@book{
author = "Ferjančić, Snežana",
year = "2018",
abstract = "All the Roman provinces on the middle and lower Danube were garrisoned by various military units since their creation. The army of Moesia (created under Augustus, before 12 AD) comprised a number of alae and cohorts, besides several legions. Some of these units can be identified with a fair amount of certainty thanks to various epigraphic sources. The alae Bosporanorum, I Gallorum Capitoniana, Pansiana, Scubulorum, and cohorts I Cantabrorum and I Cretum sagittariorum are recorded on Moesian inscriptions dating from the time before the reign of the Flavian dynasty. Judging by the epigraphic monuments from the same period, discovered in Hispania and northern Italy, the cohorts I Cilicum and I Cisipadensium also belonged to the provincial garrison. Tacitus testifies to the early presence of the cohort I Sugambrorum veterana in Moesia. In 26 AD, a cohors Sugambrorum saved the army of Poppaeus Sabinus from defeat at the hands of rebellious Thracians. Military diplomas issued to the soldiers of the Moesian garrison in 75 AD and 78 AD mention the cohort I Sugambrorum tironum. This unit probably garrisoned Moesia since its creation under Claudius. The cohorts II Chalcidenorum sagittariorum, I Lusitanorum equitata and I Tyriorum sagittariorum are recorded for the first time on diplomas issued in 75 AD. Since they have left no traces in other parts of the Roman Empire, one can presume that they belonged to the Moesian army before 75 AD. The same is inferred in the case of alae I Gallorum Atectorigiana and I Flavia Gaetulorum. The earliest mentions of these units are recorded on diplomas of Moesia Inferior, issued in 92 AD.
The second half of the first century AD brought significant changes to the Moesian garrison. Its strengthening started under Nero with the transfer of the ala I Asturum from the Rhine and the cohort I Bracaraugustanorum from Dalmatia. The latter regiment presumably came with the legion VII Claudia, between 63 and 66 AD. Some units were transferred from the East, during the civil war after Nero’s death or immediately after it. The cohorts I Antiochensium, VII Gallorum, I Raetorum and I Thracum Syriaca equitata could have been among the troops that accompanied C. Licinius Mucianus, legate of Syria. He supported Vespasian in 69 AD. On his way to Italy he stopped in Moesia and defeated the Dacian raiders. The alternative date for the transfer of the aforementioned regiments would be 71 AD. They might have come to Moesia with the returning legion V Macedonica. Further reinforcement of the provincial garrison is attested in the first years of Vespasian’s reign. The cohorts III Gallorum and V Hispanorum equitata were transferred from Germania during the second half of 74 AD or during the first months of 75 AD, and the ala I Claudia nova miscellanea came in 77 AD.
Certain regiments garrisoned Moesia since their creation by Vespasian or somewhat earlier. The cohort Ubiorum was established after 70 AD and I Flavia Numidarum equitata during the first years of Vespasian’s reign, before 72 AD. The creation of the cohorts I and II Flavia Commagenorum goes back to 72 AD or, possibly, 66 AD. The cohort II Flavia Brittonum equitata existed in 71 AD or 72 AD. Its recruits received honesta missio in Moesia Inferior at the end of 96 AD or at the beginning of 97 AD.
The cohorts IV Gallorum equitata, V Gallorum, VIII Gallorum and IV Hispanorum equitata are attested as parts of the Meosian garrison on diplomas issued in 75 AD, the cohorts II Lucensium equitata and II Mattiacorum are recorded in 78 AD and the cohort II Bracaraugustanorum in 77/78 AD. The names of the alae I Vesapasiana Dardanorum and I Gallorum Flaviana are partially preserved on a fragment dated to 75 or 78 AD. In the case of all these units, it is not possible to determine when and from where they were transferred to Moesia. The only exception is the ala I Pannoniorum, recorded on the fragment dated to 75 or 78 AD. It came from Pannonia.
Domitian’s campaigns on the Danube, waged against the Dacians and Jayges, Quadi and Marcommani, brought significant changes in the army of Moesia. During the summer of 85 AD, the Dacians attacked the province and killed its legate Caius Oppius Sabinus. Vespasian’s younger song declared war on Decebalus, but Roman troops suffered another defeat in 86 AD. The army of Cornelius Fuscus, prefect of the praetorian guard, was routed on the Dacian territory. These events prompted Domitian to undertake mesaures necessary for the more effective defense of the Danubian limes and the Balkan provinces. In 86 AD, Moesia was divided into Moesia Superior and Moesia Inferior. The armies of the new provinces were reinforced with auxiliary regiments brought from the other parts of the Roman Empire. Most of them came from the neighbouring Pannonia, which was not threatened by barbarians. The cohorts VII Breucorum, II Hispanorum Cyrenaica and VI Thracum were relocated to Moesia Superior, while the alae II Aravacorum and I Hispanorum, as well as the cohort I Lepidiana were transferred to Moesia Inferior. Regiments were brought from other parts of the Roman Empire as well. The cohort II Gallorum Macedonica came to Moesia Superior from Macedonia, and the cohort I Lusitanorum Cyrenaica came to Moesia Inferior from Cyrenaica. The garrison of Moesia Superior was strengthened by the arrival of the cohort I Montanorum civium Romanorum, possibly from Dalmatia. Its relocation might be related to the transfer of the legion IV Flavia in 86 AD. The army of Moesa Superior was reinforced again in the course of the campaign against the Jazyges. During the spring of 92 AD, they annihilated the legion XXI Rapax in northeastern Pannonia. It was conceivable that they would attack Moesia Superior as well, so their raid resulted in the strengthening of the provincial army. Two alae were relocated from Syria – II Pannoniorum and praetoria singularium. The arrival of the cohort I Thracum civium Romanorum from Germania Superior might be related to the war waged against the Jazyges in 92 AD or to the campaign against the Quadi and Marcomanni. It began in 97 AD, under Nerva, and was finished in the spring of 98 AD, under Trajan.
The events in the regions north of the middle and lower Danube under Trajan and at the beginning of Hadrian’s reign brought further changes in the garrisons of Moesia Superior and Moesia Inferior. The army of the former province was reinforced significantly during Trajan’s preparations for the war against Decebalus or in the time between the two Dacian campaings. The kohorts I Britannica milliaria civium Romanorum, I Brittonum milliaria equitata, III Brittonum veterana equitata and VIII Raetorum were transferred from Pannonia, and II Britannorum milliaria civium Romanorum, I Pannoniorum veterana and I Vindelicorum from Germania Inferior. The cohort I Hispanorum pia fidelis might be identical to the homonymous regiment from Pannonia or Germania Inferior. The ala I Hispanorum Campagonum probably came from Britannia, and the cohort I Alpinorum might have been transferred from the same province. Prior to their relocation to Moesia Superior, the cohorts III Campestris and IV Cypria were stationed in the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. The army of Moesia Inferior was reinforced by the arrival of the cohort I Augusta Nerviana Pacensis Brittonum.
Most of the auxiliary regiments of Moesia Superior and Moesia Inferior participated in Trajan’s Dacian campaigns, waged in 101-102 AD and 105-106 AD. Some of them returned to their former garrisons, while others stayed on the newly conquered territory. The first group comprises the alae I Vespasiana Dardanorum, I Flavia Gaetulorum and the cohorts I Lepidiana equitata from Moesia Inferior, and the ala praetoria singularium and cohorts VII Breucorum, I Cilicum sagittariorum, I Montanorum civium Romanorum and I Thracum Syriaca equitata from Moesia Superior. Some regiments from Moesia Inferior remained in the southern regions of the newly conquered territory which were under the control of their provincial governor. These were the alae I Gallorum Capitoniana and I Pannoniorum and the cohorts II Flavia Bessorum, I Bracaraugustanorum, I Flavia Commagenorum, III Gallorum, I Hispanorum veterana equitata, I Tyriorum sagittariorum and I Ubiorum. All of them belonged to the army of Dacia Inferior in the later period. Some of the regiments from Moesia Superior stayed permanently on the territory of the Dacian provinces. These are the ala II Pannoniorum veterana and the cohorts I Britannica milliaria civium Romanorum, II Britannorum milliaria civium Romanorum, I Brittonum milliaria torquata pia fidelis civium Romanorum equitata, II Flavia Commagenorum, V Gallorum, I Flavia Ulpia Hispanorum, I Hispanorum pia fidelis, II Hispanorum Cyrenaica, VIII Raetorum, VI Thracum and I Vindelicorum. The relocation of certain regiments to Dacia was only temporary. They returned to Moesia Superior after the pacification of the provinces north of the lower Danube. These are the ala I Claudia nova miscellanea and the cohorts I Cretum sagittariorum, IV Cypria, II Gallorum Macedonica and I Pannoniorum veterana. The cohort I Thracum civium Romanorum returned presumably to Germania Inferior.
Trajan’s army which fought against the Dacians comprised a number of regiments from other regions of the Roman Empire. The Pannonian cohorts II Gallorum Pannonica equitata and I Augusta Ituraeorum sagittariorum stayed in the province of Dacia, established in 106 AD. The same goes for the cohort V Lingonum, presumably relocated from Britannia. Two alae – I civium Romanorum and I Augusta Ituraeorum – returned to Pannonia after the pacification of Dacia. The cohors I Ituraeorum, which might have come from Syria, was transferred to Thracia or Cappadocia.
The first years of Hadrian’s reign saw a serious menace to the Roman rule in Dacia. The newly subjugated Dacians joined the Jayzges and Roxolani. The struggle against them lasted from 117 AD to 119 AD and was followed by a thorough reorganisation of the garrisons on the middle and lower Danube. During the fighting, in the first half of 118 AD, Hadrian reorganised Trajan’s Dacia. Dacia Inferior encompassed the southern regions, which which were under the control of the legate of Moesia Inferior since Decebalus’ downfall. Trajan’s Dacia became Dacia Superior. Its northernmost regions were transformed into Dacia Porolissensis, some time between 119 AD and 123 AD. Conflicts with the barbarians and the new organisation of Trajan’s Dacia brought further changes in the armies of the provinces on the middle and lower Danube. The ala I Hispanorum and the cohorts I Augusta Nerviana Pacensis Brittonum, II Gallorum, II Flavia Numidarum equitata were permanently relocated from Moesia Superior to Dacia, while the alae I Batavorum milliaria and I Tungrorum Frontoniana and the cohort I Batavorum milliaria were transferred from Pannonia. The ala I Bosporanorum, relocated from Moesia to Syria in the middle of the first century AD, and then to Pannonia, was stationed in Dacia Superior since the creation of the province in the first half of 118 AD. The ala I Gallorum Flaviana returned to the regions south of the Danube – it belonged to the army of Moesia Inferior. The alae I Brittonum civium Romanorum and I Ulpia contariorum milliaria were sent back to Pannonia after the pacification of the regions north of the lower Danube. During Hadrian’s reorganisation, the armies of the Dacian provinces were reinforced by the ala I Hispanorum Campagonum from Pannonia (it was transferred there from Moesia Superior at the end of Trajan’s reign) and the cohort I Bracarorum civium Romanorum from Mauretania Tingitana. Ala Siliana was brought from Pannonia when Dacia Porolissensis was created. Ala I Gallorum Atectorigiana belonged to the garrison of Dacia Inferior prior to its return to Moesia Inferior. Military diplomas issued in the second century AD record the cohort I Cannanefatium in Dacia Porolissensis. It remains uncertain from where it was transferred upon the establishment of the province. The cohort I Aelia gaesatorum milliaria was created by Hadrian and it belonged to the garrison of Dacia Porolissensis since its formation.
Some regiments from Moesia Superior participated in Trajan’s Parthian campaign (113-116 AD). Only the cohorts V Hispanorum equitata and I Montanorum civium Romanorum returned to their former province. Several units were relocated to other Balkan provinces: the cohorts I Cilicum sagittariorum and I Thracum Syriaca to Moesia Inferior and I Cisipadensium to Thracia (in Moesia Inferior again from the second half of the second century AD). The ala praetoria singularium and the cohort IV Raetorum remained in the eastern provinces of Roman Empire, the former in Syria, the latter in Cappadocia. The cohort VII Breucorum was transferred to Pannonia Inferior, while III Augusta Nerviana Pacensis Brittonum was probably annihilated during the Parthian campaign. The same is presumed in the case of the cohort Flavia. However, one should consider the possibility that it is identical to the homonymous unit attested in Africa Proconsularis. The Dacian cohort II Hispanorum Cyrenaica participated in Trajan’s war against Parthia. It returned to the regions north of the lower Danube, to Dacia Porolissensis. The cohort VII Gallorum left Moesia Inferior to fight against the Parthians (113-116 AD) or Bar Kokhba (132-135 AD). The end of Trajan’s reign saw the relocation of the cohort IV Gallorum equitata from Moesia Inferior to Thracia.
There were no significant changes in the garrisons of the Moesian and Dacian provcines from the pacification of Dacia to the Marcomannic wars of Marcus Aurelius. A small number of auxiliary regiments was transferred elsewhere during that period. The cohort I Flavia Bessorum was relocated from Moesia Superior to Macedonia, probably during Hadrian’s reorganisation of the Danubian garrisons. The transfer of the cohort II Lucensium equitata from Moesia Inferior to Thracia is related to the final establishment of the boundary between the two provinces, in 136 AD. The cohort I Sugambrorum tironum was sent from Moesia Inferior to the East, where it participated in the suppression of Bar Kokhba’s rebellion (132-135. godine). The cohort I Flavia Numidarum left Moesia Inferior at the end of Pius’ reign. It was relocated to Lycia and Pamphylia between 157 AD and 161 AD.
The garrisons of Moesia Superior and the Dacian provinces were reinforced during the preparations for the Marcomannic wars of Marcus Aurelius. The cohorts I Aurelia Dardanorum, II Aurelia Dardanorum and II Aurelia nova, in 168 AD or 169 AD, belonged to the army of Moesia Superior, while the cohort VI nova, established probably at the same time, was stationed in Dacia Inferior. The garrison of Dacia Superior was strengthened by the cohort III Delmatarum from Germania Superior. The Marcomannic wars of Marcus Aurelius resulted brought the last singificant changes in the armies of the Moesian and Dacian provinces. Only minor shifts are recorded during the following period.",
publisher = "Beograd: Društvo za antičke studije Srbije",
title = "Ale i kohorte u vojsci rimskih provincija Mezije i Dakije od I do III veka n.e.",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_reff_6035"
}
