This page created 7 April 2014, and last modified: 25 July 2015 (Froben image added)

The Balistarii iuniores is listed (18.25 in Ingo Maier's numbering scheme) as the 14th of the legiones comitatenses under the Magister Militum per Thracias. Its shield pattern (14#9) as shown in various manuscripts, under the matching label (14.i) Balistarii iuniores, is as below:

The shield pattern features large yellow boss (smaller in B), a blue outer rim, a yellow inner rim (white in M, green in B), a green band inside this (yellow in M, W and absent in B), and a broad white (light blue-green in B) band between this and the boss on which are 8 (9 in W, B) rhomboids, alternating red and blue (white in B; the extra one in B and W is red).

Unlike the patterns of the balistarii under the Magister Militum per Orientem, the shield pattern of the Balistarii iuniores does not bear a close resemblance to another legionary unit under the same command, nor does it resemble those of the other balistarii units. Instead it most closely resembles that of the Scythae under (12.18) the command of the second Master of the Soldiers in the Imperial Presence. Perhaps the Balistarii iuniores originated as a detachment of that unit; although the resemblance is not particularly close, as the following patterns from the Paris manuscript show:

Perhaps it is more likely, if there is any relationship between the two at all, that is, that they were merely brigaded together at some point.

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