Ala I Illyricorum

The Ala I Illyricorum ( German 1st Ala of the Illyrians ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions. The Ala is identical to both the Numerus Equitum Illyricorum and the Vexillatio Equitum Illyricorum , which are listed in military diplomas. In the inscriptions ( CIL 3, 1197 , CIL 8, 9358 ) the unit is referred to as Numerus Illyricorum , in the inscription ( CIL 11, 393 ) as Numerus Equitum Electorum Ex Illyrico .

Name components

Illyricorum : the Illyrian .

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

For the Dacian War of Trajan , a vexillation of horsemen was delegated, whose main units were probably stationed in the provinces of Moesia and Pannonia . After the war, this department remained in the newly established province of Dacia , where it is managed as an independent unit from 129 AD at the latest.

The first evidence in Dacia inferior is based on a diploma dated 129. In the diploma, the Vexillatio Equitum Illyricorum is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Armed Forces in Dacia ) that were stationed in the province. Other diplomas, dated 129/130 to 150, prove the unity in the same province. From 140 on, the unit is referred to in the diplomas as Numerus Equitum Illyricorum . At an unspecified later date, the number was then upgraded to an Ala.

Locations

Locations of the Ala in Dacia may have been:

Apulum ( Alba Iulia ): the tombstones of Aelius Dubitatus and Tutor Silvani were found here.
Brâncoveneşti : bricks with the stamp AL IN ILYR ( CIL 3, 6284 ) and the gravestone of Aurelius Valens were found here.
Hoghiz

Members of the Ala

The following members of the Ala are known:

Commanders

C (aius) Nonius Caepianus, a praepositus ( CIL 11, 393 ); he was also prefect of the Ala I Asturum and the Cohors III Brittonum .

P (ublius) Aelius Marcianus, a Praepositus ( CIL 8, 9358 ); he was also Prefect of the Ala II Augusta Thracum and Tribune of the Cohors Aelia Expedita .

Others

Ael (ius) Dubitatus ( AE 1987, 829 )
Aemil (ius) Au [r] elius Secun [dus], a veteran and former Decurio ( AE 2014, 1121 )
Aurel (ius) Vale (n) s, a Sesquiplicarius ( AE 1992, 1472 )
Aurel (ius) Victor, a horseman ( CIL 6, 3234 )
Bitho, a soldier: the diploma of 140 was issued to him.

Constans, a Decurio ( CIL 6, 3234 )
Eupator, a soldier: the diploma of 129 was issued to him.
Tutor Silvan [i], a rider ( CIL 3, 1197 )
Ulp (ius) Macedo, a duplicarius ( CIL 6, 3234 )
Ulp (ius) Maternus, a duplicarius ( CIL 6, 3234 )

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b Marcus Reuter : Studies on the numbers of the Roman Army in the Middle Imperial Period , Dissertation, In: Reports of the Roman-Germanic Commission 80, 1999, pp. 359–569, here pp. 501–503.
^ ^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. 150-151.
^ 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. 171 table 13 ( PDF p. 173 ).
↑ Military diplomas of the years 129 ( CIL 16, 75 ), 129/130 ( RMD 5, 376 ), 136/138 ( RMD 5, 384 ), 138 ( AE 2003, 2044 ), 140 ( RMD 1, 39 ), 146 ( RMD 4, 269 , ZPE-176-225 ) and 150 ( AE 2007, 1761 ).
^ Paul A. Holder: Auxiliary units entitled Aelia In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik . Volume 122 (1998), pp. 253-263, here pp. 257-258 ( PDF pp. 7-8 ).

[mr-1] Marcus Reuter : Studies on the numbers of the Roman Army in the Middle Imperial Period , Dissertation, In: Reports of the Roman-Germanic Commission 80, 1999, pp. 359–569, here pp. 501–503.

[jsp-2] 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. 150-151.

[js-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. 171 table 13 ( PDF p. 173 ).

[MD-4] Military diplomas of the years 129 ( CIL 16, 75 ), 129/130 ( RMD 5, 376 ), 136/138 ( RMD 5, 384 ), 138 ( AE 2003, 2044 ), 140 ( RMD 1, 39 ), 146 ( RMD 4, 269 , ZPE-176-225 ) and 150 ( AE 2007, 1761 ).

[pah-5] Paul A. Holder: Auxiliary units entitled Aelia In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik . Volume 122 (1998), pp. 253-263, here pp. 257-258 ( PDF pp. 7-8 ).