Battle of Adrianople - Composition of The Roman Troops

Composition of The Roman Troops

Valens' army may have included troops from any of three Roman field armies: the Army of Thrace, based in the eastern Balkans, but which may have sustained heavy losses in 376–377, the 1st Army in the Emperor's Presence, and the 2nd Army in the Emperor's Presence, both based at Constantinople in peacetime but committed to the Persian frontier in 376 and sent west in 377–378.

Valens' army was composed of veterans and men accustomed to war. It comprised seven legions — among which were the Legio I Maximiana and imperial auxiliaries — of 700 to 1000 men each. The cavalry was composed of mounted archers (sagittarii) and Scholae (the imperial guard). However, these did not represent the strong point of the army and would flee on the arrival of the Gothic cavalry. There were also squadrons of Arab cavalry, but they were more suited to skirmishes than to pitched battle.

Ammianus Marcellinus makes references to the following forces under Valens:

• Battalions of Lanciarii, and Mattiarii, the latter being apparently allied forces. However, mattiarii may refer to mace-armed infantry (mattea being Roman for mace). Valens is referred to as seeking protection with them as the Roman forces collapsed (apparently a sign of how desperate the battle had become). Eventually they were unable to hold off the Goths' superior numbers.
• A battalion of Batavians; they were apparently held in reserve and fled, given a reference to a comes named Victor attempting to bring them up into battle but unable to find them.
• Scutarii (shielded cavalry) and archers. As one or both were under the command of Bacurius the Iberian, these may have been allied auxiliary troops from Iberia (modern Georgia) rather than Roman.

He also refers to the following officers:

• Ricimer (Richomeres), Frankish Comes of Gratian's Domestici (the corps of bodyguards of the emperor who were stationed in the imperial palace) sent to assist Valens in 376. He offered to act as a hostage to facilitate negotiations when Equitus refused. He survived the battle, indicated due to retreating.
• Sebastian, arrived from Italy previously, and clearly operating as one of Valens' generals. Killed in the battle.
• Victor, master-general of the cavalry, a Sarmatian by birth, who led the officers counselling waiting for Gratian.
• Equitius, a relation of Valens, a tribune and high steward of the palace. He refused to act as a hostage, as he had been a prisoner of the Goths in Dibaltum and escaped, and now feared revenge. Killed in the battle.
• Bacurius (presumably Romanised Bakur), a native and possibly prince of Iberia, in command of the archers and/or scutarii with Cassio that accompanied Ricimer as hostage, and who attacked without orders.
• Traianus, apparently in command of Roman forces before Valens assumed command, who was described as an illustrious man whose death in the battle was a great loss. He was supposedly still alive when Valens sought refuge with the Lanciarii and Mattiarii.
• Victor, the comes who tried to bring the Batavian reserve battalion into action.
• Cassio, in command of the archers and/or scutarii accompanying Ricimer as hostage.
• Saturninus, referred to as being able to stay alive by retreating. Presumably an officer or notable given he is referred to by name.
• Valerianus, Master of the Horse. Killed in battle.
• Potentius, tribune of the promoted officers, son of Ursicinus, former commander of the forces. He "fell in the flower of his age, a man respected by all persons of virtue."
• Thirty five tribunes, with no particular command, who were killed. Presumably there were more than this, but who survived.