Ala III Augusta Thracum

The military diploma of AD 133 for Pannonia superior ( CIL 16, 76 )

The Ala III Augusta Thracum [sagittariorum or sagittaria] [civium Romanorum] [Claudiana] [Deciana] [Galliana Volusiana] [Gordiana] [Maximiniana] [Philippiana] ( German 3rd Augustan Ala of the Thracians [the archers] [of the Roman citizens] [the Claudian] [the Decian] [the Gallian Volusian] [the Gordian] [the Maximinian] [the Philippian] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions. In the military diploma ( RMD 1, 4 ) she is referred to as Ala III Thracum Augusta .

Name components

Augusta : the Augustan tables. The honorary title refers to Augustus .

Thracum : the Thracian . The soldiers of the Ala were recruited from the Thracian people on the territory of the Roman province of Thrace when the unit was established .

sagittariorum or sagittaria : the archer. The addition occurs in military diplomas from 126 to 154.

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 inscription ( CIL 3, 4625 ).

Claudiana : the Claudian. An honorary title that refers to Claudius Gothicus (268–270). The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 3, 11333 ).

Deciana : the Decian. An honorary title that refers to Decius (249-251). The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 3, 4625 ).

Galliana Volusiana : the Gallian Volusian. A title of honor that refers to Trebonianus Gallus (251-253) and his son Volusianus . The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 3, 4270 ).

Gordiana : the Gordian. A title of honor that refers to Gordian III. (238-244) refers. The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 3, 11332 ).

Maximiniana : the Maximinian. An honorific designation referring to Maximinus Thrax (235-238). The addition appears in the inscription ( ZPE-174-279 ) at a point that was subsequently chiseled out.

Philippiana : the Philippian. An honorary title that refers to Philip Arabs (244–249). The addition occurs in the inscriptions ( CIL 3, 4626 , CIL 3, 4627 , CIL 3, 11334 ).

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 Pannonia superior (in that order). It is listed on military diplomas for the years 88 to 161 AD.

The Ala was probably set up under Augustus and was stationed in Syria in the 1st century AD , where it is first documented by a diploma dated 88. The diploma lists the Ala as part of the troops (see Roman Forces in Syria ) that were stationed in the province. Another diploma, dated 91, proves unity in the same province.

At an unspecified point in time, the unit was relocated to Pannonia superior , where it is first evidenced by a diploma dated 126. The diploma lists the Ala as part of the troops (see Roman Forces in Pannonia ) that were stationed in the province. Further diplomas, dated 133 to 161, prove unity in the same province.

The last evidence of the Ala is based on the inscription ( CIL 3, 11333 ) which is dated to 268.

Locations

Locations of the Ala in Pannonia may have been:

Carnuntum : The tombstone of Ulpius Prosostus was found here.
Odiavum

Members of the Ala

The following members of the Ala are known:

Commanders

Marcus Macrinius Avitus Catonius Vindex , a prefect
Marcus Terentius Quirinalis : he is named on the diploma of 91 as a commander.

M (arcus) Valer (ius) Propinquus Grattius Cerealis, a prefect ( CIL 2, 4251 ). He was also prefect of the Cohors II Asturum and the Ala Phrygum .

Others

C (aius) Iul (ius) Lupercus, a veteran and former Decurio ( CIL 3, 4321 )
C (aius) Kanulanius Nepos, a soldier ( CIL 3, 5332 )
M (arcus) Cocceius Valens, a veteran ( AE 1982, 901 )

Quelse, a soldier: the diploma of 91 was issued to him.
Servilius, a Decurio ( AE 1937, 78 )
Ulp (ius) Prosostus, a horseman ( AE 1937, 78 )

Web links

Commons : Ala III Augusta Thracum - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

^ ^A ^b John EH Spaul: Ala². The Auxiliary Cavalry Units of the Pre-Diocletianic Imperial Roman Army. Nectoreca Press, Andover 1994, ISBN 0-9525062-0-3 , pp. 234-235.
^ 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. 162, 172, tables 6, 14 ( PDF pp. 164, 174 ).
↑ Military diplomas of the years 88 ( CIL 16, 35 ), 91 ( RMD 1, 4 ), 126 ( RMD 4, 236 ), 133 ( CIL 16, 76 , CIL 16, 77 ), 134 ( RMD 4, 250 ), 139 ( ZPE-172-271 ), 146 ( CIL 16, 178 ), 148 ( CIL 16, 96 ), 149 ( CIL 16, 97 ), 150 ( CIL 16, 99 , RMD 4, 273 ), 151 ( RMM 32 ) , 154 ( CIL 16, 104 ), 155/156 ( RMD 5, 416 ), 156/160 ( RMM 42 ), 159 ( AE 2004, 1905 ) and 161 ( RMD 5, 430 ).

[jsp-1] A ^b John EH Spaul: Ala². The Auxiliary Cavalry Units of the Pre-Diocletianic Imperial Roman Army. Nectoreca Press, Andover 1994, ISBN 0-9525062-0-3 , pp. 234-235.

[js-2] 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. 162, 172, tables 6, 14 ( PDF pp. 164, 174 ).

[MD-3] Military diplomas of the years 88 ( CIL 16, 35 ), 91 ( RMD 1, 4 ), 126 ( RMD 4, 236 ), 133 ( CIL 16, 76 , CIL 16, 77 ), 134 ( RMD 4, 250 ), 139 ( ZPE-172-271 ), 146 ( CIL 16, 178 ), 148 ( CIL 16, 96 ), 149 ( CIL 16, 97 ), 150 ( CIL 16, 99 , RMD 4, 273 ), 151 ( RMM 32 ) , 154 ( CIL 16, 104 ), 155/156 ( RMD 5, 416 ), 156/160 ( RMM 42 ), 159 ( AE 2004, 1905 ) and 161 ( RMD 5, 430 ).