Late Roman Shield Patterns



Comites Domestici (west)



This page last modified: 27 December 2014 (Maier reference numbers added)

Spear


Insignia In the western half of the empire, the Count of the Household Horse (Comes Domesticorum equitum) and the Count of the Household Foot (Comes Domesticorum peditum) each command a unit of bodyguards:

114.2 Domestici equites
114.3 Domestici pedites
The eastern half of the empire also has two such officers (the numbers beside the names refer to Ingo Maier's numbering scheme).


Disclaimer: Remember, some of what comes below is speculation. Hopefully informed speculation, but speculation nonetheless. Comments welcome! (lukeuedasarson "at" gmail.com)


It is unclear to what extent, if any, these units of Domestici were genuinely military guard units as opposed to being purely ceremonial; they may have functioned more as a staff officers' college than anything else: entry 114.4 translates as "(and) those deputised from these". The large shield patterns shown to the left come from the Bodleian manuscript (O); patterns from other manuscripts (P, M, W, B) can be found by following the individual unit links above.

Spear

Return to the Notitia index page.