Laeti

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Laeti, the Latin plural of Laetus, derived from Germanic languages, designates members of certain barbarian tribes which had agreements with the Roman empire 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.

[edit] Military use

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 Sarmates 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 praesentales pediti (imperial infantry):

• Teutoniciani, at Carnunta, Senoniae Lugdunensis.
• Batavori et gentiles Svevori, at Baiocas et Constantiae, Lugdunensis secundae.
• gentiles Svevi, ....... et Ceromannos, Lugdunensis tertiae.
• more gentiles Svevorum, Arumbernos, Aquitanicae primae.
• Franci, Redonas, Lugdensis tertiae.
• Lingonenses per diversa dispersorum, Belgicae primae.
• Acti, Epuso, Belgicae primae.
• Nervii, Fanomantis, Belgicae secundae.
• Batavi Nemetacenses, Atrabatis, Belgicae secundae.
• more Batavi, this time Contraginnenses, Noviomago Belgicae secundae.
• unspecified gentiles, at Remo et Silvanectas, Belgicae secundae.
• Lagenses, near the Tungri, Germaniae secundae.

[edit] Sources and references

• Notitia dignitatum
• Pauly-Wissowa (not yet exploited)