Aegidius was appointed Magister Militum per Gallias (Master of Soldiers in Gaul) by Majorian in 457. After Majorian’s assassination Aegidius refused to recognise the new figurehead emperor, Libius Severus.

Under Aegidius this army thwarted Severus’ allied Gothic army on the Loire, finally defeating them at Orleans, before it fell under the command of Childeric, Sygarius and finally Clovis.

Era: Triumph of Cavalry		Northern Gallo Roman 457 to 486 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	+1	Lance/bow	13
1	HC(d!)	Bucellarii*	Key	5(1)0	+1	Lance	11
1	HC(d!)	Bucellarii	Key	5(1)0	+1	Lance	11
2	FT	Frankish Comitatenses	Key	6(1)1	+1	Spear	8
2	FT	Frankish Foederati	Key	5(1)1	+1	Spear	6
1	SI			3(1)2	+2	Javelins	2
2	SI			2(1)1	+2	Bows	2
Bonus:
1	HC(d!)	Frankish Foederati	Key	4(0)0	+1	Various	10
2	FT	Frankish Foederati	Key	5(1)1	+1	Spears	6
3	FT	Pseudo-comitatenses	Key	4(1)1	+1	Spears	4
2	FT	Gallo-Roman	Key	4(0)0	+0	Various	4
3	WB	Ripuarian Franks	Key	5(1)2	+1	Various	8
1	LHI	Auxilia Palatina**	Key	4(1)2	+1	Bows	8
1	LI	Limitanei**		2(1)1	+1	Bows	4
2	LI	Auxilia		3(1)2	+1	Javelins	5
3	SI			3(1)2	+2	Javelins	2
2	SI			2(1)1	+2	Bows	2
O		FRANKS***
1	HC(d!)	Optimates	Key	4(0)0	+1	Various	10
4	WB	Salian Franks	Key	5(1)2	+1	Various	8
2	SI			3(1)2	+2	Javelins	2
O		ARMORICI OR BRETONS****
2	LC		Key	2(0)0	+1	Javelins	7
2	LHI		Key	4(1)2	+1	Javelins	7
O		SETTLERS*****
1	HC(d!)	Taifali	Key	5(1)0	+1	Lances	11
2	FT	Saxons	Key	5(1)1	+1	Various	6
2	SI	Saxons		3(1)2	+2	Javelins	2

Terrain:

Core: 1 GR

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

Notes:

Core: 94 or 96 Bonus: 199

All WB are BP 4 and move 6 inches.

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

All FV5 Cavalry, even bow armed, are subject to Obligatory Charge.

** Only 1 unit may be selected from these lines

*** If any Franks are bought all must be bought

**** If any Armorici are bought all must be bought.

***** Note that this is not a ‘package’ and that any troops may be bought.

Light troops from the Frank and Armorici packages 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.

Saxon Light troops from the ‘Settlers’ do count against the light unit purchase requirement if any Saxon FT are bought.

Only one unit marked ** counts against the light unit purchase requirement.

Aegidius died in 464/5. His attempted alliance with the Vandals, his probable plan to effect a change in Western leadership and his refusal to recognise Ricimer’s puppet, Severus, no doubt played a part in his demise. The area that he controlled passed to Childeric, under some form of Imperial sanction, until Syagrius (Aegidius’ son) mounted a challenge to Clovis (Childeric’s son) around 485-6. By the time the challenge of Syagrius was mounted it is likely that the army had become even more Frankish in nature.

During this time this army fought Saxons in 470-1 probably under a Roman ‘Count Paul’ who may have been operating as 2nd in Command to Childeric and was possibly a former officer of Aegidius.

Sources:

‘Late Roman Warlords’: Penny MacGeorge citing: Priscus, Gregory of Tours, Gallic Chronicle 511, Hydatius, Marius of Avenches, Liber Historiae Francorum.

‘History Of The Franks’: Gregory of Tours

‘Childeric’s Grave, Clovis’ Succession, and the Origins of the Merovingian Kingdom’: Halsall.

List Author: O Cahan