Castra Nova equitum singularium

The Castra Nova equitum singularium was an ancient Roman fort in Rome housing part of the emperors cavalry bodyguard. The site of the fort now lies beneath the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome.The "Castra Nova" , or 'new fort', was one of two cavalry forts that provided a base in Rome for the mounted bodyguard of the Roman emperors (the "Equites singulares Augusti").

The Castra Nova ("new fort") was so-called because it was the newer of the two forts, built to house an enlargement of the cavalry guard. Their previous fort "Castra Prioria" which lay not far away to the north [On this "castra" see Buzzetti, C. 1997. ‘Castra Equitum Singularium’, in E. M. Steinby (ed), "Lexicon Topographicum Urbis Romae", 1 (A - C). Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 246-248. ] ) had been built earlier, possibly under the emperor Domitian, and still housed the original force of 1500 mounted troopers. The full name of the fort is "Castra nova Equitum singularium Augusti".

History

The fort can be precisely dated to AD 193, at the beginning of the reign of Septimius Severus. The new camp was necessitated by this emperors increase of the size of his cavalry guard from 1,500 to 2,000 men. [Coulston, J. 2000. ‘Armed and belted men: the soldiery in imperial Rome’,in J. Coulston and H. Dodge (eds.), "Ancient Rome: The archaeology of the eternal city." Oxford: Alden Press, 78. Also Speidel, M. P. 1994. "Riding for Caesar". London: Batsford. p128]

The site of the camp was always speculated as being beneath the cathedral of St John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano), but it was identified definitively by excavations between 1934 and 1938 undertaken by Enrico Josi [Josi, E. 1934. ‘Scoperte nella Basilica Constantiniana al Laterano’, RAC, 11, 353-358. ] . Josi had obtained permission to explore the area of the basilica’s nave in advance of the construction of a new reinforced concrete floor. Within days it became clear that the remains of the Castra Nova existed in good condition just below the floor level and that the excavation was including a large part of the "principia" (headquarters) building. The completed excavations were then published by Colini. [Colini, A. M. 1944. Storia e Topografia del Celio nell’antichità (APA (3rdseries) 7). Vatican: Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana.]

A large two-storey stoarge building and two barracks were also uncovered, but the greatest interest centered around the "principia" as it's two strong rooms were very well preserved as were several office rooms. On the completion of the investigation the remains were preserved beneath the basilica (along with the remains of the Constantinian cathedral and a Neronian "domus") in a spectacular underground archaeological park. [The remains are under the custodianship of the Vatican Archaeological Service and are only open to the public on request.]

The "curatores" inscriptions.

On August 13 1934, a ionic capital was uncovered within one of the headquarters rooms (room “ε” on plan above), lying beside a short granite column that was still set into the floor. Upon the capital two inscriptions had been carved on behalf of an association of "curatores", soldiers who were the grooms for the garrison horses. The first text was dedicated in 197 AD [AE 1935.156 = 1954.83 = 1968.8b.] on the 1st of January in the consulship of Rufinus and Lateranus. The "Equites" were known to have served at the Battle of Lyon on the 19th of February, though evidently these men did not. The inscription records the dedication of the "schola curatorum" to Minerva Augusta, indicating that the "collegium curatorum" itself had only recently become in possession of an official meeting room that they could consecrate.

The second inscription [AE 1935.157 = 1954.83.] was dedicated in 203 AD "ob reditum ab expeditione felicissima in urvem sacram" i.e on the return of the guards to Rome following their escorting of the imperial family. The "expeditione felicissima" may refer to the entire series of events since the "equites singulares Augusti" left Rome in AD 197 [ It is probable, however, that detachments of the singulares Augusti did return to Rome several times between AD 197 and the return of the emperor in AD 203. For example see CIL 6.225 = 30730 dedicated by a turma in AD 200 "pro reditus eorum ab expeditione Parthica". That the guard followed the emperor wherever he was is certain.] .

The toppling of the capital furthermore provided historical evidence attesting to the destruction of the Castra Nova by Constantine’s forces and providing a "terminus ante quem" for both the dissolution of the "collegium" as well as for the camp itself.

References

ources

*Buzzetti, C. 1997. ‘Castra Equitum Singularium’, in E. M. Steinby (ed), Lexicon Topographicum Urbis Romae, 1 (A - C). Rome: Edizioni Quasar.

*Colini, A. M. 1944. Storia e Topografia del Celio nell’antichità ("Atti Pontificia Accadia romana archeologia" (3rdseries) 7). Vatican: Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana.

*Coulston, J. 2000. ‘Armed and belted men: the soldiery in imperial Rome’,in J. Coulston and H. Dodge (eds.), "Ancient Rome: The archaeology of the eternal city." Oxford: Alden Press.

*Josi, E. 1934. ‘Scoperte nella Basilica Constantiniana al Laterano’, "Rivista di Archeologia Cristiana", 11, 353-358.

*Speidel, M. P. 1994. "Riding for Caesar". London: Batsford.