Cohors II Ulpia Paphlagonum

The Cohors II Ulpia Paphlagonum [Volusiana] [equitata] ( German 2nd cohort the Ulpische from Paphlagonien [the Volusian] [partly mounted] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions.

Name components

Ulpia : the Ulpian. The honorary designation refers to Emperor Trajan , whose full name is Marcus Ulpius Traianus .

Paphlagonum : from Paphlagonia . The soldiers of the cohort were recruited on the territory of Paphlagonia when the unit was set up. In the inscription ( CIL 3, 600 ) the unit Paflagonum is written.

Volusiana : the Volusian. An honorary title that refers to Volusianus (251-253). The addition appears in an inscription.

equitata : partially mounted. The unit was a mixed association of infantry and cavalry. The addition does not appear anywhere, but since the association under the leadership of Marcus Valerius Lollianus is a cavalry division of the Alae and Cohortes equitatae in Syria, this is obvious.

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 Syria Province . It is listed on military diplomas for the years 153 to 156/157 AD.

The first evidence of unity in Syria province is based on a military diploma dated 153. In the diploma, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman forces in Syria ) that were stationed in the province. Another diploma, dated 156/157, proves unity in the same province.

A vexillation of the cohort took part in the Parthian War of Lucius Verus (161–166). It is listed in the inscription ( CIL 3, 600 ) as part of the units that were under the direction of Marcus Valerius Lollianus . The inscription says that Lollianus was the commander in Mesopotamia over sections of selected riders of the Alen [..] and the cohorts .

The unit is last mentioned in a Greek inscription on an altar that was found in Dura Europos . The altar was erected by a vexillation of the cohort under the direction of Centurios Ulpius Julianus . The inscription can be dated between 251 and 253.

Locations

The locations of the cohort in Syria were:

Dura Europos

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known:

Αυρη (λιος) Λουκιος
Βασσος
Faustianus

Marinus
Ulpius Julianus, a centurion
Zeno, an option

Remarks

↑ ^a ^b John Spaul has assigned the inscription Dura IX, 3, 971 and the soldiers Αυρηλιος Λουκιος and Βαδδος both to the Cohors II Ulpia Equitata and the Cohors II Ulpia Paphlagonum .

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Julian Bennett: The Regular Roman Auxiliary Regiments Formed from the Provinces of Asia Minor , ANATOLICA XXXVII, 2011, pp. 251–274, pp. 251–274 here pp. 267–269, ( PDF p. 17 -19 ).
^ ^A ^b ^c 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. 390, 393, 486
^ 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 ).
↑ Military diplomas of the years 153 ( Chiron-2006-267 ) and 156/157 ( CIL 16, 106 ).

↑ Rudolf Haensch , Peter Weiß : A difficult way. The road construction inscription by M. Valerius Lollianus from Byllis. In: Communications from the German Archaeological Institute. Roman department . Volume 118, 2012, pp. 435-454, here pp. 441-442, 448-449 ( online ).

[AN-6] John Spaul has assigned the inscription Dura IX, 3, 971 and the soldiers Αυρηλιος Λουκιος and Βαδδος both to the Cohors II Ulpia Equitata and the Cohors II Ulpia Paphlagonum .

[jb-1] Julian Bennett: The Regular Roman Auxiliary Regiments Formed from the Provinces of Asia Minor , ANATOLICA XXXVII, 2011, pp. 251–274, pp. 251–274 here pp. 267–269, ( PDF p. 17 -19 ).

[jsp-2] A ^b ^c 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. 390, 393, 486

[js-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. 172 table 14 ( PDF, p. 174 ).

[MD-4] Military diplomas of the years 153 ( Chiron-2006-267 ) and 156/157 ( CIL 16, 106 ).

[rh-5] Rudolf Haensch , Peter Weiß : A difficult way. The road construction inscription by M. Valerius Lollianus from Byllis. In: Communications from the German Archaeological Institute. Roman department . Volume 118, 2012, pp. 435-454, here pp. 441-442, 448-449 ( online ).