Legion near Judea at time of Jesus

[LonginusXXI]

So wouldn't it be more accurate if Pilate gets a vexillation of 2 cohorts from Legio X Fretensis or Legio XII Fulminata? Wouldn't this also explain the 200 soldiers of Acts? Couldn't he also have had the centurion of the most senior cohort (let's say the 2nd Cohort) be his chief centurion?

[LonginusXXI]

So couldn't at least 2 cohorts be deployed from the Tenth or Twelfth legion? I think this would explain the 200 'soldiers' of Acts.

[Flavivs Aetivs]

I doubt it, they were both based in Syria, although for a while X Fretensis was in Caesarea Maritima in Palaestina Secunda (don't know what the province was called during the Principate off the top of my head).

Auxiliaries were Roman soldiers, they were just non-citizen soldiers.

[Crispvs]

James,

Can I suggest that you re-read my two posts above. ;-)

Crispvs

[LonginusXXI]

So how does this explain this: Acts 23:23

"Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, "Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea along with seventy horsemen and two hundred auxilaries by nine o'clock tonight."

[Nathan Ross]

While the prefect of Judea would not have commanded legionary units, there may have been legionaries on his staff, individuals seconded from the legions in Syria - these might have been beneficarii praefecti (adjutants), singulares (bodyguards) or secretaries of one sort or another. None would have been centurions though.

Some of the centurions of the auxiliary cohorts in the province might have been men promoted from the legions, and as mentioned above the cohort commanders at this date might have been promoted centurions.

The auxiliary units available to Pilatus have been discussed here several times (this post provides a good summary, while this post by DB Campbell raises the interesting suggestion that the cohors augusta mentioned in the Bible might have been Cohors I Augusta Thracum, known later in Judea/Palestina.

A couple of interesting points from other old threads on this topic:

Graham Sumner has asked me to post this:

Garrison Of Judaea:

It is believed the garrison of Judaea was initially one cavalry unit, the ALA I SEBASTENORUM and at least five cohorts of infantry, one of them was possibly a COHORS I SEBASTENORUM. Local militias could also be raised as occasion demanded whilst the nearest Legions were in Syria. The total number of troops in Judaea was perhaps therefore no more than 3-5000 men.

The soldiers were recruited mainly from the Romanised cities, especially Sebaste and Caesarea. The Romans undoubtedly exploited the fact that the local Samarians hated the Jews who were generally exempt from service in the Roman Army because of their unwillingness to fight on the Sabbath.

However the Acts of the Apostles suggest there may have been other non local units based in Judaea including an 'Italian' cohort and a COHORS AUGUSTA. The true identity of both of these units has been hotly debated by various scholars.

When St Paul was arrested he was sent to Caesarea by the Tribune Claudius Lysias, commander of the Jerusalem garrison. Paul was escorted by 200 foot soldiers and 70 horsemen so possibly the Jerusalem garrison at that time was a COHORS EQUITATA.

During the trial of Christ, Pontius Pilate speaks directly to him. There is no mention of a translator being present and as Pilate was unlikely to speak Aramaic and Christ, Latin the common language must therefore have been Greek.

Like most English speaking Roman re-enactors today who know the Latin commands but don't speak it, the same must have happened in the Roman east where the official language of the army was Latin but the ordinary soldiers spoke to each other and wrote in Greek.

After the trial of Christ the Romans do not seem to have expected too much trouble as the New Testament informs us that Christ was escorted to his execution by only four soldiers and a Centurion. Paul was obviously considered a greater security risk! The way the soldiers play dice and divide up Christ's clothes afterwards is also an illuminating account.

For further information see 'The Roman Army in Judaea under the Procurators', M.P. Speidel.

For the first six years of Pilate's governorship there was no legate in Syria (Tiberius was keeping him in Rome for some reason), so his access to the Syrian legions may have been limited. Pilate's feeling therefore may have been that any signs of disorder or disrupting influence in the province would have to be stamped out quickly and thoroughly, since he might not have recourse to the legions if things began to get out of hand. The Jewish authorities may have been aware of this handicap, which could be one reason why Pilate's attitude towards the Jews, and his relationship with the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem, seems so strange in the Gospels.

[Nathan Ross]

"Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, "Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea along with seventy horsemen and two hundred auxilaries by nine o'clock tonight."

The Greek words used in this passage are Στρατιωτας ("stratiotes" - infantry or foot soldiers) and Δεξιολαβους ("dexiolabos") - this second word is usually translated as 'spearmen'. It's quite a strange word though (from dexios, “the right (hand),” and lambano, “to lay hold of,”), and means something like 'someone who takes something in their right hand'... What this is supposed to mean is unclear. Some sort of light or irregular infantry might be intended, or even missile troops.

Either way, the Στρατιωτας infantrymen would be the regular auxiliary troops, perhaps (as mentioned above) drawn from a cohors equitata together with the cavalry.

[LonginusXXI]

And also if it was an auxiliary unit wouldn't the commanding officer be a praefectus praepostis?

[Frank]

And also if it was an auxiliary unit wouldn't the commanding officer be a praefectus praepostis?

As explained above, an auxilia cohort was commanded by a praefectus cohortis, a praepositus cohortis or a tribunus (roman citizens). Every auxilia cohort had 6 (or 10) centurions. These centurions could be romans or non-romans. So just the use of the term "centurio", does not qualify the unit as legionary cohort.

And as Nathan already mentioned the original greek text does not proof the use of legionary cohorts.

[LonginusXXI]

Apparently there are a number of people saying that there were legionaries in Judea. Stephen Dando-Collins is a notable mention. Also, in the Legio Vi Ferrata website, it is said that the First cohort in a legion was known as the Italican cohort.

[Flavivs Aetivs]

Dando-Collins is the "Ancient Aliens" guy of Roman History.

Which Legio VI Ferrata? On our new website I corrected a lot of stuff.

[Gunthamund Hasding]

Apparently there are a number of people saying that there were legionaries in Judea. Stephen Dando-Collins is a notable mention. Also, in the Legio Vi Ferrata website, it is said that the First cohort in a legion was known as the Italican cohort.

James, Dando is SF stay away from him is dangerous stuff most of the time, I think that the guys here really helped and when is NO PROOF ...

[LonginusXXI]

Dando-Collins is the "Ancient Aliens" guy of Roman History.

Which Legio VI Ferrata? On our new website I corrected a lot of stuff.

Which new website? The one I was reading was a script from one of your plays: Confession of Justus.

By the way, I don't follow Dando-Collins that much, although sometimes he makes very good arguments. I think that although no legion was stationed in Judea, there might have been some vexillations from the nearest legion. One bible movie I watched begins with a Zealot seeing Roman legionaries or auxiliaries with the flag of the 12th Fulminata Legion. Everyone says the 10th Fretensis was nearer to Judea. From what I remember the 12th was stationed in Raphanea, in the area of the Decapolis.

Also would the 2nd Italian Cohort function as the first cohort of a regular legion?

[Gunthamund Hasding]

James
I think that the period we are discussing is not very clear but first of all so early in the 1st century I would say that the auxilia was still auxilia, meaning that there will be not too much resemblance with the legions, after all auxilia was created in order to cover the shortcomings of the legionary heavy armed system. Please try to read some real literature about the way the roman army was organized by Augustus. (https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/A...YMAC&hl=de)

I agree with you that is possible to have vexillations around, I read a few papers and I would agree that practically you can't really identify the auxilia in Judaea but the Ala I Sebastenorum and with reasonable certainty COH I Sebast and Coh Aug (Tharcum?)

[Nathan Ross]

Dando-Collins is the "Ancient Aliens" guy of Roman History.

would the 2nd Italian Cohort function as the first cohort of a regular legion?

I don't see how they would, really. As Gelu says above, legions and auxiliary cohorts were quite distinct formations. The 'double strength' first cohort of the legion was a Flavian innovation, as far as we know. Before cAD70 it would have been the same as the other cohorts.

Cohors II Italica voluntariorum civium Romanorum is attested in Judea from AD69, I believe. It might have been there earlier, but it's an assumption that it was the 'italic cohort' mentioned in the Bible. Also, if it was raised in AD6 or 9 there would be very few Italians or Roman citizens still serving in the cohort by the AD30s.

If the governor of Syria was indeed absent at this point, Pilate would have had trouble summoning legionary units to assist him in Judea on his own authority. He would have had to request aid from the legate of the nearest legion - who, as a senator, would outrank him. The legate may have been unwilling to act in the absence of his boss - it's a chain of command problem. So legion vexillations operating in Judea at this time are unlikely, I'd say.