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Auxilia stationed in Jerusalem, AD30-AD50
#1
Any source data for this group of soldiers, particularly troop strength and any military activity during that time would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)

Saepe veritas est dura.
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#2
Try this David:

http://www.larp.com/legioxx/holyland.html
Paul Elliott

Legions in Crisis
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/17815...d_i=468294

Charting the Third Century military crisis - with a focus on the change in weapons and tactics.
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#3
There are a couple of threads giving details on the garrison of Judea during this period:

Judea Auxilia

Garrison of Jerusalem AD30

To paraphrase Jona Lendering in the thread above, there were five cohorts of infantry and one squadron of cavalry serving in the province: Ala I Sebastenorum, Cohors I Sebastenorum, Cohors Prima Italica Civium Romanorum, the Cohors Secunda Italica Civium Romanorum and Cohors Prima Augusta. One cohort is unknown.

For the military activities of this force, probably Josephus is the best source - the earlier chapters of The Jewish War particularly.

- Nathan
Nathan Ross
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#4
(10-30-2011, 03:06 AM)Nathan Ross Wrote: There are a couple of threads giving details on the garrison of Judea during this period:

Judea Auxilia

Garrison of Jerusalem AD30

To paraphrase Jona Lendering in the thread above, there were five cohorts of infantry and one squadron of cavalry serving in the province: Ala I Sebastenorum, Cohors I Sebastenorum, Cohors Prima Italica Civium Romanorum, the Cohors Secunda Italica Civium Romanorum and Cohors Prima Augusta. One cohort is unknown.

For the military activities of this force, probably Josephus is the best source - the earlier chapters of The Jewish War particularly.

- Nathan

These are dead links - any idea where the info got to? Thanks.
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#5
(03-07-2016, 07:47 PM)Banzai Wrote: These are dead links - any idea where the info got to? Thanks.

You can find old threads using Google (or the 'search' function) easily enough:

Garrison of Jerusalem

Judean Auxilia

This one's on a similar subject:

Legion near Judea
Nathan Ross
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#6
(10-30-2011, 02:39 AM)M. Demetrius Wrote: Any source data for this group of soldiers, particularly troop strength and any military activity during that time would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

They could be auxiliaries belonging to the Tenth Legion.
James Ajiduah
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#7
Sir,

Did auxilia "belong" to a numbered legion or were they identified by their own name/number independent of any legion to which they might be temporarily attached.
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#8
Auxilia had their own name and number, and though some may have had a traditional association with some legions, most clearly did not.
Greets!

Jasper Oorthuys
Webmaster & Editor, Ancient Warfare magazine
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#9
(03-08-2016, 05:42 AM)LonginusXXI Wrote: They could be auxiliaries belonging to the Tenth Legion.

We've discussed this before! The auxiliaries in Judea were independent cohorts, and not part of any legion. The 10th were based several hundred miles north at the time, in Syria.
Nathan Ross
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#10
(03-09-2016, 11:00 AM)Nathan Ross Wrote:
(03-08-2016, 05:42 AM)LonginusXXI Wrote: They could be auxiliaries belonging to the Tenth Legion.

We've discussed this before! The auxiliaries in Judea were independent cohorts, and not part of any legion. The 10th were based several hundred miles north at the time, in Syria.

Well the Tenth Legion could have as easily sent auxiliaries there. It could be easier than sending a legionary cohort.
James Ajiduah
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#11
(03-09-2016, 03:44 PM)LonginusXXI Wrote: the Tenth Legion could have as easily sent auxiliaries there.

But why would they do that? There were already several auxiliary units based in Judea. The auxiliary cohorts in Syria were not attached to any legion - the governor of Syria might have decided to move some of his troops south into Judea, but since, as Tacitus points out, there wasn't any serious trouble in the province during this period, there would be no point. The existing garrison (probably five infantry cohorts and a cavalry ala) would be entirely sufficient.
Nathan Ross
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#12
(03-09-2016, 08:42 PM)Nathan Ross Wrote:
(03-09-2016, 03:44 PM)LonginusXXI Wrote: the Tenth Legion could have as easily sent auxiliaries there.

But why would they do that? There were already several auxiliary units based in Judea. The auxiliary cohorts in Syria were not attached to any legion - the governor of Syria might have decided to move some of his troops south into Judea, but since, as Tacitus points out, there wasn't any serious trouble in the province during this period, there would be no point. The existing garrison (probably five infantry cohorts and a cavalry ala) would be entirely sufficient.

And the question I asked: How would five cohorts and 1 cavalry unit be enough to supervise Judea? There would have to be reinforcements every now and then, especially during Passover.
James Ajiduah
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#13
(03-10-2016, 11:35 PM)LonginusXXI Wrote: How would five cohorts and 1 cavalry unit be enough to supervise Judea? There would have to be reinforcements every now and then, especially during Passover

This does suggest that Judea was quite lightly garrisoned during the early decades of Roman rule, with a reliance on local authorities to maintain order (the various 'temple guards' and so on mentioned in the Bible perhaps). The governors of Syria could and did intervene in cases of trouble - Governor Longinus brought a force down from Syria to counter unrest during either Passover or Pentecost of 44-45.

Mary Smallwood, in The Jews under Roman Rule, suggests that the initial garrison actually comprised the 3000 Samarian troops of Herod, under new Roman commanders - Herod had apparently employed Roman officers anyway, and his army was probably organised on Roman lines. This would make up five 500-strong infantry cohorts and one 500-strong cavalry ala. However, this seems to have changed after the unrest of 44-45 following the death of Agrippa - the (unreliable?) Samarian troops were sent elsewhere, and a regular Roman auxiliary garrison brought in from Syria.

Unfortunately we don't know that much about the new garrison, as the troops in Judea remained part of the Syrian establishment, until the formation of the new province of Syria Palestina under Hadrian. The Syrian garrison fluctuated in size, but reached a peak of four cavalry alae and seventeen infantry cohorts under Domitian. This was following the Jewish war of 66-70, so the large size is not surprising.
Nathan Ross
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#14
Judea, Samaria, Idumea, all with FIVE cohorts? Yeah. There would have to be more troops. I wouldn't be suprised if vexillations came in every now and then.
James Ajiduah
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#15
(03-11-2016, 06:59 PM)LonginusXXI Wrote: FIVE cohorts? Yeah. There would have to be more troops. I wouldn't be suprised if vexillations came in every now and then.

If they did, then neither of our sources mention them, and nor do they mention any occasions between AD6 and 44 when they might have been necessary.

There may have been more than five cohorts - those are just the ones we know about - but not many more. Quite possibly they were backed up by some kind of provincial militia, maybe the dexiolaboi (spearmen? slingers?) mentioned in Acts 23.23.

However, all we have to go on with regard to the Judea garrison are a few notes in Josephus Antiquities of the Jews and Jewish War, and a couple more in the New Testament. That's it.

For the sake of interest, here are the references from Josephus:

AJ XIX.9.2: (AD44 - Claudius ordered procurator Cuspius Fadus to) remove that body of soldiers that were at Caesarea and Sebaste, with the five regiments (i.e. cohorts), into Pontus, that they might do their military duty there; and that he should choose an equal number of soldiers out of the Roman legions that were in Syria, to supply their place. Yet were not those that had such orders actually removed; for by sending ambassadors to Claudius, they mollified him, and got leave to abide in Judea still; and these were the very men that became the source of very great calamities to the Jews in after-times (i.e. the Samarian auxiliaries)

(I realise now that I was wrong about the Samarian auxiliaries being replaced at this point - that happened later! But the suggestion that they should be replaced with 'soldiers out of the legions' suggests that there were no other legionaries present in Judea at that point).


JW II.12.1: (cAD48): ...when the multitude were come together to Jerusalem, to the feast of unleavened bread, and a Roman cohort stood over the cloisters of the temple, (for they always were armed, and kept guard at the festivals...) one of the soldiers pulled back his garment, and cowering down after an indecent manner, turned his breech to the Jews, and spake such words as you might expect upon such a posture.

(since this 'Roman cohort' were accompanying the procuraror, Cumanus, it seems likely that they were one of the Samarian units from Caesarea or Sebaste mentioned above who 'became the source of very great calamities to the Jews'.


JW II.12.5: (AD52) Cumanus took one troop of horsemen, called the troop of Sebaste, out of Caesarea, and came to the assistance of those that were spoiled; he also seized upon a great number of those that followed Eleazar, and slew more of them.

(The 'troop of Sebaste' was probably the Ala Sebastenorum, perhaps later combined with another unit to form the Ala I Gemina Sebastena listed in the Syria garrison under Domitian and later moved to Mauretania).


AJ XX.6.1: (AD52) When Cumanus heard of this action of theirs, he took the band of Sebaste, with four regiments of footmen, and armed the Samaritans, and marched out against the Jews

(The 'band of Sebaste' would be same ala mentioned above, plus four infantry cohorts. Cumanus arming the Samarians (as militia, maybe 'dexiolaboi'?) suggests he had no other troops available at that point - the fifth cohort was presumably in Jerusalem, or left back at Caesarea.)


The Jews then protested to Claudius, who found in their favour and ordered that Cumanus and his men be punished:

AJ XX.6.3: (AD52) (Caesar Claudius) also gave order that Celer the tribune should be carried back to Jerusalem, and should be drawn through the city in the sight of all the people, and then should be slain.

(This is interesting - it suggests that the tribune commanding the troops, who had a Roman name, was not a Roman citizen, still less an equestrian - a Roman citizen officer would never have been treated like that! Celer was presumably a Samarian, like his men.)


JW II.3.4: (4(?)BC) There were also a great many of the king's party who deserted the Romans, and assisted the Jews; yet did the most warlike body of them all, who were three thousand of the men of Sebaste, go over to the Romans. Rufus also, and Gratus, their captains, did the same, (Gratus having the foot of the king's party under him, and Rufus the horse).

(Here we have the 3000 ex-Herodians, commanded by officers with Roman names (who may not have been either Romans or citizens - but we should remember the Roman officer who told Paul that he had bought his citizenship; perhaps a good idea, if non-citizen tribunes could be executed in public!).)


JW III.4.2: (AD67) Titus...came suddenly to Ptolemais (and met there) five cohorts from Cesarea, with one troop of horsemen.

(These six units may well have been descended from the '3000 men of Sebaste' mentioned in the previous quote, having in the meantime been taken into the Roman army as auxiliaries)


Aside from the dexiolaboi in Acts 23, the 'Italian band' (Cohors Italica?) in Acts 10, and the 'Augustan band' (Cohors Augusta?) in Acts 27, that's all we have to go on for the Judean garrison.

It certainly looks like the five Samarian cohorts and one ala were the mainstay of the early prefects' military force, perhaps even the totality of it. There may have been militia in support of them, and other more regular auxiliary cohorts were apparently brought into the province later. This seems a small garrison, but perhaps the Roman authorities did not want to introduce too heavy a military presence to a volatile new province - if so, it was a mistake, but we can all be wise after the fact!
Nathan Ross
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