Cohors I Alpinorum equitata

Cohors I Alpinorum equitata
Roman infantry helmet (late 1st c.)
Active	early 1st century to at least early 3rd c.
Country	Roman Empire
Type	Roman auxiliary cohort
Role	infantry/cavalry
Size	600 men (480 infantry, 120 cavalry)
Garrison/HQ	before 80 Illyricum; 80-5 Pannonia Inferior; 60-70 Aquitania ; 103 Britannia; 110-43 Pannonia Inferior; 144 Dacia Superior; 148-215 Pannonia Inferior

Cohors prima Alpinorum equitata ("1st part-mounted Cohort of Alpini") was a Roman auxiliary mixed infantry and cavalry regiment. Alpini was a generic name denoting several Celtic-speaking mountain tribes inhabiting the Alps between Italy and Gaul, which were organised as the Tres Alpes 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 in 15 BC.^[1]

It was originally stationed in Illyricum, where it is recorded in 60 AD. Not later than 80, it was based in Pannonia, later Pannonia Inferior after Pannonia was divided in two in c107. It was still in that province in c215, according to its last datable inscription. There were three brief interruptions to the regiment's sojourn in Pannonia. It is recorded first in Aquitania in 60-70 (Excisum, Villeneuve-sur-Lot^[2]) from recent finds of military equipments ( confirming tombstones inscriptions ; secondly in Britannia in 103, but cannot have stayed longer than 85-110, and probably less ; third, it is recorded in Dacia Superior in 144, but cannot have remained longer than 5 years. The regiment's inscriptions have been found in the following Roman forts (in likely order of occupation): Carnuntum; Szazholombatta; Excisum; Apulum (Dacia); Mursa (c215); Dunakömlod.^[3]

The names of 7 praefecti (regimental commanders) have been preserved, but none of their origins are certain. One erected a votive altar at Thuburbo Maius (Tunisia), while another at Caesarea, so these may be their respective home towns. Senior officers attested are 4 centuriones (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 bucinator (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, a Pannonian tribe.^[4] Alpinorum auxiliary cohorts

Citations

1. ^ Holder (1980) 111
2. ^ Institut Ausonius 54
3. ^ Spaul (2000) 259
4. ^ Spaul (2000) 259-60

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)

See also

• Roman auxiliaries
• List of Roman auxiliary regiments