Numerus Germanicianorum

The Numerus Germanicianorum [Exploratorum] ( German Numerus from the province of Germania [the scout] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by inscriptions and brick stamps.

Name components

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.

Exploratorum : the scout or scout. The addition can be found on bricks with the stamp NGE ( AE 1972, 487 ) as an abbreviation for Numerus Germanicianorum Exploratorum .

Fragment of the bronze list of soldiers from Cologne or Bonn, the indication “N (umerus) G (ermanicianorum)” can be found in the fourth from last and penultimate lines

history

The unit probably originated from a vexillatio Germanicianorum . This vexillation was put together from soldiers who were stationed in the province of Germania and who were to take part in the Dacian wars of Trajan (98-117). After the Dacian Wars, the unit remained in the new province of Dacia .

The number is first proven in Dacia by the inscription ( AE 1910, 152 ), which is dated to the middle of the 2nd century AD. Another inscription ( CIL 3, 12574 ) proves the number around 173/175 in the same province. The unit was probably relocated to Germania superior under Septimius Severus (193–211) , where it is recorded as Numerus Exploratorum Germanicianorum Divitiensium in Niederbieber Castle .

Two bronze tablets with inscriptions on both sides probably date from the 3rd century, which were probably found in Cologne or Bonn and have almost identical text on their four sides. These are the names of various soldiers who appear to have donated an offering. Among them are two or three soldiers of the Numerus Germanicianorum, namely a Claudius Ursulus, a Censorinius Maternus and possibly a Marinius [---] (in which, however, the troop information is not preserved on any of the four pages).

Locations

Locations of the Numerus in Dacia were possibly:

Orăştioara de Sus : The inscriptions ( AE 1972, 486 , CIL 3, 12574 ) as well as bricks with the stamp NGE ( AE 1972, 487 ) were found here.

Members of the number

The following members of the number are known:

Commanders

M (arcus) Verius Superstes, a Centurion of the Legio V Macedonica and Praepositus des Numerus ( CIL 3, 12574 )

Others

Iulius Secundus ( AE 1972, 486 )
Zeno ( AE 1910, 152 )
Ostiarius Stellatinianus ( CIL 000013 XIII, 6405 )
Claudius Ursulus ( CIL 000013 XIII, 8053 )
Censorinius Maternus ( CIL 000013 XIII, 8053 )
(unsure :) Marinius [---] ( CIL 000013 XIII, 8053 ; see above under " History ")

Remarks

↑ According to Marcus Reuter , the unit may also be listed in the inscription ( CIL 3, 1343 ) which is dated 197/209. The reading in the Clauss-Slaby epigraphic database is n (umerus) [expl (oratorum?)] [G] erm (anicianorum) .
↑ According to Marcus Reuter , on the one hand there is a lack of evidence that would prove the Numerus Germanicianorum in Dacia even 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.

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. 483-485.
↑ CIL 000013 XIII, 8053 . See Géza Alföldy : The auxiliary troops of the Roman province Germania Inferior (= epigraphic studies. Volume 6). Rheinland-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1968, pp. 220-223; Marcus Reuter: Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix. Their history, their soldiers, their monuments (= Xanten reports. Volume 23). Philipp von Zabern, Darmstadt / Mainz 2012, ISBN 978-3-8053-4586-6 , pp. 119–121.
↑ On the dedicatory inscription of Ostiarius Stellatinianus see Francisca Feraudi-Gruénais, Renate Ludwig: Die Heidelberger Römersteine. Sculptures, architectural parts and inscriptions in the Kurpfälzisches Museum Heidelberg. Universitätsverlag Winter, Heidelberg 2017, ISBN 978-3-8253-6693-3 , p. 73 f.

[GE1-2] According to Marcus Reuter , the unit may also be listed in the inscription ( CIL 3, 1343 ) which is dated 197/209. The reading in the Clauss-Slaby epigraphic database is n (umerus) [expl (oratorum?)] [G] erm (anicianorum) .

[GE2-3] According to Marcus Reuter , on the one hand there is a lack of evidence that would prove the Numerus Germanicianorum in Dacia even 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.

[mr-1] 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. 483-485.

[4] CIL 000013 XIII, 8053 . See Géza Alföldy : The auxiliary troops of the Roman province Germania Inferior (= epigraphic studies. Volume 6). Rheinland-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1968, pp. 220-223; Marcus Reuter: Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix. Their history, their soldiers, their monuments (= Xanten reports. Volume 23). Philipp von Zabern, Darmstadt / Mainz 2012, ISBN 978-3-8053-4586-6 , pp. 119–121.

[5] On the dedicatory inscription of Ostiarius Stellatinianus see Francisca Feraudi-Gruénais, Renate Ludwig: Die Heidelberger Römersteine. Sculptures, architectural parts and inscriptions in the Kurpfälzisches Museum Heidelberg. Universitätsverlag Winter, Heidelberg 2017, ISBN 978-3-8253-6693-3 , p. 73 f.