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Magister militum

April 10, 2024

Magister militum (Latin for "master of soldiers"; pl.: magistri militum) was a top-level military command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Constantine the Great. The term referred to the senior military officer (equivalent to a war theatre commander, the emperor remaining the supreme commander) of the empire. In Greek sources, the term is translated either as strategos or as stratelates.

The original command structure of the Late Roman army, with a separate magister equitum and a magister peditum in place of the later overall magister militum in the command structure of the army of the Western Roman Empire
The high command structure of the West Roman army c. 410–425, based on the Notitia Dignitatum

Establishment and development of the command edit

Further information: Late Roman army

The title of magister militum was created in the 4th century, when the emperor Constantine the Great deprived the praetorian prefects of their military functions. Initially two posts were created, one as head of the infantry, as the magister peditum ("master of foot"), and one for the more prestigious cavalry, the magister equitum ("master of horse"). The latter title had existed since republican times, as the second-in-command to a Roman dictator.

Under Constantine's successors, the title was also established at a territorial level: magistri peditum and magistri equitum were appointed for every praetorian prefecture (per Gallias, per Italiam, per Illyricum, per Orientem), and, in addition, for Thrace and, sometimes, Africa. On occasion, the offices would be combined under a single person, then styled magister equitum et peditum or magister utriusque militiae ("master of both forces").

As such they were directly in command of the local mobile field army of the comitatenses, which acted as a rapid reaction force. Other magistri remained at the immediate disposal of the emperors, and were termed in praesenti ("in the presence" of the emperor). By the late 4th century, the regional commanders were termed simply magister militum.

In the Western Roman Empire, a "commander-in-chief" evolved with the title of magister utriusque militiae often abbreviated MVM. This powerful office was often the power behind the throne and was held by Stilicho, Aetius, Ricimer, and others. In the east, there were two senior generals, who were each appointed to the office of magister militum praesentalis.

During the reign of Emperor Justinian I, with increasing military threats and the expansion of the Eastern Empire, three new posts were created: the magister militum per Armeniam in the Armenian and Caucasian provinces, formerly part of the jurisdiction of the magister militum per Orientem, the magister militum per Africam in the reconquered African provinces (534), with a subordinate magister peditum, and the magister militum Spaniae (c. 562).

In the course of the 6th century, internal and external crises in the provinces often necessitated the temporary union of the supreme regional civil authority with the office of the magister militum. In the establishment of the exarchates of Ravenna and Carthage in 584, this practice found its first permanent expression. Indeed, after the loss of the eastern provinces to the Muslim conquest in the 640s, the surviving field armies and their commanders formed the first themata.

Supreme military commanders sometimes also took this title in early medieval Italy, for example in the Papal States and in Venice, whose Doge claimed to be the successor to the Exarch of Ravenna.

List of magistri militum edit

Unspecified commands edit

Comes et magister utriusque militiae edit

Per Gallias edit

Per Hispanias edit

Per Ilyricum edit

Per Orientem edit

Per Armeniam edit

Per Thracias edit

Praesentalis edit

Per Africam edit

Western Empire edit

  • 373–375: Theodosius, magister equitum [7]
  • 386–398: Gildo, magister equitum et peditum[24]

Eastern Empire edit

Magister militae in Byzantine and medieval Italy edit

Venice edit

Later, less formal use of the term edit

By the 12th century, the term was being used to describe a man who organized the military force of a political or feudal leader on his behalf. In the Gesta Herwardi, the hero is several times described as magister militum by the man who translated the original Old English account into Medieval Latin. It seems possible that the writer of the original version, now lost, thought of him as the hereward' (Old English: here, lit. 'army' and no: weard, lit. 'guard') – the supervisor of the military force. That this later use of these terms was based on the classical concept seems clear.[25]

See also edit

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k PLRE I, p. 1114
  2. ^ PLRE I, p. 62
  3. ^ Hughes, Ian: Aetius: Attila's Nemesis, p. 74
  4. ^ Hughes, Ian: Aetius: Attila's Nemesis, p. 75
  5. ^ Hughes, Ian: Aetius: Attila's Nemesis, p. 85
  6. ^ Hughes, Ian: Aetius: Attila's Nemesis, p. 87, Heather, Peter: The Fall of the Roman Empire, pp. 262, 491
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m PLRE I, p. 1113
  8. ^ Hydatius, Chronica Hispania, 122
  9. ^ Hydatius, Chronica Hispania, 128
  10. ^ Hydatius, Chronica Hispania, 134
  11. ^ a b c d PLRE I, p. 1112
  12. ^ PLRE I, p. 125
  13. ^ PLRE I, p. 307
  14. ^ Jones, Arnold Hugh Martin; Martindale, J. R.; Morris, J. (1980). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire: Volume 2, AD 395–527. Cambridge University Press. p. 228. ISBN 9780521201599.
  15. ^ Martindale, J. R. (1992). The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire 2 Part Set: Volume 3, AD 527–641. Cambridge University Press. p. 845. ISBN 978-0-521-20160-5.
  16. ^ Greatrex, Geoffrey; Lieu, Samuel N. C. (2005). The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars AD 363–628. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-75645-2.
  17. ^ Kaegi, Walter Emil (2003). Heraclius, Emperor of Byzantium. Cambridge University Press. p. 22. ISBN 978-0521814591.
  18. ^ PLRE II, p. 597
  19. ^ PLRE II, p. 211
  20. ^ PLRE I, pp. 1113–1114
  21. ^ PLRE I, p. 152
  22. ^ John Moorhead, Justinian (London, 1994), p. 16.
  23. ^ John Moorhead, Justinian (London, 1994), p. 17.
  24. ^ PLRE I, p. 395
  25. ^ Gesta Herwardi 2011-01-21 at the Wayback Machine The term is used in chapters XII, XIV, XXII and XXIII. See The Name, Hereward for details.

Sources edit

April 10, 2024
magister, militum, latin, master, soldiers, magistri, militum, level, military, command, used, later, roman, empire, dating, from, reign, constantine, great, term, referred, senior, military, officer, equivalent, theatre, commander, emperor, remaining, supreme. Magister militum Latin for master of soldiers pl magistri militum was a top level military command used in the later Roman Empire dating from the reign of Constantine the Great The term referred to the senior military officer equivalent to a war theatre commander the emperor remaining the supreme commander of the empire In Greek sources the term is translated either as strategos or as stratelates The original command structure of the Late Roman army with a separate magister equitum and a magister peditum in place of the later overall magister militum in the command structure of the army of the Western Roman EmpireThe high command structure of the West Roman army c 410 425 based on the Notitia Dignitatum Contents 1 Establishment and development of the command 2 List of magistri militum 2 1 Unspecified commands 2 2 Comes et magister utriusque militiae 2 3 Per Gallias 2 4 Per Hispanias 2 5 Per Ilyricum 2 6 Per Orientem 2 7 Per Armeniam 2 8 Per Thracias 2 9 Praesentalis 2 10 Per Africam 2 10 1 Western Empire 2 10 2 Eastern Empire 2 11 Magister militae in Byzantine and medieval Italy 2 11 1 Venice 3 Later less formal use of the term 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Citations 5 2 SourcesEstablishment and development of the command editFurther information Late Roman army The title of magister militum was created in the 4th century when the emperor Constantine the Great deprived the praetorian prefects of their military functions Initially two posts were created one as head of the infantry as the magister peditum master of foot and one for the more prestigious cavalry the magister equitum master of horse The latter title had existed since republican times as the second in command to a Roman dictator Under Constantine s successors the title was also established at a territorial level magistri peditum and magistri equitum were appointed for every praetorian prefecture per Gallias per Italiam per Illyricum per Orientem and in addition for Thrace and sometimes Africa On occasion the offices would be combined under a single person then styled magister equitum et peditum or magister utriusque militiae master of both forces As such they were directly in command of the local mobile field army of the comitatenses which acted as a rapid reaction force Other magistri remained at the immediate disposal of the emperors and were termed in praesenti in the presence of the emperor By the late 4th century the regional commanders were termed simply magister militum In the Western Roman Empire a commander in chief evolved with the title of magister utriusque militiae often abbreviated MVM This powerful office was often the power behind the throne and was held by Stilicho Aetius Ricimer and others In the east there were two senior generals who were each appointed to the office of magister militum praesentalis During the reign of Emperor Justinian I with increasing military threats and the expansion of the Eastern Empire three new posts were created the magister militum per Armeniam in the Armenian and Caucasian provinces formerly part of the jurisdiction of the magister militum per Orientem the magister militum per Africam in the reconquered African provinces 534 with a subordinate magister peditum and the magister militum Spaniae c 562 In the course of the 6th century internal and external crises in the provinces often necessitated the temporary union of the supreme regional civil authority with the office of the magister militum In the establishment of the exarchates of Ravenna and Carthage in 584 this practice found its first permanent expression Indeed after the loss of the eastern provinces to the Muslim conquest in the 640s the surviving field armies and their commanders formed the first themata Supreme military commanders sometimes also took this title in early medieval Italy for example in the Papal States and in Venice whose Doge claimed to be the successor to the Exarch of Ravenna List of magistri militum editUnspecified commands edit 383 385 8 Bauto magister militum under Valentinian II 1 385 8 394 Arbogast magister militum under Valentinian II and Eugenius 1 383 388 Andragathius 2 480 OvidaComes et magister utriusque militiae edit 392 408 Stilicho 411 421 Constantius III 3 422 425 Castinus 425 430 Felix 4 431 432 Bonifacius 5 432 433 Sebastianus 433 454 Aetius 6 455 456 Avitus and Remistus 456 Messianus 456 472 Ricimer 472 473 Gundobad 475 Ecdicius Avitus 475 476 OrestesPer Gallias edit 352 355 Claudius Silvanus 362 364 Jovinus magister equitum under Julian and Jovian 7 419 Gaudentius 425 430 Aetius 435 439 Litorius 452 458 Agrippinus 458 461 Aegidius 461 462 Agrippinus 462 473 Gundioc 472 BilimerPer Hispanias edit 441 442 Astyrius 8 443 Merobaudes 9 446 Vitus 10 Per Ilyricum edit 350 Vetranio magister peditum under Constans 11 361 Iovinus magister equitum under Julian 7 365 375 Equitius magister utriusquae militiae under Valentinian I 12 395 Alaric I 448 9 Agintheus known from Priscus to have held office as the latter s embassy proceeded towards the court of Attila 468 474 Julius Nepos 477 479 Onoulphus 479 481 Sabinianus Magnus 528 Ascum 529 530 1 Mundus 1st time 532 536 Mundus 2nd time c 538 Justin c 544 Vitalius c 550 John 568 569 70 Bonus 581 582 TheognisPer Orientem edit c 347 Flavius Eusebius magister utriusquae militiae 13 349 359 Ursicinus magister equitum under Constantius 11 359 360 Sabinianus magister equitum under Constantius II 11 363 367 Lupicinus magister equitum under Jovian and Valens 7 371 378 Iulius magister equitum et Peditum under Valens 7 383 Richomeres magister equitum et peditum 1 383 388 Ellebichus magister equitum et peditum 1 392 Eutherius magister equitum et peditum 1 393 396 Addaeus magister equitum et peditum 1 395 400 Fravitta 433 446 Anatolius 447 451 Zeno 460s Ardabur Aspar 469 Iordanes 469 471 Zeno 483 498 Ioannes Scytha c 503 505 Areobindus Dagalaiphus Areobindus 505 506 Pharesmanes 516 518 Hypatius 518 529 Diogenianus 520 525 526 Hypatius 527 Libelarius 527 529 Hypatius 529 531 Belisarius 531 Mundus 532 533 Belisarius 540 Buzes 542 Belisarius 543 544 Martinus 549 551 Belisarius 555 Amantius 556 Valerianus 569 Zemarchus 572 573 Marcian 573 Theodorus 574 Eusebius 574 574 577 Justinian 577 582 Maurice 582 583 John Mystacon 584 587 588 Philippicus 588 Priscus 588 589 Philippicus 589 591 Comentiolus 591 603 Narses 603 604 Germanus 604 605 Leontius 605 610 DomentziolusPer Armeniam edit Sittas Dorotheus 530 532 Peter direct predecessor of John Tzibus John Tzibus 541 Valerian Dagisthaeus 550 Bessas 550 554 14 Martin 15 Justin 16 John Mystacon Heraclius the Elder c 595 17 Per Thracias edit 377 378 Saturninus magister equitum under Valens 7 377 378 Traianus magister peditum under Valens 1 378 Sebastianus magister peditum under Valens 1 380 383 Saturninus magister peditum under Theodosius I 1 392 393 Stilicho magister equitum et peditum 1 412 414 Constans 441 Ioannes the Vandal magister utriusque militiae 18 464 467 468 Basiliscus 19 468 474 Armatus 474 Heraclius of Edessa 511 Hypatius 512 c 513 Cyrillus c 513 c 515 Alathar 515 Vitalian 525 c 530 Germanus 530 533 Chilbudius 550 c 554 Artabanes 588 Priscus 1st time 593 Priscus 2nd time 593 594 Peter 1st time 594 c 598 Priscus 2nd time 598 601 Comentiolus 601 602 Peter 2nd time Praesentalis edit 351 361 Arbitio magister equitum under Constantius II 11 361 363 Nevitta magister equitum under Julian 7 363 379 Victor magister equitum under Valens 7 366 378 Arinthaeus magister peditum under Valens 7 364 369 Iovinus magister equitum under Valentinian I 7 364 366 Dagalaifus magister peditum under Valentinian I 7 367 372 Severus magister peditum under Valentinian I 7 369 373 Theodosius magister equitum under Valentinian I 7 375 388 Merobaudes magister peditum under Valentinian I Gratian and Magnus Maximus 20 388 395 Timasius 394 408 Stilicho magister equitum et peditum 1 399 400 Gainas 400 Fravitta 409 Varanes and Arsacius 21 419 Plinta 434 449 Areobindus 443 451 Apollonius 450 451 Anatolius 475 477 478 Armatus 485 Longinus 492 499 John the Hunchback 518 520 Vitalian 22 520 Justinian 23 528 Leontius 528 529 Phocas 520 538 9 Sittas 536 Germanus 536 Maxentianus 546 548 Artabanes 548 9 552 Suartuas 562 Constantinianus uncertain 582 Germanus uncertain 585 c 586 Comentiolus 626 Bonus uncertain Per Africam edit Western Empire edit 373 375 Theodosius magister equitum 7 386 398 Gildo magister equitum et peditum 24 Eastern Empire edit 534 536 Solomon 536 539 Germanus 539 544 Solomon 544 546 Sergius 545 546 Areobindus 546 Artabanes 546 552 John Troglita 578 590 GennadiusMagister militae in Byzantine and medieval Italy edit Venice edit 8th century Marcellus 737 Domenico Leoni under Leo III 738 Felice Cornicola under Leo III 739 Theodatus Hypatus under Leo III 741 Ioannes Fabriacius under Leo III 764 787 Mauricius GalbaLater less formal use of the term editBy the 12th century the term was being used to describe a man who organized the military force of a political or feudal leader on his behalf In the Gesta Herwardi the hero is several times described as magister militum by the man who translated the original Old English account into Medieval Latin It seems possible that the writer of the original version now lost thought of him as the hereward Old English here lit army and no weard lit guard the supervisor of the military force That this later use of these terms was based on the classical concept seems clear 25 See also editStructural history of the Roman militaryReferences editCitations edit a b c d e f g h i j k PLRE I p 1114 PLRE I p 62 Hughes Ian Aetius Attila s Nemesis p 74 Hughes Ian Aetius Attila s Nemesis p 75 Hughes Ian Aetius Attila s Nemesis p 85 Hughes Ian Aetius Attila s Nemesis p 87 Heather Peter The Fall of the Roman Empire pp 262 491 a b c d e f g h i j k l m PLRE I p 1113 Hydatius Chronica Hispania 122 Hydatius Chronica Hispania 128 Hydatius Chronica Hispania 134 a b c d PLRE I p 1112 PLRE I p 125 PLRE I p 307 Jones Arnold Hugh Martin Martindale J R Morris J 1980 The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire Volume 2 AD 395 527 Cambridge University Press p 228 ISBN 9780521201599 Martindale J R 1992 The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire 2 Part Set Volume 3 AD 527 641 Cambridge University Press p 845 ISBN 978 0 521 20160 5 Greatrex Geoffrey Lieu Samuel N C 2005 The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars AD 363 628 Routledge ISBN 978 1 134 75645 2 Kaegi Walter Emil 2003 Heraclius Emperor of Byzantium Cambridge University Press p 22 ISBN 978 0521814591 PLRE II p 597 PLRE II p 211 PLRE I pp 1113 1114 PLRE I p 152 John Moorhead Justinian London 1994 p 16 John Moorhead Justinian London 1994 p 17 PLRE I p 395 Gesta Herwardi Archived 2011 01 21 at the Wayback Machine The term is used in chapters XII XIV XXII and XXIII See The Name Hereward for details Sources edit Boak AER 1915 The Roman Magistri in the Civil and Military Service of the Empire Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 26 73 164 doi 10 2307 310606 JSTOR 310606 Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire PLRE Vols I III Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Magister militum amp oldid 1193045318, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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