Cohors repentina

[Duncan Head]

Livy 41.1 mentions a "repentina cohors Placentina" on campaign in Histria in 177 BC. I've seen this translated as "reserve" or "emergency" cohort. Does anyone know of any other instances of this term, or anything that would throw any light on exactly what it means?

Placentia was a Latin colony, but in Gallia Cisalpina rather than Italy proper: would that prevent its troops being reckoned as "normal" socii?

[D B Campbell]

Livy 41.1 mentions a "repentina cohors Placentina" on campaign in Histria in 177 BC. I've seen this translated as "reserve" or "emergency" cohort. Does anyone know of any other instances of this term, or anything that would throw any light on exactly what it means?

repentina implies a degree of suddenness or haste. In his classic commentary, Weissenborn* remarks: "repentina: as at 41.10.3, perhaps in the sense of subitarii milites, as at 40.26.6, although we see no reason for the unusual levy". (The situation is more explicit at 41.10.3.)

* Titi Livi Ab Urbe Condita Libri, Vol. 9 (Berlin, 1864), ad loc.

[Duncan Head]

Many thanks.