Cohors II Thracum (Britannia)

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The Weihaltar for Lucius Verus , found in Cannabiaca ( AE 1977, 603 )

The Cohors II Thracum [veterana] [equitata] [pia fidelis] ( German  2nd cohort of the Thracians [the veterans] [partly mounted] [loyal and loyal] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas , inscriptions and brick stamps.

Name components
  • 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 ...
  • Thracum : The soldiers of the cohort were recruited from the Thracian people on the territory of the Roman province of Thrace when the unit was established .
  • veterana : the veteran. The addition appears in the military diplomas of 178.
  • equitata : partially mounted. The unit was a mixed association of infantry and cavalry. The addition occurs in inscriptions.
  • pia fidelis : loyal and loyal. Domitian (81-96) gave the Roman armed forces in Germania inferior who remained loyal to him after the suppression of the uprising of Lucius Antonius Saturninus the honorary designation pia fidelis Domitiana . The addition appears in an inscription.

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, Britannia and Noricum . It is listed on military diplomas for the years 65 to 178 AD.

The first evidence of unity in Germania is based on a diploma dated 65. 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, which are dated from 80 to 101, prove the unit in the same province (or from 98 in Germania inferior ).

Between 101 and 103 the cohort was relocated to the province of Britannia . The first evidence of unity in Britannia is based on a diploma dated 103. The diploma lists the cohort as part of the troops (see Roman Forces in Britannia ) that were stationed in the province. Other diplomas, dated 122, prove unity in the same province.

Probably around 122/125 the unit was moved from Britain to the province of Noricum along with other auxiliary units . The first evidence of unity in Noricum is based on a diploma dated 157. In the diploma, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman forces in Noricum ) that were stationed in the province. An inscription proves it in the province around 162/163. However, it was relocated back to Britain before 178, as it is again proven there by diplomas dated 178.

The unit is mentioned for the last time in the Notitia dignitatum with the name Cohors secunda Thracum for the Gabrosenti location . It was part of the troops under the command of the Dux Britanniarum under the direction of a tribune .

Locations

Cohort locations in Britannia may have been:

  • Gabroson (Moresby): three inscriptions have been found here. In addition, the unit is listed in the Notitia dignitatum for that location.
  • Mumrills : an inscription was found here.

Locations of the cohort in Germania were possibly:

  • Mannaricium ( Maurik ): an inscription and bricks with the stamp of unity were found here.

Locations of the cohort in Noricum were possibly:

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known:

Commanders

  • Q (uintus) Etuvius Capreolus, a prefect ( AE 1902, 41 )

Others

See also

Web links

Commons : Cohors II Thracum (Britannia)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

literature

  • 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

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Inscriptions with equitata ( AE 1977, 603 , RIB 797 )
  2. ^ Paul A. Holder : Exercitus Pius Fidelis: The Army of Germania Inferior in AD 89 In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik , Volume 128 (1999), pp. 237-250, here pp. 237, 244 ( PDF ).
  3. ↑ inscription with pia fidelis ( AE 1977, 603 )
  4. ↑ Military diplomas of the years 65 ( RMD 2, 79 ), 80 ( CIL 16, 158 ), 81/84 ( RMD 5, 327 ), 98 ( RMD 4, 216 ), 101 ( RMM 9 ), 103 ( CIL 16, 48 ), 122 ( AE 2008, 800 , CIL 16, 69 ), 157 ( AE 2015, 1892 ) and 178 ( RMD 3, 184 , RMD 4, 293 , RMD 4, 294 ). Undated military diploma: ( AE 2012, 1080 ).
  5. ^ A b John Spaul , Cohors², pp. 353-354, 371-372.
  6. ^ Jörg Scheuerbrandt : Exercitus. Tasks, organization and command structure of Roman armies during the imperial era. Dissertation, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg im Breisgau 2003/2004, pp. 157–158, Table 1–2 ( PDF ).
  7. ^ Joachim Ott: The commanders of the Noric auxiliary troops. In: Tyche . Contributions to ancient history, papyrology and epigraphy. Volume 10, 1995, pp. 107-138, here p. 112 ( PDF ).
  8. ↑ a b Inscription from Cannabiaca ( AE 1977, 603 )
  9. ^ Notitia dignitatum in partibus Occidentis XL ( online ).
  10. ↑ Inscriptions from Gabrosa ( RIB 797 , RIB 803 , RIB 804 )
  11. ↑ Inscription from Mumrills ( RIB 2142 )
  12. ^ Inscription from Mannaricium ( AE 1975, 638 )
  13. ↑ Mannaricium bricks : stamp COHORS II THRACUM ( AE 1975, 00639f ).