Cohors I Augusta Praetoria Lusitanorum

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The military diploma of the year 90 ( RMD 5, 332 )

The Cohors I Augusta Praetoria Lusitanorum [equitata] ( German  1st cohort the Augustan Praetoria of the Lusitans [partly mounted] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas , inscriptions and papyri . In the military diploma of 179 and inscriptions it is referred to as Cohors I Lusitanorum , in all other military diplomas as Cohors I Augusta Lusitanorum .

Name components

  • I : The Roman number stands for the ordinal number, the first ( Latin prima ). Hence the name of this military unit is pronounced as Cohors prima ...
  • Augusta : the Augustan tables. The honorary title refers to Augustus .
  • Praetoria : The name is derived from the Praetorium , the headquarters of a general. The addition appears in two inscriptions and in two papyri.
  • Lusitanorum : the Lusitan . When the unit was set up, the soldiers of the cohort were either recruited from the Lusitan tribe or from the tribes in the area of ​​the Roman province of Lusitania .
  • equitata : partially mounted. The unit was a mixed association of infantry and cavalry. The addition appears in two inscriptions and in a papyrus.

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 Iudaea and Aegyptus (in that order). It is listed on military diplomas for the years AD 86 to 179.

The first evidence of unity in Iudaea is based on a diploma dated 86. In the diploma, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Armed Forces in Iudaea ) that were stationed in the province. Other diplomas, dated 87 to 90, prove unity in the same province.

The first evidence of unity at Aegyptus is based on a diploma dated 105. In the diploma, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Forces in Aegyptus ) that were stationed in the province. Further diplomas, dated from 157/161 to 179, prove unity in the same province.

The unit is mentioned for the last time in the Notitia dignitatum with the name Cohors prima Lusitanorum for the Theraco location. She was part of the troops that were under the command of the Dux Thebaidos .

Locations

Cohort locations in Aegyptus may have been:

  • Contrapollonospolis : the unit was stationed here on July 8, 131 and August 31, 156, according to a papyrus. It is also documented here by an inscription in the reign of Commodus (180-192).
  • Hieraconpolis ( Manfalut ): an inscription was found here.
  • Syene : the unit was probably stationed here from 105 to 131.
  • Talmis ( Kalabsha ): an inscription dated March 29, 111, was found near Talmis near Abisko . In addition, other inscriptions have been found in the area around Talmis.
  • Theraco: The unit is listed in the Notitia dignitatum for this location.

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known:

Commanders

  • M (arcus) Iulius Silvanus, a prefect (BGU 696)
  • Κοίντος Ἄλλιος Πουδεντίλλος (Quintus Allius Pudentillus), a prefect
  • Valerius Fe [stus], a prefect (IGRR 1.1275)

Others

  • [?], a rider (Lesquier 26)
  • Αβιεκαισα, a centurion (SB 4564)
  • Flavus, a centurion
  • Γαιος Ιουλιος Γερμανος (G. Iulius Germanus), a στρατης (SB 4608)
  • Ιουλιανος (Iulianus), a centurion (SB 4608)
  • Κρισπινος (Crispinus) (AE 1903.223)
  • Μάρκος Ἀντώνιος Πάστω [ρ] (Marcus Antonius Pastor), a veteran
  • Ουαλεριος Απολιναρειος (Valerius Apolinarius), a στρατιωτης (soldier) (SB 4566)
  • [Pom] peius, a Decurio (Lesquier 26)
  • Σερηνος (Serenus), a centurion (AE 1903.229)
  • T (itus) Flavius ​​Valens, a centurion ( IDakke 00100 )

Papyrus BGU 696

In the papyrus, dated August 31, 156, the following members of the cohort are listed:

  • Ammonius, a soldier
  • Anubas Amm [on], a soldier
  • Apollos Herminus, a soldier
  • Artemidor [us], a Decurio
  • A. Flavius ​​Vespasianus, a Decurio
  • Candidus, a centurion
  • Cronius Barbasatis, a dromadarius
  • Eros E [], a soldier
  • G. Iulius [], a soldier
  • G. Longinus Apollo, a soldier
  • G. Sigillius Val [e] ns, a soldier
  • Gaianus, a centurion
  • Gan [], a centurion
  • Heraclammon Q [], a soldier
  • Herculanus, a centurion
  • Hermacis Apynchis, a horseman
  • Horatius Herennianus, a soldier
  • Ision Petsireos, a horseman
  • Lappus, a centurion
  • Maevius Margellus, a soldier
  • Marcus, a centurion
  • Philon Isiognis, a soldier
  • Salvianus, a Decurio
  • Sempronianus, a centurion
  • Sextus Sempronius Candidus, a centurion
  • Valerius Tertius, a soldier

The papyrus begins with a report on the strength of the crew ( pridianum ). It states the number of employees in the unit for January 1, 156 (or December 31, 155) with a total of 505 members; of these were 6 centurions, 3 decurions, 363 foot soldiers, 114 horsemen and 19 dromadarii . The document then records all personnel changes for the rest of the year, such as the addition of recruits, transfers of soldiers from other units and promotions. The new recruits ( tirones probati voluntari ) had previously been inspected by the governor of Egypt, Marcus Sempronius Liberalis . In the document it is recorded to the day which Centuries and Tower the individual soldiers were assigned.

Papyrus PSI IX 1063

In the papyrus, which is dated September 3, 117, six signiferi (as well as the associated centurions in whose centuries they served) are listed:

  • [] rianus (Centurie des Agrius)
  • [] Maximus (Centurie des Celer)
  • Domitius Rufus (Centurie des Ta [])
  • Longinus longus (Centurie des Tituleius)
  • Longinus Tituleius, a centurion
  • Quintus Herennius (Centurie des Longianus)
  • Valerius Rufus (Centurie des Crescens)

The papyrus represents a collective receipt on which the six signiferi , who serve as cash administrators of their respective centuries, confirm the receipt of money to a centurion of the cohort named Longinus Tituleius . This is likely to have been the remainder of the recruits' travel money (viaticum), which is now to be deposited as a deposit by the signiferi on the personal accounts of the new soldiers at the unit's cash desk . A total of 126 new soldiers are admitted to the cohort, who are distributed in different numbers to the individual Centuries. The reason for the unusually high number of new recruits who were admitted to the unit at once is likely to be the considerable losses that the cohort probably suffered during the diaspora uprising of 115/117.

See also

Web links

Commons : Cohors I Augusta Praetoria Lusitanorum  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

literature

  • Margaret M. Roxan : The Auxilia of the Roman Army raised in the Iberian Peninsula. Dissertation, 1973 Volume 1 ( PDF 1 ) Volume 2 ( PDF 2 )
  • 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

Remarks

  1. ↑ According to John Spaul, the addition Praetoria was not given as an award for a combat mission, but the soldiers of the cohort presumably formed the bodyguard of Praefectus Aegypti . According to Margaret M. Roxan, the addition is not derived from a function as a bodyguard, but may have been given in connection with Hadrian's stay in Aegyptus in 130.
  2. ↑ According to Hans-Georg Pflaum , the Cohors I Augusta Lusitanorum and the Cohors II Thracum were probably moved to the province of Aegyptus to replace the Cohors I Hispanorum and the Cohors I Thebaeorum , both of which were to be moved to the province of Iudaea ( item extranslatarum in Iudaeam I Hispanorum et I Thebaeoram ).
  3. ↑ a b According to Margaret M. Roxan, the reading of the inscription is controversial. It is possible that the inscription does not indicate the Cohors I Lusitanorum , but an otherwise unoccupied Cohors IV Lusitanorum .
  4. ↑ The Decurio was transferred from the Ala I Thracum Mauretana to the cohort. According to Margaret M. Roxan, the transfer has been viewed by some historians as a form of punishment (or demotion), but he may have returned to his original unit and been promoted to Decurio here.
  5. ↑ a b The soldier was transferred to the cohort from an unknown unit.
  6. ↑ a b The soldier was transferred from Legio II Traiana fortis to the cohort. According to Margaret M. Roxan, this could have been some kind of punishment for misconduct, as soldiers in an auxiliary unit were paid less than soldiers in a legion.
  7. ↑ The soldier was transferred from the Cohors I Flavia Cilicum to the cohort.
  8. ↑ According to Margaret M. Roxan, Candidus was appointed centurion directly from a civil post ( factus ex pagano ), possibly because he was a relative of the governor of Egypt, Marcus Sempronius Liberalis .
  9. ↑ The recipient of the document, Longinus Tituleius , is referred to in the papyrus as ἰατρος ἑκατοντάρχος (Doctor Centurion). According to Margaret M. Roxan, he may have been the cohort's centurio princeps who was seconded to accompany the recruits.
  10. ↑ According to Oliver Stoll , 25 to 30 new recruits should normally be accepted into the unit per year.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Inscriptions with Praetoria ( CIL 3, 22 , IDakke 00100 ).
  2. ↑ a b c d e rom.mil.rec.1.64 = HGV ChLA 10 411 = Trismegistos 69913. Papyri.info, accessed on June 23, 2019 (English).
  3. ↑ a b c sb.6.9228 = HGV SB 6 9228 = Trismegistos 17877. Papyri.info, accessed on June 26, 2019 (English).
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h Margaret M. Roxan , The Auxilia, pp. 497-514, 765-773.
  5. ↑ Inscriptions with equitata ( AE 1929, 158 ) and ιππικης (SB 3919).
  6. ↑ Military diplomas of the years 86 ( CIL 16, 33 ), 87 ( AE 2012, 1959 , ZPE-170-201 ), 90 ( RMD 5, 332 ), 105 ( RMD 1, 9 ), 157/161 ( CIL 16, 184 ) and 179 ( RMD 3, 185 ).
  7. ^ A b c John Spaul , Cohors², pp. 55-58.
  8. ^ 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. 173–174, tables 15–16 ( PDF ).
  9. ^ Notitia dignitatum in partibus Orientis XXXI ( online ).
  10. ↑ Margaret M. Roxan: Pre-Severan auxilia named in the Notitia Dignitatum In: British Archaeological Reports , Volume 15 (1976), pp. 59-80, here p. 73.
  11. ↑ a b c d e Oliver Stoll : How to get to my regiment? The tirones Asiani - some thoughts on the practice of drafting and commanding recruits in the Roman army. In: E. Dąbrowa (Ed.), Studies on the Greek and Roman Military History. Electrum 14 (Kraków 2008), pp. 95–118, here pp. 97–102 ( online ).
  12. ↑ Inscription from Contrapollonospolis (IGRR 1.1275).
  13. ↑ Cornelia Römer : Diploma for a foot soldier from Koptos of March 23, 179 In: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik Volume 82 (1990), pp. 137–153, here pp. 146–147 ( PDF ).
  14. ↑ Inscription from Hieraconpolis ( CIL 3, 22 ).
  15. ↑ Inscriptions from Talmis (Lesquier 23, Lesquier 26, SB 3919 of March 29, 2011, SB 4566, SB 4571, SB 4608).
  16. ↑ P. 6870 R + P. 14097 R: Report on troop strength. Berlin papyrus database, accessed on June 23, 2019 (English).
  17. ↑ rom.mil.rec.1.74 = HGV PSI 9 1063 = Trismegistos 17472. Papyri.info, accessed on June 23, 2019 (English).