lothia

Ave Civitas,I am researching for my fouth novel in the "Bandit King" series.This novel includes Master-General Flavius Arbogastes.If I am going to create a character (and so a character profile) that could be historically accurate, I need to know what kind of person he was in real life.In researching his history, and trying to create a character profile for Arbogast, I found (in Wikipedia) that Arbogast resided within the Frankish domain ( so probably not a domain as I would think of one) as a native of Galatia Minor until the later 370s when he was expelled. It does state that he lived in Galatia Minor, which I think was renamed Lycaonia by Diocletain.That made me wonder. What type of person was he who could do something to get himself expelled (rather than imprisoned or executed)?As always, thank you for your help.

I am a writer working on a series of novels set during the later Roman empire. This is great. Thanks.

That was very informative, Cadrail. Thank you.

Your review is what prompted my buying that book. Thanks.

Ave, In researching a novel set in the Later Roman Empire, I just finished "The Huns" by H.J. Kim. In his book he states that after the Gothic war the Greuthung who had not surrendered to the Huns occupied Wallachia. However, they were a vassal state to the Huns. Then it must mean that the Terving were divided into the northern half in the Hauha-land and the southern in Lower Moesia. I had never heard of the Greuthung north of the Danube being vassals, but it makes sense. Any comments? Thank you in advance, Tom

I just down loaded it. Thanks. I will be spending some time reading that one.

I am beginning research on a novel that begans with Theodosius's departure from Constantinopolis and culminates with the battle of Frigidus. Like my first novel, "Promotus" concerning Alaric in the Rhodopes, I want to use this novel as an avenue to both entertain and to educate the reader. Since most of the novel will play out during the march, I am in need of information about moving an army that large across a friendly landscape. There is quite a bit of discussion on RAT about the Roman Army marching camps, but those, I assume were built, used, and dismantled while traveling in hostile territory. The campaign against Eugenius and Arbogast was not a spur of the moment decision, so I am assuming that the Praetorian Praefect (I think that was Rufinus at this date) had been directed to stockpile fodder and rations along the planned route. I bought the book "Logistics of the Macedonian Army" which gives good detail on how an army that large was moved, but Alexander sacrificed the carrying capacity of oxen for the speed and mobility of mules in his logistics plan. Do you guys think that Theodosius would have used oxen and be limited to twelve miles a day, or relied solely on mules for material transport? I assume Alaric and his Goths joined and traveled as part of the army somewhere along the route. I suppose they used their own transport, wagons probably, to carry their own material, and I assume they formed their traditional carrago camps each night. Any information or sources of information (books for instance) would be appreciated. As always, Thank you guys in advance.

Thank you both for your replies. Caesar, thanks for the link to the Smithsonian video. Caldrail, what was the source of your information? I have a personal library of nearly a hundred books but none that provide the information you presented. Can you give me some book titles, or is what you presented a conglomeration of bits and pieces picked up over the years? Thanks for the reply.

Ave Civitas, I am a novelist currently laboring over a series starring Alaric and Stilicho. I am looking for information on gladiatorial schools. I know there were arenas all across the empire, but where were the schools? Surely not all the arenas were not fed from the schools in Rome or Capua. How many schools were there and where were they? Did each city with an arena have its own school (this seems unlikely) or were there regional schools,(in the Gauls, in North Africa, in the Oriens?) That seems more likely. But where. A few scenes in my novel takes place in Nicomedia. I am pretty sure there was an arena in Constantinopolis north of the palace. I find mention of schools in books I have "Emperors and Gladiators" and "Invisible Romans", but no definitive city naming other than Rome and Capua. Again, thanks for your help in advance. Tom

Ave civitas, Thanks for all the replies and your help. Tom

Ave Equites, Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it. Tom

Thanks for the reply, Caesar. I think it surprising that no one did any research on building exteriors. The producers of "Rome" had some that I remember from their opening menu, but I have seen nothing in books or online about it.

Ave Civitas, I was wondering about the exterior of buildings, both public and private. Did the Romans paint the outsides of houses and buildings. The books I have show pictures of the interior of rooms. They were decorated. Can I rely on movies like "ROME" to give me authentic glimpses on how Romans decorated their houses and buildings. I would think that since statues were painted, that they would not stop there and go on to decorate at least the facade, maybe paint the columns of temples, etc. Any ideas? Any sources that might help? As always, Thanks.

Ave Civitas, I am writing a novel set during the later Roman Empire. I have a question about names applied to the Germanic (or any, really) tribes. The Vandals were called, by the Romans, Vandali, or Vandalii. The Goths were called Gothi. And among the Goths were the Tervingi and the Greuthingi. I noticed that all the names end with the 'i' This must be a Roman naming practice. My question is; Where did the Romans get the root word that they appended the 'i' to? Did the Vandalii call themselves Vandal? Were the Tervingi really the Terving? As always, thank you in advance for your help. Tom

Thank you for your quick reply, That was what I suspected, a summary trial followed by quick punishment, but I wanted to be sure. Thanks again

Ave Civitas, I was wondering. In AD 400 could a Roman citizen be summarily executed for aiding the enemy, or would he be, being a citizen, afforded a trial?

Thank you, Tribunus, That was very helpful explaining what Dafenses meant. I appreciate your help. Tom

Ave, Civitas, I am doing some research on a planned novel and I was wondering what the translation of: Constantini Dafnenses would be in English, Or rather, what does Dafnenses mean. I think it refers to a sword, but I am not sure. If it does, then would Constantini Dafnenses translate to The sword of Constantine or Constantine's Sword? Likewise with Balistarii Dafnenses. Balistari is a crossbow, I think, so where does sword come in? See why I am confused? Thanks for your help. Tom

Ave Civitas, I was wondering when the use of the Jewish 7 day calendar (Sun-Sat) came into use in the later Roman Empire. I would think there must have been a difference between when it was used in government and when it was generally accepted by the population. Then too, which came first, the popular use or the governmental adaptation? Again, thanks for your help. Tom

Ave Pompieus, Thanks for the reply. Tom

Ave Civitas, I am doing some research (for a novel) on the patron/client relationships. I think I am correct that a client would petition a potential patron for acceptance. My question is, was this client-patron relationship limited to Roman Citizens. That is, could a foreigner petition a Roman to be accepted as a client? Thanks in advance. Tom

Ave Civitas, I understand that high officials were given (or could issue) Imperial Post Warrants. I understand that the post warrant allows that official to use the Imperial Post to transport persons of material (using the Post resources) What I don't understand is how they were used. From the ND I have: The count of Egypt is entitled to seven post-warrants in the year. My question is: 1. Are these post warrants a consumable authority. That is, can he only use the Imperial Post seven times in a year to move persons or things? (this is what the line seems to indicate but then in unusual circumstances could he apply to the Master Of Offices for a one time' special issue of an warrant - (would that have been possible?) 2. Are these post warrants a limit to the active use of the Imperial Post resources to move things (that is can he only have seven events occurring at the any one time during the year) I thank you in advance for your help. Tom

Ave Civitas, If I am right, when Diocletian reorganized the Empire he separated the army from their warehouses and armories and put those two under the control of the Praetorian Praefects. I understand the reasoning, to make it harder for the army commanders to stage a rebellion. But that means that the armories and warehouses could not just be sitting on 38th street. They had to be guarded. If they were in a city, I can imagine the urban garrison being responsible, but they did not seem capable of warding off a legion intent on getting inside. Would the armory and warehouse be inside a walled compound inside the city, much like the modern Kasserine of the Bundeswehr is today. And, would they have their own garrison independent of the urban garrison? Just thoughts and wonderings. As always, Thanks, Tom

Ave Civitas, Thank you all very much. What you posted helps a lot. Tom

Ave Civitas, I was just reading in Michael Grant's "Fall of the Roman Empire" that the number of senators was 2,000 in Rome and another 2,000 in Constantinopolis. With the problem of not having enough room in the Curia (Rome) or the Senate House (Constantinopolis) only the highest of the three classes of Senators were allowed to sit in the Curia/Senate House. Then my question was, did these three classes (based upon level of wealth and whether they were "New Men") have designations, like the upper house, the lower house, etc? Thanks for your help. Tom