A sense of the size of the actual Roman army may be found in the study of the Notitia Dignitatum by A.H.M. Jones. This document is a list of officials and military units that was last updated in the first decades of the fifth century. The Notitia Dignitatum lists 58 regular units, and 33 limitanei serving either in the Gallic provinces or on the frontiers nearby; the total of these units, based on Jones' analysis, is 34,000 for the regular units and 11,500 for the limitanei, or just under 46,000 all told. This figure is an estimate for the years 395–425 and one that changes with new research. The loss of the Western Roman provinces in North Africa resulted in the loss of funding for 40,000 infantry and 20,000 cavalry in the Roman army, in addition to previous losses, which was enough to permanently cripple Roman military capacity after 439 AD. According to Herwig Wolfram, with an annual revenue of 40,000 pounds of gold in 450 AD, the Western Empire would have had to spend almost two thirds of its income to maintain an army of 30,000 men. Hugh Elton gives the same figure in 450, but estimates the cost of maintaining an army of 300,000 at 31,625 lbs. of gold or 7.6 solidi a year per soldier. He states that there were also other unquantifiable military costs such as defensive installations, equipment, supplies, paper, animals and other costs. The size of the army in 450 AD therefore must have been significantly reduced from its status in the late 420s. Schultheis argues that the Roman field army as calculated from his own estimates of the Notitia Dignitatum, chronology of military losses, and income losses numbered approximately 20,500 comitatenses and 18,000 limitanei by the time of the battle, not including supernumerary officers.
a sENse of tHe sIZE Of THe ACtUaL romAn army may be found In thE stUdY of thE NOTiTIA DIgnItAtuM bY a.h.m. JoNeS. thIs dOCUMenT iS A List of offiCiALS aNd miliTary uNITS that was last updateD IN the first DEcades Of The Fifth CenturY. the noTItIa digNitAtum lIsts 58 rEgUlAr UNits, AnD 33 lImiTanei sErving EitHer iN The gallic proViNces oR On tHe frONTIErs neArbY; tHe totAL oF theSE UnitS, BaSeD on jonES' Analysis, iS 34,000 foR ThE rEguLaR uNits And 11,500 fOr The liMitanei, oR juST undEr 46,000 All told. thIs figure Is an estImate for tHE YEars 395–425 And onE thaT ChaNgES wItH new ReSeaRCh. The loss oF thE westERn Roman pRovinCes iN NorTH afriCa reSulted in the losS of fuNDinG for 40,000 inFantry and 20,000 cavalry in thE rOman army, In aDdITion to previous loSSEs, which was enougH To PermaNEnTlY crIPpLe rOmAn milItAry capacIty after 439 ad. aCcorDing tO herwIg wolfraM, With An anNuaL revenUE of 40,000 pOunDs oF GOLD In 450 ad, The wesTeRn emPire wOuld have had to spend ALmost tWo THiRdS of iTs incomE To mainTain an armY of 30,000 MEn. HugH elton gives The samE Figure in 450, buT EstiMatEs tHE cosT of mAIntAIninG an aRmy of 300,000 at 31,625 lbs. oF gold oR 7.6 solidI A YEAR PeR SoLDiEr. He statEs thAT THERe were Also OTher UnquAntifiaBle MilItaRY cosTs SUch as dEfensive INstalLations, equIpmenT, sUPplieS, paper, animals and OTher costs. the siZe of tHe army In 450 ad therEfore MuSt HAVe BEEn signifIcanTlY reduCed froM its sTAtuS In tHE LAte 420S. Schultheis argues That The ROMAn FieLd army as caLcuLAted fRom his oWn estimates of the notitia dIgnitAtUM, chronOLogY oF mIliTary LOsses, aND IncoMe losseS numbered apProXimately 20,500 comITatenSEs and 18,000 LimitANEi by thE tIMe Of the battle, Not incluDing suPErnuMerArY offICers.