Numerus Cattharensium

The Numerus Cattharensium ( German Numerus Cattharensium ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is documented by inscriptions. In the inscription ( CIL 13, 7268 ) the unit is called Numerus Caddarensium .

The nominal strength of the unit is unknown. The number should have been a mixed unit of infantry and cavalry.

Name components

Cattharensium : The name is likely derived from an ancient place name near the location of the unit.

history

The beginnings of the unit can be traced back to a vexillation from an (unknown) auxiliary unit, which was assigned to the location at the later Alteburg Fort in the late 1st century AD . Initially this delegation was probably called vexillatio Cattharensis . Possibly the great distance from the location of the original unit led to the vexillation becoming independent and thus to the emergence of the number.

The last reliable proof of the number is based on the inscription ( CIL 11, 3104 ), which was found in Mainz-Kastel and which is dated to 225. It is possible that the number is identical with a unit that is mentioned in the Notitia dignitatum under the name Catarienses and that was part of the troops that were under the command of the Comes Illyrici .

Locations

Locations of the Numerus in Germania superior were:

Fort Alteburg ( Heftrich ): Bricks with the stamps CATTHR , CATTHAR , N CAT and N CATTHR ( CIL 13, 12502 ) were found here.

Members of the number

The following members of the number are known:

Finitius Fidelis, a soldier ( CIL 13, 7268 )
P (ublius) Romantinus, a centurion

Silvestris Servandus, a circitor ( CIL 13, 7298 )

Remarks

↑ According to Marcus Reuter , the name certainly does not come from the chats .

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 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. 471–473.

[NA-2] According to Marcus Reuter , the name certainly does not come from the chats .

[mr-1] 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. 471–473.