Ala Gallorum et Thracum Constantium

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

The Ala Gallorum et Thracum Constantium ( German  Ala of the Gauls and Thracians of the steadfast ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions.

Name components

• Gallorum et Thracum : the Gauls and 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.

• Constantium : the steadfast or persistent. According to John Spaul , one would rather expect the form Constantia , which would refer to the unit as a whole. The addition may have been given by Vespasian for the Ala's achievements during the Jewish War .

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 first evidence of unity in the province of Syria 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 88 to 91, prove unity in the same province.

The Ala was relocated to the province of Iudaea (later Syria Palestine ) at an unspecified time . She took part in the suppression of the Bar Kochba uprising under Hadrian . The first evidence of unity in Syria Palestine is based on a diploma dated 139. Other diplomas, dated 142 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 Constantiana for the Toloha 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:

• Toloha: The unit is listed in the Notitia dignitatum for this location.

Members of the Ala

The following members of the Ala are known:

Commanders

Ti (berius) Cl (audius) Subatianus Proculus, a prefect ( AE 1911, 107 ); he was also prefect of the Cohors III Alpinorum and tribune of the Cohors VI Civium Romanorum .

[] A [], a prefect ( CIL 14, 5351 ); he was also tribune of a Cohors IV Gallorum

See also

• List of Roman auxiliary units
• Roman forces in Syria

Web links

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

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} 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 p. 145 ( online ).
2. ^ ^{A b} John Spaul: Ala² The Auxiliary Cavalry Units of the Pre-Diocletianic Imperial Roman Army , Nectoreca Press 1994, ISBN 978-095-250620-1 , p. 96.
3. ^ 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 pp. 174-175 ).
4. ↑ Military diplomas of the years 54 ( CIL 16, 3 ), 88 ( RMD 1, 3 , RMD 5, 329 , RMD 5, 330 ), 91 ( RMD 1, 4 ), 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 )
5. ^ Notitia dignitatum in partibus Orientis 34 ( online ).