Sophia GYFTOPOULOU, Historical Information gathered from the Mauricii Strategikon, Βυζαντινά Σύμμεικτα, 23|2013, 59-89


A few relevant sections  from the Strategicon of Mauricius are analyzed in order that Byzantine military tactics  be further clarified: the meaning of the word σχολὴ ; contagion (epidemic) and starvation (famine) threatening the soldiers when gathered together; and the potential scouting mission of heralds. Additionally certain facts provided by the treatise regarding specific military subjects are presented together, so that they can be effectively elucidated; the length of both the bowshot and the long bowshot; the exact function of the multi trenches of the ‘fossaton’ military camp; touldos (the baggage train: composition - function - etymology/origin); depotatoi (the unarmed units: recruitment – equipment - size - mission). Finally speculation on the composition of the text attempts to draw attention to the use of former treatises by the author and to the degree of his personal contribution. 

Follow EKT: