Legal Definitions - drungarius

A drungarius was a historical military title used primarily in the Byzantine Empire, referring to a commander of a significant unit of soldiers on land or a commander of a naval squadron at sea.

• Example: During a 9th-century campaign to secure a mountain pass, a Byzantine drungarius was tasked with leading a division of infantry and archers to establish a fortified position against an encroaching enemy.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates the drungarius as a commander of a band of soldiers, specifically a land-based military unit, responsible for a strategic objective.

• Example: In the lead-up to a major naval engagement in the Aegean Sea, a drungarius was appointed to command a flotilla of warships, including several dromons, with the mission of intercepting an enemy supply convoy.

  Explanation: Here, the drungarius serves as a naval commander, overseeing a group of ships in a maritime military operation, demonstrating the term's application to sea forces.