Los bucellarii y el Imperio romano: sus orígenes, empleo y la cuestión de la cohesión social de sus componentes

Abstract

The aim of this article is to introduce a preliminary analysis about the bucellarii (a type of mercenary soldiers) during 4th and 5th centuries A.D. Such analysis is presented in the context of the increase of foreign soldiers in the Roman army since the end of the fourth century, an event known as the barbarization of the empire, within the broad framework of the transformation of the Roman world (4th to 6th centuries A.D.). I will enquire about the possible origins of this institution as well as its characteristics. Finally, I will also address the topic of the social cohesion of these groups.