Ala Gemelliana

This article deals with the Ala Gemelliana stationed in the province of Mauretania Tingitana . For the unit stationed in the province of Raetia , see Ala I Flavia Gemelliana .

The military diploma from A.D. 64

The Ala Gemelliana [civium Romanorum] ( German  Ala des Gemellus [the Roman citizen] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas , inscriptions and brick stamps.

Name components

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

• Gemelliana : of the Gemellus. One of the first commanders was likely an otherwise unknown Gemellus , after whom the Ala was named.

• 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 the military diplomas from 114/117 to 156/157.

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 Germania , Pannonia, and Mauretania Tingitana (in that order). It is listed on military diplomas for the years AD 64 to 156/157.

The unit was probably set up in the early 1st century AD, but possibly even before the turn of the century. She was initially stationed in the province of Germania . Under Tiberius (14–37) or Claudius (41–54) it was moved to Pannonia . Relocation to the province of Raetia between 54 and 64 is uncertain.

Between 64 and 88, the Ala was moved to the province of Mauretania Tingitana , where it is first proven by a diploma dated 88. In the diploma, the Ala is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Armed Forces in Mauretania ) that were stationed in the province. Further diplomas, dated 104 to 156/157, prove unity in the same province.

Locations

Locations of the Ala in Germania were possibly:

• Augst : The dedicatory inscription of Tiberius Claudius Andecamulus was found near Augst near Muttenz .

Locations of the Ala in Mauretania Tingitana may have been:

• Thamusida : Bricks marked AL G were found here.

Members of the Ala

The following members of the Ala are known:

Commanders

[] Clemens: he is named on a diploma from 153 ( ZPE-197-243 ) as a commander. [] Cluvius: he is named on the diploma of 104 as a commander. [] Paetus: he is named on the diploma of 118 as a commander.

M (arcus) [], a prefect ( AE 2009, 1795 ) Quintus Pomponius Rufus : he is named on the diploma of 64 as a commander. Tiberius Claudius Iustus : he is named on the diploma of 135 as a commander.

Others

[?], a soldier: a diploma of 153 ( ZPE-197-243 ) was issued to him. Aemilius Flavus, a soldier: the diploma of 135 was issued to him. [Aqu] iloni, a veteran and former Decurio ( AE 1957, 60 ) Cattaus, a soldier: the diploma of 64 was issued to him.

C (aius) Petronius, a veteran ( AE 1909, 200 ) M (arcus) Val (erius) Petao, a Sesquiplicarius ( CIL 8, 24635 ) Tib (erius) Cl (audius) Andecamulus, a veteran and former Decurio ( AE 1992, 1277 ) Valerius Severus, a horseman ( AE 1951, 46 )

See also

• List of Roman auxiliary units
• Roman forces in Mauretania

Web links

Commons : Ala Gemelliana  - 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

1. ↑ The scenario given here follows the explanations of Farkas István Gergő .
2. ↑ Since only the second bronze plaque of the diploma ( CIL 16, 5 ), which is dated June 15, 64, was found, it is not possible to assign the unit to a province using the diploma. An inscription was found in the provinces of Germania and Pannonia , which Farkas István Gergő assigns to the Ala Gemelliana .
3. ↑ ^{a b} John Spaul assigns Caius Petronius and Tiberius Claudius Andecamulus to the Ala I Flavia Gemelliana , while Farkas István Gergő assigns them to the Ala Gemelliana .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Military diplomas of the years 64 ( CIL 16, 5 ), 88 ( CIL 16, 159 ), 104 ( ZPE-146-255 ), 109 ( RMD 2, 84 ), 114/117 ( CIL 16, 165 ), 118 ( CIL 16, 166 ), 122 ( CIL 16, 73 ), 124 ( CIL 16, 171 ), 128/133 ( CIL 16, 173 ), 135 ( RMD 5, 382 ), 153 ( RMD 5, 409 , RMD 5, 410 , RMM 34 , ZPE-153-202 , ZPE-197-243 ) and 156/157 ( CIL 16, 181 ).
2. ↑ ^{a b c} John EH Spaul , Ala², pp. 131-132.
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, p. 176 Table 18 ( PDF p. 178 ).
4. ↑ ^{a b c} Farkas István Gergő: The Roman Army in Raetia Dissertation, University of Pécs Faculty of Humanities 2015, pp. 129, 350 ( PDF pp. 132, 353 ).
5. ↑ Michael Alexander Speidel : Römische Reitertruppen in Augst: A contribution to the early history of the Windischer Heeresverband In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik (ZPE), Volume 91 (1992), pp. 165–175, here pp. 171–173 ( online ).
6. ↑ ^{a b} Niccolò Mugnai: A new military diploma for the troops of Mauretania Tingitana (26 October 153) In: ZPE, Volume 197 (2016), pp 243-248, here pp 246-248 ( Online ).