Ala Longiniana

The tombstone of Vellaunus ( CIL 13, 8094 )

The Ala Longiniana ( German Ala des Longinus ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is documented by inscriptions.

Name components

Longiniana : of the Longinus. One of the unit's first commanders was an otherwise unknown Longinus , after whom the Ala was named.

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, like other cavalry units named after one of their commanders, was probably originally formed from Gauls . Possibly her full name was therefore Ala Gallorum Longiniana .

Five of the preserved tombstones were found in Bonn ; therefore the unit was probably stationed in Germania inferior . The Ala was probably dissolved by Vespasian around AD 70/71, as there is no evidence of its later existence.

Locations

Locations of the Ala are not known.

Members of the Ala

The following members of the Ala are known:

Commanders

[] rcai [], a prefect ( CIL 12, 392 )

C (aius) Fulvius Lupus Servilianus, a prefect ( CIL 12, 3166 )

Others

[] atissa, a Decurio ( CIL 13, 8096 )
Biturix, a rider ( CIL 13, 8092 )
L (ucius) Iulius Regulus, a Decurio ( CIL 13, 8094 )
Macer ( CIL 13, 8094 )

Rectugnus, a rider ( CIL 13, 8093 )
Samorix, a horseman ( CIL 13, 2615 )
Vellaunus, a horseman ( CIL 13, 8094 )
Vonatorix, a horseman ( CIL 13, 8095 )

Web links

Commons : Ala Longiniana - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ 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. 156-157.

[jsp-1] 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. 156-157.