05-31-2013, 11:29 AM
Quote:Mark George Little post=338491 Wrote:The problem is, that the Valeria page of the NotDig mentions Auxilia Herculensia, Ursarensia, Fortensia, Insidiatorum. The first three are foot companies, and the designs are found on the page, where they list every single one in a bunch. Is it possible, that the word auxilia here means vexillatio? I think my idea is not far fetched, since Valentinian brought auxiliary forces from the West against quadi and sarmatians in 374/375.I don't think so, if they say auxilia they mean auxilia. vexellatio means part of a unit, and it could of course have been a vexillatio of an auxilia unit. But we continue to find old-style infantry and cavalry units named cohort and ala, etc., so I wouldn't worry about a unit named 'auxilia'.
On the other hand, you may be looking at part of a new-style Auxilia Palatina unit?
My base question is: do you think these foot units (Herculensia, Ursarensia, Fortensia) could be somehow related (in unit organization and is shield design as well) to their similarly sounding counterparts in the West (Herculiani, Ursarienses, Fortenses)?
Auxilia Herculensia is probably derived from their station, Ad Herculem, with the -ensis suffix, we would think. But this does not hold true with the fact considered, that Herculensia is also found within Pannonia Secunda. I assume these were limitanei forces detached from Herculiani Seniores. (Such as there are numerous dalmatian horsemen spread all over the ripa, but all coming from the same base unit).
The same "spread" is with the Ursarensia: we can found a regiment named Ursarienses under Dux tractus Armoricani et Nervicani and also under Dux Raetiae and also at Valeria Ripensis. We can find Fortensia as Fortenses under Comes Hispenias.
We find the same practice used with the Pacatianenses, which is under Comes Illyricum, but the Tribunus cohortis Pacatianensis is under Dux Tingitaniae (Morocco) as well.
Sorry if it is a bit chaotic, I'm in the middle of my exams at uni, I'll try to organize this after I get some rest.
Mark - Legio Leonum Valentiniani
