Hispanic Cohorts in the Camp at Humac

Abstract

This paper analyzes the monuments of the members of auxiliary cohorts that were settled at Humac during 1st century. It is about two combined cohorts (equitata), cohors I Lucensium and cohors I Bracaraugustanorum, whose members had left eight epigraphic monuments. Through the analysis of the content of tombstones, it is evident that the ordinary foot soldiers (miles) and cavalry soldiers (eques) were the most commemorated persons. Tiberius Claudius Claudianus, prefect of cohors I Bracaraugustanorum equitata was the only registered officer. Cohorts were most probably recruited during the Great Illyrian Revolt (6-9 AD) from the area of northwestern Hispania, which also served as a recruiting base in the following decades. Anthroponyms of all the analyzed soldiers and officers, whose names were confirmed in the area of northwestern Hispania, support that claim, as well as the structure of tombstones, which is in many elements similar to the commemorated soldiers of both cohorts.