Cohors II Flavia Commagenorum

Inscription of Caius Vettius Sabinianus Iulius Hospes ( AE 1920, 45 )

The Cohors II Flavia Commagenorum [Philippiana] [Severiana Alexandriana] [sagittariorum or sagittaria] [equitata] ( German  2nd Flavian cohort from Commagene [the Philippian] [the Severian Alexandrian] [the archer ] [partly mounted] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas , inscriptions and brick stamps.

Name components

• Flavia : the Flavian. The honorary designation refers to the Flavian emperors Vespasian , Titus and Domitian . A total of 14 cohorts with this suffix are known.

• Commagenorum : from Commagene . The soldiers of the cohort were recruited when the unit was set up on the territory of the former Kingdom of Commagene . Antiochus IV of Kommagene supported Titus with soldiers during the Jewish War . Presumably the auxiliary units with the designation Commagenorum were set up from these soldiers.

• Philippiana : the Philippian. An honorary title that refers to Philip Arabs (244–249). The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 3, 1379 ).

• Severiana Alexandriana : the Severian Alexandrian. An honorary title that refers to Severus Alexander (222-235). The addition appears in the inscription ( AE 1903, 66 ).

• sagittariorum or sagittaria : [the / from] archer. The addition occurs in the military diplomas of 109 and 110.

• equitata : partially mounted. The unit was a mixed association of infantry and cavalry. The addition appears in the inscription ( AE 1903, 65 ).

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 Moesia Superior , Dacia, and Dacia Superior (in that order). It is listed on military diplomas for the years AD 96-179.

The first evidence of unity in the province of Moesia Superior is based on a diploma dated to the year 96. In the diploma, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Armed Forces in Moesia ) that were stationed in the province. Further diplomas, dated 100 to 103/107, prove unity in the same province.

The first evidence of unity in the province of Dacia is based on a diploma dated to the year 109. In the diploma, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Armed Forces in Dacia ) that were stationed in the province. Further diplomas, dated from 110 to 179, prove the unit in Dacia (or from 123 in the province of Dacia Superior ).

Locations

Locations of the cohort in Dacia Inferior may have been:

• Cladova : Unity brick stamps found in Cladova. It is possible that vexillations of the cohort were stationed downstream from Micia on the lower Mureș .
• Micia (Vețel): The unity is evidenced in Micia by numerous inscriptions from the reign of Hadrian to Philip Arabs . Bricks with the stamps COH II FL COMM , COH II FL COMC , CO SE FLA C and COH II COM were found in Micia . The tiles with the stamp COH II FL COMC can be read as Cohors II Flavia Commagenorum C (ommodiana) , G (ordiana) , G (alliana) or possibly also G (etica) .

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known.

Commanders

[.] dianus, a prefect (around 222/235) ( AE 1903, 66 ) Αίλιανός Εύφράνορος C (aius) Pomponius Cassianus, a prefect ( CIL 3, 7848 , CIL 3, 7849 ) Caius Vettius Sabinianus Iulius Hospes , a prefect ( AE 1920, 45 , CIL 3, 1619 ) Iulius Arcanus, a prefect ( CIL 3, 7855 ) M [], a prefect ( AE 1911, 35 )

M (arcus) Arru [ntiu] s Agrippinu [s] ( AE 1903, 65 ) Marcus Ulpius Gemellinus , a prefect Sex (tus) Boebius Scribonius Castus, a prefect (around 193) ( CIL 3, 1374 , AE 1903, 67 ) Tampius Rufinus, a prefect ( AE 1977, 706 ) Ulpius Victor: he is named on the diploma of 123 as the commander of the cohort.

Others

Aure (lius) Dionisius, a curator ( CIL 3, 1338 ) Aur (elius) Maurus, a veteran ( CIL 3, 6267 ) C (aius) Iul (ius) [Marti] alis, a centurion ( CIL 3, 7873 ) Crisp (us) Lucius, a centurion ( CIL 3, 1347 ) Dion [ysiu] s, a veteran ( CIL 3, 12569 )

Do [mitius], a veteran Ianuarius, an Actuarius ( AE 1971, 399 ) L (ucius) Sossius, a Decurio ( CIL 3, 1355 ) Zacca, a horseman: the diploma of 123 was issued to him.

See also

• List of Roman auxiliary units
• Roman forces in Dacia
• Roman forces in Moesia

Web links

Commons : Cohors II Flavia Commagenorum  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

1. ↑ For details on the military diplomas (literature, dates etc.) see the disc page.
2. ↑ The assignment of the soldier to the cohort is controversial.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Ovidiu Țentea: Ex Oriente ad Danubium. The Syrian auxiliary units on the Danube frontier of the Roman Empire Publisher: Mega Publishing House, Editor: Center of Roman Military Studies 6, ISBN 978-606-543-206-2 , doi : 10.13140 / RG.2.1.4246.1604 , p. 12-14, 45-47, 113-119, 158, 196 ( online ).
2. ^ ^{A b} 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 978-1841710464 , pp. 401-402, 404 -405
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. 164,169 table 8,11 ( PDF p. 166,171 ).
4. ↑ Military diplomas of the years 96 ( RMD 1, 6 ), 100 ( CIL 16, 46 , AE 2008, 1731 , AE 2008, 1733 ), 101 ( AE 2008, 1732 ), 103/107 ( CIL 16, 54 ), 109 ( RMD 3, 148 ), 110 ( CIL 16, 163 ), 123 ( RMM 22 ), 136/138 ( RMD 5, 384 ), 144 ( CIL 16, 90 ), 157 ( CIL 16, 107 ) and 179 ( RMD 2 , 123 ).