Thiufa
Encyclopedia
The thiufa was the highest division of the Visigothic army in Hispania
. Based on the known decimal structure of the rest of the army, it seems likely that it was nominally composed of one thousand men. Its commander was called a thiufadus (also tiuphadus).
as thiwadus.
, Lex Salica, and Edictum Chilperici are referred to in the early Visigothic laws of Theudis
as compulsares vel executores. In the later Visigothic laws, like the Liber Iudiciorum Reccesuinth
, they go by various titles: compulsor exercitus, servus dominicus, or thiufadus. The thiufadus was elsewhere called a vassus regis (vassal of the king) and agente in rebus.
The thiufadus, however, was both a military and judicial official. His position is immediately below that of the comes
(count) or vicarius
(vicar): a position the same as that of the Frankish
thunginus or Late Roman
ducenarius. Their position in the army was above that of the centenarius
(commander of a hundred), but it cannot be positively identified with the position of millenarius (commander of a thousand).
The Liber Iudiciorum augmented the powers of the thiufadi. In their double capacity as general and judge they were assisted by sayos. The thiufadus, who controlled the countryside, seems to have been weaker than the counts who controlled the civitates, city districts.
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
. Based on the known decimal structure of the rest of the army, it seems likely that it was nominally composed of one thousand men. Its commander was called a thiufadus (also tiuphadus).
Structure
It is unknown if the thiufae were every actually called into service or if they existed only on paper. Perhaps smaller or larger units formed the actual basis of the Visigothic army.Etymology
The term thiufadus derives from either the Latin devotus or the Germanic thusundifaths. The mechanism of the transmission via the latter is, however, considered impossible by some. The Latin devotus was generally applied by the Ostrogoths and Visigoths to high-ranking Goths in the Gothic languageGothic language
Gothic is an extinct Germanic language that was spoken by the Goths. It is known primarily from the Codex Argenteus, a 6th-century copy of a 4th-century Bible translation, and is the only East Germanic language with a sizable Text corpus...
as thiwadus.
Thiufadus
A class of officials called the confiscatores or exactores in the Codex TheodosianusCodex Theodosianus
The Codex Theodosianus was a compilation of the laws of the Roman Empire under the Christian emperors since 312. A commission was established by Theodosius II in 429 and the compilation was published in the eastern half of the Roman Empire in 438...
, Lex Salica, and Edictum Chilperici are referred to in the early Visigothic laws of Theudis
Theudis
Theudis was king of the Visigoths in Hispania from 531 to 548. He was the sword-bearer of Theodoric the Great, who sent him to govern the Visigothic kingdom during the minority of Amalaric, the son of king Alaric II and Theodegotho, the daughter of king Theodoric.According to Procopius, during his...
as compulsares vel executores. In the later Visigothic laws, like the Liber Iudiciorum Reccesuinth
Reccesuinth
Recceswinth, or Reccesuinth, Recceswint, Reccaswinth, Recdeswinth, Recesvinto , Reccesvinthus ; was the Visigothic King of Hispania, Septimania and Galicia in 649–672: jointly with his father from 649 and as sole king from 653.Beginning in 654 Recceswinth was responsible for the promulgation of a...
, they go by various titles: compulsor exercitus, servus dominicus, or thiufadus. The thiufadus was elsewhere called a vassus regis (vassal of the king) and agente in rebus.
The thiufadus, however, was both a military and judicial official. His position is immediately below that of the comes
Comes
Comes , plural comites , is the Latin word for companion, either individually or as a member of a collective known as comitatus, especially the suite of a magnate, in some cases large and/or formal enough to have a specific name, such as a cohors amicorum. The word comes derives from com- "with" +...
(count) or vicarius
Vicarius
Vicarius is a Latin word, meaning substitute or deputy. It is the root and origin of the English word "vicar" and cognate to the Persian word most familiar in the variant vizier....
(vicar): a position the same as that of the Frankish
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
thunginus or Late Roman
Late Antiquity
Late Antiquity is a periodization used by historians to describe the time of transition from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages, in both mainland Europe and the Mediterranean world. Precise boundaries for the period are a matter of debate, but noted historian of the period Peter Brown proposed...
ducenarius. Their position in the army was above that of the centenarius
Centurion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
(commander of a hundred), but it cannot be positively identified with the position of millenarius (commander of a thousand).
The Liber Iudiciorum augmented the powers of the thiufadi. In their double capacity as general and judge they were assisted by sayos. The thiufadus, who controlled the countryside, seems to have been weaker than the counts who controlled the civitates, city districts.
Sources
- Thompson, E. A. The Goths in Spain. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1969.
- Contamine, Phillippe. War in the Middle Ages. trans. Michael Jones. Oxford: Basil Blackwell Ltd, 1984.
- Wiener, Leo. Commentary to the Germanic Laws and Medieval Documents. London: Oxford University Press, 1915.