Ala I Augusta Germaniciana

The Ala I Augusta Germaniciana ( German 1st Augustan Ala des Germanicus ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions. In the inscriptions ( AE 1914, 128 , CIL 3, 6822 ) it is referred to as Ala Augusta Germanica .

Name components

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

Germaniciana : of Germanicus . The honorary designation was presumably awarded when the unit accompanied Germanicus on his journey to the east of the Roman Empire around 18/19 AD.

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 probably set up during the reign of Augustus and was then stationed in the east of the Roman Empire, where it is first documented by the inscription ( AE 1914, 128 ) around 54/68 AD in the province of Cappadocia et Cilicia .

A military diploma first demonstrated it in 94 in the province of Cappadocia . The diploma lists the Ala as part of the troops (see Roman Forces in Cappadocia ) that were stationed in the province. Another diploma, dated 99, proves the unity in the province of Galatia et Cappadocia . The Ala was not among the units that Arrian mobilized for his campaign against the Alans (Ἔκταξις κατὰ Ἀλάνοον) around 135.

The last evidence of the unit is based on the inscription ( AE 1972, 592 ), which is dated 161/180.

Locations

Locations of the Ala are not known.

Members of the Ala

The following members of the Ala are known:

Commanders

L (ucius) Calpurnius Frugi, a prefect ( CIL 3, 6821 , CIL 3, 6831 )

Μαρκος Σε [] προνιος Αλβανος, a επαρχος

Others

Ael (ius) Vict (or), a rider ( AE 1976, 666 )
Aureli (us) Marcellinus, a horseman ( AE 1976, 666 )

Dometus, a Decurio ( AE 1976, 666 )

Remarks

↑ The scenario given here follows the explanations of Michael Alexander Speidel . It assumes a unit called Ala I Augusta Germaniciana , which was continuously stationed in the east of the Roman Empire. John Spaul , on the other hand, assumes that the unit appears under various names in military diplomas and inscriptions.

Individual evidence

^ ^A ^b ^c Michael Alexander Speidel : The Development of the Roman Forces in Northeastern Anatolia. New evidence for the history of the exercitus Cappadocicus. , Special print from: MA Speidel, Heer und Herrschaft im Römischen Reich der Hohen Kaiserzeit, Stuttgart 2009, pp. 595–631, here pp. 604–605, 609 ( online ).

↑ Military diplomas of the years 94 ( RMM 7 ) and 99 ( ZPE-192-238 ).

↑ John EH Spaul: Ala. The Auxiliary Cavalry Units of the Pre-Diocletianic Imperial Roman Army. Nectoreca Press, Andover 1994, ISBN 0-9525062-0-3 , pp. 137-139.

[GE1-2] The scenario given here follows the explanations of Michael Alexander Speidel . It assumes a unit called Ala I Augusta Germaniciana , which was continuously stationed in the east of the Roman Empire. John Spaul , on the other hand, assumes that the unit appears under various names in military diplomas and inscriptions.

[mas-1] A ^b ^c Michael Alexander Speidel : The Development of the Roman Forces in Northeastern Anatolia. New evidence for the history of the exercitus Cappadocicus. , Special print from: MA Speidel, Heer und Herrschaft im Römischen Reich der Hohen Kaiserzeit, Stuttgart 2009, pp. 595–631, here pp. 604–605, 609 ( online ).