formations, the Excubitors long remained a crack fighting force.

The unit was headed by the count of the Excubitors (; ), who was entirely independent of all other officials and subordinated only to the emperor himself. By virtue of his proximity to the emperor, the count of the Excubitors became an official of great importance in the 6th and 7th centuries. This post, which can be traced up to , was usually held by close members of the imperial family, often virtual heirs apparent. Thus it was the