08-28-2010, 01:47 PM
Hello,
I've recently re-registered after a long absence.
In Caesar's book the Gallic War (Book V) he mentions in paragraph 24 that his legates Sabinus and Cotta were placed in command of one legion and five cohorts. This legion is considered to be the Legio XIV because this legion had been previously raised and then recruited again after the destruction of Sabinus and Cotta's army. My question is about the five other cohorts. In most English translations these five cohorts are described as 'extra' or 'additional' however the Loeb Classical translation does not. I am wondering if any of the Latin readers out there can read anything in the context of the passage to determine if these five cohorts were detachments of other legions (or part of one other legion). Harry Pratt Judson in his book Caesar' Army considers them to be the core of an unnamed new legion and Lawrence Keppie in the Making of the Roman Army both consider these to be recently enrolled but does not mention them as part of a legion. My reading of Caesar's Gallic Wars tells me that his forces were not always divided by legions, occasionally the number of cohorts in a particular force was not in groups of tens, I also know that he raised a force of 22 cohorts to protect Transalpine Gaul. Is there anything in the context of the passage that hints at possible relation of these five cohorts to legions or as separately raised cohorts?
Thanks,
Jeff
I've recently re-registered after a long absence.
In Caesar's book the Gallic War (Book V) he mentions in paragraph 24 that his legates Sabinus and Cotta were placed in command of one legion and five cohorts. This legion is considered to be the Legio XIV because this legion had been previously raised and then recruited again after the destruction of Sabinus and Cotta's army. My question is about the five other cohorts. In most English translations these five cohorts are described as 'extra' or 'additional' however the Loeb Classical translation does not. I am wondering if any of the Latin readers out there can read anything in the context of the passage to determine if these five cohorts were detachments of other legions (or part of one other legion). Harry Pratt Judson in his book Caesar' Army considers them to be the core of an unnamed new legion and Lawrence Keppie in the Making of the Roman Army both consider these to be recently enrolled but does not mention them as part of a legion. My reading of Caesar's Gallic Wars tells me that his forces were not always divided by legions, occasionally the number of cohorts in a particular force was not in groups of tens, I also know that he raised a force of 22 cohorts to protect Transalpine Gaul. Is there anything in the context of the passage that hints at possible relation of these five cohorts to legions or as separately raised cohorts?
Thanks,
Jeff