As Magister Militum from 456 to 472 and Patrician from 457, Ricimer was the most pivotal imperial figure in the Western Empire during its final years. He was an Arian of mixed barbarian blood with a Suebian father and a Visigoth mother (who was a daughter of King Wallia of the Visigoths). He was also closely connected to the Burgundians being brother-in-law to Gundioc, King of the Burgundians, and uncle to Gundobad (Gundioc’s son) who was successor to both the Burgundian throne and to Ricimer.

In 456 Ricimer defeated the Vandals at sea near Corsica and also on land near Agrigentum in Sicily. Backed by the popularity thus acquired Ricimer deposed the emperor Avitus and then spent the rest of his life as the de facto ruler of what was left of the western empire by setting up figurehead emperors, Majorian and Severus, and ruling through them. He opposed the eastern sponsored emperor, Anthemius, and effectively ruled Northern Italy from Milan before killing Anthemius after a successful blockade and battle at Rome. He then raised another puppet to the purple in the form of Olybrius, but died two months later.

Era: Triumph of Cavalry		Armies of Ricimer 456 to 472 AD	CR: H: 4 L: 4			BP: 2	Init: 5
Core
Number	Type	Description	Key	FV	PROT	Weapon	Cost
1	HC(d!)	Bucellarii*	Key	5(1)0	+2	Lance/bow	15
1	HC(d!)	Bucellarii	Key	5(1)0	+2	Lance	12
1	HC(d!)	Bucellarii	Key	4(1)0	+1	Lance	10
1	HC(d!)	Suebi Comites	Key	5(1)0	+1	Lance	11
1	HC(d!)	Equites Palatina	Key	4(0)0	+1	Various	10
1	LC	Illyricani	Key	2(0)0	+1	Javelins	7
1	LI	Auxilia		3(1)2	+1	Javelins	5
Bonus:
O		NORTHERN ELEMENTS OF THE ARMY OF ITALY
1	HC(d!)	Equites Palatina	Key	4(0)0	+1	Various	10
1	LC	Guard Illyricani	Key	3(1)0	+1	Javelins	9
3	LHI	Auxilia Palatina**	Key	4(1)2	+1	Javelins	7
1	LI	Auxilia		3(1)1	+1	Bows	6
1	SI	Auxilia		3(1)2	+2	Javelins	2
O		SUEBI FOEDERATI
1	HC(d!)	Optimates	Key	5(1)0	+1	Lances	11
1	HC(d!)	Retainers	Key	4(0)0	+1	Spears	10
4	FT	Warriors***	Key	5(1)1	+1	Spears	6
2	SI	Youth		3(1)2	+2	Javelins	2
O		ALANI/SARMATIAN
1	HC	Riders	Key	5(1)0	+1	Lances	11
2	LC		Key	2(0)0	+1	Various/bows****	8
2	LC		Key	2(0)0	+1	Various/bows****	7
O		OSTROGOTHIC MERCENARIES
1	HC(d!)	Saiones	Key	5(1)0	+1	Lances	11
2	FT	Ostrogoth Warriors	Key	5(1)1	+1	Spear/bow	8
1	SI	Youth		2(1)1	+2	Bows	2
O		HUN MERCENARIES
2	LC	Huns	Key	2(0)0	+1	Various/bows	8
2	LC	Huns	Key	1(0)0	+1	Bows	6
O		SCIRI/HERUL FOEDERATI
1	HC(d!)	Herul	Key	5(1)0	+1	Lances	11
2	FT	Sciri	Key	5(1)1	+1	Spear/bow	8
2	LHI	Herul*****	Key	4(1)2	+1	Javelins	7
1	SI	Youth		2(1)1	+2	Bows	2
O		BURGUNDIAN ALLIES
1	HC(d!)	Burgundian Nobles	Key	5(0)0	+1	Lances	11
2	FT	Warriors	Key	5(1)1	+1	Spears	6
1	SI	Youth		2(1)1	+2	Bows	2

Terrain:

Core: 1 GR

Bonus: (Max: 3 ) 2 GR, 2 SH, 1 RG, 1 W

Notes:

Core: 95 or 93 Bonus: 257/249

All FV5 HC are Obligatory Chargers unless they carry bows.

*Only 1 Line may be chosen. There is some debate as to whether this cavalry had bows. Therefore a choice is provided.

**Up to 4 FT may be substituted. These may be either:

FT K 6(1)1 +1 Spears/bows at 10 pts. (legios palatina) or

FT K 5(1)1 +1 Spears/bows at 8 pts (legios comitatenses)

You may mix and match the units in this line.

*** up to 2 FT may be substituted. These may be:

FT K 5(1)1 +1 Spears/bows at 8 pts (legios comitatenses)

****Only 1 Line may be chosen. There is some debate as to whether this cavalry had bows. Therefore a choice is provided.

***** up to 2 FT may be substituted. These may be:

FT K 6(1)1 +1 Spears at 8 pts

Light troops from any package only count against the requirement for purchasing all light troops in order to acquire an extra light division if any troops from that package are purchased.

The Guard LC is meant to represent the Scola Scutariorum Prima, or a unit of its ilk.

For Historical armies the following restrictions of troop types should be used:

456 to 461 AoNI, Suebi, Alan/Sarmatian,

462 to 469 AoNI, Suebi, Alan/Sarmatian, Hun,

Ostrogoth

470 to 472 AoNI, Suebi, Alan/Sarmatian, Hun, Ostrogoth, Scirii/Herul, Burgundian

List Author: O Cahan