Ala Augusta Gallorum Proculeiana

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The Ala I Augusta Gallorum Proculeiana was a Roman auxiliary unit. The unit was probably set up under Augustus . It was probably stationed in Germania in the 1st century AD , since two of its soldiers were recruited from the Treveri tribe. The Ala may then have been part of the troops led by Aulus Plautius that began conquering Britain around 43 AD.

Diplomas Mentioning Ala Augusta Proculeiana

The Ala Augusta Proculeiana is mentioned in the following Diplomas:

Inscription with Gordiana

RIB 897 - Altar dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus

To Jupiter, Best and Greatest, for the welfare of the Emperor Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus and for his wife Sabinia Furia Tranquillina and for their whole Divine House, the Cavalry Regiment, styled Augusta for valour, Gordiana, set this up, when commanded by Aemilius Crispinus, prefect of cavalry, born in the province of Africa from Tusdrus under the charge of Nonius Philippus, emperor’s propraetorian legate, in the consulship of Atticus and Praetextatus.

I O M
PRO SALV[...] IMPERATORIS
M ANTONI GORDIANI P [...]
INVICTI AVG ET SAB[...]IAE FVR
IAE TRANQVILAE CONIVGI EIVS TO
TAQVE DOMV DIVIN EORVM A
LA AVG GORDIA OB VIRTVTEM
APPELLATA POSVIT CVI PRAEST
AEMILIVS CRISPINVS PREF
EQ NATVS IN PRO AFRICA DE
TVSDRO SVB CVR NONII PH
ILIPPI LEG AVG PRO PRE[...]
[...]TICO ET PRAETEXTATO
COS
  • The consulship of Atticus and Praetextatus was in A.D. 242.
  • Thysdrus in Africa was not the birthplace of Gordian III, but the city where Gordian I was proclaimed in A.D. 238 by a conspiracy of local landowners.
  • Now in the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Cambridge

What does the Name Ala Augusta Gallorum Proculeiana civium Romanorum mean?

  • Ala : The Ala was a cavalry unit of the auxiliary troops in the Roman army .
  • Augusta : the Augustan. The honorific refers to Augustus.
  • Gallorum : the Gaul . The soldiers of the Ala were recruited from the various tribes of the Gauls when the unit was formed.
  • Proculeiana : of Proculeius. The cavalry units of the Gauls were often named after one of their first commanders. Gaius Proculeius is mentioned as a possible namesake . [A 2] The addition occurs in the military diplomas from 125 to 158.
  • Gordiana : the Gordian. An honorific referring to Gordian III. (238-244) relates. The addition occurs in an inscription Rib 897.
  • civium Romanorum : Roman citizens
  • Since there is no evidence of the suffix milliaria (1000 men), the unit was an Ala quingenaria . The nominal strength of the Ala was 480 men, consisting of 16 turmae , each with 30 horsemen.