Ala Vocontiorum (Aegyptus)

The Ala Vocontiorum ( German  Ala der Vocontier ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas , inscriptions and papyri .

Name components

• Vocontiorum : the vocontier . The soldiers of the Ala were recruited from the Gallic tribe of the Vocontier in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis when the unit was set up .

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 Aegyptus , Iudaea and Syria . It is listed on military diplomas for the years AD 86 to 179.

The unit has been documented in Aegyptus since 37/43 AD . At some unspecified date, she was transferred to the province of Iudaea , where she is evidenced by a diploma dated 86. In the diploma, the Ala is listed as part of the troops (see Roman forces in Syria ) that were stationed in the province.

The Ala is back in Aegyptus by 98/105 at the latest , as it has been proven by a diploma for this period. In the diploma, the Ala is listed as part of the troops (see Roman forces in Aegyptus ) that were stationed in the province. Further diplomas, dated 105 to 179, prove unity in the same province.

Between 179 and 183 the Ala was relocated to the province of Syria , where it is first proven by the inscription ( AE 1933, 214 ). The last evidence of unity in Syria is based on an inscription dated 245.

Locations

Locations of the Ala in Aegyptus may have been:

• Koptos : At 113 the unit is proven in Koptos.

Locations of the Ala in Syria may have been:

• Palmyra : Around 183 the unity is proven by the inscription ( AE 1933, 214 ) in Palmyra. She set up the parade ground there.

Members of the Ala

The following members of the Ala are known:

Commanders

Σερουιο [] Σουλπικι []

Sertina Iust (us), a Praepositus ( AE 1933, 214 )

Others

Αντονιος Ηρακλιανος, a δουπλικαριος Cassius Gemellus Didas, a horseman ( AE 1911, 121 ) Gavianus, a Decurio (around 122) ( AE 1906, 22 ) Iulius Asclas Longinus, a Decurio L. Vettius

L (ucius) Valerius Noster, a horseman ( AE 1906, 22 ) Μαρκος Παπειριος Κελερ, a δεκαδαρχης Maturus, a Decurio ( AE 1911, 121 ) Octavius ​​Domesticus, a Decurio Quintillianus, a Decurio Q (uintus) Caesius Valens, a Decurio ( CIL 3, 12068 ) Σ [] ος Αννιανος, a δτρατορ

Another alae called Ala Vocontiorum

There was another Ala with this name, the Ala Augusta Vocontiorum . She is documented by military diplomas from 119/121 to 178 and was stationed in the provinces of Germania and Britannia .

See also

• List of Roman auxiliary units
• Roman forces in Aegyptus
• Roman forces in Syria

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{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. 238-239.
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. 174 table 16 ( PDF p. 176 ).
3. ↑ Military diplomas of the years 86 ( AE 2010, 1871 ), 98/105 ( RMD 5, 341 ), 105 ( RMD 1, 9 ), 157/161 ( CIL 16, 184 ) and 179 ( RMD 3, 185 ).
4. ↑ ^{a b c d} Cornelia Römer : Diploma for a foot soldier from Koptos of March 23, 179 In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik Volume 82 (1990), p. 137–153, here p. 144–145 ( PDF p. 10– 11 ).