Units of History - The Frumentarii: Assassins of Rome DOCUMENTARY

Рет қаралды 104,119

Күн бұрын

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In this documentary we explore the mysterious history of the Frumentarii, Rome's feared network of spies and assassins. We begin with a review of their origins as grain collectors and courriers. This role slowly matured over the course of the Roman Republic with Frumentarii becoming a regular fixture of logistics by the early Roman Empire. We cover how this group came to have a headquarters in Rome and what their unit's organization and equipment would have looked like. However their presence in Rome and travel to and from the provinces proved convenient for them to now take on additional roles. It seems that Roman Emperor's soon began to recruit them into their own network to take on a variety of roles such as spying and potentially even assassination.
Sources:
"Intelligence activities in ancient Rome" by Rose Sheldon
"Exploratio: Military & Political Intelligence in the Roman World" by N. J. E. Austin
"The Troops Quartered in the Castra Peregrinorum." by Reynolds P.K.B.
"The Castra Peregrinorum." by Reynolds P.K.B.
"The Roman Secret Service" by W.G Sinnigen
"The origins of the Frumentarii" by by W.G Sinnigen
Credits
Research = Invicta
Script = Invicta
Narration = Guy Michaels
Art = Penta Limited
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:03 Origins
07:38 Organization
08:48 Headquarters
11:08 Equipment
12:21 Regular Duties
14:05 Spying
15:47 Assassinations
17:19 Law Enforcers
19:58 End of the Frumentarii
#adventure #history #documentary

Пікірлер: 228

@InvictaHistory 24 күн бұрын

Sign up for KZfaq Premium with my link to get 2 months free kzfaq.info?cc=invicta& Monthly paid subscription. Price per month varies. First 2 months free. Terms apply. Cancel anytime. If you subscribe through the link in this post or the banner appearing in this video, I may get a commission.

@debbielungsodaitfllo 24 күн бұрын

Please make a video about the battle of the teutoburg forest 🙏🏻

@darzhanacf8983 24 күн бұрын

It has already been made

@westrim 24 күн бұрын

@@debbielungsodaitfllo They actually made a whole series, most of them titled starting with "Avenging Varus" about that battle and the Roman military response over the next few years.

@3_am___ 24 күн бұрын

Tbh i have premium like 3-4 years by now, and the perk to support quality content is oddly satisfying

@debbielungsodaitfllo 24 күн бұрын

@@westrim it about the aftermath and it response not the battle itself

@EmpireofSigmar 24 күн бұрын

"The eyes of the mighty Caesar are upon you. He appreciates your service, and bestows upon you the exceptional gift of his Mark. My Lord requires your presence at his camp, at Fortification Hill. His Mark will guarantee your safe-conduct through our lands."

@SilverDart214 24 күн бұрын

Ave, true to Caesar

@sergiorr90 24 күн бұрын

NV Caesar's Legion had a lot of potencial

@courier665 24 күн бұрын

V+M1+M1+M1+M1

@Notimportant253 24 күн бұрын

I’m glad I’m also not the only person who immediately thought about fallout nv when I saw this video lmao

@EmpireofSigmar 24 күн бұрын

Vulpes Inculta is my favorite Roman historical character.

@vexopy8633 24 күн бұрын

every invicta video about another roman special unit is like getting to the deeper points of the iceberg of roman military structure

@InvictaHistory 24 күн бұрын

Lots more to be explored, especially in the late empire and the Byzantines

@Gibson7Clans 24 күн бұрын

@@InvictaHistorycool. We are looking forward to it. 😁👍

@justinian-the-great 24 күн бұрын

@@InvictaHistory Hope you'll cover agentes in rebus, the successors of frumentarii.

@debbielungsodaitfllo 24 күн бұрын

@@InvictaHistory, please make a video about the battle of the teutoburg forest 🙏🏻

@Al_the_Phantom 23 күн бұрын

@@debbielungsodaitfllo Or better yet, the Rise and Fall of Quintilius Varus, the General who led the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest. Everyone knows of the Germanic General Arminius's Story, but not every knows the Full Life Story of Varus.

@javiersaugar376 24 күн бұрын

"Nipton was a wicked place, debased and corrupt. It served all comers, so long as they paid. Profligate troops, Powder Gangers, men of the Legion such as myself - the people here didn't care. It was a town of whores. For a pittance, the town agreed to lead those it had sheltered into a trap. Only when I sprang it did they realize they were caught inside it, too" - Frumentarii Inculta, Nipton 2281.

@johntitor_ibm5100 24 күн бұрын

Ave, true to Caesar.

@extremel.z.s3140 13 күн бұрын

Ave, True to Caesar

@gratefulguy4130 10 күн бұрын

I admire the purity of the Legion's justice

@admiral_franz_von_hipper5436 24 күн бұрын

Came here to the comments for New Vegas references, was not disappointed.

@gbm.03 24 күн бұрын

0:10 HE SAID IT!!!

@chorizodaniel9293 24 күн бұрын

😩😫😤

@YataTheFifteenth 24 күн бұрын

Courier VI no way

@devilfruit3415 20 күн бұрын

POG POG

@theicepickthatkilledtrotsk658 24 күн бұрын

Vulpes Inculta sends his regards

@awesomehpt8938 24 күн бұрын

Vulpes Inculta is the OG

@thestanleys3657 24 күн бұрын

Ave true to Caesar

@Notimportant253 24 күн бұрын

[Terrifying presence} “I’m gonna wear your head like you wear that dogs” *LEGIONARIES, WE HAVE A PROBLEM!*

@TheMagnificentPear 24 күн бұрын

Ave, true to Caesar

@johnlop7763 24 күн бұрын

Ave

@tokebak4291 24 күн бұрын

Watching this video about Frumentarii brings back memories of that time in Nipton. Almost always ended up taking down Vulpe and his Legion crew there in New Vegas! Those were some funny moments, but you gotta admit, their style was badass.

@noblerook 24 күн бұрын

Ave, true to Caesar

@matthewneuendorf5763 24 күн бұрын

One assumes that military grain supply management would include foraging. Given the nature of that particular task, it seems a short leap from seeking out hidden stores of grain to finding other hidden things.

@SusCalvin 3 күн бұрын

@@matthewneuendorf5763 Roman supply trains limit the reliance on forage. Foraging has the same limits well into the early modern period. It takes up lots of time, you must stop more often. There is a diminishing return as you deplete the land close by and must range further out. The foraging party has to keep people detailed to security. You can run into local militias, enemy foragers and scouts. Grain shipments would be more like making sure the logistics of moving grain from places like Egypt remained undisturbed.

@matthewneuendorf5763 3 күн бұрын

@SusCalvin The tyranny of the wagon (or of the mule) doesn't change until you get to mechanized transport. You can only prepare so many depots, and generally only in owned territory. The Romans were often better than their enemies at pushing their supplies to the absolute limit, but they still had to deal with inherent limitations on logistics. That means foraging.

@SusCalvin 3 күн бұрын

@@matthewneuendorf5763 Yeah, they are not that good. You need people to get water or firewood at the least. But it seems better than opposing forces that needed to disperse and forage and really struggled with concentrating forces.

@jrpgnation6375 24 күн бұрын

Someone should link this video to Ubisoft. We may finally get proper Assassin's creed roman game.

@dylanroberts1752 24 күн бұрын

@@jrpgnation6375 I've thinking the same thing. Ever since assassin's Creed Odyssey.

@VainerCactus0 24 күн бұрын

Did you know that all the Frumentarii were black Lesbians? Netflix and Ubisoft knows so. Someones grandma knows so too.

@samuelmendoza9356 24 күн бұрын

Considering they been disbanded by Diocletian by 312 BCE, perhaps they can set it on 3rd Century Crisis? Maybe futilely trying to save Aurelian too? I can imagine the one who forged it can be Templars or Assassins where Aurelian cannot be controlled by either.

@bine35 24 күн бұрын

@@VainerCactus0 AC: Rome but you can only play as a black female edgy super elite Nubian bodyguard to Caesar

@goosefootjones7196 23 күн бұрын

Im not asking U isoft for sheezt

@bloodygoat6941 24 күн бұрын

Uhh I love it. Awesome video about a topic which is so poorly covered over all on here. Such gems always remind me why I subscribed to this channel

@enriquehartmann8642 24 күн бұрын

I did recon and infantry in the army. I think if I ever went back in time and wound up in Rome, I think id join the legions and try to establish the protocol for reconnaissance. Who knows, maybe I become the father of Militray Intrigue and Reconnaissance....lol.... Excellent video

@SusCalvin 3 күн бұрын

Instructions for foraging and recce units were in place in European early modern period armies. I read old instructions on what to ask around for as you anchored in a neutral port.

@wesleyredmond3464 24 күн бұрын

Man see Invicta ,man click ,man pleased! As always outstanding work!

@chrisgarbutt1893 24 күн бұрын

Ave, True To Caesar!

@jacobbeaupre3940 24 күн бұрын

NEW VEGAS CANT BE STOPPED! AVE TRUE TO CAESAR

@nuclearmedicineman6270 24 күн бұрын

Excellent timing, I was *just* reading about them. Since you're reading my mind, do a video on the next thing I'm looking into.

@konstantinriumin2657 24 күн бұрын

Ave True to Caesar!

@gushterell7989 24 күн бұрын

New upcoming frame in "Warframe" is a frumentari. What a coincidence. Great vid!

@Maesterful 19 күн бұрын

Been asking for this topic for years, fantastic

@TheEggeater1111 24 күн бұрын

This was very interesting video I enjoyed the heck out of it

@mooncake8254 20 күн бұрын

Looking back. Listening and watching your videos. The voice it's golden!

@robbabcock_ 24 күн бұрын

Terrific episode and an intriguing subject!⚔🔥😎

@-RONNIE 24 күн бұрын

Thank you for the good video ⚔️

@MBP1918 23 күн бұрын

AVE TRUE TO CAESAR

@user-vf3pe9ce5x 24 күн бұрын

I thought that was the unofficial job of preatorians.

@EggnogTheNog 24 күн бұрын

They only assassinated emperors who didn’t pay them the bribes they’d been promised for assassinating the previous emperor.

@mojewjewjew4420 16 күн бұрын

They were linked though

@nonyabeeznuss304 15 күн бұрын

Considering a grain officer/courier would be traveling quite a lot as well as having access to all important mail, it stands to reason that they would be quite well informed individuals. It's a pretty short jump to just start using them for that aspect of their job altogether.

@samdumaquis2033 13 күн бұрын

Fantastic work

@noone4700 24 күн бұрын

Awesome video!

@odd-ysseusdoesstuff6347 24 күн бұрын

This is really good! Imma have this yoinked for a story mwehhehehe

@daveweiss5647 15 күн бұрын

It makes sense that the grain collectors would be able to evolve into an intelligence service... searching for grain services, dealing with well traveled merchants, local leaders and bureaucrats, looking for smugglers and hidden sources, dealing with bandits, relationships with customs officials and port workers, scouring the countryside...etc...

@crazyirish209 24 күн бұрын

So mailman/grain clerks/ spies lmao 🤣 those crazy Romanos

@Harry-bc2dn 12 күн бұрын

Awesome

@coolintruddle 24 күн бұрын

Great video. I'm currently playing the 43ad ttrpg. Our characters are frumentarii. Speculatores in northern Britannia.

@nickbz1303 24 күн бұрын

Thanks for this detailed explanation. From the information presented, it seems Atticus from The Chosen would be somewhat anachronistic but otherwise reasonably portrayed?

@rickpowanda3100 23 күн бұрын

Well about that assassin of emperors dude: Felix is a cognomen. Here it is seemingly a nickname like "Africanus" was to Scipio. Felix translates to "lucky" so maybe within the network he was known as that but among the hoi polloi he didn't have/use/reveal that cognomen. More speculation but reading it that way is interesting.

@zo-minamotoclan8472 24 күн бұрын

EARLY, GLORY TO THE EMPIRE!

@lazyguy3081 24 күн бұрын

When’s the evolution of the Roman Army part 2 coming out?!?!? We have been waiting for a long long time.

@honestlordcommissarbrighte7921 24 күн бұрын

Shut up

@Lassisvulgaris 23 күн бұрын

@@honestlordcommissarbrighte7921 Grumpy, are we...?

@jackthunderbolt4307 17 күн бұрын

Forst off, love the vid. But when are we getting Mali knights part 2?

@pakshirajan8585 24 күн бұрын

Please make a video on Kingdom of Travancore

@Dethmeister 24 күн бұрын

Make a video about the elite Futanari.

@BinbrookPaintball 22 күн бұрын

With the new Pharoah update some more bronze age content would be awesome!

@CharlieCandy. 24 күн бұрын

On the list of Greats my dudes.

@dk6024 24 күн бұрын

KZfaq premium kicks Spotify out the third floor window.

@stevenvail6277 14 күн бұрын

It makes sense that those who forage for food to supply the army would have the dual role to also collect intelligence while out collecting grain and cattle from local inhabitants.

@Art-is-craft 7 күн бұрын

They are not foraging. They are part of the market system.

@zddxddyddw 15 күн бұрын

Are you planning to do any videos on more obscure units of history? Like Latin American and Pre-Columbian units. In Argentina we had units like the mounted grenadiers or General Guemes' infernals during the independence wars, who protected the country from Spanish attempts to invade from the north.

@martino7263 24 күн бұрын

At 17:17 there are candles but those are a medieval invention. Romans used oil lamps.

@WallNutBreaker524 19 күн бұрын

Though I've started to have such great dislike and even hate for website's and platforms like KZfaq due to the many annoying or bad or dumb thing's they've done or continue to do. I do love that we can get high quality content like this for free. 😊

@riverraven7359 24 күн бұрын

Being a provisions officer does give a reasonable explanation for why an individual would be moving around independently from the unit and speaking to well informed or connected people. Dont forget that the Soviet Union called its political officers Comissars too.

@ipeteagles 24 күн бұрын

cool

@1chaplain 24 күн бұрын

Ave. True to Caesar

@patrickdusablon2789 13 күн бұрын

Regarding intelligence-gathering, given the Frumentarii were responsible for grain supply, they would be in almost constant contact with grain merchants/brokers and farmers, carters and the like. Those people travel or talk with people who travel and could prove to be very useful HUMINT assets, little different from how a modern infantry patrol in Afghanistan or Iraq would have chats with locals in villages and at checkpoints to learn what they could about their local situation. And conversely, because of their frequent contacts with the local populations, it makes sense they'd be used for a lot of those varied tasks and special projects, especially if they're known to be dealing fairly and having established a trust relationship with the locals.

@GustavoMaldonadoFidalgo 24 күн бұрын

please make a video about the Marcomannic wars

@KeithPrince-cp3me 3 күн бұрын

Frumentatio means foraging, frumentator, a forager, presumably from searching out or collecting grain, though it attained a wider meaning, general foraging for food or resources and then foraging or collecting useful or important information.

@davetremaine9688 24 күн бұрын

8:02 And to think I thought it was already kinda difficult to pronounce "frumentarii." I also find myself making these 20 min videos last 45 minutes because everytime I see a word like "peregrinorum," I'm like "that's gotta be related to peregrine falcons, right?" Turns out peregrine falcons were usually caught during migration, and not just from their normal habitat and "peregrinus" meant "coming from foreign parts," or simply "migratory" or "foreign"

@mojewjewjew4420 16 күн бұрын

Where are you from? Murican?

@davetremaine9688 16 күн бұрын

@@mojewjewjew4420 Yessir

@mojewjewjew4420 16 күн бұрын

@@davetremaine9688 Well americans aren't exactly known for their language skills, for me personally as latin its not hard to understand most words but not all, some have changed meaning or are rarely used due to English mixing, we call it Romgleză,we still use frumenta which is to ground for example grain, so frumentarii is close enough to grain collectors who probably ground them too.

@davetremaine9688 16 күн бұрын

@@mojewjewjew4420 it was really the double “i” on the end that was the only sticking point. Very unnatural for two separate “e” sounds back to back for an English speaker. Probably similar to how some English speakers can’t roll the “r’s” in Spanish.

@mojewjewjew4420 16 күн бұрын

@@davetremaine9688 Its interesting seeing new perspectives, in my language we dont see i as e, nor is 2 i unnatural, in fact if you have a hard time with 2,we have words with 3 i,in fact romanian is unique in that words are read as written, this makes it for us monstrous languages like English, where sometimes the pronunciation is far different from the spelling, especially words English borrowed. English truly needs a reform and special letters, an english/irish channel did a video on this.

@erasamus1057 16 күн бұрын

so I pay for yt premium and what do they do?..... add ads to the actual videos wtf

@mango2005 24 күн бұрын

under Caesars eye

@johngaelnox5447 24 күн бұрын

"Vulpes! Bring your femboy ahh here, a new Ancient Rome video just dropped!"

@mojewjewjew4420 16 күн бұрын

Wtf there were no femboys in FNV, to the cross with you!

@williamburroughs9686 22 күн бұрын

Every time I hear you say that word. I keep thinking of fermentation. Also since some of them delt with grain. I was wondering if they had anything to do with brewing things like beer? Also by your description. It sounds like these people were more of a special task force of services. Spying and info seems to be a minor role in their skill set.

@gomuslim6 21 күн бұрын

Ngl, the title's first part had me thinking this video was about yards, furlongs and ounces etc.

@TishaHayes 23 күн бұрын

I prefer these deep dives in to real world events rather than klingons vs. romulans or imperium vs. fremen, speculative stuff. Good job on this one.

@anthemanatheme1638 23 күн бұрын

Ave, True to Caesar

@Fatherofheroesandheroines 15 күн бұрын

Ok dont watch this at 3:50 am or you too you will think the title was Frutymantooi, lol. Rome's usage of spies and assassins is worthy of a series of noir style mystery books.

@Luftpvp 24 күн бұрын

Woot

@jbarral6509 24 күн бұрын

Can you also add subtitles please

@notlayjeno6258 3 күн бұрын

a grain of truth

@confusedspartan3525 24 күн бұрын

Nice, can I avail your code even though I'm already premium?

@ThePatriarchXCI91 7 күн бұрын

Edward Sallow liked this video

@mojewjewjew4420 16 күн бұрын

No mention of FNV? Expect a visit from Vulpes Inculta.

@VictorIV0310 24 күн бұрын

Balam Industries sponsored field trip.

@3_am___ 24 күн бұрын

Officio Assassinorum vibe

@unclesam5230 24 күн бұрын

FOR THE EMPEROR!

@gratefulguy4130 10 күн бұрын

"And so the Courier/Grain Officer who escaped death outside of Pomeii escaped death once again, and the Roman Empire was forever changed..."

@JozefLucifugeKorzeniowski 24 күн бұрын

i can't, in good conscience, directly give money to youtube for premium. they support history they're comfortable with here and censor history they aren't comfortable with (like anything regarding the events of summer 2001 and the gwot, events that are 20+ years old now and drastically in need of examining, preserving, and developing a common consensus on) there. i can, however, just give you money directly and i like that option better. BTW i'm not alleging anything different happened summer 2001 than what you would find in the official report. that report is incredibly thorough and was compiled before you could get an Ai script to write most of it for you. plus that report takes swings at living people you cant take swings at unless youre congress or a supreme court judge. people who were still the hegemon when the report was made.

@adamslicer2020 8 күн бұрын

I like the song, but I side with the Dominion Tank Police on this. Damn girls ran the red lights.

@user-wu7ug4ly3v 10 күн бұрын

I think the translation of peregrinus as foreigner is OK but it also has a connotation of traveller. As such I think that pilgrim is a better translation and one which matches the use of the word in modern Romance languages. The “pilgrimage” here should not have any religious connotation, however as it might in some modern settings.

@Guyonthefencewillbepostingsoon 24 күн бұрын

These Frumentarii would play a key role in Orwellian (Totalitarian Dystopian) Rome.

@bobrobinson1576 22 күн бұрын

That frumentarius looks suspiciously like Liam Neeson.

@erieperry8241 23 күн бұрын

Ave! True to Ceasar!

@hummussapien7.6billion68 19 күн бұрын

Can you do a true size of the ww2 American military?

@julianmartinez3048 22 күн бұрын

Spying and assasination were done very informally, usually recruiting locals or bribing malcontents. Many of the enemy chieftain assasinations were carried away by bribed traitors, as in the case of Viriatus, and some other more. The frumentarii looks more like an internal affairs section of the roman army.

@Nipah.Auauau 24 күн бұрын

19:58 huh...that sounds strangely familiar for some reason...?

@jesseberg3271 24 күн бұрын

The idea that there's a difference between representing the Emperor's Will and enforcing the law was deliberately blured by the Roman Emperors.

@ImagineMySurprise510 24 күн бұрын

The description of the activities of the Frumentarii reminded me of how FEMA works today in shaking down victims of disasters for anything of value they may have.

@baswar 23 күн бұрын

I wonder if part of the issue with working out ancient espionage is our own romanticised pop culture around spies. Espionage seems a logical evolution from soldiers who seem to be basically postmen. If they are carrying the mail for governors and generals anyway then why not read it, then tell the emperor what you read via another member of the unit. While assassination seems an evolution of law enforcement which in term seems natural for soldiers who have freedom to move around

@alfrancisbuada2591 22 күн бұрын

Every empire had its assassins. If you were to do the dirty work, then make sure you leave no trace and keep a strict vow of silence.

@thecourier9290 23 күн бұрын

AVE, TRUE TO CAESAR

@kaybevang536 23 күн бұрын

Ave. TRUE TO CAESAR!!!!

@dariustiapula 22 күн бұрын

Litterally the origin off the IRS.

@raynightshade8317 24 күн бұрын

So then what are Arcani

@DavidLee-kg5dl 21 күн бұрын

sounds like council spectres from mass effect

@Lightspectre1 19 күн бұрын

Video on assassins... bad timing.

@monegal1 22 күн бұрын

The frumentarii first spied enemy lands looking for grain stores the legions could steal, hence their later role as intelligence agents

@Art-is-craft 7 күн бұрын

That was not what they did. They wear part of the grain market. The Roman Empire was a massive producer of grains.

@delphinazizumbo8674 24 күн бұрын

Blade Runners?

@SB-qm5wg 22 күн бұрын

When have secret police not become too powerful.

@johnfrawley5706 24 күн бұрын

sounds like a quartermasters unit

@ililililili9726 23 күн бұрын

So... Legalized mafia.

@delphinazizumbo8674 24 күн бұрын

The Postman?

@pyeitme508 24 күн бұрын

Wow 😳, so somewhat Assassin's Creed stuff albeit for Rome 😂

@chrisnewhard5863 24 күн бұрын

Ngl, it sounds like you're conflating several distinct roles/duties into a single position. It's kind of like seeing "officer" in the modern day and conflating the average cop with a marine and a weekend warrior of the US army corps of engineers. I get having to spice things up for KZfaq, but this seems to be pushing the line when it comes to drawing a concrete picture.

@guyeswanson7958 24 күн бұрын

That’s actually the point. They started as nation wide logistics service overseen by trusted military leaders and evolved over the millenia of romes history into an empire wide information network reporting to highest ranks of Roman society. Initially as tax collectors, hunters and grain counters, becoming scouts, diplomats and spies, as individuals left millitary service to enter civilian life they would be adopted and adapted into local police forces until their value working within borders was noted and turned into a high level police service. You’re right to think it looks conflated, because Rome was a millitary state and actuvely conflated its own roles. If it worked on the frontier, if it worked in the army, they would try to make it work for society. The very reason people would make that sssumption of officers, is because that’s the right assumption. Police forces stem from town guards which stem from retained millitary personnel outside of campaign. Being a captain was once the act of owning a ship with naval officers eventuating in history after land militaries formalised the idea of officers at sea. Offficer does in fact mean officer, just like frumwntari definetly always meant frumentari. You’re watching a history video covering an intelligence service from over a thousand years ago, shouldn’t you be interested in the history of that