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| '''Laeti''', the plural form of Latin ''laetus'', literally = "happy", but probably in this case meaning "friendly (native)", was a term used in the late Roman empire, from the 3rd century onwards, to denote communities of ''barbari'' (= foreigners, people from outside the empire) permitted to settle inside the empire on condition that they provide recruits for the Roman military.<ref>A. Goldsworthy ''Roman Warfare'' (2000) 215</ref> An alternative term used for ''laeti'' was ''gentiles'' (= "natives"). | |||
| '''Laeti''', the Latin plural of '''Laetus''', derived from Germanic languages, designates members of certain ] tribes which had agreements with the ] providing for their livelihood - removing the main motive for plundering or uncontrollable attempt of invasion - and a number of soldiers recruiting from their ranks as auxiliary units to help keep their less friendly 'brothers' away. | |||
| == |
==Status== | ||
| ⚫ | From the ] we know that around 400, in the Western empire, the following nations (''gentiles'' 'people' is a generic term, also used for analogous ] in Italian provinces) had supplied units, which were garrisoned in places (followed by the province in the genitive) in the Gallic prefecture, each commanded by a ''Praefectus laetorum'' (prefect), under the overall command -along many regular units- of the ] for the '' |
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| ''Laeti'' were groups drawn from the warlike tribes that existed on the empire's borders, and which had fought the Romans intermittently for the entire duration of the empire since its foundation by ] in the first century. In the West, these tribes were primarily ], living beyond the ], or ], ] mounted nomads from the Eurasian ] that had occupied the ] facing the Roman province of ] (E. Hungary) across the ]. In the East, ''laeti'' were drawn from, among others, ] from Georgia, ], and ]. | |||
| Reproductively self-sufficient groups of ''laeti'' (i.e. including women and children) would be granted land to settle in the empire by the imperial government.<ref>Goldsworthy op cit 215<ref>. They would form distinct military ], under the supervision of a Roman ''praefectus laetorum'', who would control either individual communities e.g. ''praefectus gentilium Sarmatarum Novariae'' = prefect of the Sarmatian community at ] N Italy; or all communities of a particular tribe in a particular region e.g. ''praefectus gentilium Sarmatarum per Bruttios at Apuliam'' = prefect of Sarmatians in ] and ], regions in southern Italy.<ref>''Notitia Dignitatum'' West Title XLII</ref> | |||
| In return for their privileges of admission to the empire and land grants, the ''laeti'' were under an obligation to supply recruits to the ]. All ''laeti'' males of military age (i.e. 16 years or above) might be liable to compulsory service in the auxilia. Alternatively, the treaty granting a ''laeti'' community land might specify a fixed number of recruits required each year.<ref>Goldsworthy op cit 208<ref> | |||
| It appears that, in the 3rd or early 4th century at least, ''laeti'' were normally drafted into existing military units, and only rarely formed their own.<ref>A. Goldsworthy ''Complete Roman Army'' (2003) 208</ref> However, the ''ala I Sarmatarum'' and ''numerus Hnaufridi'' attested in 3rd century Britain were probably units formed of laeti.<ref>www.roman-britain.org ''List of auxiliary units''<ref> In the later 4th century, the '']'' lists a large number of regiments with barbarian names.<ref>''Notitia Dignitatum'' East Titles<ref> These appear to be regular units, and not '']'' (allied warbands of ''barbari''), and therefore may be recruited from ''laeti''. | |||
| ==''Notitia Dignitatum''== | |||
| Almost all our information on ''laeti'' is contained in the ''Notitia Dignitatum'', a document drawn up at the turn of the 3rd/4th centuries. | |||
| ⚫ | From the ] we know that around 400, in the Western empire, the following nations (''gentiles'' 'people' is a generic term, also used for analogous ] in Italian provinces) had supplied units, which were garrisoned in places (followed by the province in the genitive) in the Gallic prefecture, each commanded by a ''Praefectus laetorum'' (prefect), under the overall command -along many regular units- of the ] for the ''pedites praesentales''' (imperial escort infantry): | ||
| * ] and ]: ] and ], Lugdunensis II | * ] and ]: ] and ], Lugdunensis II | ||
| Line 9: | Line 22: | ||
| * ]: ], Lugdunensis IV | * ]: ], Lugdunensis IV | ||
| * ]: ], Aquitanica I | * ]: ], Aquitanica I | ||
| * ]: ], Aquitanica | * ]: ], Aquitanica | ||
| * ]: dispersed over Belgica I | * ]: dispersed over Belgica I | ||
| * ]: ], Belgica I | * ]: ], Belgica I | ||
| Line 18: | Line 31: | ||
| * ]: near the ], Germania II | * ]: near the ], Germania II | ||
| ==Notes== | |||
| ==Sources and references== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * | * | ||
| *] (not yet exploited) | *] (not yet exploited) | ||
Revision as of 11:29, 14 October 2007
Laeti, the plural form of Latin laetus, literally = "happy", but probably in this case meaning "friendly (native)", was a term used in the late Roman empire, from the 3rd century onwards, to denote communities of barbari (= foreigners, people from outside the empire) permitted to settle inside the empire on condition that they provide recruits for the Roman military. An alternative term used for laeti was gentiles (= "natives").
Status
Laeti were groups drawn from the warlike tribes that existed on the empire's borders, and which had fought the Romans intermittently for the entire duration of the empire since its foundation by Augustus in the first century. In the West, these tribes were primarily Germans, living beyond the Rhine, or Sarmatians, Iranic mounted nomads from the Eurasian steppe that had occupied the Hungarian plain facing the Roman province of Pannonia (E. Hungary) across the Danube. In the East, laeti were drawn from, among others, Caucasian Iberians from Georgia, Armenians, and Arabs.
Reproductively self-sufficient groups of laeti (i.e. including women and children) would be granted land to settle in the empire by the imperial government.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).
In return for their privileges of admission to the empire and land grants, the laeti were under an obligation to supply recruits to the Roman auxiliary forces. All laeti males of military age (i.e. 16 years or above) might be liable to compulsory service in the auxilia. Alternatively, the treaty granting a laeti community land might specify a fixed number of recruits required each year.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). However, the ala I Sarmatarum and numerus Hnaufridi attested in 3rd century Britain were probably units formed of laeti.<ref>www.roman-britain.org List of auxiliary units<ref> In the later 4th century, the Notitia Dignitatum lists a large number of regiments with barbarian names.<ref>Notitia Dignitatum East Titles<ref> These appear to be regular units, and not foederati (allied warbands of barbari), and therefore may be recruited from laeti.
Notitia Dignitatum
Almost all our information on laeti is contained in the Notitia Dignitatum, a document drawn up at the turn of the 3rd/4th centuries.
From the Notitia Dignitatum we know that around 400, in the Western empire, the following nations (gentiles 'people' is a generic term, also used for analogous Sarmatae in Italian provinces) had supplied units, which were garrisoned in places (followed by the province in the genitive) in the Gallic prefecture, each commanded by a Praefectus laetorum (prefect), under the overall command -along many regular units- of the Magister militum for the pedites praesentales' (imperial escort infantry):
- Batavi and Suevi: Baiocas and Constantia, Lugdunensis II
- Suevi: Ceromannos and another, unknown location in Lugdunensis III
- Francs: Redonas, Lugdunensis III
- Teutoniciani: Carnunta, Lugdunensis IV
- Suevi: Arumbernos, Aquitanica I
- Taifali: Poitiers, Aquitanica
- Lingonenses: dispersed over Belgica I
- Acti: Epuso, Belgica I
- Nervii: Fanomantis, Belgica II
- Batavi of Nemetacum, Belgica II
- Batavi Contraginnenses: Noviomagus, Belgica II
- unspecified gentiles: Remo and Silvamectum, Belgica II
- Lagenses: near the Tungri, Germania II
Notes
- A. Goldsworthy Roman Warfare (2000) 215
External links
- Notitia dignitatum
- Pauly-Wissowa (not yet exploited)
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