A Biarchus was a military position in the army of the Late Roman Empire.[1][2][3] It was created after the military reforms of Diocletian.[4] They are found throughout a variety of military positions in the Roman military. The Code of Justinian mentions the position of Biarchus as part of the Agentes in Rebus, which were the Imperial couriers.[5] The name Biarchus is also found in the scholae palatina,[6][7] auxilia palatina,[8] fabricae,[9] vexillationes, and in the stratores.[10] Their duties are unknown, but they may have related to food supply.[11] The biarchus was subordinate to the centenarius and the ducenarius but above the circitor in the command structure of the Roman military.[12][13][14] This position replaced the role of the Optio.[15][16][17]

It is possible that the Biarchus commanded a contubernium, which was a Roman military unit consisting of ten men.[18][19] Historian Michael Speidel argued that Roman texts on military formations and ancient inscriptions indicate that in the Late Roman military the biarchus was synonymous with the decanus, who commanded the contubernium. He cites Maurice's Strategikon, which claims that soldiers who ate and slept together fought in a file together.[20] An ancient Roman inscription mentions a figure named Flavius Iovianus, who is said to a biarchus draconarius.[21] The draconarius was a standard-bearer in the Roman military. Speidel argues, citing Maurice, that the standard bearer also served as the file leader. Henceforth, Speidel concludes that Iovianus also served as a file leader, and the title of biarchus references this role. Speidel cites Vegetius, who called the mess-leader the caput contubernii. The biarchus also had the role of mess-leader in the Late Roman army. Vegetius claims that this mess-leader had the same role as the decanus.[1][22] Historian Warren Treadgold argued that Biarchus also held the same powers as a decurion.[23]

Speidel also proposed that the rank of Biarchus derived from the rank of exarchus. He argued that soldiers could earn the title of Bis Exarchus, and that this title was shortened to Biarchus. Speidel cited an inscription which rewarded soldiers with the title Bis exarchi.[24] According to Speidel, this theory provides an explanation as for why the title of exarchus is primarily used in the third century, whilst the title of Biarchus is used throughout the fourth and fifth centuries. Speidel states that the Greek etymology of the word exarchus implies the position has eastern roots and potentially originated from new units being created from preexisting horseman and decurions.[25]

The position is mentioned in the text Ad Pannachium by Saint Jerome.[26][27][28] Saint Jerome listed officer ranks in the Roman army, including those of the biarchus.[29][30] In the Codex Theodosianus it is stated that no one is allowed to achieve the rank of Biarchus through patronage. Instead, it mandates that an individual must achieve the rank through merit.[31][32] The code prohibits more than 250 Biarchi serving on duty. Furthermore, the code mandates that if a Biarchus or anyone of a lower rank dies in battle, then their son is obligated to take their place in the army and earn their pay.[5] One edict issued in the year 534 found in the Code of Justinian directed towards Belisarius outlines the annual payment of eight Biarchi in Africa. It decrees that each of the Biarchi was to be given 14 solidi in payment.[5][33]

List of Biarchi

Name Description
Flavius Antoninus Addressed in one of the letters of Athanasius of Alexandria.[26] He is given the title of Biarchus centenarius.[34][35][36]
Flavius Iovianus Recorded in an inscription as a biarchus draconarius.[11][37] He was a standard-bearer and a Biarchus.[21] This inscription has been dated to 327, but also to the 380s and 390s.[38]
Flavius Mansuetus Mentioned in an inscription as a Biarchus in an Auxilia Palatina unit of Leones seniores.[39][40][41][42]
Flavius Martinianus Mentioned in an inscription as a Biarchus fabricensis.[9][43][44][45]
Flavius Mercurius Mentioned in an inscription as a Biarchus fabricensis.[9][43][44]
Flavius Odiscus Mentioned in an inscription as a Biarchus in a numerus of Brachiati.[39][46][47]
Flavius Paulus Mentioned in an inscription as the son of another officer named Flavius Iovianus.[48][49]
Flavius Saume Mentioned in an inscription as a Biarchus in a numerus of Brachiati.[50][51][52]
Flavius Taurinus Found on varying papyri dated to the 5th-century.[53][54][55] He is said to be the son of an individual named Plusammon and a Biarchus in Hermopolis.[56][57][58][59] Taurinus achieved the rank of primicerius of a numerus in Hemopolis.[60] He is also recorded to have had a son and grandson who pursued military careers.[61]
Flavius Ursus Commemorated on an inscription found near modern Óbuda. It was located in the ancient city of Aquincum.[62][63][64]
Flavius Vitalianus Found on an inscription dated to the year 359.[65][66][67][68]
Ursicus Mentioned in an inscription as a Biarchus who commanded a numerus of Batavian troops.[69][70]
Valerius Victorinus Biarchus who died on September 18, 324 in the Battle of Chrysopolis.[71][72][73] Inscription was found on a gravestone in Ulmetum,[74] which was part of Moesia.[75][76][77]
Valerius Vincentius Commemorated in an inscription as a "biarc(h)us de nu[m(ero)] iscutarior[um."[78]
Valerius Vivianus Identified from a funeral stele.[79]

References

  1. 1 2 Speidel, Michael (2000). "Who Fought on the Front?". In Eck, Werner; Alföldy, Gèza; Dobson, Brian (eds.). Kaiser, Heer und Gesellschaft in der Römischen Kaiserzeit. Franz Steiner Verlag. p. 478. ISBN 978-3-515-07654-8.
  2. ↑ Sabin, Philip; Wees, Hans van; Whitby, Michael (2007-12-06). The Cambridge History of Greek and Roman Warfare. Cambridge University Press. p. 302. ISBN 978-0-521-78274-6.
  3. ↑ D’Amato, Raffaele (2012-02-20). Roman Centurions 31 BC–AD 500: The Classical and Late Empire. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-84908-796-4.
  4. ↑ Segrè, Angelo (1943). "A Note on the Classes of Roman Officials in the Age of Diocletian". Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association. 74: 102–108. doi:10.2307/283592. JSTOR 283592.
  5. 1 2 3 Blume, Fred; Frier, Bruce (2016). The Codex Of Justinian A New Annotated Translation With Parallel Latin And Greek Text Compressed. Cambridge University Press. pp. 335, 2877, 2985.
  6. ↑ CIL VI. 32949.
  7. ↑ Frank, Richard (1969). Scholae Palatinae: The Palace Guards Of The Later Roman Empire. p. 56.
  8. ↑ Meisel, Jason Steven (2009). The unintended consequences of Emperor Constantine the Great's military reforms. p. 22. ProQuest 305080004.
  9. 1 2 3 CIL V. 8757
  10. ↑ Jones, A.H.M. (1964). The Later Roman Empire 284-602: A Social Economic and Administrative Survey. Vol. III. Oxford: Blackwell's. p. 193.
  11. 1 2 Southern, Pat (2007-10-01). The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History. Oxford University Press. pp. 60, 257. ISBN 978-0-19-804401-7.
  12. ↑ Cowan, Ross (2016-07-20). Milvian Bridge AD 312: Constantine's battle for Empire and Faith. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-1383-1.
  13. ↑ D’Amato, Raffaele; Negin, Andrei Evgenevich (2018-11-29). Roman Heavy Cavalry: Cataphractarii & Clibanarii, 1st Century BC–5th Century AD. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-4728-3002-9.
  14. ↑ Parnell, David (2017). Justinian's Men Careers and Relationships of Byzantine Army Officers, 518-610. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 29. doi:10.1057/978-1-137-56204-3. ISBN 978-1-137-56203-6. LCCN 2016956194.
  15. ↑ Elliott, Simon (2022-08-31). Roman Britain's Pirate King: Carausius, Constantius Chlorus and the Fourth Roman Invasion of Britain. Pen and Sword Military. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-3990-9439-9.
  16. ↑ Elliott, Simon (2021-08-26). Roman Conquests: Britain. Pen and Sword Military. ISBN 978-1-5267-6569-7.
  17. ↑ Harrel, John S. (2016-02-29). The Nisibis War: The Defence of the Roman East AD 337–363. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-4738-4831-3.
  18. ↑ Dahm, Murray (2023-05-25). Byzantine Cavalryman vs Vandal Warrior: North Africa AD 533–36. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 978-1-4728-5371-4.
  19. ↑ Decker, Michael (2013). The Byzantine Art of War (PDF). Westholme. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-59416-168-1.
  20. ↑ Maurice. Strategikon (in Ancient Greek). Translated by Dennis, George. p. 142.
  21. 1 2 ILS 2805
  22. ↑ Renatus, Flavius (2014-01-01). De Rei Militari [The Military Institutions Of The Romans]. Translated by Clarke, John. p. 9.
  23. ↑ Treadgold, Warren (1998). "Structures". Byzantium and Its Army, 284-1081. Stanford University Press. pp. 87–117. doi:10.1515/9780804779302-006. ISBN 978-0-8047-7930-2.
  24. ↑ CIL III, 14214
  25. ↑ Speidel, Michael P. (2006). "The Origin of the Late Roman Army Ranks". TYCHE – Contributions to Ancient History, Papyrology and Epigraphy. 20 (1): 206. ISSN 1010-9161.
  26. 1 2 Schaff, Philip; Wace, Henry (1893). A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church: St. Jerome: Letters and select works, 1893. Vol. VI. New York: Christian literature Company. p. 433.
  27. ↑ Murray, Alexander Callander (1988). "From Roman to Frankish Gaul: 'Centenarii' and 'Centenae' in the Administration of the Merovingian Kingdom". Traditio. 44: 59–100. doi:10.1017/S0362152900007017. S2CID 151699938.
  28. ↑ Handley, Mark A. (2010). "Two Hundred and Seventy-Four Addenda and Corrigenda to the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire from the Latin-Speaking Balkans". Journal of Late Antiquity. 3 (1): 113–157. doi:10.1353/jla.0.0061. S2CID 162288833. Project MUSE 379511.
  29. ↑ Bremmer, Jan (1988). "An Imperial Palace Guard in Heaven: The Date of the Vision of Dorotheus". Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. 75: 82–88. JSTOR 20186950.
  30. ↑ Bremmer, Jan N. (1993). "The Vision of Dorotheus". Early Christian Poetry. pp. 253–261. doi:10.1163/9789004312890_013. ISBN 978-90-04-31289-0.
  31. ↑ Davidson, Theresa; Pharr, Mary, eds. (1952). The Theodosian code and novels: And the Sirmondian constitutions. Translated by Pharr, Clyde. Internet Archive. Princeton University Press. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-8371-2494-0.
  32. ↑ Jones, A. H. M., ed. (1970). "A History of Rome through the Fifth Century". SpringerLink: 145. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-00491-1. ISBN 978-1-349-00493-5.
  33. ↑ Treadgold, Warren (1998). Byzantium and Its Army, 284-1081. pp. 149–150. doi:10.1515/9780804779302. ISBN 978-0-8047-7930-2.
  34. ↑ Barnes, Timothy David (1993). Athanasius and Constantius: Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire. Harvard University Press. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-674-00549-5.
  35. ↑ Castello, Maria G. (2012). Le segrete stanze del potere: i comites concistoriani e l'imperatore tardoantico (in Italian). Aracne. p. 48. hdl:2318/135111. ISBN 978-88-548-4558-9.
  36. ↑ Sinnigen, William G. (1962). "Three Administrative Changes Ascribed to Constantius II". The American Journal of Philology. 83 (4): 378. doi:10.2307/292919. ISSN 0002-9475. JSTOR 292919 – via JSTOR.
  37. ↑ Cowan, Ross. Milvian Bridge AD 312: Constantine's Battle for Empire and Faith. Osprey Publishing. p. 31.
  38. ↑ Rance, Phillip. "Campidoctores Vicarii vel Tribuni. The senior regimental officers of the late Roman army and the rise of the Campidoctor". De Gruyter. p. 396. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  39. 1 2 Hoffmann, Dietrich (1963). "Die spätrömischen Soldatengrabschriften von Concordia". Museum Helveticum. 20 (1): 22–57. JSTOR 24813671.
  40. ↑ Revue archéologique (in French). Presses universitaires de France. 1875. p. 345.
  41. ↑ CIL V. 8755
  42. ↑ Lefort, Louis (1875). "Cimetière Chrétien De Julia Concordia (porto Gruaro, En Vénétie)". Revue Archéologique. 29: 340–346. JSTOR 41734927.
  43. 1 2 "Le epigrafi funerarie d'ammonimento di Salona e Concordia Sagittaria" (PDF). thesis.unipd.it. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  44. 1 2 NAVATA DESTRA (PDF) (in Italian). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 4, 2023.
  45. ↑ Foss, Clive (1979). "The Fabricenses Ducenarii of Sardis". Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. 35: 279–283. JSTOR 20185750.
  46. ↑ Harmoy-Durofil, Héloïse (2015-12-17). Chefs et officiers barbares dans la militia armata ( IVe - VIe siècle) (PDF) (These de doctorat thesis) (in French). Tours.
  47. ↑ Cagnat, René (1891). "Périodiques". L'Année épigraphique. 1890: 27–42. JSTOR 25606296.
  48. ↑ ILS 2787
  49. ↑ Hepworth, J. R. (1963) Studies in the later roman army, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/8095/
  50. ↑ ILS 2804
  51. ↑ Fiebiger, Otto (1912). "Einige Unbeachtet Gebliebene Germanennamen Auf Römischen Inschriften". Beiträge zur Geschichte der deutschen Sprache und Literatur (PBB). 1912 (37). doi:10.1515/bgsl.1912.1912.37.122. S2CID 162125720.
  52. ↑ Lefort, Louis (1876). "CIMETIÈRE CHRÉTIEN DE JULIA CONCORDIA (PORTO GRUARO, EN VÉNÉTIE) (Suite)". Revue Archéologique. 31: 332–336. JSTOR 41733447.
  53. ↑ Palme, Bernhard (1994). "BGU XII 2168: Ein Zeuge zu wenig". TYCHE – Contributions to Ancient History, Papyrology and Epigraphy. 08 (1). doi:10.15661/tyche.1993.008.11. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023.
  54. ↑ Alston, Richard (2002). "Managing the frontiers. Supplying the frontier troops in the sixth and seventh centuries". The Roman Army and the Economy. pp. 398–419. doi:10.1163/9789004494374_018. ISBN 978-90-04-49437-4. S2CID 244168097.
  55. ↑ Maehler, Herwig (1998). "Élites urbaines et production littéraire en Égypte romaine et byzantine". Gaia. 3 (1): 81–95. doi:10.3406/gaia.1998.1341.
  56. ↑ "P. 21784: Miete eines Gehöftes" (in German). Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  57. ↑ "P. 21817: Darlehensvertrag" (in German). Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  58. ↑ "P. 21809: Pachtangebot". papyri.info (in German). Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  59. ↑ "P. 21781: Pachtvertrag". papyri.info (in German). Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  60. ↑ Alston, Richard (2002-01-01), "Managing the frontiers. Supplying the frontier troops in the sixth and seventh centuries", The Roman Army and the Economy, Brill, p. 408, ISBN 978-90-04-49437-4, retrieved 2023-12-01
  61. ↑ Fiema, Zbigniew; Frösèn, Jaakko (2015-02-02). "Papyrology, Papyrus: Late Empire". In Le Bohec, Yann (ed.). The Encyclopedia of the Roman Army (1 ed.). Wiley. doi:10.1002/9781118318140.wbra1120. ISBN 978-1-4051-7619-4.
  62. ↑ "Epitaph from Aquincum – Budapest (Pannonia inferior)". edh.ub.uni-heidelberg.de. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  63. ↑ "Provinces Danubiennes". L'Année épigraphique. 2010 (NA1): 427–538. 2013. JSTOR 23513414.
  64. ↑ Rance, Philip (2014). "An Unnoticed Regimental 'Diaconus' in the Correspondence of Theodoret of Cyrrhus". Historia. 63 (1): 117–128. doi:10.25162/historia-2014-0006. JSTOR 24433642. S2CID 169417664.
  65. ↑ BGU I 316
  66. ↑ Banaji, Jairus (2007). Agrarian Change in Late Antiquity: Gold, Labour, and Aristocratic Dominance. OUP Oxford. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-19-922603-0.
  67. ↑ Taubenschlag, Rafal (1949). "Papyri and Parchments From the Eastern Provinces of the Roman Empire Outside Egypt" (PDF). Journal of Juristic Papyrology. 3: 52. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 9, 2019.
  68. ↑ Rémondon, Roger (1963). "Papyrologie et histoire de l'Égypte gréco-romaine". Annuaires de l'École pratique des hautes études. 96 (1): 117–119.
  69. ↑ CIL V. 8776
  70. ↑ Grosse, Robert E. (1975). Römische Militärgeschichte von Gallienus bis zum Beginn der byzantinischen Themenverfassung (in German). Arno Press. pp. 114–115. ISBN 978-0-405-07083-9.
  71. ↑ Bacvarov, Krum (2011). Nikolov, Vassil; Humboldt-Union in Bulgarien (eds.). Interdisziplinäre Forschungen zum Kulturerbe auf der Balkanhalbinsel: Beiträge des Humboldt-Kollegs (in French). Sofia: Humboldt-Union in Bulgarien. p. 443. ISBN 978-954-8587-07-5.
  72. ↑ "Provinces danubiennes". L'Année épigraphique. 1995: 352–410. 1998. JSTOR 25607777.
  73. ↑ Cagnat, R.; Besnier, M. (1922). "Périodiques". L'Année épigraphique. 1922: 1–43. JSTOR 25606556.
  74. ↑ Woods, David (1970). "Valerius Victorinus Again". Chiron. 27: 85–94. doi:10.34780/24c7-d1na.
  75. ↑ Speidel, Michael P. (1970). "A Horse Guardsman in the War between Licinius and Constantine". Chiron. 25: 83–88. doi:10.34780/1896-bad1.
  76. ↑ Ehmig, Ulrike (1970). "Subjektive und faktische Risiken. Votivgründe und Todesursachen in lateinischen Inschriften als Beispiele für Nachrichtenauswahl in der römischen Kaiserzeit: Subjektive und faktische Risiken. Votivgründe und Todesursachen in lateinischen Inschriften als Beispiele für Nachrichtenauswahl in der römischen Kaiserzeit". Chiron. 43: 127–198. doi:10.34780/dr22-e12p.
  77. ↑ Bolognesi Recchi-Franceschini, Eugenia (2008). "The Scholae of the Master of the Offices as the Palace Praetorium". Anatolia Antiqua. 16 (1): 231–257. doi:10.3406/anata.2008.1261.
  78. ↑ Merlin, Alf. (1947). "Périodiques". L'Année épigraphique. 1946: 6–66. JSTOR 25606682.
  79. ↑ Petolescu, Constantin C. (1985). "Valerius Vivianus, Biercus". Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik. 61: 238. JSTOR 20184371.
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