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'Laeti', the Latin plural of 'Laetus', derived from Germanic languages, designates members of certain barbarian tribes which had agreements with the Roman empire providing for their livelihood - removing the main motive for plundering or uncontrollable attempt of invasion - and a number of soldiers recruiting from their ranks as auxiliary units to help keep their less friendly 'brothers' away.

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Military use

Sources and references

Military use

From the Notitia Dignitatum we know that around 400, in the Western empire, the following nations (''gentiles'' 'people' is a generic term, also used for analogous Sarmates in Italian provinces) had supplied units, which were garrisoned in places (followed by the province in the genitive) in the Gallic prefecture, each commanded by a ''Praefectus laetorum'' (prefect), under the overall command -along many regular units- of the Magister militum for the ''praesentales pediti'' (imperial infantry):

★ Batavi and Suevi: Baiocas and Constantia, Lugdunensis II

★ Suevi: Ceromannos and another, unknown location in Lugdunensis III

★ Francs: Redonas, Lugdunensis III

★ Teutoniciani: Carnunta, Lugdunensis IV

★ Suevi: Arumbernos, Aquitanica I

★ Taifals: Poitiers, Aquitanica

★ Lingonenses: dispersed over Belgica I

★ Acti: Epuso, Belgica I

★ Nervii: Fanomantis, Belgica II

★ Batavi of Nemetacum, Belgica II

★ Batavi Contraginnenses: Noviomagus, Belgica II

★ unspecified ''gentiles'': Remo and Silvamectum, Belgica II

★ Lagenses: near the Tungri, Germania II

Sources and references

★ Notitia dignitatum

★ Pauly-Wissowa (not yet exploited)