Cohors I Augusta Cyrenaica

The Cohors I Augusta Cyrenaica [Antoniniana] [equitata] ( German 1st Augustan cohort from the Cyrenaica [the Antoninian] [partially mounted] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and inscriptions.

Name components

Augusta : the Augustan tables. The honorary title refers to Augustus ; the unit was either set up during the reign of Augustus (possibly also by him personally) or the title was later awarded honoris causa .

Cyrenaica : from the Cyrenaica . The soldiers of the cohort were recruited when the unit was established in the area of Cyrenaica within the Roman province of Creta et Cyrene .

Antoniniana : the Antoninian. An honorary title that refers to Caracalla (211-217). The addition appears in the inscription ( AE 2009, 1467 ).

equitata : partially mounted. The unit was possibly a mixed formation of infantry and cavalry.

Since there is no evidence of the addition of milliaria (1000 men) to the name , the unit was either a pure infantry cohort, a Cohors (quingenaria) peditata , with a nominal strength of 480 men, or a Cohors (quingenaria) equitata with a nominal strength of 600 men (480 infantry and 120 riders), consisting of 6 centuries of infantry with 80 men each and 4 tower cavalry with 30 riders each.

history

The first evidence of unity in the province of Galatia et Cappadocia is based on a military diploma dated to AD 99. In the diploma, the cohort is listed as part of the troops that were stationed in the province. Another diploma, dated 101, proves unity in the same province.

The last evidence of the cohort in the province of Galatia is based on the inscription ( AE 2009, 1467 ), which is dated to 211/217.

Locations

Locations of the cohort in Galatia were:

Ancyra

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known.

Commanders

C (aius) Antestius Seve [], a prefect ( CIL 13, 6812 )

Q. Valerius Vales, a curator

Remarks

↑ Michael Alexander Speidel gives the unit as equitata , but John Spaul does not.

Individual evidence

^ Julian Bennett: The Regular Roman Auxiliary Regiments Formed from the Provinces of Asia Minor , ANATOLICA XXXVII, 2011, pp. 251-274 here p. 252, ( PDF p. 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. 5-7, 383-384, 386
↑ ^a ^b Michael Alexander Speidel : The Development of the Roman Forces in Northeastern Anatolia. New evidence for the history of the exercitus Cappadocicus. , Special print from: MA Speidel, Heer und Herrschaft im Römischen Reich der Hohen Kaiserzeit, Stuttgart 2009, pp. 595–631, here pp. 605, 613–614 ( online ).
↑ Military diplomas of the years 99 ( AE 2014, 1656 ), 101.

[EQ-3] Michael Alexander Speidel gives the unit as equitata , but John Spaul does not.

[jb-1] Julian Bennett: The Regular Roman Auxiliary Regiments Formed from the Provinces of Asia Minor , ANATOLICA XXXVII, 2011, pp. 251-274 here p. 252, ( PDF p. 2 ).

[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. 5-7, 383-384, 386

[mas-4] Michael Alexander Speidel : The Development of the Roman Forces in Northeastern Anatolia. New evidence for the history of the exercitus Cappadocicus. , Special print from: MA Speidel, Heer und Herrschaft im Römischen Reich der Hohen Kaiserzeit, Stuttgart 2009, pp. 595–631, here pp. 605, 613–614 ( online ).

[MD-5] Military diplomas of the years 99 ( AE 2014, 1656 ), 101.