The Magister militum (army masters) was in the lateantique Roman army between Konstantin I. and Herakleios of the commanders in chief of an army federation.

Emergence and function

Had developed this new title, since one had relieved the Praefectus praetorio its military authority and had entrusted him with civilian functions of the administration. Originally there was ever a Magister militum for the respective army federations, thus for the infantry (more magister peditum) and the Reiterei (more magister equitum). In addition it existed since Constantius II. for the respective regional army parts a separate Magister militum (by Gallias, by Illyricum, by Orientem, in addition two magistri praesentales as commanders of the yard armies). Later further Magistri was added militum for the different military provinces in the east.

Development

The highest Magister militum became at the latest in 5. Century in fact to the commander of all army parts of the western realm half (Magister utriusque militae) and won so a consequence-fraught influence on the policy (see Stilicho and In east Rome it succeeded to the emperors very much better to control also powerful army masters such as Belisar. After the end of the westRoman Kaisertums the eastRoman emperor lent the title of an army master also to some Germanic kings, about those the Burgunder. The office, which was often dressed by persons of barbarian descent, existed during all late ancient times and disappeared then in the Byzantine army in the course 7. Century.

Magistri militum (in selection)

• Ursicinus
• Flavius Theodosius
• Arbogast the older one
• Bauto
• Stilicho
• Flavius Felix
• Avitus
• Aegidius
• Ricimer
• Aspar
• Sittas
• Belisar
• Germanus
• Johannes Troglita

Literature

• Alexander Demandt: Magister Militum, in: Pauly Wissowa, Paulys of the classischen antiquity science (new treatment), Supplementband XII, frame 553-790. Fundamentally concerning the army masters up to the end 5. Century.
• Arnold Hugh Martin Jones among other things: The Prosopography OF the Later novel Empire, three parts in four volumes, Cambridge 1971-92.

Articles in category "Magister militum"

We found here 5 articles.