Roman Imperial Armed Forces (1248 - 1369)
Imperial Armed Forces of Roman Empire Imperial Armato of Romani Empire | |
---|---|
Founded | 300 B.C. |
Current form | 1249 |
Service branches | Imperial Army
Imperial Fleet Imperial Air Forces (since 1800) |
Headquarters | Constantinople |
Leadership | |
Supreme Strategos | Roman Emperor
|
Minister of Defense | Severus Septimius Flavius (1248-1249), Alexios Strategopulos (1249-1276) |
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) |
Expenditures | |
Budget | $ 240,000,000 (1249)
$ 560,000,000 (1264) $ 816,000,000 (1270) $ 8,800,000,000 (1312) |
Percent of GDP | 8% (fixed) |
Industry | |
Domestic suppliers | * Imperial Trade Company
|
Annual exports | Bulgaria, Hungarian Commonwealth, Holy Roman Empire |
Related articles | |
History | Imperial Restoration, Eastern Reconquest, various expeditions, First Pan-European War |
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.
Imperial Army Reconstitution
Imperial Army Reconstitution was document written between 1246 to 1248 by general Severus Septimius Flavius. IAR was 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 | Auditor |
Vexillum | 40 | 30 | Servator |
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 |
During first era, until 1369, Imperial Army never formed any unit larger then Division. First Vexillatio was formed in 1400 and Regiocorpus unit was formed in 1480.
Instead of "Themata" system, general Flavius proposed forming centralized professional standing army with highly disciplined officer corps and elite units. 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 strenghtned 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 builded own Varangian Fortress and Varangian District for Varangians and their families, as reward for their loyality to Emperor.
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 10 years. Lowest troop could after 15 years of service increased his wage from 6 Hyperpyrons per year to 22 Hyperpyrons (from 300 to 1,100$), while this is only basic wage rate without wages per rank. I Class Stratégos with 25 years of service could earn 200 Hyperpyrons (about 10,000$),
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 1 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, Athenes, 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! |