Justinian's Roman Infantry.

Hey guys. Military history artwork is back. Sorry if I wasn't able to do a history artwork. Well enough of the excuse.

Well as some of you know that Justinian's reconquest and recapture of former western roman lands was his main objective. By sending his famous generals: Belisarius, Narsis, and Liberius. But the question is what kind of infantry did the Eastern Roman Army used and deployed. Now this will be a short history of them along with the armor, weapons and the like. And kind of roman infantry that have to take back their homeland from the occupied Ostrogoths that colonized Italia.  Here we have some examples of them being in Italy during the cold month of December.

The Comitatenses:
By the reign of Roman emperor Justinian. The Comitatenses were already by the time a common sight in the army. Founded by the 3rd century AD as rapid field troops. They were deployed with ease to the battlefields and assist other troops. Though technically part of the imperial roman legion itself. The only difference is that they belong in companies and parties. Responding better by being deployed faster. Hence the name "The Field Army". However! By the 7th century ad. With the introduction of the Themata and Tagmata. The Comitatenses eventually became and renamed themselves as the famous heavy Infantry called the Skoutatoi that went onto continue by the Early 11th century AD, only to be disbanded after the death of Basil II.
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And here are some of these Comitatenses units:
1. Quinta Macedonica
2. Prima Flavia Constantia;
3. Secunda Flavia Virtuti, Africa;
4. Secunda Felix Valentis Thebaeorum;
5. Prima Flavia Theodosiana
6. Tertiodecimani.
7.  Decima gemina
8. Quartodecimani
9. Prima Flavia gemina;
10. Secunda Flavia gemina



the Comitatenses here on the right only wears the simple yet protective gear known by the 3rd to 7th centuries ad.
* Lorica Hamata (mail armour)
* Galea intercisa helm.
* Spatha
* Late Roman Tunics and Romano-barbarian trousers.
* Oval Scutum (not shown)

The Bucellarii:
A small private army within the main army composed of Elite Soldiers and Cavalrymen that only serve a General, Dux (Duke) or Comes (count) in times of wars or minor battles. One famous is that of General Flavius Belisarius where they were part of the Byzantine Expeditionary Force (or Roman Expedition) to North Africa, Italy and southern Iberia. With 7,000 known troops composed of Romans and Thraco-Goths . but by the 7th century AD. They became a permanent structure in the themata and tagmata system as the Boukellarion Themata or theme of the Bucellarians.

The armour and weapons they used are predecessor to the byzantine weapons. The Lamellar by this period was sturdy and reliable. Though not like its perfected successor the Klibanion. It still offered protection. The armor was discovered in Carthago Spataria Spain. With evidence that Both Comitatenses legionaries, Cataphracts and Bucellarii used them.
* Lamellae Armatura (Lamellar armour).
* River Maas ridge helm.
* Splinted Greaves and Vambraces.
* Leather Subramalis.
* Spatha.

Roman Legionary:
Once as Rome's finest soldiers that conquered the known world. From the Roman Kingdom to the Republic and to the imperial era. Facing known enemies like the Carthaginians, the Gauls, the Teutons and their Allemanii cousins, and confronting the Parthian Persians. Legionnaires that Trajan led to conquer Dacia, that Claudius that led them to Britannia, and that emperor Marcus Aurelius who led them to victory over the Germanics. It was the roman legionnaires who brought Rome to its Zenith, and being loyal to their emperor.However! Now sadly reduced in numbers. Being slowly replaced by the Comitatenses, Cataphracts, Barbarian mercenaries, and by being overcome by Christian governors and administrators having no use for them. And being deeply depised by Roman Christians, Arab Christians and by Coptics and Syriacs due too the persecutions commanded by Nero and Diocletian. Yet! The Eastern Roman Army still has use of them. Though they are rarely seen, and mainly have temporary and minor roles only to see skirmishes along the borders. and if even sometimes some battles. Only to be found in some places like Pannonia and the Danube. yet they may have possibly saw minor campaigns like the Battle of Melantias, where they along with Limitanae border troops (that also worn the same armor). whenever they have plausibly faced Kutrigur Bulgars and Slavs. Unfortunately we might never know if they ever saw action due too Belisarius only using his trusted 300 veterans who loyal to him during their reconquest of italia, along with local Roman militiamen levies. But if the Legionaries and Limitanae did saw action is due to supportive roles and emergency assistance. But by the early or mid 6th century AD. They have finally faded out from service, no longer working within the roman army. Probably disbanded and discharged, while possibly reassigned to Comitatenses units bringing their experience to the field troops. However! As Nova Roma's only professional heavy infantry.

the equipment is no different from other military personal, but with some minor difference with old army traditions and culture. As the roman legionnaire you are seeing is still wearing the old roman armor, well unfortunately in two roman forts in the Danube region. The Lorica Segmentata Alba Iulia-type was first created in Apulum, Roman Dacia what is now Alba Iulia, Romania.  Yet with evidence of armour fragments found in the Danube region in the 5th century AD, where the Limitanae troops were once stationed in Dacia Ripensis and Byzantine Pannonia (formerly Ostrogothic Pannonia prima, Valeria, secunda, savia and noricum. hence before that...Provincia Pannonia) on the Danube being stationed alongside Roman Legionnaires of Legio I Iovia and Legio II Herculia. And there is only a possible art depiction of the Beardless Christ wearing a Lorica Segmentata Alba Iulia type seen here being covered by the gilded cloak.
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But also the Manica armor was temporarily used by them, due too the Daco-Roman culture. (Probably because of the old dacian campaigns that got stuck with them). While Cataphracts like the clibanarii have worn a hooped version of the manica limb armor that was still used during Heraclius's Persian wars to possibly the nikephorian and Amorian dynasty. However! The Alba Iulia Armor was only worn to the legionary soldiers and Limitanae whom were stationed in the Danube, and only used as personal equipment, and due too be affordable and easy to make by Daco-Roman blacksmiths who still retain the knowledge either by scrolls or by remaining old army manuals that was soon forgotten and lost over time.  And probably and quite possibly the legionnaires stationed were daco-romans themselves.

But the other Roman legionnaires stationed elsewhere only wore the Lorica Squamata & Plumata, Hamata, and Lamellae.

Here are some the remaining late roman legion.
1. Legio I Iovia (Danube & with Limitanae)
2. Legio II Herculia (Danube & with Limitanae)
3. Legio IV Martia (Syria-Palestine)
4. Legio V Iovia (Illyricum)
5. Legio VI Herculia (Illyricum)

Here are the equipment they once used.
*Lorica Segmentata Alba Iulia type (only worn in the Danube)
*Manica 
*Oval scutum (not shown)
*Spatha (not shown)
*Galea Ridge Helm Berkasovo-type 
*Hasta Spear
*manuballista crossbow (not shown, probably Gothic )
*Padded Subramalis (in cold months)

Well I hope I have this historically correct. Of course I'll change any information that I gotten wrong.