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The Roman Army in Britain and Britons in the Roman Army*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2011

B. Dobson  and
J. C. Mann
B. Dobson
Affiliation:
University of Durham
J. C. Mann
Affiliation:
University of Durham
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Extract

Before discussing the evidence for the origines of the men recruited into Roman army units in Britain, and the evidence for Britons being recruited into units in Britain or elsewhere, it will be convenient to summarize the evidence for recruitment-patterns for legions and auxilia for the empire as a whole. It will then be possible to see if the evidence suggests a significantly different situation from that in other provinces, or alternatively if there are similarities which justify the equation of the situation in Britain with that obtaining elsewhere.

Type
Articles
Information
Britannia , Volume 4 , November 1973 , pp. 191 - 205
Copyright
Copyright © B. Dobson and J. C. Mann 1973. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

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References

1 This general discussion is modified and expanded from Mann, J. C., ‘The Role of the Frontier Zones in Army Recruitment’, V Congressus Intemationalis Limitis Romani Studiosorum (Zagrab 1963), 145–50.Google Scholar

2 The most recent published study is Forni, G., Il reclutamento delle legioni da Augusto a Diocleziano (Milan 1953).Google Scholar The material used here is based primarily on Mann's, J. C. unpublished thesis, The Settlement of Veterans in the Roman Empire (Ph.D. London, 1956).Google Scholar

3 Mann, J. C., ‘The Raising of New Legions during the Principate’, Hermes 91 (1963), 483–9.Google Scholar

4 RE XII, 1468 ff., 1532 ff., 1549.

5 Tacitus, , hist., ii, 57Google Scholar; iv, 19.

6 AE 1969-70, 633 gives the list of names: AE 1955, 238 the date etc.

7 CIL xvi, Appendix 13.

8 The point is J. C. Mann's: cf. the examples from British legions noted below.

9 Cheesman, , The Auxilia of the Roman Imperial Army (Oxford 1914), 170 ff.Google Scholar

10 Alföldy, G., Die Hilfstruppen der römischen Provinz Germania Inferior (Dusseldorf 1968), 81–6.Google Scholar

11 Alföldy, , op. cit., 88.Google Scholar

12 Alföldy, , op. tit., 90 f.Google Scholar

13 Tacitus, , Agr., 28 (cohors Usiporum); Cassius Dio 71, 16 (Sarmatian cavalry sent to Britain).Google Scholar

14 Kraft, K., Zur Rekrutierung der Alert und Kohorten an Rhein und Donau (Berne 1951), 43 ff.Google Scholar; reservations in Alföldy, G., ‘Die Auxiliartruppen der Provinz Dalmatien’, Acta Archaeologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 14 (1962), 276.Google Scholar

15 Alföldy, , op. cit. (note 10), 100–4Google Scholar; Kraft, , op. cit. (note 14), 44–51Google Scholar. For the origins of auxiliary commanders on the Rhine before and after the Batavian revolt cf. the tables in Alfoldy, op. cit., 111-16.

16 Cheesman, , op. cit. (note 9), 164 f., 166 f.Google Scholar

17 Kraft, , op. cit. (note 14), 25–35Google Scholar.

18 Cf. Davies, R. W., ‘Joining the Roman Army’, Banner Jahrbücher 169 (1969), 208–32Google Scholar; ‘The Training Grounds of the Roman Cavalry’, Arch. Journ. 125 (1969), 73–100.Google Scholar

19 Kraft, , op. cit. (note 14), 60-2Google Scholar.

20 Kraft, , op. cit. (note 14), 82-100Google Scholar.

21 Kraft, , op. cit. (note 14), 100-5.Google Scholar

22 Alföldy, , op. cit. (note 10), 105–10.Google Scholar

23 Alföldy, G., ‘Zur Beurteilung der Militardiplome der Auxiliarsoldaten’, Historia 17 (1968), 215–27.Google Scholar

24 Continued granting of citizenship to time-expired auxiliaries, spreading out to their children, must have resulted in a higher proportion of Roman citizens among inhabitants of the frontier zones than among the inhabitants of many civil areas of the empire.

25 See below, note 49.

26 Tacitus, , ann., xiv, 27Google Scholar ; CIL iii 4461, AE 1929, 200 and 204, cf. Alföldi, A. Jr, Archaeologiai Ertesitö iv (1943), 80 ff. Cf. also CIL xvi 14.Google Scholar

27 Jarrett, M. G., ‘The African Contribution to the Imperial Equestrian Service’, Historia 12 (1963), 209–26Google Scholar, esp. 225 f.; ‘An Album of the Equestrians from North Africa in the Emperor's Service’, Epigraphische Studien 9 (1972), 146–232.Google Scholar

28 SHA Hadrian 10-11.

29 Digest xxi 2. 11 (Paulus)Google Scholar.

30 Sev. Alex. 58, 4Google Scholar.

31 Probus 16, 5.Google Scholar

32 Cod. Theod. vii, 22, 1 (A.D. 313, Seeck).Google Scholar

33 Or. 10, p. 136A–C.Google Scholar

34 RIB 201 (Colchester): Longinus Sdapeze Matyci f. duplicarius ala prima Tracum pago Sardi. anno, xl aeror. xv.… For the reading Longinus Sdapeze son of Matucus, see B. Gerov, ‘Keltische Spuren in Westthrakien’, in Studien zur Geschichte und Philosophie des Altertums (Budapest 1968), 349-55 at 353. (For the Thracian double-name cf. the next inscription and CIL xiii 8312, Longinus Biarta Bisaef. Bessus.)

RIB 121 (Gloucester): Rufus Sita eques cho. VI Tracum ann. xl slip. xxii.… RIB 159 (Bath): L. Vitellius Mantai f. Tancinus cives Hisp. Cauriesis eq. alae Vettonum c.R. ann. xxxxvi stip. xxvi h.s.e. This must represent a grant of citizenship to the whole unit during L. Vitellius's censorship with Claudius in 47-8, Claudius typically insisting on some of the new citizens taking the praenomen and nomen of his colleague. Such grants were only made for distinction in battle, presumably in this case during the early campaigns in Britain.

35 RIB 109 (Cirencester): Sextus Valerius Genialis eqes alae Trhaec. civis Frisians tur. Genialis an. xxxx st. xx.… For this Vulgar Latin form of Frisiavo cf. Mann, J. C. in Britannia ii (1971), 218–24. A Rauracan serving in the ala Indiana clearly also joined the unit before it came to Britain (RIB 108); this unit however very soon returned to Germania Superior.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

36 Tacitus, , Agr., 15Google Scholar.

37 An ala Britannica in A.D. 70, Tacitus, , hist., iii, 41Google Scholar; cohors I Britannica with men discharged in 80, 84 and 85 (CIL xvi 26, 30 and 31Google Scholar); coh. I Brittonum, men discharged in 85 (CIL xvi 31Google Scholar); cf. also CIL xiii 12124 for coh. II Brittonum, and Tacitus, hist., i, 70 for Britons in general.

38 Tacitus, , Agr., 29, cf. 32.Google Scholar

39 RIB 606 with CW 2 lxxi (1971), 23-5, JRS lix (1969), 235-6 (Lancaster): dis manibus L. Iul. Apollinaris Trever an. xxx eq. alae Au[g? … CIL iii 4466 = ILS 2515 (Carnuntum): T. Flavins Crensces (!) equ. ale Tarn. vex. Brit. an. xxx st. xv domo Durocor. Rent, h.s.e. CIL xvi 48: … alae I Pannoniorum Tampianae … decurioni Reburro Seven f. Hispan. (A.D. 103, so recruited in 78 or earlier.) (Less probably, as suggested by J. E. Bogaers in Studien zu den Militärgrenzen Roms (1967), 66-7, he was recruited to the detachment as it passed through Reims on its way to Pannonia. Such a detachment is likely to have been made up of men with some years’ service and experience.) CIL xvi 82: … coh. II Dalmatarum … ex pedite [–––]sueto Luci f. Trever. (A.D. 135, so recruited in no or earlier.) Note also RIB 1172, the tombstone of Flavinus at Hexham: the name is somewhat more common in Spain tha n elsewhere. CIL xvi 43 (the British diploma of 98) was found on the territory of the Tungri: the recipient ha d quite probably returned to his home.

40 Tacitus, , Agr., 31.Google Scholar

41 Cheesman, , op. cit. (note 9), 171Google Scholar, bu t note that coh. I Ulpia Brittonum was honoured by Trajan, not raised by him.

42 CIL xvi 49: … coh. I Britannicae (milliariae) c.R. … pediti Lucconi Trenif. Dobunn. (A.D. 105, recruited in 80 or earlier.) CIL iii 3256 = ILS 2581 (Acumincum): Virssuccius [.] si eq. imag. coh. I Brit. tur. Monta. ann. xxxv sti. xv h.s.e. Bodiccius imag. et Albanus h.p. CIL xvi 160: … in cohorte I Brittonum milliaria Ulpia torquata p.f. civium Romanorum … ante emerita stipendia civitatem Romanam dedit … pediti M. Ulpio Adcobrovati f. Novanticoni Ratis. (Citizenship granted A.D. 106; diploma given in 110. For such special diplomas see J. C. Mann, Hermes 82 (1954), 501-6.) CIL xvi 163: coh. I Britton. (milliaria) Ulpia t. c.R. … ex pedite M. Ulpio Sacci f. Longino Belgo (A.D. 110, recruited before 85). CIL xiii 8314 = ILS 2572 (Cologne): D. Senio Vital[i] mil. coh. VI [in]genu. c.R. […] civis Brit.[…] ann. lv slip, xviiii heredesf. c. A Briton also appears among the auxiliaries commemorated on the Adamklissi memorial, CIL iii 14214 (v, 18).

43 Baatz, D., Saalburg Jahrbuch 25 (1968), 191 f.Google Scholar

44 RIB 935 (Old Penrith):…]gaduno Ulp. Trai. em. al. Pet. Martins f. p. c. CIL xiii 8805 = ILS 2536 (Hemmen, Holland): deae Vagdavercusti Simplicius Super dec. alae Vocontior. exercituus Britannici. CIL xvi 130: [coh. I fid. Va]rdul. (milliaria) … […]mino Glevi (c. 160, recruited in 135 or earlier). RIB 2142 (Mumrills): dis m. Nectovelius f. Vindicis an. ixxx stip. viiii nationis Brigans militavit in coh. II Thr.

45 Alföldy, , op. cit. (note 10), 100.Google Scholar

46 RIB 1742 (Great Chesters): d.m. Ael. Mercuriali cornicul. Vacia soror fecit.

47 RIB 1433 (Halton Chesters):…]rmat[… civ]is Norici an. xxx [M]essorius Magnus frater eius dupl. alae Sabinianae.…

48 RIB 2107 (Birrens): deae Ricagambedae pagus Vellaus milit. coh. II Tung, v.s.l.m. RIB 2108: deae Viradecthi pagus Condmstis milit. in coh. II Tungror. sub Silvio Auspice praef. RIB 2100: Marti et Victoriae Aug. c. Raeti milit. in coh. II Tungr. cuipraeest Silvius Auspex praef. v.s.l.m. Cf. Birley, E., ‘Alae and cohortes milliariae’ in Corolla Memoriae Erich Swoboda Dedicata (Graz 1966), 61Google Scholar ; Davies, R. W., Epigraphische Studien 4 (1967), 108.Google Scholar For men from the lower Rhine recruited into auxiliary units stationed in Raetia, cf. CIL iii 11936—a man from Noviomagus; CIL xvi 105—a Frisius, with a Batavian wife, recruited shortly, after A.D. 100; CIL xvi 125—a Condrusus (cf. Caesar, B.G. ii, 4; vi, 32) recruited c. 136-143.

49 A cuneus Frisiorum at Housesteads, RIB 1593-4 (Severus Alexander), also (or a homonymous unit) at Burgh-by-Sands, RIB 883 (early 240s) and Binchester, RIB 1036: a numerus Hnaudifridi at Housesteads, RIB 1576; a vexillatio Sueborum at Lanchester, RIB 1074 (Gordian); a vexillatio Germanorum, Old Penrith, RIB 920. Such drafts probably temporarily replaced detachments or whole units sent to fight on the continent, as in CIL iii 3228 = ILS 546 (Gallienus, Sirmium). Unattached but equally barbarous Germans, perhaps serving in such drafts, appear in RIB 841, 926, 934, 1102, 1449, 1483, 1525-6, 1597, 2063. The men from Upper Germany in RIB 1620, 1665 and 1817 may however be connected with the detachments from that province attested about A.D. 217, RIB 1022, 1026 with JRS lvii (1967), 205 No. 16.

50 CIL xvi 110: [in Dacia Poroliss]en … coh. I Ulpia Button. (milliaria) … ex pedite Luonerco Molaci f. Britt. Britons chosen to serve as equites singulares Augusti, such as those in CIL vi 3279, 3301 and 32861 (and perhaps RIB 714) were of course hand-picked men, the opposite of ‘unreliables’.

51 CIL xiii 6592 = ILS 9184 (A.D. 232). Cf. Rowell, H. T. in Tale Classical Studies vi (1939), 87 ff.Google Scholar

52 None of the British recipients of diplomas listed in notes 42 and 50 above returned to Britain. Apart from the probable Tungrian whose diploma was found near Tongres (CIL xvi 43), and the Pannonian who, joining a detachment of an ala temporarily stationed in Pannonia, returned there after service (CIL xvi 69), all the diplomas of the men who served in Britain have been found in Britain, some on the territories of civitates (CIL xvi 51, 82, 88, 130, JRS xlvii (1957), 196-7), the rest in the military zone (CIL xvi 48, 70, 93, 115, JRS 1 (1960), 238 No. 14). Auxiliary veterans otherwise recorded (mostly later in date), apart from one at Lincoln, RIB 266, all settled in the military zone, RIB 600, 748, 887, 935, 1459, JRS liii (1963), 160 No. 4. Note also Bremetennacum veteranorum in the Ravenna Cosmography.

53 CIL iii 11233 (Garnuntum): T. Statius T. Cla. Vitalis Camuloduni sti. iii an. xxiii (7) Arrunti Expectati.

54 Forni, G., op. cit (note 2), 233-4Google Scholar, lists five men from Italy, five from Spain, five from Narbonensis, one each from Lugdunum and colonia Equestris with another man from Gaul, five from Noricum and one from Epirus.

55 RIB 369 (Caerleon): d.m. Tadia Vattaunius vixit ann. hv et Tadius Exuper(a)tus filius vixit arm. xxxvii defun(c)tus expeditions Germanica Tadia Exuperata filia matri et fratri piiss(i)ma secus tumulum patris posuit. RIB 361 (Caerleon): d.m. Q. Iuli Severi Dinia veterani leg. II Aug. coniux f.c. RIB 365 (Caerleon): d.m. G. Valerius G.f. Galeria Victor Lugduni sig. leg. II Aug. slip, xvii annor. xlv. … RIB 357 (Caerleon): d.m. T. Flavius Candidus Ulp. Traiana m. leg. II Aug. sti. vii an. xxvii fra. c. CIL xii 677 (Aries):…] M. Am. Difilus vet. leg. II Aug. patri pientissimo pos.

The frumentarius in CIL vi 3339 = ILS 2364 must be excluded. RIB 3 (London) is also excluded, since Arausio is not apparently given as the origo, although on general grounds it is not impossible that his connection with Arausio stems from an origo in Narbonensis.

56 CIL xiii 3258 (Reims): Aurel. Aunus vet. leg. VI V[ictr]icis. RIB 2151 (Castlecary): G. Iul. Speratus n. Mat. ve[t] leg. VI V. p.f. v.s.l.l.m. Forni, op. cit. (note 2), 191 n. 1, suggests n(atione) Mat(tiacus), but the expansion is by no means certain. ILAlg. 539 (= CIL viii 5180 = 17266, Zattara, Africa Procos.): d.m.s. T. Flavins Ingenuus m.h.m. ex leg. VI Vi. BPB fidelis provincie Britannie inferioris vixit annos lxi.… The uncertain letters probably conceal the title Britannica which the unit earned in the campaigns of Severus, cf. JRS lii (1962), 197 No. 37. This man was thus probably one of those drafted into the British legions by Severus after the defeat of Albinus (in this case from III Augusta).

CIL viii 2401 (Timgad): … C. Ael. Tertiolus bf. cos. leg. VI Viet, patri pientissimo (probably also drafted in by Severus). The cives Italici et Norici recorded at Castlecary, RIB 2148, were probably drafted into VI Victrix from II Italica after the Danube wars of Marcus, cf. Mann, J. C., Hermes 91 (1963), 487–8Google Scholar . If alternatively they represent recruits of about Hadrian's time, the absence of cives Hispanienses and Narbonenses is remarkable, cf. note 54 above.

A gubernator dedicates at York in the third century to mother-goddesses of Africa, Italy and Gaul, RIB 653. Such dedications at provincial capitals must take account of the diverse origins of the men to be found on a governor's staff: a beneficiarius consularis of a governor of Britain dedicates at Winchester to the matres of Italy, Germany, Gaul and Britain, RIB 88, undoubtedly referring to his fellow bff. cos. The latter were sometimes promoted frumentarii, cf. ILS 2369 and Srpska Spomenik 77 (1931), 90 No. 209: for exfrumentarii on a governor's staff, cf. AE 1917-18, 57. RIB 653 thus cannot be taken as a simple guide to legionary recruitment. The diverse origin offrumentarii is illustrated for those men nominally enrolled in VI Victrix: CIL vi 3343, Mainz (or perhaps Lincoln, as Prof. Birley points out to us); 3346 = ILS 2365, Gloucester; 3362, Solva in Noricum; 3635, nomen Vagionius, probably from the upper Rhine; CIL iii 1474, Sarmizegethusa in Dacia.

57 RIB 156 (Bath): Iulius Vitalis fabriciesis leg. XX V.v. stipendiorum ix anor. xxix natione Belga ex colegio fabrice. elatus h.s.e. There seems no reason to doubt that this man came from the civitas Belgarum. The names of the man in RIB 495 may suggest that he also was a Briton (or a Gaul).

CIL v 6632 + add. (Novaria): viv. fecit d. manib. Aelius Optatus mil. in leg. XX magister balestari PR DUPLOI sibi et suisparentibus.… Specialist function may explain recruitment in Italy. A serving (CIL xii 678) and a veteran (CIL xii 679) member of XX V.v. were buried at Aries, and a serving member at Nîmes (CIL xii 3182), suggesting origin in each case.

RIB 506 (Chester): d.m. M. Ulp. M.f. Ulpi(a) Ianuarius Traia(na) st. xviiii an. xxxvii. … RIB 523 (Chester): d.m. Cecilius Donatus Bessus natione militavit annos xxvi vixit annos xxxx. An outlier of the Balkan recruitment of the third century. ILAlg. 3748 (nr. Theveste): [d.m.s.] Iul. Thegu[sa] vix. annis […] Iulius Victor benefic[…] leg. XX Vol. […] ex provincia Britannia super, sorori carissime monimentum fecit. Perhaps drafted in by Severus. CIL vi 3916 = 32872 records a. frumentarius from Cemenelum.

58 CIL viii 21669 (Albulae, Maur. Caes.): d.m. M. Iunius Capito Undo mil. leg. X G. st. x Iul. Primus sig. h.f.c. CIL xiii 8631 = ILS 4789 (Vetera): matribus Brittis L. Valerius Simplex mil. leg. XXX U.v. v.s.l.m. CIL xiii 8632 similar, but more fragmentary.

59 CIL xiii 6679 (Mainz): Fortunam superam honori aquilae leg. XXII Pr. p.f. M. Minicius M. fit. Quir. Lindo Mar[cel]l[inus ?p.]p. leg. ei[usdem.…

60 CIL viii 2877 = ILS 2653 (Lambaesis): d.m. T. Fl. Virilis 7 leg. II Aug. 7 leg. XX V.v. 7 leg. VI Vic. 7 leg. XX V.v. 7 leg. Ill Aug. 7 leg. Ill Parth. Sever. VIIII hast, poster, vixit annis Ixx stip. xxxxv Lollia Bodicca coniux et Flavi Victor et Victorinus fill heredes ex HS ICC n. faciendum curaver.

61 Sherwin-White, A. N., Racial Prejudice in Imperial Rome (Cambridge 1967), 51–61Google Scholar , taking further Syme, R., Tacitus i, 461–2.Google Scholar Gaul, however, came into its own in the fourth and fifth centuries. Ausonius and Rufinus were not the only important Gauls of the fourth century; vol. i of the Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire includes over two dozen Gauls in leading positions, up to and including the Praetorian Prefecture.

62 Cf. most recently Mócsy, A., Acta Antiqua Acad. Scient. Hungaric. xiii (1965), 425–31.Google Scholar

63 Tadius Exuperatus, RIB 369, note 55 above.

64 York: RIB 679, 685; Chester: RIB 478, 495, 500, 517, 526, 534; Caerleon: RIB 358, 359, 361, 363.

65 3, 6, 6; 3, 7, 2-3. For Severus's campaign force, cf. Birley, E., Epigraphische Studien 8 (1969), 66–7Google Scholar on ILS 1140 and 2935.