Ala I Flavia
The Ala I Flavia [felix] [Numidica] [Gordiana] [Philippiana] [Severiana] ( German 1. Flavian Ala [the lucky] [the Numid] [the Gordian] [the Philippian] [the Severian] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions. In the inscriptions she is mostly referred to as Ala Flavia ; in the inscription ( CIL 3, 388 ) it appears as Ala Numidica .
Name components
- Flavia : the Flavian. The honorary designation refers to the Flavian emperors Vespasian , Titus or Domitian .
- felix : the lucky one. The addition occurs in the military diploma of 129 and the inscription ( AE 1992, 1858 ).
- Numidica : from Numidia or the Numidic. The addition appears in the military diploma of 129 and the inscriptions ( CIL 3, 388 , CIL 6, 3654 ).
- Gordiana : the Gordian. A title of honor that refers to Gordian III. (238-244) refers. The addition appears in the inscription ( AE 1992, 1858 ).
- Philippiana : the Philippian. An honorary title that refers to Philip Arabs (244–249). The addition appears in the inscription ( AE 1985, 849 ).
- Severiana : the Severian. An honorary title that refers to Severus Alexander (222-235). The addition appears in the inscription ( AE 1929, 70 ).
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 Africa and Numidia . It is listed on military diplomas for the years 128/129 to 129 AD.
The unit was probably set up under one of the Flavian emperors. She was stationed in the province of Africa by the end of the 1st century at the latest . It is documented for the first time in Africa by a diploma in 128/129 . In the diploma, the Ala is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Forces in Africa ) that were stationed in the province. Another diploma, dated 129, proves unity in the same province.
The Ala was used in all the Roman provinces of western North Africa. An inscription proves that the unit (or a vexillation of the same) 174 stayed in El-Agueneb ( Mauretania Caesariensis ). Another inscription suggests that a vexillation was in Tingis ( Mauretania Tingitana ) at an unspecified time . In the first half of the 3rd century the Ala may have been divided for some time; Vexillations in several places are documented by inscriptions.
The last evidence of the Ala is based on the inscription ( AE 1985, 849 ), which is dated to 248.
Locations
Locations of the Ala in Africa (or Numidia ) were possibly:
- Zarai : The inscriptions of Gaius Asinius Felix , Gargilius Silvanus and Lucius Volcacius were found here.
Members of the Ala
The following members of the Ala are known:
Commanders
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Others
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In the inscription ( AE 1929, 70 ) the following six tabs are listed:
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In the inscription ( AE 1940, 154 ) the following nine tabs are listed:
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See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Florian Matei-Popescu: Two military diplomas hadrianischer Zeit In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik (ZPE) Volume 190 (2014), pp. 297–304, here pp. 298–300.
- ^ 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. 99 ( PDF p. 101 ).
- ↑ Military diplomas of the years 128/129 ( RMD 5, 373 ) and 129 ( ZPE-190-297 ).
- ^ A b c 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. 107-110.