Western Roman Empire Military Force

5
th
Century
This is the force under roman control at the beginning of the Hunnic Invasion. The central roman
army is a mix of Cataphracts (Heavy Cavalry), Horse Archers and Light Cavalry, supplemented by the
roman infantry (Light Infantry).
Elements and Units
In the 5
th
Century, the roman legion was divided into formations of roughly 1.000 man strong,
sometimes reinforced by infantry. The division of the units roughly is:
Cataphracts: About twenty five Heavy Cavalry elements.
Horse Archers: About twenty five Horse Archer elements.
Light Cavalry: About fifty Light Cavalry elements.
The roman army can, sometimes, be reinforced by about three hundred to four hundred elements of
light infantry.
Important: Almost all troops of this time were obligated to serve. So, all of them count as levies.
Cataphracts (TL 2)
Heavy Cavalry
Soldiers wearing heavy mail or medium scale trained to fight from horseback using a spear and
changing to a sword or mace after shocking with the enemy.
TS: 10. WT: 2.
Classes: Cv. Mobility: Mtd.
Quality: Fine equipment; Average Troops.
Features: Levy.
Cost: 400K to Raise; 80K to maintain.
Horse Archers (TL 2)
Horse Archer
Nomad and/or decently trained troops who wears light armor, uses a short bow and carries a sword
for self-defense and skirmish.
TS: 3. WT: 2.
Classes: Cv, F, Rec. Mobility: Mtd.
Quality: Good equipment; Average Troops.
Features: Levy.
Cost: 180K to Raise; 36K to maintain.
Light Cavalry (TL 2)
Light Cavalry
The bulk of roman cavalry force, these soldiers wears little to no armor and carries light spears and
javelins for both shock and melee combat.
TS: 2. WT: 2.
Classes: Cv, Rec. Mobility: Mtd.
Quality: Basic equipment; Average Troops.
Features: Levy.
Cost: 100K to Raise; 20K to maintain.
Light Infantry (TL 2)
Light Infantry
Irregular static forces suited more for holding ground and supporting cavalry than leading assaults.
They are equipped with nothing more than a roman shield, a helmet and a spear. The chaos of 5
th

century made some of these soldiers to lead the battles nonetheless.
TS: 2. WT: 2.
Classes: Rec. Mobility: Foot.
Quality: Basic equipment; Average Troops.
Features: Levy.
Cost: 40K to Raise; 8K to maintain.