Ala I Hamiorum

The Ala I Hamiorum [Syrorum] [sagittariorum or sagittaria] ( German  1. Ala from Hama [the Syrian] [the archer] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions.

Name components

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

• I : The Roman number stands for the ordinal number, the first ( Latin prima ). Hence the name of this military unit is pronounced as Ala prima ...

• Hamiorum : from Hama . The Ala soldiers were recruited from the city of Hama and the surrounding area when the unit was set up.

• Syrorum : the Syrian. The addition occurs in military diplomas from 121/122 to 156/157.

• sagittariorum or sagittaria : the archer. The addition occurs in military diplomas from 104 to 162/203.

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 province of Mauretania Tingitana . It is listed on military diplomas for the years AD 88 to 162/203.

The unit was probably set up under Caligula (37–41) or Claudius (41–54). The first evidence of unity in Mauretania Tingitana is based on 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 162/203, prove unity in the same province.

Locations

Locations of the Ala in Mauretania Tingitana may have been:

• Ksar-el-Kebir : an inscription was found here.
• Tingis : three inscriptions were found here.
• Tocolosida : an inscription was found here.

Members of the Ala

The following members of the Ala are known:

Commanders

Gaius Maesius Tertius : he is named on the diploma of 109 as a commander.

Cornelius Qu [], a prefect ( CIL 6, 3514 )

Others

[] nius Dex [ter], a Sesquiplicarius ( AE 1909, 71 ) Annius Afrinus, a Sesquiplicarius ( AE 1957, 62 ) Bargas: the diploma of 109 was issued to him. Niger Monimus, a veteran ( AE 1957, 62 )

Valerius Abdas, an imaginifer ( AE 1906, 119 ) [Vale] rius Rohavus, a veteran ( AE 1969/70, 738 ) [Valerius] Cadamus, a veteran ( AE 1969/70, 738 ) Vellicus, a signifer ( CIL 8, 21814a )

See also

• List of Roman auxiliary units
• Roman forces in Mauretania

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. ↑ Vellicus initially served as a soldier in a Numerus Germanorum before he transferred to the Ala Hamiorum .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} John EH Spaul , Ala², pp. 140-141.
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, p. 176 Table 18 ( PDF ).
3. ↑ Military diplomas of the years 88 ( CIL 16, 159 ), 104 ( ZPE-146-255 ), 109 ( CIL 16, 161 ), 114/117 ( CIL 16, 165 ), 121/122 ( CIL 16, 170 ), 122 ( CIL 16, 73 ), 131/170 ( Epigraphica-2016-516 ), 135 ( RMD 5, 382 ), 153 ( RMD 5, 409 , RMD 5, 410 , RMM 34 , ZPE-153-202 , ZPE-162 -244 ), 156/157 ( CIL 16, 181 , CIL 16, 182 ), 159 ( RMD 1, 53 ) and 162/203 ( RMD 3, 186 ).
4. ^ Inscription from Ksar-el-Kebir ( AE 1906, 119 ).
5. ^ Inscriptions from Tingis ( AE 1909, 71 , AE 1969/70, 738 , CIL 8, 21814a ).
6. ↑ inscription Tocolosida ( AE 1957 62 ).