Heruli (military unit)
Encyclopedia
The Heruli was an auxilia palatina
(light infantry) unit of the Late Roman army
, active between the 4th and the 5th century. It was composed of 500 soldiers and was the heir of those ethnic groups that were initially used as auxiliary units of the Roman army and later integrated in the Roman Empire after the Constitutio Antoniniana
. Their name was derived from the people of the Heruli
. In the sources they are usually recorded together with the Batavi
, and it is probable the two units fought together. At the beginning of the 5th century two related units are attested, the Heruli seniores in the West and the Heruli iuniores in the East.
Julian, and probably fought in the Battle of Strasbourg
(357), even if the sources do not mention them.
In 360, before Julian received the order to send most of his troops to Emperor Constantius II
for a campaign in the East, the Heruli, the Batavi
and two numeri Moesiacorum were sent in Britain under the command of Lupicinus
, Julian's magister militum
, probably to counter a rebellion. They embarked at Bononia (Boulogne-sur-Mer
) and arrived at Rutupiae
. Later the Batavi and the Heruli returned to the continent, but it is unknown when this happened.
The Emperors Valentinian I
and Valens
divided the army among themselves. Many units were divided into two sub-units, sharing the name of the original unit and each distinguished by the name seniores, for the units of the senior Augustus Valentinian, and iuniores, for the units of the iunior Augustus Valens, and aggregated respectively to the Western Roman army and to the Eastern Roman army.
In 365, Emperor Valentinian I
(364-375) had to confront the invading Germans. The barbarians were able to capture the banners of the Batavi and Heruli units, which were made the object of derision by the raiders until recovered.
In 367-369 there was a revolt in Britain against Valentinian I, known as Great Conspiracy
and put down by the later emperor Theodosius I
. On this occasion, both the Batavi and the Heruli were sent to Britain, along with the Iovii and Victores. They landed at Richborough
and headed for London
.
The Notitia Dignitatum
, a document prepared in the years 400-420, shows the deployment of the Heruli seniores under the command of the Magister peditum for Italy.
Auxilia palatina
Auxilia palatina were infantry units of the Late Roman army, first raised by Constantine I as part of the new field army he created in about 325....
(light infantry) unit of the Late Roman army
Late Roman army
The Late Roman army is the term used to denote the military forces of the Roman Empire from the accession of Emperor Diocletian in 284 until the Empire's definitive division into Eastern and Western halves in 395. A few decades afterwards, the Western army disintegrated as the Western empire...
, active between the 4th and the 5th century. It was composed of 500 soldiers and was the heir of those ethnic groups that were initially used as auxiliary units of the Roman army and later integrated in the Roman Empire after the Constitutio Antoniniana
Constitutio Antoniniana
The Constitutio Antoniniana was an edict issued in 212 AD, by the Roman Emperor Caracalla...
. Their name was derived from the people of the Heruli
Heruli
The Heruli were an East Germanic tribe who are famous for their naval exploits. Migrating from Northern Europe to the Black Sea in the third century They were part of the...
. In the sources they are usually recorded together with the Batavi
Batavi (military unit)
The Batavi was an auxilia palatina unit of the Late Roman army, active between the 4th and the 5th century. It was composed by 500 soldiers and was the heir of those ethnic groups that were initially used as auxiliary units of the Roman army and later integrated in the Roman Empire after the...
, and it is probable the two units fought together. At the beginning of the 5th century two related units are attested, the Heruli seniores in the West and the Heruli iuniores in the East.
History
The Heruli probably belonged to the army of the CaesarCaesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
Julian, and probably fought in the Battle of Strasbourg
Battle of Strasbourg
The Battle of Strasbourg, also known as the Battle of Argentoratum, was fought in 357 between the Late Roman army under the Caesar Julian and the Alamanni tribal confederation led by the joint paramount king Chnodomar...
(357), even if the sources do not mention them.
In 360, before Julian received the order to send most of his troops to Emperor Constantius II
Constantius II
Constantius II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death....
for a campaign in the East, the Heruli, the Batavi
Batavi (military unit)
The Batavi was an auxilia palatina unit of the Late Roman army, active between the 4th and the 5th century. It was composed by 500 soldiers and was the heir of those ethnic groups that were initially used as auxiliary units of the Roman army and later integrated in the Roman Empire after the...
and two numeri Moesiacorum were sent in Britain under the command of Lupicinus
Lupicinus
Lupicinus was a Roman lieutenant of Valens in Thrace in the late fourth century AD.His reputed poor treatment of the Thervingi Goths under Fritigern lead to the Gothic Wars, and the Battle of Adrianople.-References:...
, Julian's magister militum
Magister militum
Magister militum was a top-level military command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Constantine. Used alone, the term referred to the senior military officer of the Empire...
, probably to counter a rebellion. They embarked at Bononia (Boulogne-sur-Mer
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
) and arrived at Rutupiae
Rutupiae
Richborough Castle contains the ruined remains of a Roman Saxon Shore Fort. It situated in Richborough near Sandwich, Kent.The site has many phases of Roman remains, collectively known as Richborough Fort or Richborough Roman Fort, still visible today and under the care of English Heritage.Rutupiæ ...
. Later the Batavi and the Heruli returned to the continent, but it is unknown when this happened.
The Emperors Valentinian I
Valentinian I
Valentinian I , also known as Valentinian the Great, was Roman emperor from 364 to 375. Upon becoming emperor he made his brother Valens his co-emperor, giving him rule of the eastern provinces while Valentinian retained the west....
and Valens
Valens
Valens was the Eastern Roman Emperor from 364 to 378. He was given the eastern half of the empire by his brother Valentinian I after the latter's accession to the throne...
divided the army among themselves. Many units were divided into two sub-units, sharing the name of the original unit and each distinguished by the name seniores, for the units of the senior Augustus Valentinian, and iuniores, for the units of the iunior Augustus Valens, and aggregated respectively to the Western Roman army and to the Eastern Roman army.
In 365, Emperor Valentinian I
Valentinian I
Valentinian I , also known as Valentinian the Great, was Roman emperor from 364 to 375. Upon becoming emperor he made his brother Valens his co-emperor, giving him rule of the eastern provinces while Valentinian retained the west....
(364-375) had to confront the invading Germans. The barbarians were able to capture the banners of the Batavi and Heruli units, which were made the object of derision by the raiders until recovered.
In 367-369 there was a revolt in Britain against Valentinian I, known as Great Conspiracy
Great Conspiracy
The Great Conspiracy is a term given to a year-long war that occurred in Roman Britain near the end of the Roman occupation of the island. The historian Ammianus Marcellinus described it as a barbarica conspiratio that capitalized on a depleted military force in the province brought about by...
and put down by the later emperor Theodosius I
Theodosius I
Theodosius I , also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from 379 to 395. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire. During his reign, the Goths secured control of Illyricum after the Gothic War, establishing their homeland...
. On this occasion, both the Batavi and the Heruli were sent to Britain, along with the Iovii and Victores. They landed at Richborough
Richborough
Richborough is a settlement north of Sandwich on the east coast of the county of Kent, England. Richborough lies close to the Isle of Thanet....
and headed for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The Notitia Dignitatum
Notitia Dignitatum
The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries. One of the very few surviving documents of Roman government, it details the administrative organisation of the eastern and western empires, listing several thousand offices from the imperial court down to the provincial...
, a document prepared in the years 400-420, shows the deployment of the Heruli seniores under the command of the Magister peditum for Italy.