Cohors II Varcianorum

Aurelius' tombstone ( Bogaers 1978, 608 )

The Cohors II Varcianorum [civium Romanorum] [equitata] ( German 2nd cohort of the Varcians [of the Roman citizens] [partly mounted] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas , inscriptions and brick stamps.

Name components

Varcianorum : the Varcian . The soldiers of the cohort were recruited from the Varcian tribe in the Roman province of Pannonia when the unit was established .

civium Romanorum : the Roman citizen. 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 a military diploma of 127 ( AE 2010, 1865 ), in the inscriptions ( CIL 3, 12053 , CIL 5, 875 ) and in the brick stamp ( AE 1955, 38 ).

pia fidelis : loyal and loyal. Domitian (81–96) had given 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 ; it is uncertain whether this addition was also given to the cohort.

equitata : partially mounted. The unit was a mixed association of infantry and cavalry. The addition occurs in the inscriptions ( AE 2013, 1206 , CIL 3, 12053 , CIL 5, 875 ).

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 province of Germania inferior . It is listed on military diplomas for the years 95/96 to 152 AD.

The first evidence of unity in Germania inferior is based on a diploma dated 95/96. In the diploma, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Armed Forces in Germania ) that were stationed in the province. Other diplomas, dated from 98 to 152, prove unity in the same province.

Locations

Locations of the cohort in Germania inferior were possibly:

Gelduba ( Gellep stratum ): The inscription ( Bogaers 1978, 608 ) as well as bricks with the stamp of the cohort ( AE 1955, 38 ) were found here.
Rigomagus ( Remagen ): The inscription ( CIL 13, 7804 ) was found here.

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known.

Commanders

Gaius Minicius Italus , a prefect ( CIL 3, 12053 , CIL 5, 875 , CIL 14, 4456 ). He was also prefect of the Cohors I Breucorum , the Cohors V Gallorum and the Ala I Singularium .

Others

[] Aurelius [], a Vexillarius ( Bogaers 1978, 608 )
Iulius Verecund (us), a centurion ( CIL 13, 7707 )

Petitor Pirobori, a soldier ( CIL 13, 8188 )
T (itus) Fl (avius) Ateboduus, a veteran and former Cornicularius ( AE 2013, 1206 )

Web links

Commons : Cohors II Varcianorum - collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

↑ According to Paul Holder the addition p (ia) f (idelis) was possibly listed in the brick stamp ( AE 1955, 38 ). According to Jan Kees Haalebos, there is no evidence for the use of this additive in the cohort.

Individual evidence

^ 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 p. 244 ( PDF ).
↑ ^a ^b Jan Kees Haalebos : Traian and the auxiliary troops on the Lower Rhine A military diploma of the year 98 AD from Elst in the Over-Betuwe (Netherlands) In: Saalberg Jahrbuch, 2000/50, pp. 31-72 , here p. 53-54 ( online ).
^ ^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. 315, 328
^ 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. 158 Table 2 ( PDF p. 160 ).
↑ Military diplomas of the years 95/96 ( RMD 5, 336 ), 98 ( RMD 4, 216 ), 101 ( RMM 9 ), 127 ( AE 2010, 1865 , RMD 4, 239 ), 150 ( ZPE-206-207 ) and 152 ( RMM 35 , ZPE-148-262 ).

[NA-3] According to Paul Holder the addition p (ia) f (idelis) was possibly listed in the brick stamp ( AE 1955, 38 ). According to Jan Kees Haalebos, there is no evidence for the use of this additive in the cohort.

[pah-1] 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 p. 244 ( PDF ).

[jkh-2] Jan Kees Haalebos : Traian and the auxiliary troops on the Lower Rhine A military diploma of the year 98 AD from Elst in the Over-Betuwe (Netherlands) In: Saalberg Jahrbuch, 2000/50, pp. 31-72 , here p. 53-54 ( online ).

[jsp-4] 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. 315, 328

[js-5] 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. 158 Table 2 ( PDF p. 160 ).

[MD-6] Military diplomas of the years 95/96 ( RMD 5, 336 ), 98 ( RMD 4, 216 ), 101 ( RMM 9 ), 127 ( AE 2010, 1865 , RMD 4, 239 ), 150 ( ZPE-206-207 ) and 152 ( RMM 35 , ZPE-148-262 ).