Cohors I Flavia Damascenorum

The Cohors I Flavia Damascenorum [sagittariorum or sagittaria] [milliaria] [equitata] ( German 1st Flavian cohort from Damascus [the archer ] [1000 men] [partially mounted] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas , inscriptions and brick stamps.

Name components

Flavia : the Flavian. The honorary designation refers to the Flavian emperors Vespasian , Titus and Domitian . A total of 14 cohorts with this suffix are known. The cohort was possibly set up in the Julio-Claudian period and expanded by Vespasian to a Cohors milliaria after the Jewish War , the unit probably also being given the imperial name.

Damascenorum : from Damascus . The soldiers of the cohort were recruited from the city of Damascus and its surroundings when the unit was set up .

sagittariorum or sagittaria : [the / from] archer. The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 13, 7395 ) in the abbreviation sag .

milliaria : 1000 men. Depending on whether it was an infantry cohort ( Cohors milliaria peditata ) or a mixed association of infantry and cavalry ( Cohors milliaria equitata ), the nominal strength of the unit was either 800 or 1040 men. In the military diploma ( CIL 16, 80 ) the symbol is used instead of milliaria . ${\ displaystyle \ infty}$

equitata : partially mounted. The unit was a mixed association of infantry and cavalry. The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 13, 7395 ).

The unit was a Cohors milliaria equitata . The nominal strength of the unit was therefore 1040 men, consisting of 10 Centurien infantry with 80 men each and 8 tower cavalry with 30 riders each.

history

The first evidence of unity in the province of Germania Superior is based on a diploma which is dated to the year 90 AD. In the diploma, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Armed Forces in Germania ) that were stationed in Germania Superior . Other diplomas, dated 116 and 134, prove unity in the same province.

Locations

The cohort was stationed in Germania Superior in a camp on Friedberger Burgberg . Bricks with the following stamps were found in several places: COH DAM near Friedberg ( CIL 13, 12438 ), CPFD near Arnsburg ( CIL 13, 12439 ), CTFD near Saalburg ( CIL 13, 12440 ) and COH IF DA ${\ displaystyle \ infty}$ near Deutz ( CIL 13 , 12441 ).

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known.

Faustinius Faustinus, a soldier ( CIL 13, 6270 )
Sextius Ursus, a veteran ( AE 1978, 536 )
Soemus Severus, a Cornicularius ( CIL 13, 7395 )

Remarks

↑ For details on the military diplomas (literature, dates etc.) see the disc page.

Individual evidence

↑ Julian Bennett: THE REGULAR ROMAN AUXILIARY REGIMENT FORMED FROM THE PROVINCES OF ASIA MINOR , anatolica XXXVII, 2011, pp 251-274 here p 265 ( PDF page 15 ).
^ ^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 , p. 433
^ 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. 159 table 3 ( PDF p. 161 ).
↑ Military diplomas of the years 90 ( CIL 16, 36 , AE 2003, 2056 ), 116 ( CIL 16, 62 ) and 134 ( CIL 16, 80 ).
↑ 16. Friedberg Castle. German Limes Commission , accessed on April 14, 2017 .

[MD-5] For details on the military diplomas (literature, dates etc.) see the disc page.

[jb-1] Julian Bennett: THE REGULAR ROMAN AUXILIARY REGIMENT FORMED FROM THE PROVINCES OF ASIA MINOR , anatolica XXXVII, 2011, pp 251-274 here p 265 ( PDF page 15 ).

[jsp-2] 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 , p. 433

[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. 159 table 3 ( PDF p. 161 ).

[MD-4] Military diplomas of the years 90 ( CIL 16, 36 , AE 2003, 2056 ), 116 ( CIL 16, 62 ) and 134 ( CIL 16, 80 ).

[dlk-6] 16. Friedberg Castle. German Limes Commission , accessed on April 14, 2017 .