Palatini (Roman military)

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The palatini were elite regiments of the Late Roman army mostly attached to the comitatus praesentales, or imperial escort armies. The term derives from palatium ("palace") a reference to the fact that the regiments originally served in the imperial escort armies (comitatus praesentales) only. Later they were also found in the regional comitatus. They enjoyed higher status and pay than the rest of the comitatus regiments, which were collectively known as comitatenses.

Palatini cavalry regiments were called vexillationes (from vexillum = "military standard") and infantry regiments were either legiones or auxilia. Vexillationes palatinae are believed to have contained 400-600 men, legiones palatinae 800-1,200 and auxilia palatina either 800-1,000 or 400-600.

At the time the Notitia Dignitatum was written, (c395 AD for the Eastern section) 80% of the regiments in the eastern comitatus praesentales were graded palatini and 14% of those in the regional comitatus.