Cohors I Aquitanorum veterana

Cohors I Aquitanorum veterana
Roman infantry helmet (late 1st century)
Active20s BC to at least AD 213
CountryRoman Empire
TypeRoman auxiliary cohort
Roleinfantry
Size480 men
Garrison/HQGermania Superior 74–213

Cohors prima Aquitanorum veterana ("1st veteran Cohort of Aquitani") was a Roman auxiliary infantry regiment. It was probably originally raised in Gallia Aquitania in the reign of founder-emperor Augustus after the revolt of the Aquitani was suppressed in 26 BC.[1] Unlike most Gauls, the Aquitani were not Celtic-speaking but spoke Aquitanian, a now extinct non- Indo-European language closely related to Basque.

The regiment was initially sent to the Danubian region, where it presumably saw action in the conquest of the Pannonii in 9–6 BC.[1] It first appears in the datable epigraphic record in AD 74, when it was stationed in Germania Superior (Pfalz/Alsace). It remained there until at least the early 3rd century, when it is attested by a votive altar dedicated in 213–6. The following Roman forts have yielded inscriptions attesting the regiment: Arnsburg, Butzbach, Friedburg, Kleestadt, Saalburg and Stockstadt am Main.[2] The latter has the only datable inscription, 213–6.

The names of several praefecti (regimental commanders) are preserved, of which two have discernible origins: I. Rufus Papirianus Sentius Gemellus from Berytos (Beirut, Lebanon) and L. Caecilius Caecilianus from Thaenae (Sfax, Tunisia), both undatable. A pedes (ranker foot soldier) is recorded from Ancyra (Ankara, Turkey) and a Thracian eques (cavalryman).

  1. ^ a b Holder (1980) 111
  2. ^ Spaul (2000) 141