This page created 6 July 2014, and last modified: 27 October (Frankfurt fragment image added)

In the western half of the empire, the Felices iuniores is listed as one of auxilia palatina units in the Magister Peditum's infantry roster; it assigned to his Italian command. Its shield pattern as shown in various manuscripts is as below:

The shield has a red rim and an indigo main ground (rather purple in B; faded in M, W, and especially Ff). The pattern's main feature is a fontal-aspect head with very long "hair"; given how long and straight this is depicted (at least in M, W and Ff), this may be interpreted as a solar visage rather than a human head. A white pillar supports the head; it features a number of black chevrons, stacked vertically with their points downward (4 in O, B; 5 in P, W Ff; 7 in M).

However, it is evident that this is the "wrong" shield pattern; like that of some other western auxilia platina units, it has been shifted from its proper place (or, to be more exact, the label has likely been shifted from its proper place). This particular pattern likely belongs to the previous unit listed in the Magister Peditum's infantry roster, the Felices seniores, and which is assigned to the "Comes" Hispenias. It is likely the true pattern of the Felices iuniores is that assigned to the next unit in the Magister Peditum's list, the Gratianenses seniores; these relationships are shown below, using the corresponding patterns taken from the Parisian manuscript, P:

The name Felices is a very common name for units in the Notitia, with over twenty units bearing the name; it means "fortunate, lucky", as well as "fruitful, fertile, productive". The first of these meanings is probably more likely for a military unit. Note that there is also a unit called the Felices iuniores Gallicani in the Magister Peditum's infantry command; its shield pattern is unrelated.

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