Fortifications in Central Gaul

[gilius]

I can't read French. Can somebody kindly explain what this map is supposed to represent? I've searched the names of some of these forts in Google, but can't find any information about them, and I don't seem to recall any of my English books on Roman Gaul and Germany even mentioning such fortifications, but then those books don't even discuss the "Saxon Shore" forts. However, I did hear mention of "limes belgicus" (no info to be found again) and was wondering if this map could represent that?

[Kosmo]

Map of the military organization of (provinces) Germany I and Belgium I during the Late Empire.

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

that's a map of late empire defenses in Germania I and Belgium I. In black are known remains or textual mentions, in white supposed sites

 

Translations as follow :

 

round symbol : fortified city, town,

crenaleted symbol : fortifications

square symbol : smaller fortifications

bridge like symbol : river fortifications

dotted line : main roads

round symbol with small white circle inside : capital city

black triangle : oppidum/hilltop fortification

white triangle pointing up : refuge

white triangle pointing down : rural/campaign defenses

flag : headquarter of the Letes, Gentiles and Sarmatians

helmet symbol : weapon production and storage

 

capitale de cit

[gilius]

I see! Thanks... I should have checked the cities to get my bearings... now I can see it's the middle rhine, but there's still some forts that seem separate to the limes.

 

Thanks also for the translations; much appreciated!

[Kosmo]

flag : headquarter of the Letes, Gentiles and Sarmatians

 

So it shows the location of some Sarmatian foederati while Letes are Laeti settlers but Gentiles? Who are those?

[Bryaxis Hecatee]

Gentiles are a regular roman army unit made up of barbarian born soldiers, mostly laeti (hereditary soldiers working for Rome in exchange for the right to stay in the Empire with their family after their terms, even getting lands, an individual deal between the soldier and the state), which must be clearly distinguished from the foederati (whole barbarian tribes who have a "contract" with the empire, fighting for it in exchange for land where they can be ruled according to their own laws and customs).

 

Laeti seems to have been made of mainly defeated barbarians or their heirs, only those surviving a full term of service with the army being given roman citizenship

[Kosmo]

Gentiles are a regular roman army unit made up of barbarian born soldiers, mostly laeti (hereditary soldiers working for Rome in exchange for the right to stay in the Empire with their family after their terms, even getting lands, an individual deal between the soldier and the state), which must be clearly distinguished from the foederati (whole barbarian tribes who have a "contract" with the empire, fighting for it in exchange for land where they can be ruled according to their own laws and customs).

 

Laeti seems to have been made of mainly defeated barbarians or their heirs, only those surviving a full term of service with the army being given roman citizenship

 

Thank you!