Numerus Brittonum (Walldürn)

The inscription ( CIL 13, 6592 )

The Numerus Brittonum ( German numerus of the British ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by an inscription.

Name components

Brittonum : the British. The soldiers of the numerus were recruited in the province of Britannia when the unit was established .

history

The British probably came to Germania superior around 100 AD , possibly even under Domitian (81–96). It is possible that the numbers formed from them were used at the Neckar-Odenwald-Limes before they were later (documented in writing) stationed at the so-called Front Limes to relieve the auxiliary units already stationed here.

The only evidence of the number is based on the inscription ( CIL 13, 6592 ), which is dated to 232.

Locations

Locations of the Numerus in Germania superior were possibly:

Walldürn fort : The inscription ( CIL 13, 6592 ) was found here.
Haselburg small fort
Small fort Hönehaus
Small fort Rinschheim

Members of the number

Members of the number are not known. The inscription ( CIL 13, 6592 ) says that the units listed were under the command of T (itus) Fl (avius) Romanus , a centurion of Legio XXII Primigenia , during the construction work .

Units in the inscription

Both the number and the meaning of the units mentioned are uncertain. According to Tatiana Alexandrovna Ivleva, up to four different units are conceivable:

Expl (oratio) Stu (ri) or Expl (oratores) Stu (ri) : this unit could also have been a Numerus Brittonum Stu [] .
Brit (tones) Gentiles
Officiales Bri (ttonum)
Deditic (iorum) Alexandrianorum

Web links

Commons : Numerus Brittonum (Walldürn) - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Remarks

↑ ^a ^b The scenario given here follows the explanations of Tatiana Alexandrovna Ivleva. It assumes that at least one (possibly a second) Numerus Brittonum is listed in the inscription ( CIL 13, 6592 ) . She thinks it is possible that the inscription lists up to four different units. According to Marcus Reuter , this is one of the most discussed inscriptions found on the Upper German Limes, as both the number and the meaning of the units mentioned are unclear.

↑ ^a ^b According to Marcus Reuter, the British recruited for the first time came to Germania superior as a closed contingent and were only then divided into the individual units. He is assuming 1500 to 2000 Britons in this first contingent.

↑ According to Marcus Reuter, the soldiers from three different units mentioned in the inscription financed the renovation of the baths at Fort Walldürn from their own resources, so he assumes that they also had accommodation there. The fort itself was probably too small for three units, so that at least some of the soldiers were housed in the neighboring small forts in Haselburg, Hönehaus and Rinschheim.

↑ See also in the article Walldürn Castle the section The building inscription of the bath .

↑ Various historians (including Dietwulf Baatz ) have postulated a Numerus Brittonum Stu [] . Tatiana Alexandrovna Ivleva thinks this is possible, while Marcus Reuter thinks such a number is improbable.

Individual evidence

^ ^A ^b Marcus Reuter : Studies on the numbers of the Roman Army in the Middle Imperial Era, Dissertation, In: Reports of the Roman-Germanic Commission 80, 1999, pp. 359–569, here pp. 385–389, 549–551.
↑ Tatiana Alexandrovna Ivleva: Britons abroad: the mobility of Britons and the circulation of British-made objects in the Roman Empire Dissertation, Leiden University 2012, pp. 170–171, 175–176, 545 ( online ).

[EIN-1] The scenario given here follows the explanations of Tatiana Alexandrovna Ivleva. It assumes that at least one (possibly a second) Numerus Brittonum is listed in the inscription ( CIL 13, 6592 ) . She thinks it is possible that the inscription lists up to four different units. According to Marcus Reuter , this is one of the most discussed inscriptions found on the Upper German Limes, as both the number and the meaning of the units mentioned are unclear.

[NA1-2] According to Marcus Reuter, the British recruited for the first time came to Germania superior as a closed contingent and were only then divided into the individual units. He is assuming 1500 to 2000 Britons in this first contingent.

[ST-4] According to Marcus Reuter, the soldiers from three different units mentioned in the inscription financed the renovation of the baths at Fort Walldürn from their own resources, so he assumes that they also had accommodation there. The fort itself was probably too small for three units, so that at least some of the soldiers were housed in the neighboring small forts in Haselburg, Hönehaus and Rinschheim.

[IN-6] See also in the article Walldürn Castle the section The building inscription of the bath .

[NBS-7] Various historians (including Dietwulf Baatz ) have postulated a Numerus Brittonum Stu [] . Tatiana Alexandrovna Ivleva thinks this is possible, while Marcus Reuter thinks such a number is improbable.

[mr-3] A ^b Marcus Reuter : Studies on the numbers of the Roman Army in the Middle Imperial Era, Dissertation, In: Reports of the Roman-Germanic Commission 80, 1999, pp. 359–569, here pp. 385–389, 549–551.

[tai-5] Tatiana Alexandrovna Ivleva: Britons abroad: the mobility of Britons and the circulation of British-made objects in the Roman Empire Dissertation, Leiden University 2012, pp. 170–171, 175–176, 545 ( online ).