https://biblioteca-digitala.ro Florian Matei-Popescu THE ROMAN ARMY IN MOESIA INFERIOR https://biblioteca-digitala.ro “VASILE PÂRVAN” INSTITUTE OF ARCHAEOLOGY NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ROMANIAN HISTORY THE CENTRE FOR ROMAN MILITARY STUDIES 7 Series editors: OVIDIU ŢENTEA FLORIAN MATEI-POPESCU https://biblioteca-digitala.ro FLORIAN MATEI-POPESCU THE ROMAN ARMY IN MOESIA INFERIOR CONPHYS PUBLISHING HOUSE Bucharest, 2010 https://biblioteca-digitala.ro Th is volume is printed in the framework of the STRATEG Project – PNCDI II, P4, 91 010/ 2007, fi nanced by the National Authority for Scientifi c Research (ANCS). General editors: Ovidiu Ţentea and Florian Matei-Popescu Cover design: Andrei Cîmpeanu © Florian Matei-Popescu & CRMS First published 2010 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publishers and editors. Descrierea CIP a Bibliotecii Naţionale a României MATEI-POPESCU, FLORIAN Th e Roman Army in Moesia Inferior Florian Matei-Popescu. – Bucureşti : Conphys, 2010 ISBN 978-973-750-177-6 Edited and printed by CONPHYS Romania, Râmnicu Vâlcea www.conphys.ro https://biblioteca-digitala.ro To Valentina and Ilinca https://biblioteca-digitala.ro https://biblioteca-digitala.ro Contents Foreword 9 Author’s preface 11 List of abbreviations 13 Introduction 19 I. Legio V Macedonica 35 1. Legion history prior the establishment of the province of Moesia Inferior 35 2. Legion history between 86 and 167 45 3. Prosopography of V Macedonica legion while stationed in Moesia Inferior 53 4. Withdrawal of the legion from Dacia and its quartering at Oescus 75 5. Stamps of legion V Macedonica while stationed in Moesia Inferior 75 II. Legio I Italica 77 1. Legion establishment and history prior displacement on the territory of Moesia 77 2. I Italica legion at Novae 79 3. Prosopography of I Italica legion 88 4. Stamps of I Italica legion 122 III. Legio XI Claudia pia fi delis 125 1. History of XI Claudia legion prior displacement to Moesia Inferior 125 2. Displacement of XI Claudia legion in Moesia Inferior and its subsequent history 133 3. Prosopography of XI Claudia legion while stationed in Moesia Inferior 141 4. Stamps of XI Claudia legion 163 IV. Auxilia 167 1. Alae 167 2. Cohortes 193 3. Numeri 237 4. Conclusions 239 V. Classis Flavia Moesica 245 1. History of the classis Flavia Moesica 245 2. Prosopography of classis Flavia Moesica 249 Addendum I. Th e involvement of Moesia Inferior army in Trajan’s Dacian war 257 Addendum II. Vexillationes of Moesia Inferior composed of several or unmentioned units 271 Conclusions 275 Select bibliography 285 Tables 291 Index of ancient and modern place names 319 https://biblioteca-digitala.ro https://biblioteca-digitala.ro Foreword A decade ago, I proposed Florian Matei-Popescu, young graduate of the Faculty of History with the University of Bucharest, to prepare an advanced studies (MA) thesis on the auxiliary units from Moesia Inferior. Th e author agreed that the history of the Roman army is a research fi eld that clearly would never be exhausted, as new discoveries and studies of military history would persistently come to its completion. Th e result was an excellent study, which I immediately proposed for issue to SCIVA journal (52–53, 2001–2002, p. 173–242). Almost concurrently, I edited a book on the auxiliary units from Roman Dacia (Auxilia Daciae. Contribuţie la istoria militară a Daciei romane, Bucharest, 2002). Th e sudden large amount of military diplomas, many coming from the Danubian provinces, aided to a constant update of troops’ repertoire from Dacia and Moesia. Th e scientifi c expertise of the young researcher encouraged me to propose the draft of a doctoral thesis on the Roman army from Moesia Inferior. Additionally, the ampleness and subject tackled by Fl. Matei-Popescu were novel. Th e historical specialty literature included insofar partial approaches. Th us, the Bulgarian scholar Bogdan Filow published a book entitled Die Legionen der Provinz Moesia von Augustus bis auf Diokletian (Klio, Beiheft VI, Leipzig, 1906). After seven decades, a new synthesis would be drawn up: Andrei Aricescu, Armata în Dobrogea romană (Bucharest, 1977); as per the title, the book discussed the military forces – legions and auxiliaries – from a certain area, in truth, the most important of the limes (the Romanian sector of the Danube), including however signifi cant references to the history of the entire province; moreover, the book presents the history of the military defence of this territory in late Roman period, when the region formed the province of Scythia, resulted following the division of Moesia Inferior. Obviously, epigraphic fi nds and general studies of Roman military history went beyond this book. On July 6, 2009, Fl. Matei-Popescu defended his thesis with the Faculty of History, in the presence of a demanding board formed of professors Alexandru Barnea, Ioan Piso and Alexandru Suceveanu. Upon commendatory appreciations in both my evaluation, drafted as scientifi c supervisor and that of the three reviewers, the candidate was awarded the title of doctor in history, summa cum laude. Parallel to the thesis preparation, Fl. Matei Popescu attended the courses of the Department of Classical Languages with the University of Bucharest, which confers him an unfortunately unenviable standing of rara avis in a world dominated by shallowness and desire for easy success. 9 https://biblioteca-digitala.ro I shall not detail herein the content of this book, as the author himself does at length and better. It is absolutely notable that this book is published in an international language, thus concurring to its large dissemination within scholar environments. Additionally to the author, I believe this book contributes to a Military History of Moesia; such title extension encloses the hope that another researcher, maybe even Fl. Matei Popescu, shall prepare a history of the Roman army from Moesia Superior. However, the military history in question should comprise other considerations as well: organization of the defensive system (limes) by the Lower Danube; the weaponry of the Roman soldiers from Moesia; the religion of the soldiers from the two provinces of Moesia; the monetary circulation in the forts from the Moesian limes; the wares in the Roman forts on the limes; the daily life in the forts on the Moesian limes etc. Fl. Matei-Popescu’s book would hopefully inaugurate such a series. Its forthcoming compels us to leave aside other concerns and proceed with the draft of a Roman army history from Dacia. I express no doubts that the book will be welcomed by the researchers of the Roman military history. Nevertheless, upon the book issue, the author must recognize he is only at the beginning of a road, of a life dedicated to science. His work is like a monumental edifi ce, whose construction the architect alludes himself to fi nish even if by the end of his life. On various occasions, I was glad to hear my colleagues some, ones of the most demanding professionals, saying that Fl. Matei-Popescu is one of the most remarkable representatives of his generation. I am happy that some of them were my students, some drafting doctoral thesis to my suggestion and supervision. I believe their involvement in historical research shall endure more than my few historical opera. Fl. Matei-Popescu has many reasons to be happy. Even in diffi cult times like these, he earned a respected place in a prestigious institution like the Institute of Archaeology in Bucharest. His joy grew this spring, when his adorable daughter Ilinca was born. Let him remember that his accomplishments are due to the Divine Grace and let him ask everyday our Lord for health and effi ciency. Constantin C. Petolescu 10 https://biblioteca-digitala.ro Author’s Preface Th is book is the adapted version of my doctoral thesis of same title, which I defended with the Faculty of History of the University of Bucharest on July 6, 2009. It is a paper of Roman military history based on a historical and prosopographic study of the Roman army by the Lower Danube, where the Roman province of Moesia was established under Augustus; during Domitian’s rule, the province would be divided into Moesia Superior and Moesia Inferior. Archaeological matters were only partially tackled therein. Where existing, archaeological data on the discussed period were mentioned, however I did not wish to produce a separate chapter for the military archaeology of the province. Th e theme was suggested to me by Professor Constantin C. Petolescu. Firstly, I prepared a monographic study on the province auxilia within the MA programme of the same Faculty, later issued by SCIVA journal (52–53, 2001–2002, p. 173–242). I was then advised to extend the research to the entire Roman army of the province, in the form of a doctoral thesis. Th e result is this book. Th e book has also been one of my research themes with “Vasile Pârvan” Institute of Archaeology, the oldest relevant institution in Romania, where I am glad to be a part. I wish to thank the entire to my friends and colleagues from the Institute and for the still existing environment of true scientifi c emulation. Th e translation into English was provided by Gabriela Safta, to whom I would like to thank for a very fruitful collaboration during the past year. I wish to thank the members of my doctoral panel, Professors Alexandru Barnea, Ioan Piso and Alexandru Suceveanu, for their remarks and suggestions. My acknowledgments also go to Professor Mircea Babeş, who, within “Vasile Pârvan” Archaeology Seminar, has fi nanced a research stay with the University of Cologne, in 2002.