Numerus Electorum

The numerus electorum ( German numerus of the selected ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is documented by inscriptions. The late Roman numerus Bis Electorum may have emerged from the unity .

The nominal strength of the Numerus Electorum is unknown. The unit may have consisted entirely of riders, but at least it was partly composed of riders.

Name components

Electorum : the chosen one. When the unit was set up, the soldiers of the numerus were seconded from units that were stationed in the respective North African province.

history

The number is documented in the provinces of Mauretania Caesariensis and Numidia by inscriptions from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. It is likely to have been a long-term unit (in contrast to a Numerus Collatus , which was only formed temporarily for a limited period of time or for a specific task).

The unit is possibly identical with the following two vexillations : first with the Vexillarii Africae et Mauretaniae Caesariensis , which are listed in military diplomas of 146 ( ZPE-191-269 ) and 158 ( CIL 16, 108 ) for the province of Dacia superior and second with the in the inscription ( AE 1956, 124 ) mentioned Vexillatio Equitum Afrorum et Maurorum Electorum , which fought around 169 in the Marcomann Wars.

The late Roman Numerus Bis Electorum , which is mentioned in the inscription ( CIL 8, 17414 ) , may have been established from members of the Numerus Electorum .

Locations

Locations of the numerus are not known.

Members of the number

The following members of the number are known:

Commanders

[?], a tribune ( CIL 8, 20999 )

Others

Atinius Augustalis, a duplicarius ( AE 1901, 113 )
[Cornelius R] omanus, a Decurio ( CIL 8, 8494 )

Remarks

↑ ^a ^b According to Michael P. Speidel and Marcus Reuter , the Numerus Electorum listed in the inscriptions could possibly also have been different, independent units.

↑ The ranks Decurio and Duplicarius indicate that it must have been at least a partially mounted unit. According to Michael P. Speidel, the rank of tribune as commander of the unit suggests that its nominal strength was considerable, possibly even 1000 men.

↑ According to Marcus Reuter, the fact that Atinius Augustalis called himself Duplicarius Numeri Electorum (and not after his parent unit as Duplicarius Alae [..] ) speaks for the long-term character of the numerus . The same applies to Cornelius Romanus , who called himself Decurio Numeri Electorum .

↑ The reading of the inscription ( CIL 8, 20999 ) by Michael P. Speidel and Marcus Reuter is Pr (aefectus) Al (ae) [] [Tr] ib (unus) N (umeri) Elect (orum) . The reading at EDCS is pra [eposito] [] rnetici .

↑ The reading of the inscription ( CIL 8, 8494 ) by Michael P. Speidel and Marcus Reuter is [Cornelio R] omano [..] Dec (urioni) N (umeri) E [l] ect (orum) . The reading at EDCS is [] omano [..] dec (urioni) adlec (to) .

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c Marcus Reuter : Studies on the numbers of the Roman Army in the Middle Imperial Period , Dissertation, In: Reports of the Roman-Germanic Commission 80, 1999, pp. 359–569, here pp. 478–479.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Michael P. Speidel : Numerus electorum in Africa and Mauretania , In: Antiquités africaines 23, 1987, pp. 193-196 ( online ).

[EIN-1] According to Michael P. Speidel and Marcus Reuter , the Numerus Electorum listed in the inscriptions could possibly also have been different, independent units.

[SO-4] The ranks Decurio and Duplicarius indicate that it must have been at least a partially mounted unit. According to Michael P. Speidel, the rank of tribune as commander of the unit suggests that its nominal strength was considerable, possibly even 1000 men.

[mr-2] Marcus Reuter : Studies on the numbers of the Roman Army in the Middle Imperial Period , Dissertation, In: Reports of the Roman-Germanic Commission 80, 1999, pp. 359–569, here pp. 478–479.

[mps-3] Michael P. Speidel : Numerus electorum in Africa and Mauretania , In: Antiquités africaines 23, 1987, pp. 193-196 ( online ).