Numerus Exploratorum Germanicianorum Divitiensium

The Numerus Exploratorum Germanicianorum Divitiensium (or Divitiensis ) [Alexandrianorum] [Antoninianorum] [Gordianorum] ( German Numerus of the scouts from the province of Germania in Divitia [the Alexandrian] [the Antoninian] [the Gordian] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is documented by inscriptions. Only in the inscription ( CIL 13, 7751 ) is the term Numerus Exploratorum Germanicianorum Divitiensium used, in all other inscriptions the unit is called Numerus Divitiensium (or Divitiensis ) or Numerus Exploratorum Divitiensium .

The nominal strength of the number was probably around 500 men, but possibly even 1000 men. Due to the strength of the crew and the operations outside the actual stationing province, it is assumed that the unit was probably a mobile elite force.

Name components

Exploratorum : the scout or scout.
Germanicianorum : from the province of Germania. When the unit was set up, the soldiers of the numerus were seconded from troops stationed in the province of Germania.
Divitiensium or Divitiensis : in Divitia . The addition presumably refers to one of the locations of the unit; Probably the eponymous location is Niederbieber Castle .
Alexandrianorum : the Alexandrian. An honorary title that refers to Severus Alexander (222-235). The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 13, 7751 ) at a point that was subsequently chiseled out.
Antoninianorum : the Antoninian. An honorific designation that refers to Caracalla (211-217) or Elagabal (218-222). The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 13, 7054 ).
Gordianorum : the Gordian. A title of honor that refers to Gordian III. (238-244) refers. The addition occurs in the inscriptions ( CIL 13, 11828 , CIL 13, 11979 ).

history

The number probably originated from a Vexillatio Germanicianorum . This vexillation was composed of soldiers from units stationed in the province of Germania and who were to take part in the Dacer wars of Trajan (98-117). After that, the unit was stationed in the province of Dacia during the 2nd century AD , where it is documented by inscriptions as the Numerus Germanicianorum .

Presumably under Septimius Severus (193-211) the unit was relocated to the province of Germania superior , where it is first recorded as Numerus Exploratorum Divitiensium around 211/222. The unit from 221 to 238/244 in the Niederbieber fort is documented by inscriptions . When the fort was destroyed around 259/260, the number presumably no longer stayed there.

Inscriptions show that the unit was used in campaigns in the province of Mauretania Caesariensis and in the east of the Roman Empire in the 3rd century . A vexillation of the number possibly took part in the campaign of Maximinus Thrax against Sarmatians and Dacians in the Danube region around 236 .

The last time the unit is proven around 365 in Gaul.

Locations

Locations of the Numerus in Germania superior were:

Niederbieber Castle : Several inscriptions were found here.

Members of the number

The following members of the number are known:

Commanders

C (aius) Vibius Vitalis, a prefect ( CIL 13, 11979 )

T (itus) Fl (avius) Salvianus, a prefect ( CIL 13, 6814 )

Others

[] us, an Actuarius ( CIL 13, 7750 )
[] Vellicus, a soldier ( CIL 8, 21814a )
Aprilius Lecterus, a soldier ( CIL 3, 728 )
A [u] rel [iu] s Vict [o] rinus, a cornicularius ( CIL 13, 7751 )

[M] inuson (ius) Constitutu [s] ( CIL 13, 11828 )
T (itus) F (lavius) Processus, a medicus ( CIL 13, 11979 )
Ti (tus) Ioincatius Sabinus, a soldier ( CIL 8, 9059 )
Togius Statutus, a soldier ( CIL 13, 7054 )

Remarks

↑ Two prefects are shown as commanders of the unit by inscriptions . According to Marcus Reuter , a nominal strength of around 500 men can be assumed. The following considerations speak for a personnel strength of 1000 men: firstly, the inscription ( CIL 13, 6814 ) shows that Titus Flavius Salvianus exercised his command as quarta militia (see Tres militiae ) and secondly, Niederbieber Castle was unusually large.
↑ Both Marcus Reuter and Alexander Heising describe the number in connection with participation in campaigns outside the stationing province as a (mobile) elite unit. However, according to Marcus Reuter, there is no evidence that it was a cavalry unit or at least a partially mounted unit.
↑ According to Marcus Reuter, it was previously assumed that this addition to the name was derived from the ancient fort in Cologne-Deutz . He considers this unlikely for various reasons and suspects that the Numerus was moved to Cologne-Deutz in late antiquity and brought his name to the new location, which then took over this name from the unit.
↑ ^a ^b The scenario given here follows the remarks by Marcus Reuter; it assumes that the Numerus Germanicianorum documented in Dacia is identical to the Numerus Exploratorum Germanicianorum Divitiensium . According to Marcus Reuter, there is on the one hand a lack of evidence that would prove the Numerus Germanicianorum in Dacia in the 3rd century. On the other hand, the Numerus Exploratorum Germanicianorum Divitiensium was first recorded in the first half of the 3rd century in Germania superior . In addition, other units were withdrawn from Dacia under Septimius Severus.
↑ According to Marcus Reuter, the n (umerus) Germ (anorum) listed in the inscription ( CIL 8, 21814a ) is identical to the Numerus Exploratorum Germanicianorum Divitiensium .

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g 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. 485-491.
↑ ^a ^b ^c Alexander Heising : Perspectives on Limes Research using the example of Niederbieber Castle. In: Peter Henrich (Ed.): Perspektiven der Limesforschung. 5th colloquium of the German Limes Commission. Theiss, Stuttgart 2010, ISBN 978-3-8062-2465-8 , (= contributions to the Limes World Heritage Site, 5), pp. 56–71, here pp. 60–61, 68 ( online ).

[SO1-1] Two prefects are shown as commanders of the unit by inscriptions . According to Marcus Reuter , a nominal strength of around 500 men can be assumed. The following considerations speak for a personnel strength of 1000 men: firstly, the inscription ( CIL 13, 6814 ) shows that Titus Flavius Salvianus exercised his command as quarta militia (see Tres militiae ) and secondly, Niederbieber Castle was unusually large.

[SO2-4] Both Marcus Reuter and Alexander Heising describe the number in connection with participation in campaigns outside the stationing province as a (mobile) elite unit. However, according to Marcus Reuter, there is no evidence that it was a cavalry unit or at least a partially mounted unit.

[NA-5] According to Marcus Reuter, it was previously assumed that this addition to the name was derived from the ancient fort in Cologne-Deutz . He considers this unlikely for various reasons and suspects that the Numerus was moved to Cologne-Deutz in late antiquity and brought his name to the new location, which then took over this name from the unit.

[GE1-6] The scenario given here follows the remarks by Marcus Reuter; it assumes that the Numerus Germanicianorum documented in Dacia is identical to the Numerus Exploratorum Germanicianorum Divitiensium . According to Marcus Reuter, there is on the one hand a lack of evidence that would prove the Numerus Germanicianorum in Dacia in the 3rd century. On the other hand, the Numerus Exploratorum Germanicianorum Divitiensium was first recorded in the first half of the 3rd century in Germania superior . In addition, other units were withdrawn from Dacia under Septimius Severus.

[AN-7] According to Marcus Reuter, the n (umerus) Germ (anorum) listed in the inscription ( CIL 8, 21814a ) is identical to the Numerus Exploratorum Germanicianorum Divitiensium .

[mr-2] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g 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. 485-491.

[ah-3] Alexander Heising : Perspectives on Limes Research using the example of Niederbieber Castle. In: Peter Henrich (Ed.): Perspektiven der Limesforschung. 5th colloquium of the German Limes Commission. Theiss, Stuttgart 2010, ISBN 978-3-8062-2465-8 , (= contributions to the Limes World Heritage Site, 5), pp. 56–71, here pp. 60–61, 68 ( online ).