Dux Britanniarum facts for kids
The Dux Britanniarum was a very important military leader in Roman Britain. This job was likely created by Emperor Diocletian or Constantine I around the late 200s or early 300s AD. The word Dux means "military leader" in Latin. He was one of the top officers in the Roman army in Britain. An old Roman document called the Notitia Dignitatum lists him as one of three main commanders in Britain. The other two were the Comes Britanniarum and the Count of the Saxon Shore.
His job was to look after the area around Hadrian's Wall. This included places like today's Yorkshire, Cumbria, and Northumberland. His main base was in the city of Eboracum (which is now York). The main goal was to protect the rich southern parts of Britain. This protection was needed from attacks by the Picts, who lived in what is now Scotland, and the Scots, who were raiders from Ireland.
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History of the Roman Commander
The Dux Britanniarum was in charge of all the Roman troops in the northern part of Britain. Most of these soldiers were stationed along Hadrian's Wall. This commander held a high rank, though it was a bit lower than the Comes Britanniarum.
His duties included keeping the border safe and making sure the forts were in good shape. He also helped find new soldiers for the army. Providing food and supplies for the troops was a big part of the local economy. Because he was far from his bosses, the Dux had a lot of power in his area.
The Notitia Dignitatum lists the army camps along Hadrian's Wall under the Dux's command. This list also includes some places on the coast of Cumbria. However, old findings show that other army units were also there, even if they are not mentioned in the Notitia. Most of these extra units were set up in the 200s AD.
Army Units and Forts
The soldiers under the Dux were called limitanei. These were like border guards who stayed in one place. They were different from the comitatenses, who were a mobile field army led by the Comes Britanniarum. The Notitia lists fourteen units in northern Britain under the Dux. These units were based in modern Yorkshire, Cumbria, or Northumberland.
Even though the Notitia lists these units, other forts were also used at that time. The Dux's forces included three groups of cavalry (soldiers on horseback). The rest were infantry (soldiers on foot). Many of these units were newly formed, not old ones from the 200s.
Besides these fort garrisons, the Dux also commanded troops along Hadrian's Wall. The Notitia lists their locations from east to west. It also mentions extra forts on the Cumbrian coast. These soldiers seem to have been from older regiments from the 200s. However, it's sometimes hard to be sure about the exact details from the Notitia.
Key Units and Their Locations
The Notitia Dignitatum lists many units under the Dux. Here are some examples of the types of units and where they were stationed:
- Cavalry Units:
* Praefectus Equitum Dalmatarum at Praesidio. * Praefectus Equitum Crispianorum at Dano. * Praefectus Equitum, catafractariorum at Morbio. * A Sarmatian heavy cavalry unit (Cuneus Sarmatarum) was near Ribchester.
- Scout Units:
* Praefectus Numeri exploratorum at Lavatrae. These soldiers were used for finding out what the enemy was doing.
- Infantry and Other Units:
* Praefectus Legionis sextae (a legion commander). * Praefectus Numeri defensorum at Barboniaco. * Praefectus Numeri barcariorum Tigrisiensium at Arbeia (a naval unit near the mouth of the Tyne River). * Praefectus Numeri Nerviorum Dictensium at Dicti. * Tribune cohortis primae Batavorum at Procolita. * Tribune cohortis primae Tungrorum Classicae at Vercovicium. * Tribune cohortis quaternary Gallorum at Vindolanda.
The Dux Britanniarum was in charge of about thirty-eight different unit commanders. Most of the foot soldiers were placed along Hadrian's Wall. Experts believe the total number of troops under the Dux could have been anywhere from 7,000 to 15,000 soldiers. The average estimate is around 12,500.
Origin of the Units
The Legio sexta (Sixth Legion) was a very old Roman legion in Britain, based at Eburacum (York). It seems this legion, officially called Legio VI Victrix Pia Fidelis Britannica, might not have had a fixed home base later on. Its absence from some lists might mean it moved to a different place when the Notitia Dignitatum was written.
Another unit, the Praefectus Numbers Solensium, might have been made up of descendants from another British legion, the Legio XX Valeria Victrix. This legion is the only one not listed in the Notitia Dignitatum. The last time we know for sure they were in Britain was from coins of a ruler named Carausius, about a hundred years before the Notitia was put together.
See also
- Fullofaudes
- Dulcitius
