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Notitia Dignitatum -
British section
( ca AD
395-430)
Robert
Vermaat |
The Notitia
Dignitatum for Britain
For Britain, the Notitia
lists several military commands (the dux Britanniarum,
the comes litoris Saxonici per Britannias
and the comes Britanniarum), the governors of
the five British provinces and the staff of the vicarius
in London.
- dux
Britanniarum This limitaneus
(frontier) command consisted of the region along
Hadrian’s Wall and the coast from Cumbria,
possibly even down to Wales. The problem with
this section is that it is incomplete - we assume
that the part concerning Wales is lost. It
consisted probably of three parts, one containing
the forts of the Wall (per liniam valli)
and the Cumbrian coast, the other the units in
Yorkshire. The third part, which may have
contained the units and forts in Wales, was lost
either lost, or the units discontinued at an
earlier date. Either way, this extremely valuable
information is no longer there. The map (right)
represents several cities or forts, representing
only a part of the commandas including the whole
island. Starting from the top (l-r) is Sextae
(York), home of the sixth legion (which is not
mentioned in the Notitia). Following are
several forts, located south of Hadrian's Wall,
starting with Praesidium (?), Danum
(Doncaster), Morbium (?), Arbeia
(South
 Shields), Dictum
(?), Concangis (Chester-le-Street), Lavatris
(Bowes), Verteris (Brough), Bravoniacum
(Kirkby Thore), Maglona and Magis
(Old Carlisle or ?), Longovicium (Lanchester)
and Derventio (Malton). In fact, the
command of the Duke stretched along Hadrians Wall
(per liniam valli), west of the Pennines
and probably into Wales.
- comes
litoris Saxonici per Britannias The
Notitia is the only historical source
for the Saxon Shore, an otherwise unknown
military command. The Saxon Shore consisted of
several forts built around southeast Britain in
the later third and fourth centuries, which were
probably started by the usurper Carausius or even
earlier. The explanation for the term 'Saxon' is
not clear. It might mean ‘the coast defended
against the Saxons’, but also
‘the coast defended by the
Saxons’, or ‘the coast settled
by the Saxons’. Equally enigmatic is
the exact role of the command. Though mostly
explained as a coastal defensive system, the
inclusion in the Notitia might also
warrant an system for tax-collection! This is
based mainly on the structure of the forts, which
seem to be less useful as naval stations than
warehouses for storing taxes. The map (right)
represents the coastal command of the Count,
showing the forts of the Saxon Shore. Starting
from the top (l-r) is Othona (Bradwell),
then Dubris (Dover), Lemannis (Lympne),
Branodunum (Brancaster), Gariannum
(Burgh), Regulbium (Reculver), Rutupiae
(Richborough), Anderida (Pevensey) and Portus
Adurni (Portchester).
- comes
Britanniarum There had been a comes
Britanniarum in the early fourth century
under Constantine, but it had been discontinued
long before. As related above, it was probably
Stilicho who recreated this command, for we can
date the eastern half of the Notitia
relatively surely to 394, after which Stilicho
was in command of the West from that time. Miller
has dated the rather vague references to
Stilicho’s work in Britain from Claudian and Gildas to 395, which would very
neatly fit this solution. The map (right) shows
one 'city' called 'Britannia', thereby probably
showing that the command of the Comes stretched
across the whole diocese.
- vicarius
Britanniarum The civil commander of
the British diocese had a body of troops to
command, but no regular units. The map (below)
represents the command of the Vicar, showing the
provinces of Britain. Starting from the top (l-r)
is Maxima Caesariensis, Valentia, Britannia
Prima, Britannia Secunda and Flavia
Caesariensis.
- Army
units The problem with this section
of the Notitia is that, apart from being
incomplete (we assume that the part concerning
Wales is lost), it also seems extremely outdated,
for most of the units listed for the wall forts
are seemingly anachronistic third century
cohortes and alae. In the light of the disaster
in 367 and the following desertions, most
historians think it very unlikely that all units
returned unchanged; instead the consensus is that
the list was not updated after the fourth century
and kept only for administrative purposes. But is
this view correct?
The
opinion that the wall was deserted after the late fourth
century has, in the light of recent archaeological work,
been abandoned for a continuous use well into the fifth
century. Also, see Ammianus Marcellinus for a different opinion of the
so-called ‘disaster of 367’. It was very
possible for ‘anachronistic’ units from the
times of Severus, Constantine and Theodosius to survive
to a later date. If we assume that the frontier was
relatively quiet, such units did not need to be changed
or replaced, which was often the case in areas prone to
foreign attack or civil wars. We cannot simply limit this
problem to the British sections, as Severan and
Theodosian army units are mentioned in the other
provinces as well, albeit not on the same scale. A
similar display of older types of units exits on the
Danube frontier, an area which is not likely to have been
lost to the Empire as well.
'New'
units are mentioned for Britain, which clearly came from
the Rhine and which were introduced by count Theodosius
after 368-9. Also, units such as the Sixth Legion in York
are not mentioned in the latest update. The only
difficulty is that we have no knowledge about the precise
date when these units arrived or disappeared, and if
their units were dropped from the list or not. Some
evidently were, as the units named after 'tyrants' (usurpers)
aren’t mentioned; these were probably annihilated or
re-named when the tyrants were defeated. Concluding, we
can say that (few) new units occur in Britain, and that (more)
older units remain. Britain seems to have been a quiet
province (in spite of the so-called 'disaster of 367), so
it is likely that the older style units are not
anachronistic, but actually served in Britain at the time
of or shortly before the Notitia was drawn up.
Listed
below is a list of the offices and troops for Britain.
The chapters represent the Western part of the document (Occ.).
This list is incomplete as to the units stationed in
Britain, their number representeting a rough guide to
date of creation, upgrade from the limitanei
into the comitatenses or degradation:
Chapter 1:
REGISTER OF THE DIGNITARIES, BOTH CIVIL AND
MILITARY, IN THE DISTRICTS OF THE WESTSix vicars:
… of the Britains.
Six military
counts:
… of the Britains;
of the Saxon shore of Britain.
Thirteen dukes:
… of Britannia
Twenty-two consulars:
in the Britains two:
of Maxima Caesariensis,
of Valentia.
Thirty-one presidents:
in the Britains three:
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Occ.I:
NOTITIA DIGNITATUM OCCIDENTIS
.Vicarii
VI:
Vicarius Britanniae
Comites rei militaris
VI:
Comes Britanniarum
Comes Litoris Soxonicum per Britannias
Duces
XIII:
Dux Britanniarum
Consularii
XXII:
Britanniae II:
Consularis per Maxima Caesariensis
Consularis per Valentia
Presidii
XXXI:
Britanniae III:
Praesidis per Britannia prima
Praesidis per Britannia secunda
Praesidis per Flavia Caesariensis
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Chapter
3:
THE PRAETORIAN PREFECT OF THE GAULS
Dioceses:
… the Britains.
Provinces:
… of the Britains five:
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Occ.III:
PRAEFECTIS PRAETORIANIS PER GALLIAS
Britanniae
Provinciae,
Britanniae V:
Maxima Caesariensis
Valentia
Britannia prima
Britannia secunda
Flauia Caesariensis.
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Chapter
5:
THE MASTER OF FOOT IN THE EMPEROR'S PRESENCE
The counts
of the frontiers:
… the Britains;
the Saxon shore toward the Britains.
The ten dukes
of the frontiers:
… the Britains;
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Occ. V:
MAGISTER PEDITUM PRAESENTALIS
Comites limitum
infrascriptorum
Comes Britanniarum
Comes Litoris Saxonici per Britanniam
Duces
limitum infrascriptorum X
Dux Britanniarum
185. Victores Iuniores,
auxilia palatinae
207. Exculcatores Iuniores Britanniciani, auxilia
palatinae
241. Secunda Britannica, legio comitatenses
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Chapter
6:
THE MASTER OF HORSE IN THE EMPEROR'S PRESENCE
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Occ. VI :
MAGISTER EQUITUM PRAESENTALIS
59. Equites Honoriani Taifali
Iuniores, vexillatio
comitatenses
60. Equites Honoriani Seniores, vexillatio
comitatenses
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Chapter
7:
DISTRIBUTION OF THE FORCES ABOVE NAMED
AMONG THE VARIOUS PROVINCES
In the Britains
with the worshipful count of the
Britains:
[One palatine
auxilium,
One legion of the line,
One unclassified body.]
Also squadrons of cavalry:
.
In Britain with the worshipful count of the
Britains.
[Three of the line,
Two unclassified.]
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Occ.
VII :
DISTRIBUTIO NUMERORUM
.
Intra
Britannias, Comes Britanniarum
.
84. Secunda Britannica, legio
comitatenses
154. Victores Iuniores Britanniciani auxilia
palatinae
155. Primani Iuniores, legio comitatenses
156. Secundani Iuniores, legio comitatenses
200. Equites Catafractarii Iuniores, vexillatio
comitatenses
201. Equites Scutarii Aureliaci, vexillatio
comitatenses
202. Equites Honoriani Seniores, vexillatio
comitatenses
203. Equites Stablesiani, vexillatio comitatenses
204. Equites Syri, vexillatio comitatenses
205. Equites Taifali, vexillatio comitatenses
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Chapter
11:
THE COUNT OF THE SACRED BOUNTIES
Under the
control of the illustrious count of the
sacred bounties.
The accountant of the general tax of the Britains.
In the Britains:
The provost of the storehouses at London.
The procurator of the weaving-house
at Venta (?) in Britain.
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Occ. XI :
COMES SACRARUM LARGITIONUM
.
.
.
.
Londinium
Venta (Silurum, Icenicorum,
Belgarum ?)
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Chapter
19:
THE COUNT OF THE BRITAINS
(Office, no troops)
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Occ.
XIX :
COMES BRITANNIARUM PROVINCIA BRITANNIA
officium
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Chapter 23:
THE VICAR OF THE BRITAINS
Under the control of the
worshipful vicar of the
Britains:
Consulars:
of Maxima Caesariensis,
of Valentia.
Presidents:
of Britannia prima,
of Britannia secunda,
of Flavia Caesariensis.
His staff is as follows:
A chief of staff from the school of confidential
agents
the first class,
A chief deputy,
Two receivers of taxes,
A chief clerk,
A custodian,
A chief assistant,
A keeper of the records,
Assistants,
Secretaries,
Notaries, and the rest of the staff.
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Occ. XXIII :
VICARIUS BRITANNIARUM
.
.
Consularii
Consularis per Maxima Caesariensis
Consularis per Valentia
Praesidii
Praesidis per Britannia prima
Praesidis per Britannia secunda
Praesidis per Flavia Caesariensis
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Chapter 28:
THE COUNT OF THE SAXON SHORE
12. Troops and Offices of the
Count of the Saxon Shore
13. (Bradwell)
14. (Dover)
15. (Lympne)
16. (Brancaster)
17. (Burgh Castle)
18. (Reculver)
19. (Richborough)
20. (Pevensey)
21. (Portchester?)
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Occ. XXVIII :
COMES LITORIS SAXONICI PER BRITANNIAM
12. Sub dispositione uiri
spectabilis comitis litoris Saxonici per
Britanniam:
13. Praepositus numeri Fortensium, Othonae
14. Praepositus militum Tungrecanorum, Dubris
15. Praepositus numeri Turnacensium, Lemannis
16. Praepositus equitum Dalmatarum Branodunensium,
Branoduno
17. Praepositus equitum stablesianorum
Gariannonensium, Gariannonor
18. Tribunus cohortis primae Baetasiorum,
Regulbio
19. Praefectus legionis secundae Augustae,
Rutupis
20. Praepositus numeri Abulcorum, Anderidos
21. Praepositus numeri exploratorum, Portum
Adurni
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Chapter 40:
DUKE OF THE BRITAINS
17.Troops and Offices of the Dux
Britanniarum:.
18. (York)
19. (?)
20. (Doncaster)
21. (Ilkley?)
22. (South Shields)
23. (Old Winteringham?)
24. (Chester-le-Street)
25. (Bowes)
26. (Brough Castle)
27. (Kirkby Thore)
28. (Old Carlisle)
29. (Drumburgh)
30. (Lanchester)
31. (Malton)
32. Units along the line of the Wall:
33. (Wallsend)
34. (Newcastle)
35. (Benwell)
36. (Rudchester)
37. (Halton Chesters)
38. (Chesters)
39. (Carrawburgh)
40. (Housesteads)
41. (Chesterholm)
42. (Great Chesters)
43. (Carvoran)
44. (Castleheads)
45. (Stanwix or Wreay)
46. 'Carlisle' - Seeck's
emendation
47. (Burgh-by-Sands)
48. (Kirkbride)
49. (Maryport)
50. (Workington)
51. (Bowness)
52. (Ravenglass)
53. (Lancaster)
54. (Ribchester)
55. (?)
56. (?)
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Occ. XL:
DUX BRITANNIARUM
17. Sub dispositione uiri
spectabilis ducis Britanniarum:
18. Praefectus legionis sextae
19. Praefectus equitum Dalmatarum, Praesidio
20. Praefectus equitum Crispianorum, Dano
21. Praefectus equitum catafractariorum, Morbio
22. Praefectus numeri barcariorum Tigrisiensium,
Arbeia
23. Praefectus numeri Nerviorum Dictensium, Dicti
24. Praefectus numeri uigilum, Concangios
25. Praefectus numeri exploratorum, Lauatres
26. Praefectus numeri directorum, Uerteris
27. Praefectus numeri defensorum, Braboniaco
28. Praefectus numeri Solensium, Maglone
29. Praefectus numeri Pacensium, Magis
30. Praefectus numeri Longovicanorum, Longouico
31. Praefectus numeri superuenientium
Petueriensium, Deruentione
32. Item per lineam ualli:
33. Tribunus cohortis quartae Lingonum, Segeduno
34. Tribunus cohortis primae Cornouiorum, Ponte
Aeli
35. Praefectus alae primae Asturum, Conderco
36. Tribunus cohortis primae Frixagorum,
Uindobala
37. Praefectus alae Sabinianae, Hunno
38. Praefectus alae secundae Asturum, Cilurno
39. Tribunus cohortis primae Batauorum,
Procolitia
40. Tribunus cohortis primae Tungrorum,
Borcouicio
41. Tribunus cohortis quartae Gallorum, Uindolana
42. Tribunus cohortis primae Asturum, Aesica
43. Tribunus cohortis secundae Dalmatarum, Magnis
44. Tribunus cohortis primae Aeliae Dacorum,
Amboglanna
45. Praefectus alae Petrianae, Uxelodunum or
Petrianis
46. 'Luguuallii'
47. Praefectus numeri Maurorum Aurelianorum,
Aballaba
48. Tribunus cohortis secundae Lingonum,
Congauata
49. Tribunus cohortis primae Hispaniorum,
Axeloduno
50. Tribunus cohortis secundae Thracum,
Gabrosenti
51. Tribunus cohortus primae Aeliae classicae,
Tunnocelo
52. Tribunus cohortis primae Morinorum,
Glannibanta
53. Tribunus cohortis tertiae Neruiorum, Alione
54. Cuneus Sarmatarum, Bremetenraco
55. Praefectus alae primae Herculeae, Olenaco
56. Tribunus cohortis sextae Neruiorum, Uirosido
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 For an abbreviated (English) text see: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/notitiadignitatum.html
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