221324; VISY: A ripa Pannonica 130.
35
TTH, E.: Provincia Valeria Media. ActaArchHung 41 (1989) 197226; BNA, I.: Das Hun-
nenreich. BudapestStuttgart 1991, 4850: Greg. Tur. II,8; Prosper 1288; ChronMin I,471, 658; Philost.
XII,14.
36
VRADY: Ksrmai hadgyek, SOPRONI: Die sptrmische Limes 200, 206; SOPRONI: Die
letzte Jahrzehnte 8693.
37
Diaplesantej on p totoij tn Istron, dianoomenoi te di Paionaj p tn Hpei-
ron diabnai, peraiwqnai d tn Acelon ka taj `Ellhnikaj plesin piqsqai, trofj por-
sasqai qhsan prteron, Aqanricon <te> pantj to basileou tn Skuqn rconta gnouj
kpodn poisasqai d prj t mhdna kat ntou tn kwlsanta tn atn picerhsin cein.
piqmenoi tonun at sn oden pnJ tn tpwn n oj n pansthsan. Cf. KOVCS: Matrica
129147.
38
VG, E. B.BNA, I.: Die Grberfelder von Intercisa. Der sptrmische Sdostfriedhof. Bu-
dapest 1976, 196206; DEMANDT: op. cit. 270; VRADY: Ksrmai hadgyek 3948.
39
NAGY, T.: Die gens Marcomannorum in Pannonia Prima. MIA 1213 (198283) 113121.
THE LATE ROMAN ARMY IN PANNONIA 121
Acta Ant. Hung. 44, 2004
of the late Roman army was unknown in the Pannonian provinces. The best evidence
of this process is the CIL III 3576 grave inscription of Francus from Aquincum with
the following words:
40


Francus ego civis Romanus miles in armis
Egregia virtute tuli bello mea dextera semper

The Pannonian troops of comitatenses were under the command of the comites
rei militaris or magistri militum, and later (after the distinction Illyricum was made)
they were commanded by the comites Illyrici (Occ. VII, 4062).
41
The NotDig only in-
dicates this situation but gives lists only for after 396.
42
Among the comitatenses
there were several troops which were established under Honorius as testified by their
names: Honoriani victores, Mauri Honoriani seniores, Mattiari Honoriani Gallicani
(Occ. VII, 48, 51, 52). In 406407 new pseudocomitatenses legiones were set up like
the Lancearii Lauriacenses and Comagienses (VII, 5859) and the Secunda Iulia
(VII, 60).
43
In 409 5 troops (6000 soldiers) from Illyricum under the command of the
comes Valens
44
were sent to Italy against Alarich (Zos. V, 45,12; VI, 7,2). Zosimos
mentions him as tn kat Dalmatan tagmtwn gomenoj which may indicate
that at that time the main garrisons of the comitatenses were the Dalmatian cities.
45

This is supported by the circumstance that some of the fabricae were transferred to
Dalmatia.
46
It is noteworthy that no cavalry under the command of the Illyrian comes
was listed in the NotDig (Occ. VI).
47
From the 2nd half of the 4th c. (and at the
beginning of the 5th c.) several Pannonian troops were transferred to areas outside
Illyricum.
48
The last major effort to stabilize the defence system was taken by dux

40
Budapest trtnete 704, BARKCZI, L.: Beitrge zur Steinbearbeitung in Pannonien am Ende
des 3. und zu Beginn des 4. Jahrhunderts. FolArch 24 (1973) 7880, Abb. 810.
41
SOPRONI: Die letzte Jahrzehnte 1920, HOFFMANN: op. cit. II 207215.
42
FITZ: Die Verwaltung Pannoniens 1318.
43
HOFFMANN: op. cit. (n. 479) 408.
44
FITZ: Die Verwaltung Pannoniens 1318, 13921393, Nr. 1041.
45
For that they were not Dalmatian cunei see: VRADY, L.: Additional notes on the problem of
the Late Roman Dalmatian cunei. ActaAntiqua 11 (1963) 391406; VRADY: Ksrmai hadgyek 247
250. For Zosimos mentioning them see V,45,12: tn p Delmataj tgmata. Similarly HOFFMANN:
op. cit. II 213214.
46
Procurator gynaecii Bassianensis Pannoniae secundae translati Salonis (NotDig. Occ. XI, 46),
procurator gynaecii Iovensis Dalmatiae Aspalato (NotDig. Occ. XI,48). FITZ: Die Verwaltung Pannoniens
1320.
47
PWRE XVI (1936) 1095.
48
Acincenses (pseudocom.) NotDig. Occ. VII, 101 = XLI, 25; Antianenses (pseudocom.) NotDig.
Occ. VII, 2 = 162, Cornacenses (pseud. In Gall.) NotDig. Occ. VI, 22 = 272 = VII, 102; Pannoniciani se-
niores (leg. Pal.) NotDig. Occ. V, 6 = 149 = VII, 7 (intra Italiam), Pannoniciani iuniores (leg. com.)
NotDig. Or. VIII, 16 = 48 (Thracia), Lanciarii Sabarienses (leg. Pal.) NotDig. Occ. V, 9 = 152 = VII, 82;
Taurunenses (pseud.) NotDig. Occ. V, 111 = 161; Quartodecimani NotDig. Or. VII, 42 = VIII, 39 (leg.
com.); Secundani NotDig. Or. IX, 35 (leg. com.). Cf. VRADY: Ksrmai hadgyek 262277, HOFF-
MANN: op. cit. 73, 228229, 322323, 340342, 740; FITZ: Die Verwaltung Pannoniens 1321.
122 KOVCS, PTER
Acta Ant. Hung. 44, 2004
Generidus in 409 (Zos. V, 46,2).
49
The status of the Pannonian troops in the 410s and
420s may have been very similar to the situation of Noricum in the 470s (Eug. s. Sev.
4,20,22).
50

Pter Kovcs
Pzmny Pter Catholic University
H-2087 Piliscsaba
Egyetem u. 1.

49
ALFLDI: Der Untergang der Rmerherrschaft 7283; VRADY: Ksrmai hadgyek 250
252; HOFFMANN: op. cit. II 213214; SOPRONI: Die letzte Jahrzehnte 103105; FITZ: Die Verwaltung
Pannoniens 13181319, 1391, Nr. 1040.
50
Eugippius: Szent Severinus lete. A bevezet tanulmnyt rta BNA ISTVN. Budapest 1969,
282285.