04-05-2008, 05:48 AM
...just for the sake of completeness, and the convenience of having all the figures in one place, I shall set out the generally agreed nominal/theoretical figures for various cohorts of Auxiliaries. Although these numbers have been debated, and are not agreed by all scholars ( nor do I wish to start a debate here about them), they are worth setting out.....
CAVALRY: Prior to Imperial times, Roman cavalry seem to have been organised only into Turmae. These were combined into Alae (lit:wings, from their battlefield deployment.The term had earlier been used of the Socii /Allied contingents, also deployed on the flanks of the Legions.) certainly from the date of Augustus on, and possibly earlier since Praefecti equitum, who clearly commanded units larger than turmae, are attested by Caesar in charge of tribal cavalry contingents.
Each Ala in early Imperial times likely consisted of 512 men, inclusive of Officers ( Arrian), consisting of 16 turmae (pseudo-Hyginus and Egyptian inscription C.I.L. iii.6581, Vegetius legionary turma) of 30 troopers commanded by a Decurio with a duplicarius(double pay man) as second in command, giving a total of 32 per turma. (c.f. an actual strength report of Ala Commagenorum from the reign of Claudius, of 12 Decuriones and 434 men which at first sight seems over-strength, but 4 Decuriones are 'missing' presumably detached, and if they left the sick etc from their turmae behind, this would account for any discrepancy). In AD130, a hay receipt for a turma of Ala Veterana Gallorum lists 30 troopers, exclusive of officers.
During Flavian times, larger units, Ala Milliara were created. These were seemingly elite and it appears that no province had more than one.
Von Domaszewski hypothesised turmae of 42 to reach the 'thousand' number, but most consider that the 24 turmae (pseudo-Hyginus) were of the usual 32, giving a total of 768, plus Headquarters staff, so around 800 in total (c.f. First legionary'milliary'Cohort at 5x160 =800)
COHORS EQUITATAE; These units consisted of Infantry cohorts, with cavalry attached, who were inferior in status ( Hadrian's speeches to troops in Africa) to the 'true' cavalry of the Alae, something like later dragoons. They seem to have been introduced from Julio-Claudian times onwards.( the earliest seems to known is from an inscription of Tiberius)The quingenaria cohort had 120 cavalry, and the milliara 240. (pseudo-Hyginus and Josephus, an inscription giving 4 Decuriones for the Equites, and the Coptic inscription giving 61 troopers for two turmae).The quingenaria unit had six centuries (480) Infantry and a milliara ten centuries(800) (pseudo-Hyginus) Once again, this can be compared to some actual strength lists ranging from the second to early third century AD, giving firstly 119 cavalry and 427 Infantry ( close to 'paper' strength, and likely to be a war footing, as suggested by Holder), secondly 114 cavalry and 363 Infantry (typical peacetime conditions), and thirdly 100 cavalry (after losses of 11) and 334 Infantry ( probably after combat, again suggested by Holder.) Pseudo-Hyginus and Josephus are a little problematic here in that apparently both thought, probably incorrectly, that 'century'should be 100 ( e.g. Josephus gives 600 Infantry - 6x100) and in pseudo-Hyginus' case, that 'milliary' meant 1,000 -he gives 240 cavalry plus 760 Infantry = 1.000 and 120 cavalry plus 380 Infantry = 500. These figures simply don't make sense.)
INFANTRY: The cohors peditata quingenaria consisted of 6 centuries of 80 men, 480 total plus Headquarters staff to give around 500.Cohors peditata milliara consisted of ten centuries, giving a total of 800 men plus Headquarters and supernumeraries.
CAVALRY: Prior to Imperial times, Roman cavalry seem to have been organised only into Turmae. These were combined into Alae (lit:wings, from their battlefield deployment.The term had earlier been used of the Socii /Allied contingents, also deployed on the flanks of the Legions.) certainly from the date of Augustus on, and possibly earlier since Praefecti equitum, who clearly commanded units larger than turmae, are attested by Caesar in charge of tribal cavalry contingents.
Each Ala in early Imperial times likely consisted of 512 men, inclusive of Officers ( Arrian), consisting of 16 turmae (pseudo-Hyginus and Egyptian inscription C.I.L. iii.6581, Vegetius legionary turma) of 30 troopers commanded by a Decurio with a duplicarius(double pay man) as second in command, giving a total of 32 per turma. (c.f. an actual strength report of Ala Commagenorum from the reign of Claudius, of 12 Decuriones and 434 men which at first sight seems over-strength, but 4 Decuriones are 'missing' presumably detached, and if they left the sick etc from their turmae behind, this would account for any discrepancy). In AD130, a hay receipt for a turma of Ala Veterana Gallorum lists 30 troopers, exclusive of officers.
During Flavian times, larger units, Ala Milliara were created. These were seemingly elite and it appears that no province had more than one.
Von Domaszewski hypothesised turmae of 42 to reach the 'thousand' number, but most consider that the 24 turmae (pseudo-Hyginus) were of the usual 32, giving a total of 768, plus Headquarters staff, so around 800 in total (c.f. First legionary'milliary'Cohort at 5x160 =800)
COHORS EQUITATAE; These units consisted of Infantry cohorts, with cavalry attached, who were inferior in status ( Hadrian's speeches to troops in Africa) to the 'true' cavalry of the Alae, something like later dragoons. They seem to have been introduced from Julio-Claudian times onwards.( the earliest seems to known is from an inscription of Tiberius)The quingenaria cohort had 120 cavalry, and the milliara 240. (pseudo-Hyginus and Josephus, an inscription giving 4 Decuriones for the Equites, and the Coptic inscription giving 61 troopers for two turmae).The quingenaria unit had six centuries (480) Infantry and a milliara ten centuries(800) (pseudo-Hyginus) Once again, this can be compared to some actual strength lists ranging from the second to early third century AD, giving firstly 119 cavalry and 427 Infantry ( close to 'paper' strength, and likely to be a war footing, as suggested by Holder), secondly 114 cavalry and 363 Infantry (typical peacetime conditions), and thirdly 100 cavalry (after losses of 11) and 334 Infantry ( probably after combat, again suggested by Holder.) Pseudo-Hyginus and Josephus are a little problematic here in that apparently both thought, probably incorrectly, that 'century'should be 100 ( e.g. Josephus gives 600 Infantry - 6x100) and in pseudo-Hyginus' case, that 'milliary' meant 1,000 -he gives 240 cavalry plus 760 Infantry = 1.000 and 120 cavalry plus 380 Infantry = 500. These figures simply don't make sense.)
INFANTRY: The cohors peditata quingenaria consisted of 6 centuries of 80 men, 480 total plus Headquarters staff to give around 500.Cohors peditata milliara consisted of ten centuries, giving a total of 800 men plus Headquarters and supernumeraries.
"dulce et decorum est pro patria mori " - Horace
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
(It is a sweet and proper thing to die for ones country)
"No son-of-a-bitch ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" - George C Scott as General George S. Patton
Paul McDonnell-Staff
