This page created 30 December 2015, and last modified: 30 December 2015

In the western portion of the Notitia, the following praepositi are listed as command units of limites (the numbers after the names refer to Ingo Maier's numbering scheme):

Praepositus limitis thamallensis (128.3), under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis montensis (128.4), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis bazensis (128.5), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis gemellensis (128.6), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis tubuniensis (128.7), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis zabensis (128.8), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis tubusubditani (128.9), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis thamallomensis (128.10), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis balaretani (128.11), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis columnatensis (128.12), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis tablatensis (128.13), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis caputcellensis (128.14), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis secundaeforum (128.15), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis tangensis (128.16), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis bidensis (128.17), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis badensis (128.18), also under the Comes Africae
Praepositus limitis columnatensis (137.2 ), under the Dux et praeses provinciae Mauritaniae et Caesariensis
Praepositus limitis vidensis (137.3), also under the Dux et praeses provinciae Mauritaniae et Caesariensis
Praepositus limitis inferioris (137.4), also under the Dux et praeses provinciae Mauritaniae et Caesariensis
Praepositus limitis fortensis (137.5), also under the Dux et praeses provinciae Mauritaniae et Caesariensis
Praepositus limitis muticitani (137.6), also under the Dux et praeses provinciae Mauritaniae et Caesariensis
Praepositus limitis audiensis (137.7), also under the Dux et praeses provinciae Mauritaniae et Caesariensis
Praepositus limitis caput cellensis (137.8), also under the Dux et praeses provinciae Mauritaniae et Caesariensis
Praepositus limitis augustensis (137.9), also under the Dux et praeses provinciae Mauritaniae et Caesariensis
Praepositus limitis talalatensis (139.2), under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae
Praepositus limitis tenthettani (139.3), also under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae
Praepositus limitis bizerentane (139.4), also under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae
Praepositus limitis tillibarensis (139.5), also under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae
Praepositus limitis madensis (139.6), also under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae
Praepositus limitis maccomadensis (139.7), also under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae
Praepositus limitis tintiberitani (139.8), also under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae
Praepositus limitis bubensis (139.9), also under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae
Praepositus limitis mamucensis (139.10), also under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae
Praepositus limitis balensis (139.11), also under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae
Praepositus limitis varensis (139.12), also under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae
Praepositus limitis sarcitani (139.15), also under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae.

This makes 36 units or detachments of units in all, and all of which are stationed in Africa. However, the Praepositus limitis columnatensis (128.12) would appear to be the same man as the Praepositus limitis columnatensis (137.2 ); the Praepositus limitis caputcellensis (128.14) the same as the Praepositus limitis caput cellensis (137.8); and the Praepositus limitis bidensis (128.17) the same as the Praepositus limitis vidensis (137.3), so the actual number of detachments should most likely be taken as 33; this is yet another indication that the list of the Comes Africae is not contemporaneous with that of the Dux et praeses provinciae Mauritaniae et Caesariensis (or the other African lists, for that matter).

The words limitis, limites, limes, and limitanei have varying meanings, but the sense most likely meant here is "pertaining to the border" - i.e. "the troops guarding the frontier". Although all these units are limitanei units, only those under the Comes Africae are listed under a rubric stating this explicitly: 128.3, which actually says "vinitanei" in O, P, and M; that B has LIMITANEI may be due to the editorial hand of Rhenanus rather than a superior textual transmission through the lost Basel manuscript, Bf.

As they are limitanei units, none have any shield patterns recorded. Each one is listed as being commanded by a praepositus (i.e. "commander"), which is a functional title, rather than a rank, in much the same way as in a modern navy, the "captain" of a vessel is a functional indicator, and not to be confused with officers having the rank of "captain" (and which only rarely command vessels these days). Most likely all these units are auxiliary in nature, since the two non-limites (but still limitanei) units under the Dux provinciae Tripolitanae, the Milites Fortenses in castris Leptitanis (139.13) and the Milites Munifices in castris Madensibus (139.14), would appear to be legionary milites.

It would appear that none of the detachments commanded by these officers are identified by a unit name, and merely by their station. Entries 137.5 and 139.9 look like they might be exceptions, in that the names sound like two known African legions: the Fortenses (102/5.204) and the Tertio Augustani (102/5.203), respectively, but this probably represents two auxiliary units occupying forts that had been built and previously occupied by their eponymous legions, and which had become to be known by their names.

1. Maier, Ingo; "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. Isaac, Benjamin; "The meaning of the terms Limes and Limitanei"; The Journal of Roman Studies, 78 (1988), pp 125-147, available here (last accessed 30 Decber 2015). Return

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