Roman Army (1248 - 1369) (Premysloides Dynasty)

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)
Megaloi Doukes Megaloi Stratopedarchés	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 (1270) 80,000 (1312)
Reserve personnel	5,000 (1249) 95,000 (1312)
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 since 1290)
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 Commissioned Officer Sublegatus Legatus

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.

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.

This table of units and ranks was crucial to reconstruction and restoration Imperial Armed Forces and from this reform, all later changes in Roman Empire military forces, were based and initiated. From application of table of ranks and units, until many later centuries, this table undergone many changes and updates, but basic guideline remained intact and was respected by all imperial military reformers and Supreme Stratégos and Emperors.

Unit	Infantry	Cavalry	Commander Rank of Units
Soldier Rank			Legionnaire
Contubernium	8	1	Subauditor
Maniple	20	5	Auditor
Supramaniple	25	10	Suprauditor
	30	20	Subservator
Vexillum	40	30	Servator
	50	40	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

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.

Last of the Romans

Reforms introduced title "Last of the Romans", which was special title for excellent military strategist and leaders. Everytime, only one "Last of the Romans" title can be awarded (except posthumous awards) and under many strict conditions. Aside of other, claimant must serve in Imperial Military for 20 years, achieve at least rank Stratégos III Class, participate in 15 and more battles and sieges, led Roman troops in at least 5 troops and achieve one or more important strategic victories. Very important and curious condition was, that award can not be grant to Emperor or his heir. Relatives can be only awarded in case they are not in line of succession on Imperial Throne.

Title was introduced in 1266 and firstly awarded under special situation in 1271. After Second Battle of Kosovo, first title "Last of the Romans" was awarded posthumously to stratégos Constantine Argyros and also to still living stratégos Alexius (not Alexios Strategopulos!)

Recipient	Service	Year of Award	Note
Constantine Argyros	1252 - 1271	1271	Served 19 years, but defeated enemy and died heroically
Marcian Alexius	1250 - 1289	1271	For Second Battle of Kosovo and command of armies
Lucius Maxentius	1302 - 1327	1327	Liberation of Sicily, died shortly after campaign on typhus
Irene Asenina	1300 - 1334	1330	Only woman, Command of Second Khuzestan Campaign
Augustus Iulianos	13?? - 1379	1368	Victory of Baltic Campaign
Constantine Lajin	13?? - 1370	1370	Posthumous, defeat of Persian Empire
Laurentius Decimus	13?? - 1382	1374	Imperial Campaign of Rus
Martin Allesander	1570 - 1622	1615	Bainar Swamp and loyalty to Imperialists