Ala Gallorum Petriana

The tombstone of Flavinus in Hexham Abbey ( RIB 1172 )

The votive altar of Fittio ( CIL 13, 11605 )

An inscription in honor of the Ala Petriana from Carlisle

The Ala Gallorum Petriana [milliaria] [civium Romanorum] [bis torquata] ( German  Ala the Gauls of Petra [1000 men] [the Roman citizens] [awarded twice with torques ] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions. In an inscription she is referred to as Ala Augusta Petriana ; in other inscriptions, in the military diplomas of 124 and 135, as well as in the Notitia dignitatum as Ala Petriana .

Name components

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

• Gallorum : the Gaul . The soldiers of the Ala were recruited from the various tribes of the Gauls when the unit was formed.

• Petriana : of Petra. The Gauls' cavalry units were often named after one of their first commanders. Titus Pomponius Petra is named here as the namesake .

• milliaria : 1000 men. The unit was probably originally an Ala quingenaria with a nominal strength of 480 men. By 122 AD at the latest, however , it had been expanded to become an Ala milliaria . The addition appears in military diplomas from 122 to 135 and in two inscriptions.

• civium Romanorum : the Roman citizen. The soldiers of the unit had been granted Roman citizenship at one point in time. However, this did not apply to soldiers who were accepted into the unit after this point in time. They received Roman citizenship only with their honorable farewell ( Honesta missio ) after 25 years of service. The addition appears in military diplomas from 98 to 127 and in three inscriptions.

• ( bis ) torquata : (twice) awarded with torques . The addition appears in three inscriptions.

The unit was an ala milliaria . The nominal strength of the Ala was 720 men, consisting of 24 towers with 30 riders each.

history

The Ala was stationed in the provinces of Germania and Britannia (in that order). It is listed on military diplomas for the years AD 98-135. Tacitus mentions the unity in his Historiae (Book I, Chapter 70) as Ala Petriana .

In the 1st century AD, the unit was initially stationed in the province of Germania , where it is evidenced by an inscription dated 55. At an unspecified point in time (possibly under Quintus Petillius Cerialis around 71/74), the Ala was relocated to the province of Britannia , where it is first proven by a diploma dated to 98. The diploma lists the Ala as part of the troops (see Roman Forces in Britannia ) that were stationed in the province. Other diplomas, dated 122 to 135, prove unity in the same province.

The unit is mentioned for the last time in the Notitia dignitatum with the name Ala Petriana for the Petrianis location. It was part of the troops under the command of the Dux Britanniarum , under the direction of a prefect .

Locations

Locations of the Ala in Germania were possibly:

• Mogontiacum ( Mainz ): an inscription was found here.

Locations of the Ala in Britannia may have been:

• Coria ( Corbridge ): an inscription was found here.
• Luguvalium ( Carlisle ): an inscription was found here.
• Petrianis (Stanwix at Carlisle ): an inscription was found here. In addition, the unit is listed in the Notitia dignitatum for that location.
• Voreda (Old Penrith): an inscription was found here.

Members of the Ala

The following members of the Ala are known:

Commanders

[] Luca, a prefect ( RIB 957 ) Gaius Camurius Clemens , a prefect

C (aius) Iulius Augurinus, a prefect ( CIL 13, 6820 )

Others

[] gadunus, a veteran ( RIB 935 ) Candidus, a Decurio ( RIB 1172 ) Fittio, a horseman ( CIL 13, 11605 )

Flavinus, a Signifer ( RIB 1172 ) I () Brutus, a Decurio ( RIB 2383 * ) Sentius Niger, a Decurio ( AE 1990, 775 )

See also

• List of Roman auxiliary units
• Roman forces in Britannia

Web links

Commons : Ala Gallorum Petriana  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• 2526 - ala Petriana. Roman Inscriptions of Britain (RIB), accessed July 19, 2019 . 

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

1. ↑ According to John Spaul, the unit's original name may have been Ala Pomponiana .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Inscription ( RIB 957 )
2. ↑ inscriptions ( AE 1990, 775 , CIL 11, 5669 , CIL 13, 11605 , RIB 935 , RIB 1172 )
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e} John EH Spaul , Ala², pp. 180-182.
4. ↑ inscriptions with milliaria ( CIL 11, 5669 , RIB 957 )
5. ↑ Inscriptions with civium Romanorum ( AE 1990, 775 , CIL 11, 5669 , RIB 957 )
6. ↑ Inscriptions with torquata ( AE 1990, 775 , RIB 957 ) or up to torquata ( CIL 11, 5669 )
7. ^ Jörg Scheuerbrandt : Exercitus. Tasks, organization and command structure of Roman armies during the imperial era. Dissertation, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau 2003/2004, p. 157 Table 1 ( PDF ).
8. ↑ Military diplomas of the years 98 ( CIL 16, 43 ), 122 ( AE 2008, 800 , CIL 16, 69 , RMD 5, 360 ), 124 ( CIL 16, 70 ), 127 ( RMD 4, 240 ), 130/131 ( ZPE-156-246 ) and 135 ( CIL 16, 82 ).
9. ↑ ^{a b} Inscription from Mogontiacum ( CIL 13, 6820 )
10. ^ Notitia dignitatum in partibus Occidentis XL ( online ).
11. ↑ Inscription from Coria ( RIB 1172 )
12. ↑ Inscription from Luguvalium ( RIB 957 )
13. ↑ Inscription from Petrianis ( RIB-02-01, 02411,084 )
14. ↑ Inscription from Voreda ( RIB 935 )