Names and shield emblems of Auxillia units.

[Titus Petronicus Graccus]

Hello all.
The only place I've ever seen the names and shield designs of Auxillia units are in a book for WRG games called " Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome" by Phil Barker.
Does anyone know of an online resource for these names and or shield designs?
Many thanks in advance for the help.

[Nicholas Gaukroger]

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/luke/ueda-sarson ... terns.html

[Titus Petronicus Graccus]

Thanks very much Nicholas this will help a lot.
Does anyone know if the shield emblems were much changed from the 1st century to the time the Notitia was written?

[Robert Vermaat]

Thanks very much Nicholas this will help a lot.
Does anyone know if the shield emblems were much changed from the 1st century to the time the Notitia was written?

Totally. The shield designs as used in the Notitia are probably only usable for the 4th c. and later. They do not appear before that time. We have not a clue how fast a unit design did change, nor if all those represented in the Notitia are even correct.

PS, you can't compare the 'auxilia' of the earlier armies to the 'auxilia' of the Late Roman army. The latter were most probably elite heavy infantry units, sharing only the name with the earlier formations.

[Titus Petronicus Graccus]

Rats.
Oh well, back to square one it looks like...
:lol:

[Marcus Julius]

A few shield decorations can be found on Trajan's column. The only problem is stating that these were standardized throughout a unit would be speculation at best.

Not to mention there's always that "artistic license" argument as to whether or not the designs were actually real, or made up by the sculpture.

[Paullus Scipio]

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Not to mention there's always that "artistic license" argument as to whether or not the designs were actually real, or made up by the sculpture.

...the designs in "Armies and Enemies of Imperial Rome" are mostly taken from Trajan's column ( I know, 'cos it was me who travelled to Rome and spent days in the 'Museo de civilita Romana' painstakingly copying them - photography not allowed)

In my view, they are not 'artistic licence', because a number of designs are depicted elsewhere - the Praetorian ones match other depictions such as those on Domitianic sculpture and at Adamklissi, as do some of the Legionary designs.We are on less sure ground with the Auxiliary designs, because T's column is just about it. Even the Dacian shields are not imaginary, but correspond closely with the "trophy" examples shown in great detail on the base of the column

[jc02005]

This is some information
The Auxilary unit is the captured soliders or people. The enemy people have two choices eigther join the roman army or be killed.So lots of people rather be in the army then be killed.Auxilary army have lot less armour and sheild then the roman army.


Cheers
john

[Jeroen Pelgrom]

Hi Johnathan,

The auxilia was recruited from non-citizens from conquered or allied communities. Most recruits were volunteers, not people who were pressed into service. Soldiers in the auxilia served 25 years, after which they got full Roman citizenship. The infantry in the auxilia were trained and equipped to fight in a way comparable to that of the legionary heavy infantry. In addition, special auxilia units existed: (mounted) archers, a dromedary unit, heavy cavalry etc.

[Titus Petronicus Graccus]

Hi Johnathan,

The auxilia was recruited from non-citizens from conquered or allied communities. Most recruits were volunteers, not people who were pressed into service. Soldiers in the auxilia served 25 years, after which they got full Roman citizenship. The infantry in the auxilia were trained and equipped to fight in a way comparable to that of the legionary heavy infantry. In addition, special auxilia units existed: (mounted) archers, a dromedary unit, heavy cavalry etc.

That's what I understood too. Not only was Roman Citizenship conferred on the soldier that fulfilled his 25 year term, but on his children as well. And as Citizenship carried many advantages, it was highly sought after.

[Jeroen Pelgrom]

That said, in 212 AD Caracalla published the Constitutio Antoniniana, which granted Roman citizenship to everyone in the empire.

[sonic]

That said, in 212 AD Caracalla published the Constitutio Antoniniana, which granted Roman citizenship to everyone in the empire.

So it was Caracalla's fault that the Empire fell, as he removed the desire for large numbers of the Empire's inhabitants to serve in the army in order to become full citizens?? hock:

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Ian (Sonic) Hughes