The disappearance of an army

Abstract

One of the most striking features of the period between the years 395 and 476 is the lack of reference in the literary sources relating to both the eastern and the western halves of the Empire to specifically Roman armies. Certainly there is a great deal of military activity recorded in these decades, much of it conducted by generals acting for and in the name of a succession of emperors. But in very few cases are the troops under their command found to be other than federates or mercenaries. This contrasts strongly with the situation in previous centuries, for which the composition, deployment and movement of unequivocally Roman armies can be determined in considerable detail and accuracy. It is thus not surprising to find that many modern historians of the Roman army discreetly terminate their studies around the year 400.¹