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| − | Instead of "Themata" system, General Flavius proposed forming centralized professional standing army with highly disciplined officer corps and elite units, modern form of former Roman Army. Core of this army would be group of super-fortresses placed in whole Empire, on in Constantinople, one in Angora to defend eastern borders and one in Banja Luka, to defend Balkan imperial territories and northern borders. In each province was also founded one much smaller, but well fortified fortress, near provincial capitals. Building of this "Fortress System" was highly expensive, but unprecedented strengthened Imperial Armed Forces. Each fortress was capable to eliminate banditism, while earth super-fortress formed from group of barracks, two line of high walls, large granaries, training fields, own armories and blacksmiths, were able to secure about 6,000 troops. In Constantinople was also built own Varangian Fortress and Varangian District for Varangians and their families, as reward for their loyalty to Emperor. |
+ | Instead of "Themata" system, General Flavius proposed forming centralized professional standing army with highly disciplined officer corps and elite units, modern form of former Roman Army. Core of this army would be group of super-fortresses placed in whole Empire, on in Constantinople, one in Angora to defend eastern borders and one in Banja Luka, to defend Balkan imperial territories and northern borders. In each province was also founded one much smaller, but well fortified fortress, near provincial capitals. Building of this "Fortress System" was highly expensive, but unprecedented strengthened Imperial Armed Forces. Each fortress was capable to eliminate banditism, while earth super-fortress formed from group of barracks, two line of high walls, large granaries, training fields, own armories and blacksmiths, were able to secure about 6,000 troops. In Constantinople was also built own Varangian Fortress and Varangian District for Varangians and their families, as reward for their loyalty to Emperor. Fortress System later undergone intensive changes as result of [https://althistory.wikia.com/wiki/Aftermath_(Premysloides_Dynasty) Second Imperial Civil War experiences]. |
==== Morale, wages and discipline ==== |
==== Morale, wages and discipline ==== |
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Revision as of 16:51, 20 February 2019
Roman Imperial Armed Forces (1248 - 1369)
| Imperial Armed Forces of Roman Empire Imperial Armato of Romani Imperium | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 300 B.C. |
| Current form | 1249 |
| Service branches | Imperial Army Imperial Fleet Imperial Air Forces (since 1700) Imperial Aerospace Forces (since 1780) |
| Headquarters | Constantinople |
| Leadership | |
| Megaloi Stratégos | Roman Emperor or appointed person |
| Supreme Stratégos | Severus Septimius Flavius (1248-1249), Alexios Strategopulos (1249-1276) |
|
Admiral Philantropenos
Constantine Argyros |
| Manpower | |
| Military age | 18-55 |
| Conscription | wartime |
| Fit for military service |
300,000 (1249), age 15–49 |
| Reaching military age annually |
8,000 (1249) |
| Active personnel | 12,000 (1249) 45,000 (1312) 80,000 (1369) |
| Reserve personnel | 5,000 (1249) 95,000 (1369) |
| Deployed personnel | 35,000 (1270) |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $240 million (1249) $560 million (1264) $816 million (1270) $8.8 billion (1312) |
| Percent of GDP | 8% (fixed) |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers | Imperial Trade Company Local armorers Constantinople Arsenal |
| Related articles | |
| History | Imperial Restoration, Imperial Civil Wars, First Pan-European War |
| Ranks | Non-Commissioned Officer Subauditor Auditor Suprauditor Subeservator Servator Supraservator |
Historical background
When Fourth Crusade arrived to Constantinople, remnants of former Imperial Army were not able to defend capital city and after only few days, city of Constantine the Great, fortified by Theodosian Walls, was captured and plundered. Varangian Guard retreated to northern Black Sea, while remnants of Imperial Army went to rump states, especially Trapezunt and Nicean Empire.
Under Nicean Empire, Imperial Army preserved with few exceptional military leaders, especially later eunuch and exile Sirius and General Severus Septimius Flavius, who changed his own name in honor of Emperor Alexander Severus and one of last great Roman General Septimius Flavius. While Sirius was betrayed and despite many victories his career was ended by paranoia of former Emperor John III, Flavius continued in Nicean general career until 1249.
Flavian Reforms
Flavian Reforms is unofficial name for reforms created by General Severus Septimius Flavius through his "Field Military Manual" and his book "On Army", written between 1246 to 1248. These two sources were comprehensive and complex full-scale reform of Imperial Armed Forces based on experiences of fall of Constantinople, decaying of Imperial Army before Fourth Crusade and experiences of Nicean Army until 1248.
Organizational Reform and end of Themata
General Flavius claimed that "Themata system" and former organization of Imperial Army was basic problems. General in IAR called for dissolution of "Themata" system and for professionalization and reconstruction of military organization. As this, he based new table of units and table of ranks.
| Unit | Infantry | Cavalry | Commanding Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manipulus | 20 | 5 | - Subauditor- Auditor
- Suprauditor |
| Vexillum | 40 | 30 | - Subservator- Servator
- Supraservator |
| Turma | 100 | 50 | Sublegatus |
| Cohort | 250 | 125 | Legatus |
| Campus Legion | 800 | 250 | Supralegatus III Class |
| Legion | 2,500 | 1,250 | Supralegatus II Class |
| Division | 8,000 | 3,500 | Supralegatus I Class |
| Vexillatio | 20,000 | 10,000 | Stratégos III Class |
| Praesidium | 40,000 | 10,000 | Stratégos II Class |
| Regiocorpus | 80,000 | 20,000 | Stratégos I Class |
| Imperial Army | All | All | Megaloi Stratégos |
Instead of "Themata" system, General Flavius proposed forming centralized professional standing army with highly disciplined officer corps and elite units, modern form of former Roman Army. Core of this army would be group of super-fortresses placed in whole Empire, on in Constantinople, one in Angora to defend eastern borders and one in Banja Luka, to defend Balkan imperial territories and northern borders. In each province was also founded one much smaller, but well fortified fortress, near provincial capitals. Building of this "Fortress System" was highly expensive, but unprecedented strengthened Imperial Armed Forces. Each fortress was capable to eliminate banditism, while earth super-fortress formed from group of barracks, two line of high walls, large granaries, training fields, own armories and blacksmiths, were able to secure about 6,000 troops. In Constantinople was also built own Varangian Fortress and Varangian District for Varangians and their families, as reward for their loyalty to Emperor. Fortress System later undergone intensive changes as result of Second Imperial Civil War experiences.
Morale, wages and discipline
Flavius as man of 40 years of military experiences, as he served in Imperial Army since he was 16 years old, understood necessity of morale and high discipline in army. He understood that lack of morale and discipline have origin point in corruption and laziness of officers and in his reform, he proposed capital punishment for corrupted officers, but also increasing wages for officers and rank-and-file soldiers, with increasing 5% per first five years, 10% per next five years and 15% per year after serving ten years. Lowest troop could after 15 years of service increased his wage from six Hyperpyrons per year to 22 Hyperpyrons (from 300 to $1100), while this is only basic wage rate without wages per rank. I Class Stratégos with 25 years of service could earn 200 Hyperpyrons (about $10,000),
All fortress also had to had "Relaxation Area" with connection to prostitutes, gambling and alcohol, to prevent soldiers from any violent act against local population. Another important element to secure discipline and morale was establishment of "Cohortes Vigilum", disciplinary security forces with authority to arrest and punish criminals in units. Every fortress had one Cohortes Vigilum troop per 25 troops and Cohortes Vigilum had permanent access to armoury and permanent used weapons, while regular troops had to hand weapons to armoury while they were out of service.
However, Flavian Reforms contained two other elements to support morale and discipline: Flavian Reforms established military courts in Constantinople, Thessaloniky, Athens, Smyrna, Nicomedia, Banja Luka and Nicea. These courts were appointed by Supreme Stratégos with consent with Emperor.
Second was "Ten Commandments of Imperial Soldier":
| Imperial Soldier is envoy of Emperor, defender of Emperor, first representative of Emperor will and mighty! |
| Imperial Soldier never hurt harmless people! |
| Imperial Soldier never plunder or pillage! |
| Imperial Soldier defend order and justice! |
| Imperial Soldier defend borders, territories and people of Empire! |
| Imperial Soldier do not associate with disruption elements! |
| Imperial Soldier discourage himself from sodomy, gambling and alcoholism! |
| Imperial Soldier proudly serve and proudly fight! |
| Imperial Officer must care of his troops, like of his own sons! |
| Imperial Soldier and Officer are first and last defense line of Roman Empire and His Imperial Majesty! |
Military Intelligence and Technology
General Flavius understood critical situation in manpower of Imperial Army and Imperial Fleet and he decided that "quality is above quantity" and to achieve this status, Imperial Army must have all possible qualitative advantages, especially in technology superiority and information familiarity with all potential enemies and allies. More information on separate page.