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The ERE/Byzantine army under the Macedonians reached a size of 200,000 soldiers.While its’ understandable that the empire’s ability to raise armies would be impaired by the erosion of the theme system and the loss of territories,much of the land still retained by the Turks following Alexios and Ioannes’ reconquests were those of poorer quality.The richest and most fertile lands had been retaken by the Romans.The size of the Komnenian army however was approximately 50,000 only,and this number apparently includes both the field army and the garrison troops throughout the empire.So the question is why was the army so much smaller,considering the empire needs to defend a much wider border?
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