Cavalry Cohorts

[Nathan Ross]

Perhaps an interesting inscription:

Vexillationes equitum electorum alarum sex (quae enumerantur), item cohortium quindecim (quae enumerantur) CIL 2724

I can't find your reference for that one (you've given an incomplete CIL number). All I can find is this, which looks to be the full text:

CIL 03, 600 / AE 2012, 1298 (Gradista) - M(arcus) Valerius M(arci) f(ilius) Quir(ina) Lollianus prae/fectus cohort(is) I Apamenorum sagitt[ariorum] / equit(atae) trib(unus) milit(um) leg(ionis) VII Gem(inae) Fel(icis) praef(ectus) eq(uitum) alae Fl(aviae) Agrip(pianae) / praepositus in Mesopotamia vexillationibus equitum electorum alarum / praetoriae Augustae Syriacae Agrippianae Herculianae / singularium item cohortium I Lucensium II Ulpiae equit(atae) / c(ivium) R(omanorum) I Fl(aviae) c(ivium) R(omanorum) I(I) Thracum III Ulpiae Paflagonum II eqquitum I / Ascalolitanorum I Fl(a)v(iae) Chalcidenorum V Petr(a)eorum IIII / Lucensium I Ulpiae Petr(a)eorum II Ulpiae Paflago{g}num I Ulpiae / sagittariorum III Dacorum I Syngambrum / viam pub[lic(am)] quae a col(onia) Byllid(ensium) / per Astacias ducit angustam fragosam [pe]riculosam / ita muni(vi)t ut vehiculis comme{e}tur item [pon]tes / in Argya flumine et rivis d(e) s(uo) p(osuit) / et inscr[ip]sit d(ecreto) d(ecurionum)


The inscription probably dates to the Parthian war of Lucius Verus, and records an equestrian officer put in command (as praepositus) of mounted detachments drawn from a number of alae (it looks like five to me, rather than six), together with fifteen cohorts.

Obviously a very sizeable 'army in miniature' command for an officer who had already completed his tres militiae - but fully in keeping with 2nd century practice, I'd say.