Ala Gallorum et Thracum Antiana

The military diploma of the year 139 ( CIL 16, 87 )

The Ala Gallorum et Thracum Antiana [sagittariorum or sagittaria] ( German Ala the Gauls and the Thracians of Antius [the archers] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions. In the military diplomas for Syria Palestine , she is referred to as Ala Antiana Gallorum et Thracum .

Name components

Ala : The Ala was a cavalry unit of the auxiliary troops in the Roman army .

Gallorum et Thracum : the Gauls and the Thracians . When the unit was set up, the soldiers of the Ala were probably initially recruited from the various tribes of the Gauls. Probably around AD 26, a large number of Thracians were admitted to the unit after a rebellion in Thrace was put down.

Antiana : of Antius. The Ala was probably set up by C. Antius , a staff officer of Germanicus , and named after him. This probably happened around 16 AD when Publius Vitellius and C. Antius carried out a census in Gaul .

sagittariorum or sagittaria : the archer. The addition occurs in the military diplomas of 160.

Since there is no reference to the addition of milliaria (1000 men) to the name , the unit was an Ala quingenaria . The nominal strength of the Ala was 480 men, consisting of 16 towers with 30 riders each.

history

The Ala was stationed in the provinces of Syria and Syria Palestine (in that order). It is listed on military diplomas for the years 54 to 186 AD.

The unit presumably participated in the suppression of an uprising in Thrace at 26 and was subsequently transferred to the province of Syria . The first evidence in the province is based on a diploma dated 54. In the diploma, the Ala is listed as part of the troops (see Roman forces in Syria ) that were stationed in the province. Other diplomas, dated from 88 to 93, prove unity in the same province.

The Ala was relocated to the province of Iudaea (later Syria Palestine ) at an unspecified time . The first evidence of unity in Syria Palestine is based on a diploma dated 136/137. Other diplomas, dated from 139 to 186, prove the Ala in the same province.

The unit is mentioned for the last time in the Notitia dignitatum with the name Ala Antana dromedariorum for the Admatha location. She was part of the troops that were under the command of the Dux Palaestinae .

Locations

Locations of the Ala in Syria Palestine were possibly:

Admatha: The unit is listed in the Notitia dignitatum for this location.
Scythopolis ( Bet She'an ): the inscription of Flavius Ulpianus was found in Bet She'an. Presumably his tower was stationed there.

Members of the Ala

The following members of the Ala are known:

Commanders

Gaius Cornelius Vessonianus : he is named on the diploma of 142 as a commander.
Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo : he is named on the diploma of 151/154 as a commander.
M (arcus) Iuliu [s]: he is named on the diploma of 147 as a commander.

Marcus Milonius Verus Junianus : he is named on the diploma of 54 as a commander.
Peducaeus Marcianus : he is named on a diploma of 160 as a commander.

Others

[?], a soldier: the diploma of 151/154 was issued for him.
C (aius) Sertorius, a Missicius ( AE 1991, 1427 )
Celsus, a soldier: the diploma of 142 was issued to him.

Fl (avius) Ulpianus, a Decurio ( AE 1990, 1013 )
Romaesta, a rider: the diploma of 54 was issued to him.
Serpodius, a soldier: a diploma of 160 ( RMD 3, 173 ) was issued to him.

Web links

Commons : Ala Gallorum et Thracum Antiana - Collection of images, videos and audio files

literature

John EH Spaul : Ala². The Auxiliary Cavalry Units of the Pre-Diocletianic Imperial Roman Army. Nectoreca Press, Andover 1994, ISBN 0-9525062-0-3 .

Remarks

↑ According to John EH Spaul, this hypothesis was proposed by some historians (such as Ernst Stein ), but rejected by others (such as Eric Birley ).
↑ According to Rosa Last, there are two possible dates: either around 120, when a legion was moved from Syria to Iudaea , or the period from 132 to 135, when further units were needed in Iudaea as a result of the Bar Kochba uprising . According to Florian Matei-Popescu and John EH Spaul, the ala was moved to Iudaea during the Bar Kochba uprising.
↑ According to Rosa Last and Margaret M. Roxan , the Ala Antana dromedariorum is identical to the Ala Gallorum et Thracum Antiana ; according to John EH Spaul this is not the case.

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Florian Matei-Popescu: The Roman military diploma discovered at Atmageaua Tătărască - Sarsânlar (Zafirovo, Bulgaria) In: Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 22 (2) , pp. 137–148, here pp. 142, 144 ( PDF ).
↑ ^a ^b ^c John EH Spaul , Ala², pp. 27-28.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Rosa Last, Alla Stein: Ala Antiana in Scythopolis. A new Inscription from Beth Shean. In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik (ZPE), Volume 81 (1990), pp. 224–228, here pp. 225–227 ( PDF ).
↑ Military diplomas of the years 54 ( CIL 16, 3 ), 88 ( RMD 1, 3 , RMD 5, 329 , RMD 5, 330 ), 91 ( AE 2006, 1842 , AE 2006, 1843 , ZPE-183-234 ), 93 ( ZPE-165-219 ), 136/137 ( RMD 3, 160 ), 139 ( CIL 16, 87 ), 142 ( RMM 29 ), 147 ( SCI-2016-92 ), 149/161 ( RMD 1, 60 ) , 151/154 ( SCI-2016-85 ), 158 ( ZPE-159-283 ), 160 ( AE 2005, 1730 , AE 2011, 1810 , RMD 3, 173 , RMM 41 ) and 186 ( RMD 1, 69 )
^ Jörg Scheuerbrandt : Exercitus. Tasks, organization and command structure of Roman armies during the imperial era. Dissertation, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau 2003/2004, pp. 172–173 Tables 14–15 ( PDF ).
^ Notitia dignitatum in partibus Orientis XXXIV ( online ).
^ Margaret M. Roxan : Roman Military Diplomas 1954–1977 (= University of London, Institute of Archeology. Occasional Publications, Volume 2). Institute of Archeology, London 1978, pp. 90-91, no. 69, note 3.
↑ Margaret M. Roxan: Pre-Severan auxilia named in the Notitia Dignitatum In: British Archaeological Reports , Volume 15 (1976), pp. 59-80, here pp. 62, 73 (Table II, No. 10).
↑ Werner Eck , Andreas Pangerl: A constitution for the army of Syria Palestine from the middle of the Antonine rule with an auxiliary prefect Cn. Domitius Corbulo In: Scripta Classica Israelica , Volume XXXV (2016), pp. 85–95, here pp. 89–90 ( online ).
↑ Werner Eck: To military inscriptions in Roman Iudaea. Epigraphic preparatory work for CIIP In: ZPE, Volume 197 (2016), pp. 231–240, here pp. 233–235 ( online ).

[NA1-4] According to John EH Spaul, this hypothesis was proposed by some historians (such as Ernst Stein ), but rejected by others (such as Eric Birley ).

[GE1-7] According to Rosa Last, there are two possible dates: either around 120, when a legion was moved from Syria to Iudaea , or the period from 132 to 135, when further units were needed in Iudaea as a result of the Bar Kochba uprising . According to Florian Matei-Popescu and John EH Spaul, the ala was moved to Iudaea during the Bar Kochba uprising.

[GE2-11] According to Rosa Last and Margaret M. Roxan , the Ala Antana dromedariorum is identical to the Ala Gallorum et Thracum Antiana ; according to John EH Spaul this is not the case.

[fmp-1] Florian Matei-Popescu: The Roman military diploma discovered at Atmageaua Tătărască - Sarsânlar (Zafirovo, Bulgaria) In: Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 22 (2) , pp. 137–148, here pp. 142, 144 ( PDF ).

[jsp-2] John EH Spaul , Ala², pp. 27-28.

[rl-3] Rosa Last, Alla Stein: Ala Antiana in Scythopolis. A new Inscription from Beth Shean. In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik (ZPE), Volume 81 (1990), pp. 224–228, here pp. 225–227 ( PDF ).

[MD-5] Military diplomas of the years 54 ( CIL 16, 3 ), 88 ( RMD 1, 3 , RMD 5, 329 , RMD 5, 330 ), 91 ( AE 2006, 1842 , AE 2006, 1843 , ZPE-183-234 ), 93 ( ZPE-165-219 ), 136/137 ( RMD 3, 160 ), 139 ( CIL 16, 87 ), 142 ( RMM 29 ), 147 ( SCI-2016-92 ), 149/161 ( RMD 1, 60 ) , 151/154 ( SCI-2016-85 ), 158 ( ZPE-159-283 ), 160 ( AE 2005, 1730 , AE 2011, 1810 , RMD 3, 173 , RMM 41 ) and 186 ( RMD 1, 69 )

[js-6] Jörg Scheuerbrandt : Exercitus. Tasks, organization and command structure of Roman armies during the imperial era. Dissertation, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau 2003/2004, pp. 172–173 Tables 14–15 ( PDF ).

[ND-8] Notitia dignitatum in partibus Orientis XXXIV ( online ).

[mmr1-9] Margaret M. Roxan : Roman Military Diplomas 1954–1977 (= University of London, Institute of Archeology. Occasional Publications, Volume 2). Institute of Archeology, London 1978, pp. 90-91, no. 69, note 3.

[mmr2-10] Margaret M. Roxan: Pre-Severan auxilia named in the Notitia Dignitatum In: British Archaeological Reports , Volume 15 (1976), pp. 59-80, here pp. 62, 73 (Table II, No. 10).

[we1-12] Werner Eck , Andreas Pangerl: A constitution for the army of Syria Palestine from the middle of the Antonine rule with an auxiliary prefect Cn. Domitius Corbulo In: Scripta Classica Israelica , Volume XXXV (2016), pp. 85–95, here pp. 89–90 ( online ).

[we2-13] Werner Eck: To military inscriptions in Roman Iudaea. Epigraphic preparatory work for CIIP In: ZPE, Volume 197 (2016), pp. 231–240, here pp. 233–235 ( online ).