Cohors I Ulpia Sagittariorum

The Cohors I Ulpia Sagittariorum (or Sagittaria ) [civium Romanorum] [equitata] ( German 1st cohort the Ulpische der Archers [the Roman citizens] [partly mounted] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas and an inscription.

Name components

Ulpia : the Ulpian. The honorary designation refers to Emperor Trajan , whose full name is Marcus Ulpius Traianus .

Sagittariorum or Sagittaria : the archer. Since there is no ethnic name for the cohort, the soldiers were probably of different origins when the unit was set up. You may have served in other units before.

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 occurs in the military diplomas of 129.

equitata : partially mounted. The unit was a mixed association of infantry and cavalry. The addition does not appear anywhere, but since the association under the leadership of Marcus Valerius Lollianus is a cavalry division of the Alae and cohorts in Syria, this is considered certain.

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 Syria Province . It is listed on military diplomas for the years AD 129-153.

The unit was set up under Trajan (98-117), either in his first reign before 104 or during preparation for the Parthian War. She probably received the civium Romanorum award during the Parthian War. The first evidence of unity in the province of Syria is based on diplomas dated to 129. In the diplomas, the cohort is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Forces in Syria ) that were stationed in the province. Another diploma, dated 153, proves unity in the same province.

A vexillation of the cohort took part in the Parthian War of Lucius Verus (161–166). It is listed in the inscription ( CIL 3, 600 ) as part of the units that were under the direction of Marcus Valerius Lollianus . The inscription says that Lollianus was the commander in Mesopotamia over sections of selected riders of the Alen [..] and the cohorts .

Locations

The locations of the cohort are not known.

Members of the cohort

Members of the cohort are not known.

Remarks

↑ ^a ^b According to Werner Eck , Andreas Pangerl, the cohort was set up in the first years of Trajan's reign, probably not after 104. Peter Weiß assumes, however, that this unit of archers was probably formed together with the Cohors II Ulpia Equitata especially for Trajan's Parthian War.
↑ According to Peter Weiß , the unit was probably originally a Cohors peditata , i. H. a pure infantry cohort, which was later expanded into a Cohors equitata .

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Peter Weiß : The auxiliaries of the Syrian army from Domitian to Antoninus Pius. An interim balance after the new military diplomas In: Chiron Communications of the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy of the German Archaeological Institute Volume 36 (2006), pp. 249–298, here pp. 273–275, 288–289, 291.

↑ ^a ^b Rudolf Haensch , Peter Weiß: A difficult way. The road construction inscription by M. Valerius Lollianus from Byllis. In: Communications from the German Archaeological Institute. Roman department . Volume 118, 2012, pp. 435-454, here pp. 441-442, and pp. 448-449 ( online ).

↑ Military diplomas of the years 129 ( AE 2006, 1852 , Chiron-2006-230 ) and 153 ( Chiron-2006-267 ).

↑ Werner Eck , Andreas Pangerl: Syria under Domitian and Hadrian: New diplomas for the auxiliary troops of the province In: Chiron communications of the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy of the German Archaeological Institute Volume 36 (2006), pp. 205–247, here p. 227, 245.

[NA-2] According to Werner Eck , Andreas Pangerl, the cohort was set up in the first years of Trajan's reign, probably not after 104. Peter Weiß assumes, however, that this unit of archers was probably formed together with the Cohors II Ulpia Equitata especially for Trajan's Parthian War.

[NA2-4] According to Peter Weiß , the unit was probably originally a Cohors peditata , i. H. a pure infantry cohort, which was later expanded into a Cohors equitata .

[pw-1] Peter Weiß : The auxiliaries of the Syrian army from Domitian to Antoninus Pius. An interim balance after the new military diplomas In: Chiron Communications of the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy of the German Archaeological Institute Volume 36 (2006), pp. 249–298, here pp. 273–275, 288–289, 291.

[rh-3] Rudolf Haensch , Peter Weiß: A difficult way. The road construction inscription by M. Valerius Lollianus from Byllis. In: Communications from the German Archaeological Institute. Roman department . Volume 118, 2012, pp. 435-454, here pp. 441-442, and pp. 448-449 ( online ).

[MD-5] Military diplomas of the years 129 ( AE 2006, 1852 , Chiron-2006-230 ) and 153 ( Chiron-2006-267 ).

[we-6] Werner Eck , Andreas Pangerl: Syria under Domitian and Hadrian: New diplomas for the auxiliary troops of the province In: Chiron communications of the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy of the German Archaeological Institute Volume 36 (2006), pp. 205–247, here p. 227, 245.