Cohors prima Alpinorum equitata ("1st part-mounted Cohort of Alpini") was a Roman auxiliary mixed infantry and cavalry regiment.

History

''Alpini'' was a generic name denoting several Celtic-speaking mountain tribes inhabiting the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...

between Italy and

Gaul Gaul ( la, Gallia) was a region of Western Europe first described by the Romans. It was inhabited by Celtic and Aquitani tribes, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, most of Switzerland, parts of Northern Italy (only during ...

, which were organised as the

Tres Alpes ''Tres Alpes'' (literally, "Three Alps"), was the collective term used by the Romans to denote three small provinces of the Roman empire situated in the western Alps mountain range, namely Alpes Graiae (or Poeninae) (Val d'Aosta, Italy); Alpes Cot ...

provinces. The regiment was probably raised as one of 4–6 Alpini units recruited after the final annexation of the western Alpine regions by emperor

Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...

in 15 BC. It was originally stationed in Illyricum, where it is recorded in 60 AD. Not later than 80, it was based in

Pannonia Pannonia (, ) was a province of the Roman Empire bounded on the north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia. Pannonia was located in the territory that is now wes ...

, later Pannonia Inferior after Pannonia was divided in two c. 107. It was still in that province c. 215, according to its last datable inscription. There were three brief interruptions to the regiment's sojourn in Pannonia. It is recorded first in

Aquitania Gallia Aquitania ( , ), also known as Aquitaine or Aquitaine Gaul, was a province of the Roman Empire. It lies in present-day southwest France, where it gives its name to the modern region of Aquitaine. It was bordered by the provinces of Gallia ...

in 60–70 ( Excisum,

Villeneuve-sur-Lot Villeneuve-sur-Lot (; in the Languedocien dialect of Occitan language: ''Vilanuèva d'Òlt'' ) is a town and commune in the southwestern French department of Lot-et-Garonne. The commune was formerly named ''Villeneuve-d'Agen''. Villeneuve-sur-Lot ...

) from recent finds of military equipments (confirming tombstones inscriptions; secondly, in

Britannia Britannia () is the national personification of Britain as a helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield. An image first used in classical antiquity, the Latin ''Britannia'' was the name variously applied to the British Isles, Great ...

in 103, but cannot have stayed longer than 85–110, and probably less; thirdly, it is recorded in

Dacia Superior Roman Dacia ( ; also known as Dacia Traiana, ; or Dacia Felix, 'Fertile/Happy Dacia') was a province of the Roman Empire from 106 to 271–275 AD. Its territory consisted of what are now the regions of Oltenia, Transylvania and Banat (today ...

in 144, but cannot have remained longer than five years. The regiment's inscriptions have been found in the following Roman forts (in likely order of occupation):

Carnuntum Carnuntum ( according to Ptolemy) was a Roman legionary fortress ( la, castra legionis) and headquarters of the Roman navy, Pannonian fleet from 50 AD. After the 1st century, it was capital of the Pannonia Superior province. It also became ...

; Matrica ( Százhalombatta); Excisum; Apulum (Dacia); Mursa (c. 215); Lussonium ( Dunakömlőd). The names of seven ''praefecti'' (regimental commanders) have been preserved, but none of their origins are certain. One erected a votive altar at

Thuburbo Maius Thuburbo Majus (or Thuburbo Maius) is a large Roman site in northern Tunisia. It is located roughly 60 km southwest of Carthage on a major African thoroughfare. This thoroughfare connects Carthage to the Sahara. Other towns along the way inc ...

(Tunisia), while another at

Caesarea Caesarea () ( he, קֵיסָרְיָה, ), ''Keysariya'' or ''Qesarya'', often simplified to Keisarya, and Qaysaria, is an affluent town in north-central Israel, which inherits its name and much of its territory from the ancient city of Caesare ...

, so these may be their respective home towns. Senior officers attested are four ''

centurion A centurion (; la, centurio , . la, centuriones, label=none; grc-gre, κεντυρίων, kentyríōn, or ) was a position in the Roman army during classical antiquity, nominally the commander of a century (), a military unit of around 80 ...

es'' (infantry officers) and 1 '' decurio'' (cavalry officers). One junior officer (''optio'') is known. An ''eques'' (common cavalryman) with the title "buc." is attested: this probably stands for ''buccinator'' ("bugler"). ''Caligati'' (common soldiers) attested are 3 foot soldiers and one ''eques''. Only the latter of all the personnel has a certain origin: he is denoted a member of the

Eravisci The Eravasci were a Celtic or Pannonian people who inhabited Transdanubia, including Gellért Hill, Dunaújváros, and Aquincum. Most of what we know about them comes from archaeology and Latin literature. The Roman ruins of Aquincum stand today a ...

, a Pannonian tribe.Spaul (2000) 259-60

Citations

{{reflist

References

* Holder, Paul ''Studies in the Auxilia of the Roman Army'' (1980) * Spaul, John ''COHORS 2'' (2000) * Institut Ausonius, La voie de Rome (exhibition in Bordeaux) (2008) Military of ancient Rome Auxiliary equitata units of ancient Rome

History

See also

Citations

References