01-24-2002, 09:13 AM
Salve,<br>
<br>
As far as can be established the garrison in the days of Pilatus consisted of some six auxiliary units. While there may have been legionaries attached to the governor's staff (as attested for other provinces without a permanent legionary formation garrisoned there), the current available (published?) evidence does not allow us to be certain. The presence of individuals seconded to staff functions is more likely than full detachments of integral legionary subunits.<br>
<br>
Bodyguard duty was always conspicuously entrusted to a combination of foreign/peregrine units with citizen counterparts to encourage competition and provide safety guards against divided loyalties among either group. Such bodyguards were likely to be mounted troops (legionary <i> equites legionis</i>, <i> singulares</i>, <i> secutores</i>, <i> speculatores</i>, <i> protectores</i>, auxiliary <i> equites singulares</i>) as well as foot guards (legionary <i> lonchophoroi</i>, <i> soomatophylakes</i> and auxiliary <i> pedites singulares</i>). However the use of legionary counterparts to auxiliary guards in provinces without a permanent garrison is not yet securely attested.<br>
<br>
Some reading on the army in Judea at this time:<br>
<br>
Saddington, D.B., 'Roman military and administrative personnel in the New Testament' in: <i> ANRW</i> II- (1996), 2409-2435.<br>
Speidel, M.P., 'The army in Judea under the procurators' in: <i> Ancient Society</i> 13/14 (1983), 233-240.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i></i>
<br>
As far as can be established the garrison in the days of Pilatus consisted of some six auxiliary units. While there may have been legionaries attached to the governor's staff (as attested for other provinces without a permanent legionary formation garrisoned there), the current available (published?) evidence does not allow us to be certain. The presence of individuals seconded to staff functions is more likely than full detachments of integral legionary subunits.<br>
<br>
Bodyguard duty was always conspicuously entrusted to a combination of foreign/peregrine units with citizen counterparts to encourage competition and provide safety guards against divided loyalties among either group. Such bodyguards were likely to be mounted troops (legionary <i> equites legionis</i>, <i> singulares</i>, <i> secutores</i>, <i> speculatores</i>, <i> protectores</i>, auxiliary <i> equites singulares</i>) as well as foot guards (legionary <i> lonchophoroi</i>, <i> soomatophylakes</i> and auxiliary <i> pedites singulares</i>). However the use of legionary counterparts to auxiliary guards in provinces without a permanent garrison is not yet securely attested.<br>
<br>
Some reading on the army in Judea at this time:<br>
<br>
Saddington, D.B., 'Roman military and administrative personnel in the New Testament' in: <i> ANRW</i> II- (1996), 2409-2435.<br>
Speidel, M.P., 'The army in Judea under the procurators' in: <i> Ancient Society</i> 13/14 (1983), 233-240.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
<br>
Sander van Dorst <p></p><i></i>
