Cohors II Raetorum (Germania)

The dedicatory inscription of the Prefect Caius Mogillonius Priscianus ( CIL 13, 7444 )

The Cohors II Raetorum [civium Romanorum] [Antoniniana] [Severiana] ( German 2nd cohort of the Raetians [the Roman citizens] [the Antoninian] [the Severian] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas , inscriptions and brick stamps. The cohort is identical to the Cohors Raetorum et Vindelicorum listed in various inscriptions .

Name components

Cohors : The cohort was an infantry unit of the auxiliary troops in the Roman army .

II : The Roman number stands for the ordinal number, the second ( Latin secunda ). Hence the name of this military unit is pronounced as Cohors secunda ...

Raetorum : the Rhaetians . The soldiers of the cohort were during installation of the unit from the people of Rhaetians in the area of the Roman province Raetia recruited. According to Tacitus, the Raetians' auxiliary troops were set up at two different times: after the conquest of Raetia around 15 BC. And around 70 AD as a result of the Helvetian uprising.

civium Romanorum : the Roman citizen or with Roman citizenship. The soldiers of the unit had been granted Roman citizenship at one point in time. However, this did not apply to soldiers who were accepted into the unit after this point in time. They received Roman citizenship only with their honorable farewell ( Honesta missio ) after 25 years of service. The addition appears in military diplomas, inscriptions and brick stamps.

Antoniniana : the Antoninian. An honorary title that refers to Caracalla (211-217). The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 13, 7465 ).

Severiana : the Severian. An honorary title that refers to Severus Alexander (222-235). The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 13, 7466 ).

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

history

The Cohors Raetorum et Vindelicorum is documented by several inscriptions for the early 1st century. The Cohors II Raetorum civium Romanorum and the Cohors I Vindelicorum probably emerged from this cohort .

The first secure evidence of unity in the province of Germania is based on a military diploma that is dated to the year 82 AD. 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 .

Locations

The locations of the cohort in Germania Superior were:

Bricks with stamps like COH II RAET and COH II RAE CR have been found in Butzbach , Friedberg and Saalburg ( CIL 13, 12453 , CIL 13, 12454 , CIL 13, 12455 ).

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known.

Commanders

Gaius Attius Alfianus Lucilius Ruga , a prefect
C (aius) Licinius C []: he is named on the diploma of 116 as the commander of the cohort.
C (aius) Mogillonius Prisc [i] anus, a prefect ( CIL 13, 7444 )
Q (uintus) A [] [] ndr [us] ( CIL 13, 7452 )

Quintus Asinius Acilianus , a prefect
[S] extiu [s] [V] ictor, a prefect ( CIL 13, 7445 , CIL 13, 7460 )
[T] ib (erius) Cl (audius) Candidus ( CIL 13, 7453 )
T (itus) Fl (avius) Sil [] ( CIL 13, 7456 )

Others

Alinia () Atte [] i () [] ( CIL 13, 7450 )
C (aius) Iul (ius) Cleme (n) s, a veteran ( CIL 13, 7583 )
C (aius) Iul (ius) Sabinus, a centurion ( CIL 13, 7583 )
Capito, a veteran ( CIL 13, 7246 )
Cl (audius) Celer, a centurion ( CIL 13, 7447 )
Cn (aeus) Cornelius [], a soldier: the diploma of 116 was issued to him.
Cuses ( CIL 13, 7048 )

L (ucius) Augustius Iustus, a centurion ( AE 1978, 535 )
Nunadus, a soldier ( AE 1940, 114 )
Primius Auso, an Optio ( CIL 13, 7448 )
Q (uintus) Vibius A (u) gustus, a soldier ( CIL 13, 7584 )
Silvinius Attus, a centurion ( CIL 13, 7449 )
Sterio, a soldier ( AE 1940, 115 )

Web links

Commons : Cohors II Raetorum (Germania) - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

↑ ^a ^b The exact assignment to one of the two units with the name Cohors II Raetorum is not possible or is controversial.

Individual evidence

↑ Farkas István Gergő: The Roman Army in Raetia , dissertation, University of Pécs Faculty of Humanities 2015, p. 158 ( PDF ).
^ Inscriptions from the Cohors Raetorum et Vindelicorum ( AE 1940, 114 , AE 1940, 115 , CIL 13, 6242 , CIL 13, 7048 ).
^ ^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 , Pp. 274-275, 280-281
^ 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 82 ( CIL 16, 28 ), 90 ( CIL 16, 36 , RMD 5, 333 ), 116 ( CIL 16, 62 ), 129 ( RMD 2, 90 ) and 134 ( CIL 16, 80 ).

[AN1-6] The exact assignment to one of the two units with the name Cohors II Raetorum is not possible or is controversial.

[fig-1] Farkas István Gergő: The Roman Army in Raetia , dissertation, University of Pécs Faculty of Humanities 2015, p. 158 ( PDF ).

[IN-2] Inscriptions from the Cohors Raetorum et Vindelicorum ( AE 1940, 114 , AE 1940, 115 , CIL 13, 6242 , CIL 13, 7048 ).

[jsp-3] 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 , Pp. 274-275, 280-281

[js-4] 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-5] Military diplomas of the years 82 ( CIL 16, 28 ), 90 ( CIL 16, 36 , RMD 5, 333 ), 116 ( CIL 16, 62 ), 129 ( RMD 2, 90 ) and 134 ( CIL 16, 80 ).