Cohors II Augusta Cyrenaica

The Cohors II Augusta Cyrenaica [equitata] ( German 2nd Augustan cohort from the Cyrenaica [partly mounted] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions.

Name components

Augusta : the Augustan tables. The honorary title refers to Augustus ; the unit was either established during the reign of Augustus or the title was later conferred honoris causa .

Cyrenaica : from the Cyrenaica . The soldiers of the cohort were recruited when the unit was established in the area of Cyrenaica within the Roman province of Creta et Cyrene .

equitata : partially mounted. The unit was a mixed association of infantry and cavalry. The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 13, 6407 ).

Since there is no evidence of the addition of milliaria (1000 men) to the name , the unit was a Cohors (quingenaria) equitata . The nominal strength of the cohort was 600 men (480 infantry and 120 horsemen), consisting of 6 centuries of infantry with 80 men each and 4 tower cavalry with 30 horsemen each.

history

The cohort was stationed in the provinces of Germania and Cappadocia . It is listed on military diplomas for the years AD 74-134.

The first evidence of unity in the province of Germania is based on a diploma dated 74. In the diploma, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Armed Forces in Germania ) that were stationed in the province. Further diplomas, dated between 90 and 134, prove the unity in Germania superior .

A diploma dated 99 identifies the cohort as part of the troops that were stationed in the province of Cappadocia (see Roman Forces in Cappadocia ).

Locations

Locations of the cohort in Germania Superior were possibly:

Butzbach
Heidelberg : the inscription of Aurelius Restitutus was found in Heidelberg.
Nida ( Frankfurt-Heddernheim ): the inscription of Atilius Tertius was found in Heddernheim.

Bricks with the stamp COH II CYR were found in Heidelberg ( CIL 13, 12431 ), those with the stamp COH II AU CYR in Butzbach ( CIL 13, 12432 ).

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known:

Atilius Tertius ( CIL 13, 7342 )
Au [r] elius Restitutus, a Decurio ( CIL 13, 6407 )

Individual evidence

^ ^A ^b ^c ^d John Spaul: Cohors² The evidence for and a short history of the auxiliary infantry units of the Imperial Roman Army , British Archaeological Reports 2000, BAR International Series (Book 841), ISBN 978-1-84171-046-4 , SS 5-7, 383-384, 387
^ 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. 159 table 3 ( PDF p. 161 ).
↑ Military diplomas of the years 74 ( CIL 16, 20 ), 90 ( CIL 16, 36 , RMD 5, 333 ), 99 ( AE 2014, 1656 ), 116 ( CIL 16, 62 ) and 134 ( CIL 16, 80 ).

[jsp-1] A ^b ^c ^d John Spaul: Cohors² The evidence for and a short history of the auxiliary infantry units of the Imperial Roman Army , British Archaeological Reports 2000, BAR International Series (Book 841), ISBN 978-1-84171-046-4 , SS 5-7, 383-384, 387

[js-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. 159 table 3 ( PDF p. 161 ).

[MD-3] Military diplomas of the years 74 ( CIL 16, 20 ), 90 ( CIL 16, 36 , RMD 5, 333 ), 99 ( AE 2014, 1656 ), 116 ( CIL 16, 62 ) and 134 ( CIL 16, 80 ).