Numerus Peditum Singularium Britannicianorum

The Numerus Peditum Singularium Britannicianorum [Philippiani] ( German Number of the foot soldiers of the guard soldiers from the province of Britannia [the Philippian] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by military diplomas , inscriptions and brick stamps.

The name of the unit changed several times over the years. In the diplomas it is first listed as Pedites Britannici or Pedites Singulares Britannici (or Britanniciani ) and finally as Vexillatio Peditum Singularium Britannicianorum ; in the inscriptions of the 3rd century it is then mainly referred to as the Numerus Singularium Britannicianorum . Abbreviations of various names appear as stamps on bricks.

Name components

Peditum : the foot soldiers.

Singularium : the guards soldiers.

Britannicianorum : from the province of Britannia. When the unit was set up, the soldiers of the numerus were seconded from troops stationed in the province of Britannia.

Antoninianus : the Antoninian. An honorary title that refers to Caracalla (211-217). The addition possibly appeared in the inscription ( AE 2003, 1513 ).

Philippiani : the Philippian. An honorary title that refers to Philip Arabs (244–249). The addition appears in the inscription ( CIL 3, 12573 ).

history

The unit was stationed in the provinces of Moesia superior and Dacia (in that order). It is listed on military diplomas for the years 103/106 to 179 AD.

The first evidence of the Pedites Singulares Britannici in Moesia superior is based on a diploma which is dated to the year 103/106. In the diploma, the unit is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Armed Forces in Moesia ) that were stationed in the province. Another diploma, dated 103/107, proves unity in the same province.

The first evidence in Dacia is based on diplomas dated to the year 110. In the diplomas, the unit is listed as part of the troops (see Roman Armed Forces in Dacia ) that were stationed in the province. Further diplomas, which are dated from 113/114 to 179, prove the unit in the same province (or from 123 in Dacia superior ).

The last evidence of the number is based on the inscription ( CIL 3, 12573 ), which is dated to 245.

Locations

Locations of the Numerus in Dacia superior were:

Germisara ( Cigmău ): Several inscriptions and bricks with the stamps N (umerus) B (ritannicorum) ( AE 1967, 00412a ), N (umerus) P (editum) S (ingularium) ( AE 1967, 00412c ), N (umerus) S (ingularium) B (ritannicianorum) and S (ingulares) P (edites) B (ritannici) ( AE 1967, 00412d ) were found here.

Members of the number

The following members of the number are known:

Commanders

C (aius) Val (erius) Valent [inus], a tribune ( AE 2003, 1513 ). He was also the tribune of Legio XIIII Gemina .
T (itus) Fab (ius) Aquileiensis, a tribune ( AE 1971, 385 , AE 1992, 1487 )

Ulp (ius) Max [i] minus, a Praepositus of the Numerus and Centurio of the Legio V Macedonica ( AE 1967, 410 )

Others

M (arcus) Au (relius) Calpurnianus, a Centurion ( IDR-3-3,219 )

P (ublius) Aelius Marcellinus, a Signifer and Quaestor ( CIL 3, 1396 )

Remarks

↑ Since the Legio XIIII Gemina bears the addition Antoninianae in the inscription ( AE 2003, 1513 ) , it is assumed that this addition was also listed in the number of the no longer preserved part of the inscription.

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d 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. 193-196, 555-560 ( online ).
^ Jörg Scheuerbrandt : Exercitus. Tasks, organization and command structure of Roman armies during the imperial era. Dissertation, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau 2003/2004, p. 164, 169 tables 8, 11 ( PDF p. 166, 171 ).
↑ ^a ^b Werner Eck , Andreas Pangerl: A constitution for the troops of Dacia superior from the year 142 with the special formula for children of auxiliaries In: Journal for papyrology and epigraphy . Volume 181 (2012), pp. 173-182, here pp. 178-179.
↑ Werner Eck, Andreas Pangerl: Two new diplomas for the troops of Dacia superior and Dacia Porolissensis In: Journal for papyrology and epigraphy. Volume 191 (2014), pp. 269-277, here p. 271 ( online ).
↑ Military diplomas of the years 103/106 ( RMM 13 ), 103/107 ( CIL 16, 54 ), 110 ( CIL 16, 57 , CIL 16, 163 , ZPE-176-221 ), 113/114 ( RMD 4, 225 ) , 114 ( RMD 4, 226 ), 123 ( RMM 22 ), 142 ( ZPE-181-173 ), 146 ( ZPE-191-269 ), 157 ( CIL 16, 107 ) and 179 ( RMD 2, 123 ).

[NA-2] Since the Legio XIIII Gemina bears the addition Antoninianae in the inscription ( AE 2003, 1513 ) , it is assumed that this addition was also listed in the number of the no longer preserved part of the inscription.

[tai-1] 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. 193-196, 555-560 ( online ).

[js-3] Jörg Scheuerbrandt : Exercitus. Tasks, organization and command structure of Roman armies during the imperial era. Dissertation, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau 2003/2004, p. 164, 169 tables 8, 11 ( PDF p. 166, 171 ).

[we1-4] Werner Eck , Andreas Pangerl: A constitution for the troops of Dacia superior from the year 142 with the special formula for children of auxiliaries In: Journal for papyrology and epigraphy . Volume 181 (2012), pp. 173-182, here pp. 178-179.

[we2-5] Werner Eck, Andreas Pangerl: Two new diplomas for the troops of Dacia superior and Dacia Porolissensis In: Journal for papyrology and epigraphy. Volume 191 (2014), pp. 269-277, here p. 271 ( online ).

[MD-6] Military diplomas of the years 103/106 ( RMM 13 ), 103/107 ( CIL 16, 54 ), 110 ( CIL 16, 57 , CIL 16, 163 , ZPE-176-221 ), 113/114 ( RMD 4, 225 ) , 114 ( RMD 4, 226 ), 123 ( RMM 22 ), 142 ( ZPE-181-173 ), 146 ( ZPE-191-269 ), 157 ( CIL 16, 107 ) and 179 ( RMD 2, 123 ).