Comitatenses

Comitatenses
Appears in	Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion
Belongs to	Eastern Roman Empire Western Roman Empire
Type	Melee Infantry
Weapon(s)	Sword, Javelin
Soldiers per unit	80
Morale	6
Attack skill	8 (Melee); 9 (Missile)
Charge bonus	2
Hitpoints	1
Armor	10
Defense skill	9
Shield bonus	6
Special abilities	Uses a missile weapon before charging; Can sap
Cost	680

Comitatenses are a type of heavy infantry unit available to the Western and Eastern Roman Empires in Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion.

Origin

The comitatenses earn their existence to the military reforms of Constantine the Great. He divided the army into two types of troops: the other half of the system were the limitanei, or frontier troops. Originally, the comitatenses were regarded as an elite force personally associated with the Emperor, but the needs of Imperial defence soon meant that they were detached as regional field armies across the Roman World. Enemies would be allowed to penetrate the "limes"(pronounced LEE-mays) or frontier line while being delayed by the limitanei, and then be destroyed in detail by the comitatenses.

Commanded by "comites"(the origin of the French aristocratic title "Comte", and therefore "Count"), these were well equipped and professional soldiers, even if not quite the equals of Caesar's legions.

Tactics

Comitatenses are the backbone of any Roman army. They are fairly easy to recruit, being recruitable from a level 3 barracks, and fill the traditional heavy infantry role. They are superior to the chosen warriors fielded by the Goths, Vandals (Barbarian Invasion), Slavs and Huns as well as the heavy infantry fielded by the barbarian factions such as the Gallowglasses of the Celts, due to their Pila (Javelins). Be careful however when assaulting city walls as they will not be able to use their Pila and will usually lose in a fight on city walls with Francisca Heerbann or Axe Heerbann as the attacker is at a disadvantage attacking an enemy on the walls. They will make short work of any spearmen they fight. Their weak Morale however is a big weakness and these men cannot be counted on to withstand a strong heavy cavalry charge, especially on harder difficulties.

These men are best used as the backbone of the line. It is very important to keep ones general close to the Comitatenses if the enemy has large contingents of heavy cavalry as his presence will make them less likely to rout. They can be relied upon to turn back enemy infantry and light cavalry provided they are not severely outnumbered. They are also best used to protect ones archers as their good armor and shield allows them to take a lot of punishment from missiles. The most reliable way to beat an enemy is to use the Comitatenses as an "Anvil", allowing the enemy to engage the Comitatenses before hitting them in the flank or rear with the "hammer", a capable heavy cavalry unit such as Sarmatian Auxilia. These "Hammer and Anvil" tactics will produce quick routs that will result in the vast majority if not all of the enemy soldiers being killed, as they will be enveloped and have nowhere to go.

In the remaster, the Comitatenses have fire at will disabled by deault, in order for them to use their missile weapons, one must enable fire at will mode.

Gallery

The original Rome: Total War unit card of a Western Roman Empire Comitatenses

The original Rome: Total War unit card of an Eastern Roman Empire Comitatenses

Western Roman Comitatenses in Rome Remastered

Showing off their shield design

Celtic Pictish Spearmen fighting Western Roman Empire Comitatenses

Western Roman Comitatenses fighting Hun Steppe Swordsmen

Western Roman Comitatenses fighting a shield wall created by Saxon Levy Spearmen