The Roman Army

For the Senate and People of Rome

The Roman Army as depicted here owes more to the United States Army than either the Roman Army historically or the Hellenic Army.  There are a few reasons for this.  First, there is not nearly as much information out there about the Hellenic Army on which to base it, whereas the US Army has more information out there than I know what to do with.  Second, the HA is very limited by their funding.  Any army given the funding to transform it into a first-class expeditionary power projection army is going to end up with at least some structural changes that will look a lot more like the US Army.  Third, at least some of the US Army's changes are driven by high technology that the Hellenes will not be fielding for some time, if ever.

The Roman Army is divided into four categories, with a fifth semi-military category.  It should be noted that all consist primarily of professionals, the only combat arms formations maintained on a reserve basis being light infantry brigades.

Basilikoi Anthropopoi

While in the 9th century these were semi-military court attendants, these "Emperor's Men" were created as the elite of the Imperial Army. The Spatharioi have become a General Staff corps. The Spatharokandidatoi, Stratores, Kandidatoi, and Mandatores have all become special operations forces.

Tagmata

The central Imperial Army is known as the Tagmata, including the Imperial Guard. Like its antecedent, it is a professional force permanently stationed in and around New Constantinople. It includes the following units:

Scholae

Kataphract division

Excubitii

Skutatoi Division

Vigla

Skutatoi Division Note: One Regiment is actually Military Police rather than mechanized infantry

Ikanatoi

Kataphract Division

Numerii

Skutatoi Division permanently attached as garrison for New Constantinople. Includes two regiments of artillery rather than usual one, plus an Aerospace Defense Brigade rather than a battalion.

Great Hetaereia

Mixed Mercenary and Rhomaioi Kataphract Regiment

Middle Hetaereia

Mercenary Grav Skutatoi Regiment Normally attached to Vigla Division in place of it's MP Regiment

Khazars

Mercenary Skythakoi Regiment recruited individually from ESU

Pharganoi

Mercenary Skythakoi Regiment recruited individually from ESU

Varangian Guard

Mercenary Orbital Insertion Infantry Regiment, recruited individually from the Scandinavian Federation. Imperial Bodyguards.

Maghlaviae

Mercenary Skythakoi Regiment, recruited from Christianized Arabs

Hikanatoi

Cadet Regiment of the Imperial War College. If the City were actually attacked, would mobilize as a light infantry regiment.

 

Themata

Thematic soldiers are maintained in each Theme under the authority of the Strategos of the theme. They are paid from the Imperial treasury, and unlike their historical predecessors are full-time soldiers.  It should also be noted that the Nea Optimaton includes the Corps-level assets for the Tagmata and the Echelon Above Corps support units for any expeditionary force, rather than providing combat units. Thematic troops also include Light Infantry Brigades which are manned by reservists.

Akritai

In the Historical Empire, Akritai was a nickname for border thematics. In the context of the New Romans, it has acquired a distinct and ahistorical significance. It indicates formations of professional troops centrally recruited and maintained which are seconded to newly established colonies which cannot raise Thematic troops from their own resources. They also serve as border guards on disputed or divided planets.

Militia

Militia comes in two distinct categories. One is mobile, the other Kleisourai, or fortified zones. Mobile militia is equipped with GEV scouts and tank destroyers, and also GEV-mobile infantry battalions. Kleisourai is the old name for border fortresses. In the age of nuclear weapons, this no longer designated the castle in a mountain pass, but a district with carefully sited bunkers containing anti-tank weapons or artillery pieces, with some infantry garrisons to patrol between them. Only located on planets which are disputed or divided, these are intended to slow and disrupt any offensive while the regular military prepares for a counter-attack.

Rank Terms

Ourghos	Lance Corporal
Tetrarchos	Corporal
Pentarchos	Sergeant
Dekarchos	Staff Sergeant
Senior Dekarchos	First Sergeant
Master Dekarchos	Sergeant Major
Lochaghos	Warrant Officer
Illarch	Lieutenant
Kentarchos	Captain
Ypohekatonarchos	Major
Hekatonarchos	Lieutenant Colonel
Ypokomes	Colonel
Komes	Brigadier
Domestikos	Major General
Ypostrategos	Lieutenant General
Strategos	General

Note also that there is a very vague title of "Spatharios" which means, roughly "aide". A spatharios to a Kentarchos might be an Ourghos who is his driver, and thus not a very important person, but a spatharios to a Strategos might be a very important man indeed.

Organizational Terms

Squad	Lochaghiai
Platoon	Allaghion
Company	Bandon
Battalion	Moira
Regiment/Brigade	Turma
Division	Merai
Corps	Exerciti

Uniforms and Paint Schemes

Order of Battle
 

Home