First Cohort of Aquitanians

[D B Campbell]

I'm trying to get a handle on the First Cohort of Aquitanians which was present at Navio, if you're to believe the alter stones they left lying around

Well, if you don't believe the altar stones, then the entire study of the Roman army in Britain comes crashing down! :wink:

I'm sorry to see that nobody refers to Paul Holder's Roman Army in Britain (1982), which is still a great wee book (although he fell for the "artillery range" interpretation of Burnswark -- see Ancient Warfare magazine, Vol. V, No. 6).

Here's what he writes about your cohort:

This cohort was raised in Aquitania in the reign of Augustus as part of a series of four cohorts and stationed in Upper Germany. It presumably formed part of the army of the invasion in 43, and is recorded on the diplomas of 117/120, 122, 124. It is attested at Carrawburgh in the reign of Hadrian (RIB 1550) and then recorded building at Brough-on-Now under Julius Verus (RIB 283). Early in the third century it had moved to the new fort at Brancaster where two stamped tiles have been found. It was later replaced by the Equites Dalmatae Branodunenses.

Nathan's CIL VII, 620a is RIB 1550 (Carrawburgh). The two tile-stamp fragments are RIB 2466 (Brancaster). And Nava is thought to be a Celtic river name (cf. the Nahe near Bingen, Germany, and the Navia in northern Spain), linked to the word for "flowing".

(If you're reading this, Paul -- please drop me a line.)