Cohors I Delmatarum milliaria equitata
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| Cohors I Delmatarum milliaria equitata | |
|---|---|
 Roman infantry helmet (late 1st c.) |
|
| Active | early 1st century to at least mid 3rd c. |
| Country | Roman Empire |
| Type | Roman auxiliary cohort |
| Role | infantry/cavalry |
| Size | 1,040 men (800 infantry, 240 cavalry) |
| Garrison/HQ | Dalmatia 170 |
Cohors prima Delmatarum milliaria equitata ("1st double-strength part-mounted Cohort of Dalmatae") was a Roman auxiliary mixed infantry and cavalry regiment. It is named after the Dalmatae, an Illyrian-speaking tribe that inhabited the Adriatic coastal mountain range of the eponymous Dalmatia. The ancient geographer Strabo describes these mountains as extremely rugged, and the Dalmatae as backward and warlike. He claims that they did not use money long after their neighbours adopted it and that they "made war on the Romans for a long time". He also criticises the Dalmatae, a nation of pastoralists, for turning fertile plains into sheep pasture.[1] Indeed, the name of the tribe itself is believed to mean "shepherds", derived from the Illyrian word delme ("sheep").[2] The final time this people fought against Rome was in the Illyrian revolt of 6-9 AD. The revolt was started by Dalmatae auxiliary forces and soon spread all over Dalmatia and Pannonia. The resulting war was described by the Roman writer Suetonius as the most difficult faced by Rome since the Punic Wars two centuries earlier. But after the war, the Dalmatae became a loyal and important source of recruits for the Roman army.
According to Holder, a total of 12 cohortes Delmatarum appear to have been raised after the suppression of the Illyrian revolt in two series, of 7 and 5 respectively. All these units were in existence by the time of emperor Claudius (r. 41-54)[3] Of these, 9 appear to have survived into the 2nd century.[4]
The regiment was probably in existence by the time of Claudius (r. 41-54). [5] However, its earliest surviving datable inscription is from 170 AD, so it is possible that it was formed later, perhaps from a documented levy of 6,000 Dalmatae by Vespasian (r. 69-79) in 69. It probably was not upgraded to double-strength before the 80's, which is when milliary units first appeared. The regiment is attested in 170 from a building inscription (it was constructing a tower in Salona, Dalmatia). An inscription dated c200 attests that the regiment participated in emperor Septimius Severus 's Parthian campaign (197-8). However, virtually all the unit's inscriptions are in Dalmatia, so it is likely that was its long-term station. It is unclear why such a large unit would be stationed in a peaceful internal province a long way from the frontier.[6]
The names of 4 tribuni (regimental commanders) are attested.[7] One dedicated a stone at Aime in Alpine Gaul and so probably originated there (c200). 3 centuriones (infantry officers) and 1 decurio (cavalry officer) are attested, of which one was buried in Salona and was therefore probably Illyrian. 1 caligatus is attested.
[edit] Citations
[edit] References
- Holder, Paul Studies in the Auxilia of the Roman Army (1980)
- Spaul, John COHORS 2 (2000)
