Bucellarii (the Latin plural of Bucellarius; literally "biscuit–eater",[1]Greek: Βουκελλάριοι) were formations of escort troops used in the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity.[2][a] They were employed by high-ranking military figures (such as Flavius Aetius and Belisarius) or civil office-holders.[2][3] Their name is derived from the type of bread rations eaten by these troops, so-called buccellatum.[2] The term bucellarii came into common use during the reign of Emperor Honorius (r. 395–423).[2]
According to Jon Coulston, one bucellarii regiment is attested in the Notitia Dignitatum.[2] The creation of the bucellarii reflected an increase in the "use of armed retinues by public officials" in the Roman Empire.[2] These armies were, therefore, associated with the decline of imperial authority because they demonstrated that it no longer had the monopoly of violence.[4][5] The bucellarius had close ties with its commander, supporting him in his quarrel with other commanders and even against the Empire, court, and emperor. This is shown by the army of Heraclian, which was used in his attempt to seize Roman Italy from Emperor Honorius.[6]
Coulston notes that the bucellarii provided the best cavalry in 5th and 6th century Roman armies, and were "recruited from Romans, Persians, Goths, and Huns, amongst others".[2] The recruitment of soldiers of barbarian origin is well-documented as evidenced in the description of the army inherited by Constantius' widow Galla Placidia.[6] The poet Claudian also described the bucellarii as an army of barbarians under the employ military figures, politicians, and warlords such as Stilicho, Aetius, and the praetorian prefectRufinus.[5]
The bucellarii generally received the highest salaries and were armed with the best equipment from the empire's factories.[7] Some sources state that the bucellarii were mercenaries and describe their leaders as soldiers of fortune.[4] This was particularly the case for the military companies that operated in Italy from the sixth to seventh centuries.[4]
^ abcFrance, John (2008). Mercenaries and Paid Men: The Mercenary Identity in the Middle Ages : Proceedings of a Conference Held at University of Wales, Swansea, 7th-9th July 2005. Leiden: BRILL. pp. 189. ISBN9789004164475.
^ abFields, Nic (2014). AD69: Emperors, Armies and Anarchy. Barnsley, UK: Pen and Sword. ISBN9781781591888.
^ abRich, John; Shipley, Graham (2002). War and Society in the Roman World. London: Routledge. p. 269. ISBN0203075544.
bucellarii, latin, plural, bucellarius, literally, biscuit, eater, greek, Βουκελλάριοι, were, formations, escort, troops, used, roman, empire, late, antiquity, they, were, employed, high, ranking, military, figures, such, flavius, aetius, belisarius, civil, of. Bucellarii the Latin plural of Bucellarius literally biscuit eater 1 Greek Boykellarioi were formations of escort troops used in the Roman Empire in Late Antiquity 2 a They were employed by high ranking military figures such as Flavius Aetius and Belisarius or civil office holders 2 3 Their name is derived from the type of bread rations eaten by these troops so called buccellatum 2 The term bucellarii came into common use during the reign of Emperor Honorius r 395 423 2 According to Jon Coulston one bucellarii regiment is attested in the Notitia Dignitatum 2 The creation of the bucellarii reflected an increase in the use of armed retinues by public officials in the Roman Empire 2 These armies were therefore associated with the decline of imperial authority because they demonstrated that it no longer had the monopoly of violence 4 5 The bucellarius had close ties with its commander supporting him in his quarrel with other commanders and even against the Empire court and emperor This is shown by the army of Heraclian which was used in his attempt to seize Roman Italy from Emperor Honorius 6 Coulston notes that the bucellarii provided the best cavalry in 5th and 6th century Roman armies and were recruited from Romans Persians Goths and Huns amongst others 2 The recruitment of soldiers of barbarian origin is well documented as evidenced in the description of the army inherited by Constantius widow Galla Placidia 6 The poet Claudian also described the bucellarii as an army of barbarians under the employ military figures politicians and warlords such as Stilicho Aetius and the praetorian prefect Rufinus 5 The bucellarii generally received the highest salaries and were armed with the best equipment from the empire s factories 7 Some sources state that the bucellarii were mercenaries and describe their leaders as soldiers of fortune 4 This was particularly the case for the military companies that operated in Italy from the sixth to seventh centuries 4 Contents 1 See also 2 Explanatory notes 3 Citations 4 General and cited sourcesSee also EditBucellarian Theme Ka akExplanatory notes Edit They are also described as militarily organized bodyguards or elite defence forces 3 Citations Edit Dixon amp Southern 1996 p 72 a b c d e f g Coulston 2018 p 270 a b Prinzing 2008 p 662 a b c France John 2008 Mercenaries and Paid Men The Mercenary Identity in the Middle Ages Proceedings of a Conference Held at University of Wales Swansea 7th 9th July 2005 Leiden BRILL pp 189 ISBN 9789004164475 a b Fields Nic 2014 AD69 Emperors Armies and Anarchy Barnsley UK Pen and Sword ISBN 9781781591888 a b Rich John Shipley Graham 2002 War and Society in the Roman World London Routledge p 269 ISBN 0203075544 Heather 2018 p 54 General and cited sources EditCoulston Jon 2018 bucellarii In Nicholson Oliver ed The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 866277 8 Dixon Karen R Southern Pat 1996 Late Roman Army Routledge ISBN 978 1134724222 Heather Peter 2018 Rome Resurgent War and Empire in the Age of Justinian Oxford University Press ISBN 9780199362745 Prinzing Gunter 2008 Patronage and retinues In Jeffreys Elizabeth Haldon John F Cormack Robin eds The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0199252466 This article about the military history of Ancient Rome is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This Byzantine Empire related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bucellarii amp oldid 1121789620, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
