Cohors II Italica

The inscription of Tiberius Claudius Candidus ( CIL 2, 4114 )

The Cohors II Italica [voluntariorum] [civium Romanorum] ( German  2nd cohort Italica [of the volunteers] [of the Roman citizens ] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions.

Name components

• Italica : from Italy or the Italian.

• voluntariorum : the volunteer.

• civium Romanorum : the Roman citizen. The soldiers of the cohort were recruited from Roman citizens when the unit was established. The unit was probably excavated under Augustus together with other cohorts; the formation of the units probably took place during the Pannonian uprising and after the defeat of the Varus . A total of up to 44 (or 48) cohorts of Roman citizens may have been formed, of which only 18 are recorded.

Since there are no references to the additions milliaria (1000 men) and equitata (partially mounted), it can be assumed that it is a Cohors (quingenaria) peditata , a pure infantry cohort. The nominal strength of the unit was 480 men, consisting of 6 Centuries with 80 men each.

history

The cohort was stationed in Syria Province . It is listed on military diplomas for the years 88 to 156/157 AD.

The unit is likely to be the σπειρα η καλουμενη Ιταλικη mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles of Luke , in which the Centurion Cornelius served. It was probably stationed in Caesarea around AD 41/44 , when Herod Agrippa I was king of Iudaea . A vexillation of the cohort, consisting of archers, was in the province of Pannonia around 69/70 .

The first evidence of unity in Syria is based on a military diploma dated 88. In the diploma, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman forces in Syria ) that were stationed in the province. Other diplomas, dated 91 to 156/157, prove unity in the same province.

Locations

Locations of the cohort in Iudaea were:

• Caesarea

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known:

Commanders

C (aius) Paccius Firmus, a tribune ( CIL 6, 3528 ) L (ucius) Maesius Rufus, a tribune ( CIL 11, 6117 )

Tiberius Claudius Candidus , a prefect ( CIL 2, 4114 )

Others

Apuleius ( CIL 3, 13483a ) Faustinus, a centurion ( CIL 3, 13483a )

Κορνήλιος , a ἑκατοντάρχης Proculus, an optio ( CIL 3, 13483a )

See also

• List of Roman auxiliary units
• Roman forces in Syria

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b c d e} 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 , p. 19- 20.29.31
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. 172 table 14 ( PDF p.174 ).
3. ↑ Military diplomas of the years 88 ( CIL 16, 35 ), 91 ( AE 2006, 1844 , RMD 1, 4 ), 129 ( AE 2006, 1845 , AE 2006, 1846 , AE 2006, 1852 , ZPE-183-236 ), 153 ( Chiron-2006-267 ) and 156/157 ( CIL 16, 106 ).
4. ↑ ^{a b} Oleksandr Kyrychenko: The Role of the Centurion in Luke Acts. (PDF, pp. 47–48 (56–57)) (No longer available online.) Emory University , formerly in the original ; accessed on June 10, 2017 (English).  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.