List of Roman auxiliary regiments
This article lists Script error: No such module "Lang"., non-legionary auxiliary regiments of the imperial Roman army, attested in the epigraphic record, by Roman province of deployment during the reign of emperor Hadrian (r. AD 117–138).
The index of regimental names explains the origin of the names, most of which are based on the names of the subject tribes or cities of the empire where they were originally recruited. (As time went by, they became staffed by recruits from anywhere, especially from the province where they were deployed.)
Types of regiment
During most of the Principate era, until AD 212, auxiliary regiments, called Script error: No such module "Lang". by the Romans, were formations kept separate from the legions, who were recruited from Roman citizens only. Script error: No such module "Lang". were mostly recruited from the peregrini, the vast majority of subjects in the Roman Empire who did not hold Roman citizenship. (in AD 212, all the inhabitants of the empire were granted Roman citizenship).
There were three basic types of auxiliary regiment:
- Script error: No such module "Lang"., which contained only cavalry and consisted nominally of 480 soldiers
- Script error: No such module "Lang". or simply Script error: No such module "Lang"., which contained only infantry and consisted nominally of 480 soldiers
- Script error: No such module "Lang"., which contained infantry with an attached cavalry contingent and consisted nominally of 600 soldiers, of which 480 were infantry and 120 were cavalry
A number of regiments, of all three types, were designated Script error: No such module "Lang". (sagitt), indicating that their members were equipped as archers. After about AD 80, about 12 percent of regiments were enlarged from the Script error: No such module "Lang". size and designated Script error: No such module "Lang"., which nominally consisted of 1000 soldiers, but in reality consisted of 720 soldiers, 800 soldiers, and 1040 soldiers respectively.
Contents of tables
Table I below lists auxiliary regiments during Hadrian's rule, for which there is the most comprehensive evidence. The table does not show regiments that were attested to in the 1st century but that, according to Holder, were dissolved by AD 117, nor those that were probably founded after AD 138. The precise number of regiments that existed during Hadrian's rule is disputed.Template:Efn The regiments are listed by the Roman province where they were deployed c. AD 130.
- Boldface entries: denotes a unit of double strength
- eq: denotes a part-mounted unit
- c.R: denotes a unit composed of Roman citizens
- sagitt: denotes a unit composed of archers
Ethnic composition of regiments
The rule of the first emperor, Augustus, (30 BC–AD 14) saw the foundation of the majority of the regiments attested in Hadrian's time. In the earlier part of this period, regiments were raised from and named after individual tribes, for example Script error: No such module "Lang"., Script error: No such module "Lang". and Script error: No such module "Lang".. Later, units were raised from and named after broad national groups, for example Script error: No such module "Lang"., Script error: No such module "Lang"., and Script error: No such module "Lang"..
There is very little evidence concerning the organisation and policies of auxiliary recruitment. The ethnic origins of auxiliary recruits are attested in only a tiny fraction of cases. For example, the Script error: No such module "Lang". must have recruited a calculated 8,000 soldiers over its probable lifespan of about 250 years but the origins of only two rankers are known.Template:Efn Conclusions about auxiliary recruitment drawn by scholars from the available evidence are regarded as tentative.
According to Holder, during the Julio-Claudian dynasty (AD 14–68), regimental ethnic identity was preserved to some extent, with evidence of continued recruitment from the original people. By the time of Hadrian, however, a regiment's name, in most cases, probably represented the ethnic origin of few, if any, of its members. This is because during the Flavian dynasty (AD 69–96), as a matter of deliberate policy, most regiments were deployed in provinces far from their original home and drew the majority of their recruits from local natives and the rest from all parts of the empire. In most cases, therefore, a regiment's name had become an identification tag devoid of ethnic significance. A regiment deployed long-term in the same province would thus, over time, acquire the ethnic character of its host population.
There are exceptions to this rule:
- A minority of regiments remained stationed in their original home province, e.g., Script error: No such module "Lang"., still attested in Dalmatia in AD 130.
- Regiments founded a relatively short period before AD 130, for example Script error: No such module "Lang". which was stationed in Roman Britain in AD 130 would probably still have contained mostly Dacian recruits at this time, as it had been established by Hadrian only about a decade earlier.
- Some specialised regiments, such as Syrian archers and the elite Batavi show some evidence of continued preferential recruitment from their original province.
List of Script error: No such module "Lang". in the reign of Hadrian
List of Script error: No such module "Lang". non-ethnic regimental names by province of deployment
Britannia
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Germania Inferior
Germania Superior
Raetia/Noricum
Pannonia
Moesia Superior
| ALAE | XXX | COHORTES | COHORTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Claudia nova miscellanea Gallorum Flaviana |
III Brittonum veterana eq III campestris c.R. V Gallorum eq V Gallorum et Pannoniorum V Hispanorum eq I Pannoniorum veterana eq |
I Antiochensium sagitt I Cretum eq sagitt |
Moesia Inferior
Dacia
Cappadocia
| ALAE | XXX | COHORTES | COHORTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| II Ulpia Auriana I Augusta gemina colonorum I Ulpia Dacorum II Gallorum I Parthorum veterana |
I Apula c.R. I Bosporanorum I Claudia eq II Claudia I Hamiorum c.R.Template:Efn I Italica voluntariorum c.R.Template:Efn milliaria c.R. eqTemplate:Efn I Numidarum |
II Ulpia Petraeorum eqTemplate:Efn III Ulpia Petraeorum sagitt mill eq I Raetorum eq IV Raetorum eq III Augusta Cyrenaica sagitt |
Syria Coele, Syria Phoenice, Syria Palestina (former Iudea) and Arabia Petraea
Aegyptus
Mauretania Tingitana, Mauretania Caesariensis, Numidia and Africa Proconsularis
| ALAE | XXX | COHORTES | COHORTES | COHORTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| III Asturum I Augusta c.R. I Augusta Gallorum I Gallorum Tauriana victrix Gemelliana c.R. I Flavia Numidica I Augusta NervianaTemplate:Efn Ala I Pannoniorum II Augusta Thracum I Hamiorum sagitt Parthorum sagitt I Syrorum sagitt II Syrorum sagitt |
I Flavia Afrorum II Flavia Afrorum I Asturum et Callaecorum III Asturum c.R. eq II Breucorum II Brittonum eq I Chalcidenorum eq VI Commagenorum eq I Corsorum c.R. V Delmatarum c.R. |
Aelia expedita I Flavia eq III Gallorum felix IV Gallorum c.R. II Hamiorum I Flavia Hispanorum II Hispanorum c.R. eqTemplate:Efn I Ituraeorum c.R. I Lemavorum c.R. VII Lusitanorum eq |
I Flavia Musulamiorum eq I Nurritanorum II Sardorum IV Sugambrorum IV TungrorumTemplate:Efn I Syrorum sagitt II Syrorum eq sagittTemplate:Efn |
Other locations
| ALAE | XXX | COHORTES | COHORTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| II Flavia Hispanorum (HISP) | Cohors III Alpinorum equitata (DLM) I Aelia Athoitarum (THR) I Ausetanorum (HISP?) I Flavia Bessorum (MCD) Callaecorum (?) I Celtiberorum eq (HISP) I Cisipadensium c.R. (THR) Dacorum (?) I Gallica c.R. eq (HISP) I Delmatarum mill eq (DLM) |
I LigurumTemplate:Efn (AS?) Maritima (BAE) Maurorum et Afrorum (?) I MusulamiorumTemplate:Efn (LYC) VI praetoria (BYT) III sagittariorum (?) I/II nova tironum (HISP) VIII voluntariorum (DLM) XXV voluntariorum (HISP?) |
List of Script error: No such module "Lang". ethnic regimental names
| Regimental name |
Original tribe/city |
Roman province |
Original territory now in |
Native language |
Further information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afrorum | Afri | Africa | Tunisia | Berber | |
| Alpinorum | Salassi | Alpes Tres | Val d'Aosta, NW Italy | Ligurian | Alpine regiments of the Roman army |
| Antiochensium | Antiochenses | Syria | Antakya, Turkey | Aramaic | |
| Aquitanorum | Aquitani | Gallia Aquitania | Aquitaine, SW France | Aquitanian | |
| Apamenorum | Apameni | Syria | Apamea, Syria | Aramaic | |
| Aravacorum | Arevaci | Hispania Tarraconensis | Burgos pr Spain | Celtiberian | |
| Aresacorum | Aresaci | Germania Inferior | ? | W Germanic | |
| Ascalonitanorum | Ascalonitani | Judaea | Ascalon, Israel | Aramaic | |
| Asturum | Astures | Hispania T. | Asturias, N Spain | Celtiberian | |
| Athoitarum | Autariatae | Dalmatia | Bosnia | Illyrian | |
| Ausetanorum | Ausetani | Hispania T. | N Barcelona pr Spain | Iberian | |
| Baetasiorum | Baetasii | Germania Inferior | S Netherlands | W Germanic | |
| Batavorum | Batavi | Germania Inferior | Betuwe, E Netherlands | W Germanic | |
| Bessorum | Bessi | Thracia | Mid Bulgaria | Thracian | |
| Biturigum | Bituriges | Gallia Lugdunensis | Berry, C France | Gaulish | |
| Bosporanorum | Bosporani | Regnum Bospori | Crimea | Greek/Sarmatian | |
| Bracarorum Bracarum Bracaraugustanorum |
Bracari | Hispania T. | Minho, Portugal | Gallaecian | |
| Breucorum | Breuci | Dalmatia | N Bosnia | Illyrian | |
| Brittonum Britannorum |
Brittones (Britanni) |
Britannia | N Britain | Brythonic | |
| Callaecorum | Gallaeci | Hispania T. | Galicia, NW Spain | Gallaecian | |
| Campagonum | Campagones | Hispania T. | N Spain | Celtiberian (C) | |
| Campanorum | (Roman cit) | Italia | Campania, Italy | Latin | |
| Canathenorum | Canatheni | Syria | Canatha, Syria | Aramaic | |
| Cannanefatium | Cananefates | Germania Inferior | S Holland, Netherlands | W Germanic | |
| Cantabrorum | Cantabri | Hispania T. | Cantabria N Spain | Celtiberian | |
| Celtiberorum | Celtiberi | Hispania T. | Guadalajara, Spain | Celtiberian | |
| Chalcidenorum | Chalcideni | Bithynia | Chalcedon, Turkey | Greek | |
| Cilicum | Cilices | Cilicia | Icel/Adana pr Turkey | Lydian | |
| Cisipadensium | (Roman citizens) | Italia (Aemilia region) | Emilia-Romagna, Italy | Latin | |
| Commagenorum | Commagene | Cappadocia | Gaziantep pr Turkey | Greek | |
| Corsorum | Corsi | Sardinia | N Sardinia, Italy | Sardinian | |
| Cretum | Cretes | Creta | Crete, Greece | Greek | |
| Cugernorum | Cugerni | Germania Inferior | NW Rhineland, Germany | W Germanic | |
| Dardanorum | Dardani | Macedonia | S Serbia/Kosovo | Illyrian | |
| Dacorum | Daci | Dacia | Romania | Dacian | |
| Damascenorum | Damasceni | Syria | Damascus, Syria | Aramaic | |
| Delmatarum | Dalmatae | Dalmatia | Dalmacja, Croatia | Illyrian | |
| Frisiavonum | Frisiavones | Germania Inferior | N Brabant S Neth | W Germanic | |
| Gaesatorum | Gaesati | Gallia Belgica | Alsace, Fr | Gaulish | |
| Gaetulorum | Gaetuli | Mauretania | Algeria | Berber | |
| Galatarum | Galatae | Galatia | Ankara pr C Turkey | Galatian | |
| Gallorum | Gauls | Gallia Lugdunensis | NE France | Gaulish | |
| Hamiorum | Hama | Syria | Hama, Syria | Aramaic | |
| Helvetiorum | Helvetii | Belgica | SW Switzerland | Gaulish | |
| Hemesenorum | Emesa | Syria | Homs, Syria | Aramaic | |
| Hispanorum | Hispani | Hispania T. | N Spain | Celtiberian | |
| Illyricorum | Illyrici | Dalmatia | Bosnia | Illyrian | |
| Ituraeorum | Ituraei | Syria | S Lebanon | Aramaic | |
| Latobicorum | Latobici | Pannonia | C Bosnia | Illyrian | |
| Lemavorum | Lemavi | Hispania T. | Galicia, Spain | Gallaecian | |
| Ligurum | Ligures | Italia (Liguria) | Liguria, Italy | Ligurian | Alpine regiments of the Roman army |
| Lingonum | Lingones | Belgica | Langres, NE France | Gaulish | |
| Lucensium | Lucenses | Hispania T. | cLugo Galicia, Portugal | Gallaecian | |
| Lusitanorum | Lusitani | Lusitania | Portugal | Lusitanian | |
| Mattiacorum | Mattiaci | Germania Sup | Rhineland Pfalz, Germany | W Germanic | |
| Maurorum | Mauri | Mauretania | Algeria | Berber | |
| Menapiorum | Menapii | Belgica | W Flanders, Belgium | Gaulish | |
| Morinorum | Morini | Belgica | Pas-de-Calais, France | Gaulish | |
| Montanorum | Montani | Pannonia | Julian Alps, Slovenia | Raetian | Alpine regiments of the Roman army |
| Musulamiorum | Musulamii | Mauretania | E Algeria | Berber | |
| Nerviorum | Nervii | Belgica | Flandres, France | Gaulish | |
| Noricorum | Taurisci | Noricum | Mid Austria | (C) | Alpine regiments of the Roman army |
| Numidarum | Numidae | Numidia | NE Algeria | Berber | |
| Nurritanorum | Nurritani | Sardinia | cNuoro, N Sardinia, Italy | Sardinian | |
| Pannoniorum | Pannonii | Pannonia | W Hungary | Illyrian | |
| Parthorum | Parthi | Cappadocia | E Turkey | Parthian | |
| Petreorum | Nabataei | Arabia Pet. | cPetra, Jordan | Arabic | |
| Phrygum | Phryges | Galatia | Eskisehir, W Turkey | Phrygian | |
| Raetorum | Raeti | Raetia | S Germany/Switzerland | Raetian (X/C) | Alpine regiments of the Roman army |
| Sardorum | Sardi | Sardinia | S Sardinia, Italy | Sardinian | |
| Scubulorum | Scubuli | Macedonia | cSkopje, Macedonia | Illyrian | |
| Sequanorum | Sequani | Belgica | Franche-Comté, France | Gaulish | |
| Sugambrorum | Sicambri | Germania Inferior | NW Rhineland, Germany | W Germanic | |
| Sunucorum | Sunici | Germania Inferior | E Netherlands | W Germanic | |
| Syrorum | Syri | Syria | Syria | Aramaic | |
| Thebaeorum | Thebaei | Aegyptus | Thebes, Egypt | Egyptian | |
| Trachonitarum | ? | Syria? | ? | (X/S) | |
| Thracum | Thraces | Thracia | Bulgaria | Thracian | |
| Trevirorum | Treveri | Belgica | cTrier, Germany | Gaulish | |
| Tungrorum | Tungri | Belgica | cTongeren (Tongres), Belgium | Gaulish | |
| Tyriorum | Tyrii | Syria | Tyre, S Lebanon | Phoenician | |
| Ubiorum | Ubii | Germania Inferior | NW Rhineland, Germany | W Germanic | |
| Vangionum | Vangiones | Germania Sup | Mainz/Worms, Germany | W Germanic | |
| Varcianorum | Varciani | Pannonia | E Croatia | Illyrian | |
| Vardulorum | Varduli | Hispania T. | Guipuzcoa, Spain | Celtiberian | |
| Vasconum | Vascones | Hispania T. | Navarra, Spain | Old Basque | |
| Vettonum | Vettones | Lusitania | Salamanca pr Spain | Celtiberian | |
| Vindelicorum | Vindelici | Raetia | Black Forest, Germany | Celtic/German | Alpine regiments of the Roman army |
| Vocontiorum | Vocontii | Gallia Lugdunensis | Dauphiné, France | Gaulish |
Glossary
Some regiments were named after other people, for example ala Sulpicia after its first, or early, Script error: No such module "Lang".. In the Augustan era, commanders of auxiliary units were often Roman legionary centurions, or native chieftains. For example, Script error: No such module "Lang". was probably once commanded by a Gallic chieftain named Atectorix. Later, emperor Claudius restricted auxiliary commands to the lower aristocratic class of Script error: No such module "Lang". only.
Imperial dedications
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In the 4th century, Valeria referred to emperor Diocletian (r. AD 284–305) and Flavia to Constantine I (r. AD 312–337) or one of his successors.
Raised during the Illyrian revolt
Names of regiments originally raised by emperor Augustus during the Illyrian revolt (AD 6–9) from Roman citizens unsuitable for service in legions, such as vagrants, convicted criminals, debtors, and emancipated slaves:
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After their initial recruitment of Roman citizens, these regiments recruited non-citizens (Script error: No such module "Lang".) like all other regiments.
Other non-ethnic regimental names
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Unit Epithets
Some regiment names included additional descriptors:
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See also
Notes
Citations
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- ↑ RIB 2093/2097, RIB 2116b
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Sources
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External links
- Roman auxiliary regiments from Dacia (KML file) Script error: No such module "webarchive".
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