Numerus Brittonum Nemaningensium

The Numerus Brittonum Nemaningensium ( German Numerus der Briten an der Mümling ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is documented by inscriptions.

The nominal strength of the unit was probably 160 men, consisting of two Centuries with 80 men each. They were probably all foot soldiers.

Name components

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

Nemaningensium : on the Mümling . The addition refers to the Mümling, a small tributary of the Main.

history

The British probably came to Germania superior around 100 AD , possibly even under Domitian (81–96). Presumably the numbers formed from them were used at the Neckar-Odenwald-Limes for monitoring tasks in order to relieve the auxiliary units already stationed here.

The number is first documented by the inscription ( CIL 13, 6629 ) that was found in Aschaffenburg and that is dated August 13, 178.

Locations

Locations of the Numerus in Germania superior were possibly:

Fort Obernburg ( Obernburg am Main ): The inscription ( CIL 13, 6622 ) was found here.
Fort Wörth ( Wörth am Main )

Members of the number

The following members of the number are known:

Commanders

Q (uintus) B [] ius Br [] us, a centurion of the Legio XXII Primigenia ( CIL 13, 6642 ).

T (itus) Aurel (ius) Firminus, a centurion of the Legio XXII Primigenia ( CIL 13, 6629 ).

Others

C (aius) Ati [] utilis, a cornicularius ( CIL 13, 6622 ).

Exploratores Nemaningenses

In the inscriptions ( CIL 13, 6629 , CIL 13, 6642 ) another unit is listed, the Exploratores Nemaningenses (scouts on the Mümling). The two centurions also commanded this unit. Otherwise nothing is known about the Exploratores Nemaningenses .

Remarks

↑ ^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.
↑ Titus Aurelius Firminus is still known from the inscriptions ( CIL 13, 6630 , CIL 13, 6644 , CIL 13, 6645 ). But the number is not indicated on them. According to Marcus Reuter, it is unclear why Titus Aurelius Firminus donated a total of four altars.

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f 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, 454 -457.
↑ ^a ^b 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, 188–190, 551–552 ( online ).

[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.

[AN-4] Titus Aurelius Firminus is still known from the inscriptions ( CIL 13, 6630 , CIL 13, 6644 , CIL 13, 6645 ). But the number is not indicated on them. According to Marcus Reuter, it is unclear why Titus Aurelius Firminus donated a total of four altars.

[mr-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f 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, 454 -457.

[tai-3] 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, 188–190, 551–552 ( online ).