03-30-2007, 03:57 PM
Hi,
I'm trying to locate a possible fort or billet for the 3 limitanei Isaurian legions mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum for Cilicia, southern Turkey. I believe another reference details their location from 3rd century onwards as Silifke (ancient Seleucia ad Calycadnus) opposite Cyprus. Yet there are, as far as I can find out, no Roman fort remains in the city of Silifke. The nearest legionary site seems to be Side/Selimiye far to the west.
Where are these troops stationed, I wonder? In the 4th C billetting amongst the populace sounds like a probable explanation, 3000 troops could be easily settled. But in the 3rdC, did billeting amongst civillians exist then?
Or is this a case of 'missing fort' presumed 'somewhere nearby'???
I know this is a bit of an obscure subject. Anybody know anything of Roman military architecture in southern Turkey??!!
hock:
What may confuse the issue is that these legions are limitanei, but controlled by a Count. Did this mean they were mobile and without a fort?
EDIT: I've just found Ammianus XIV 2.5 "Anger at this (Isaurian uprising) aroused the soldiers quartered in the numerous towns and fortresses which lie near these regions..."
I'm not sure that helps me though!
I'm trying to locate a possible fort or billet for the 3 limitanei Isaurian legions mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum for Cilicia, southern Turkey. I believe another reference details their location from 3rd century onwards as Silifke (ancient Seleucia ad Calycadnus) opposite Cyprus. Yet there are, as far as I can find out, no Roman fort remains in the city of Silifke. The nearest legionary site seems to be Side/Selimiye far to the west.
Where are these troops stationed, I wonder? In the 4th C billetting amongst the populace sounds like a probable explanation, 3000 troops could be easily settled. But in the 3rdC, did billeting amongst civillians exist then?
Or is this a case of 'missing fort' presumed 'somewhere nearby'???
I know this is a bit of an obscure subject. Anybody know anything of Roman military architecture in southern Turkey??!!
hock: What may confuse the issue is that these legions are limitanei, but controlled by a Count. Did this mean they were mobile and without a fort?
EDIT: I've just found Ammianus XIV 2.5 "Anger at this (Isaurian uprising) aroused the soldiers quartered in the numerous towns and fortresses which lie near these regions..."
I'm not sure that helps me though!
~ Paul Elliott
The Last Legionary
This book details the lives of Late Roman legionaries garrisoned in Britain in 400AD. It covers everything from battle to rations, camp duties to clothing.
The Last Legionary
This book details the lives of Late Roman legionaries garrisoned in Britain in 400AD. It covers everything from battle to rations, camp duties to clothing.
