This page created 28 June 2015, and last modified: 1 November 2015 (Cedrenus citation added)

The following 48 units (or detachments of units) of Equites Dalmatae are to be found in the Notitia (the numbers in front of the names refer to Ingo Maier's numbering scheme):

In the eastern half of the empire:

9.11 Equites quinto Dalmatae, a vexillationes comitatenses under the Magister Militum Praesentalis I
9.12 Equites nono Dalmatae, another vexillationes comitatenses under the Magister Militum Praesentalis I
12.11 Equites sexto Dalmatae, a vexillationes comitatenses under the Magister Militum Praesentalis II
15.5 Equites tertio Dalmatae, a vexillationes comitatenses under the Magister Militum per Orientem
59.2 Equites Dalmatae Illyriciani, at Benosabae, under the Dux Palaestinae
61.4 Equites Dalmati Illyriciani, at Ziza, under the Dux Arabiae
63.5 Equites Dalmati Illyriciani, at Latavi, under the Dux Foenicis
65.11 Equites Dalmati Illyriciani, at Barbalisso in Augusto Eufratensi, under the Dux Syriae et Eufratensis Syriae
67.2 Equites Dalmati Illyriciani, at Ganaba, under the Dux Osrhoenae
78.5 Cuneus equitum Dalmatarum, at Aureomonto, under the Dux Moesiae primae
78.8 Cuneus equitum Dalmatarum, at Pinco, also under the Dux Moesiae primae
78.9 Cuneus equitum Dalmatarum, at Cuppis, also under the Dux Moesiae primae
80.2 Cuneus equitum Dalmatarum fortensium, at Bononia, under the Dux Daciae ripensis
80.3 Cuneus equitum Dalmatarum Divitensium, at Dortico, also under the Dux Daciae ripensis
80.5 another Cuneus equitum Dalmatarum Divitensium, also under the Dux Daciae ripensis
80.6 Cuneus equitum Dalmatarum, at Augustae, also under the Dux Daciae ripensis
80.7 Cuneus equitum Dalmatarum, at Varina, also under the Dux Daciae ripensis

And in the western half of the empire:

102/5.15 Equites octavo Dalmatae, a vexillationes comitatenses listed in the Magister Equitum's cavalry roster and assigned (102/5.225) to his Gallic command
102/5.16 Equites Dalmatae passerentiaci, a vexillationes comitatenses listed in the Magister Equitum's cavalry roster and also assigned (102/5.226) to his Gallic command
132.5 Equites Dalmatae Branodunenses, at Branaduno, under the Comes litoris Saxonici per Britanniam
141.3 Cuneus equitum Dalmatarum, at Teutiborgio, under the Dux Provinciae Pannoniae secundae ripariensis et Saviae
141.8 Equites Dalmatae, at Novas, also under the Dux Provinciae Pannoniae secundae ripariensis et Saviae
141.9 Equites Dalmatae, at Albano, also under the Dux Provinciae Pannoniae secundae ripariensis et Saviae
141.11 Equites Dalmatae, at Cornaco, also under the Dux Provinciae Pannoniae secundae ripariensis et Saviae
141.13 Equites Dalmatae, at Bornoriae, also under the Dux Provinciae Pannoniae secundae ripariensis et Saviae
141.14 Equites Dalmatae, at Cusi, also under the Dux Provinciae Pannoniae secundae ripariensis et Saviae
141.16 Equites Dalmatae, at Ricti, also under the Dux Provinciae Pannoniae secundae ripariensis et Saviae
141.17 Equites Dalmatae, at Burgentas, also under the Dux Provinciae Pannoniae secundae ripariensis et Saviae
143.3 Cuneus equitum Dalmatarum, at Intercisa, under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis
143.7 Equites Dalmatae, at Odiabo, also under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis
143.10 Equites Dalmatae, at Ad Herculem, also under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis (see note)
143.11 Equites Dalmatae, at Cirpi, also under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis
143.12 Equites Dalmatae, at Constantiae, also under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis
143.13 Equites Dalmatae, at Campona, also under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis
143.15 Equites Dalmatae, at Vetusalinae, also under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis
143.17 Equites Dalmatae, at Adnamantia, also under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis
143.18 Equites Dalmatae, at Lussonio, also under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis
143.19 Equites Dalmatae, at Ripa Alta, also under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis
143.20 Equites Dalmatae, at Ad Statuas, also under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis
143.21 Equites Dalmatae, at Florentiae, also under the Dux Provinciae Valeriae ripensis
145.2 Cuneus equitum Dalmatarum, at Flexo, under the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis
145.6 Equites Dalmatae, at Ala Nova [sic], also under the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis
145.7 Equites Dalmatae, at Aequinoctoiae, also under the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis
145.8 Equites Dalmatae, at Ad Herculem, also under the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis (see notes)
145.22 Equites Dalmatae, at Arlape, also under the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis
145.23 Equites Dalmatae, at Augustianis, also under the Dux Pannoniae primae et Norici ripensis
152.2 Equites Dalmatae, at Marcis on the Saxon Shore, under the Dux Belgicae secundae
154.3 Equites Dalmatae, at Praesidio, under the Dux Britanniarum.

Of these, 143.10 and 145.8 might be duplicates given their identical names and locations; however, it is entirely possible there were locations named after Hercules in both Valeria ripensis and in Noricum ripensis; cf. the location Alta Ripa also occurring in multiple provinces in the Notitia. Only the shield patterns for the two units in the Magister Equitum's cavalry roster are illustrated in the Notitia:

Those under O come from the Bodleian manuscript in Oxford, those under P from the Paris manuscript, those under M from the first portion of the Munich manuscript, those under W from the second portion of the Munich manuscript, and those under B from the Froben edition.

The precise meaning of the name Dalmatae ("Dalmatian") in the context of the late Roman army is unsure. The geographic area of Dalmatia corresponded roughly with Roman province of the same name, and which was part of the western Diocese of Illyricum at the time of the Notitia's commpilation. The troop type (and even assuming the name corresponds to a "type" is something of an assumption) presumably originated in the region; most likely in the 3rd century under the "Illyrian" emperors. Certainly, the 11th century Byzantine historian Cedrenus states (in Greek) that it was Gallienus (sole Augustus from 260-268) who first instituted "tagmata" ("regiments") of cavalry. That some 48 (or 47) units are identified as Equites Dalmatae in the Notitia means they together represented a significant proportion of the empire's cavalry forces. That five units are also entitled Illyriciani gives one pause for thought, as these two overlapping apparently geographical descriptors would indicate that (at least) one of them means something non-geographic, but which (and what) is hard to tell.

A dozen or so auxiliary infantry cohorts were recruited from Dalmatia in the first century; at least one of these kept its name intact long enough to make it into the Notitia: the men under the (152.27) Tribunus cohortis secundae Dalmatarum, stationed at Magnis, and responsible to the Dux Britanniarum. Further, under the Dux tractus Armoricani et Nervicani is listed (151.10) a Praefectus militum Dalmatarum, stationed at Abrincatis. Given it is commanded by a prefect, as opposed to a tribune or a praepositus, this probably represents a legionary unit, and may well be the same unit as the pseudocomitatenses (98/9.140) unit the Abrincateni, assigned (102/5.144) to the Magister Equitum's Gallic command.

1. Ingo Maier; "Appendix 4: Numeration of the new edition of the compilation 'notitia dignitatum' (Cnd)"; last accessed 26 October 2015. See also for here for numbering examples. Return
2. Georgios Kedrenos (Georgius "Cedrenus"); "Synopsis Istorion", 1.454; available here in Greek with Latin translation (last accessed 1 November 2015). Return

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