10-26-2006, 03:34 PM
For the early empire scutata is a strange qualification, because, as far as we know scutum is the name of the shield used by most of the auxiliary troops.
I have noticed however, that many early cohortes scutatae have a Spanish origin. And especially in Spain there was an alternative. In the Civil War about half the cohortes raised were cohortes caetratae who used the small caetra. The other cohorts were armed with the scutum and therefore called cohortes scutatae.
As far as I know there were few to no cohertes caetratae during the empire, but it nevertheless seams logical that the Spanish cohorts were still called scutata.
When the reason for this name was forgotten, the name might of course have been adopted by other cohorts as well.
I have noticed however, that many early cohortes scutatae have a Spanish origin. And especially in Spain there was an alternative. In the Civil War about half the cohortes raised were cohortes caetratae who used the small caetra. The other cohorts were armed with the scutum and therefore called cohortes scutatae.
As far as I know there were few to no cohertes caetratae during the empire, but it nevertheless seams logical that the Spanish cohorts were still called scutata.
When the reason for this name was forgotten, the name might of course have been adopted by other cohorts as well.
drsrob a.k.a. Rob Wolters
