Page "Alemanni" Paragraph 23

Ptolemy's view of Germans in the region indicates that the tribal structure had lost its grip in the Black Forest region and was replaced by a canton structure.

The tribes stayed in the Roman province, perhaps because the Romans offered stability.

Also, Caracalla perhaps felt more comfortable about campaigning in the upper Main because he was not declaring war on any specific historic tribe, such as the Chatti or Cherusci, against whom Rome had suffered grievous losses.

By Caracalla's time the name Alemanni was being used by cantons themselves banding together for purposes of supporting a citizen army ( the " war bands ").