Cohors I Chalcidenorum

The Cohors I Chalcidenorum [sagittariorum or sagittaria] [equitata] ( German 1st cohort from Chalcis [the archer ] [partly mounted] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions.

Name components

Chalcidenorum : from Chalcis . The soldiers of the cohort were recruited from the town of Chalcis and its surroundings when the unit was set up .

sagittariorum or sagittaria : [the / from] archer. The addition does not appear in any of the inscriptions, but since Agrippa was commanding archers from Palmyra for 10 years after his transfer to Cohors I Chalcidenorum , this is suspected.

equitata : partially mounted. The unit was a mixed association of infantry and cavalry. The addition occurs in the inscriptions ( AE 1950, 58 , CIL 8, 10658 ).

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 first evidence of unity in the province of Africa or Numidia is based on the inscription ( AE 1950, 58 ), which is dated to 125/126 AD. Military degrees dated 127 to 128/129 demonstrate unity in the province of Africa . In the diplomas, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Forces in Africa ) that were stationed in the province. The last evidence of the cohort is based on the inscription ( AE 1900, 197 ), which is dated to 161/180.

Locations

Locations of the cohort in Africa proconsularis or Numidia were possibly:

Bir Oum Ali : The inscriptions ( CIL 8, 10658 , CIL 8, 17587 ) were found here.
Gemellae (M'Lili): The inscription ( AE 1950, 58 ) as well as the inscriptions of Gallonius and Lucius Granius Rogatianus were found here.

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known.

Commanders

C (aius) Suetonius Ianuar (ius), a prefect ( CIL 8, 2090 )
C (aius) Venaecius Voconianus, a prefect ( CIL 2, 2103 )

Gallonius, a prefect ( CIL 8, 17586 )
Titus Staberius Secundus, a Prefect ( CIL 6, 3538 )

Others

Agrippa, a Centurion (around 161/180) ( AE 1900, 197 ): he was transferred from the Cohors III Thracum Syriaca to the Cohors I Chalcidenorum .

Luc (ius) Granius Rogatianus, a Decurio ( CIL 8, 17980 )

Further cohorts with the designation Cohors I Chalcidenorum

There was another cohort, the Cohors I Flavia Chalcidenorum . She is documented by military diplomas from 144 to 156/157 and was stationed in the province of Syria .

Individual evidence

^ ^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 978-1841710464 , pp. 422, 428 -429

^ 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. 99-100 ( PDF pp. 100-101 ).

↑ Military diplomas of the years 127 ( RMD 5, 368 , ZPE-152-244 ) and 128/129 ( RMD 5, 373 ).

[jsp-1] 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 978-1841710464 , pp. 422, 428 -429

[js-2] 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. 99-100 ( PDF pp. 100-101 ).