Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T05:25:13.421Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Inscriptions from Alchester: Vespasian's Base of the Second Augustan Legion(?)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2010

Eberhard W. Sauer
Eberhard W. Sauer
Affiliation:
School of History and Classics, University of Edinburgheberhard.sauer@ed.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Excavation at Alchester in 2003 revealed an almost complete tombstone of a veteran of the Second Augustan Legion. This provides the first known biography of any person living in pre-medieval Oxfordshire. He is arguably also the earliest legionary veteran attested in Britain. All other tombstones of legionary veterans in Britain come from the main base of their legion or a veterans' colony. Since there is nothing to suggest that Alchester ever became a colony, it must have been the main base of the legio II Augusta and thus Vespasian's base (a case supported by other indications, notably the fortress's foundation date of a.d. 43/44), unless it is the only known exception to the rule.

Keywords

ALCHESTERLEGION II AUGUSTAVESPASIANROMAN INSCRIPTIONSROMAN FORTRESSROMAN TOMBSTONES
Type
Articles
Information
Britannia , Volume 36 , November 2005 , pp. 101 - 133
Copyright
Copyright © Eberhard W. Sauer 2005. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anderson, A.S. 1984: Roman Military Tombstones, Princes RisboroughGoogle Scholar
Anon. 1926: ‘Emeritus’, Dizionario Epigrafco di Antichità Romane II, 2104Google Scholar
Bakker, L. 2000: ‘Augusta Vindelicum. Augsburgs Weg vom römischen Garnisonsort zur Hauptstadt Raetiens’, in Wamser, L. (ed.), Die Römer zwischen Alpen und Nordmeer, Mainz, 88–94Google Scholar
Balland, A. 1981: Fouilles de Xanthos VII. Inscriptions d'époque impériale du Létôon, ParisGoogle Scholar
Becker, A. 1992: Rom und die Chatten, Darmstadt and MarburgGoogle Scholar
Berrington, H. 2003: Alchester Roman Fort and Small Town, Oxfordshire: A Ceramic History, unpub. dissertation University of LeicesterGoogle Scholar
Bidwell, P.T. 1979: The Legionary Bath-House and Basilica and Forum at Exeter, Exeter Archaeological Reports 1, Exeter and TorquayGoogle Scholar
Bidwell, P.T., and Boon, G.C. 1976: ‘An antefix type of the Second Augustan Legion from Exeter’, Britannia 6, 278–80CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bird, D.G. 2002: ‘the events of A.D. 43: further refections’, Britannia 33, 257–63CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Birley, A.R. 1981: The Fasti of Roman Britain, OxfordGoogle Scholar
Birley, A.R. 1990: Offcers of the Second Augustan Legion, The Third Annual Caerleon Lecture, Cardiff and CaerleonGoogle Scholar
Bishop, M.C. 2002: Lorica Segmentata I. A Handbook of Articulated Roman Plate Armour, ChirnsideGoogle Scholar
Boon, G.C. 1984: The Antefxes, Brick and Tile Stamps of the Second Augustan Legion, CardiffGoogle Scholar
Boon, G.C. 2000: ‘Roman military remains at Silchester: a review’, in Fulford and timby 2000, 583–5Google Scholar
Booth, P.M., Evans, J., and Hiller, J. 2001: Excavations in the Extramural Settlement of Roman Alchester, Oxfordshire, 1991, Oxford Archaeology Monographs 1, OxfordGoogle Scholar
Brewer, R.J. (ed.) 2000: Roman Fortresses and their Legions, Cardiff and LondonGoogle Scholar
Brewer, R.J. (ed.) 2002a: Birthday of the Eagle. The Second Augustan Legion and the Roman Military Machine, CardiffGoogle Scholar
Brewer, R.J. 2002b: ‘introduction’, in Brewer 2002a, 1–9Google Scholar
Burnham, B.C., and Wacher, J.S. 1990: The Small Towns of Roman Britain, LondonGoogle Scholar
Casey, P.J. 1994: Carausius and Allectus. The British Usurpers, LondonGoogle Scholar
Clauss, M. 1999: Lexikon lateinischer militärischer Fachausdrücke, Schriften des Limesmuseums Aalen 52, StuttgartGoogle Scholar
Crickmore, J. 1984: Romano-British Urban Defences, BAR Brit. Ser. 126, OxfordGoogle Scholar
Cumont, F. 1942: Recherches sur le symbolisme funéraire des romains, ParisGoogle Scholar
Czysz, W. 1977/1978: ‘Ausgrabungen im Kastell Kesselstadt in Hanau, Main-Kinzig-Kreis’, Fundberichte aus Hessen 17–18, 165–81Google Scholar
Czysz, W. 1989: ‘Hanau-Kesselstadt HU, Röm Kastelle Kesselstadt und Salisberg’, in Baatz, D. and Herrmann, F.-R. (eds), Die Römer in Hessen (2nd edn), Stuttgart, 334–7Google Scholar
Davies, G. 2003: ‘Roman funerary symbolism in the early Empire’, in Wilkins, J.B. and Herring, E. (eds), Inhabiting Symbols, Symbol & Image in the Ancient Mediterranean, Accordia Specialist Studies on the Mediterranean 5, London, 211–27Google Scholar
Devijver, H. 1976: Prosopographia militiarum equestrium quae fuerunt ab Augusto ad Gallienum I, LeuvenGoogle Scholar
Devijver, H. 1977: Prosopographia militiarum equestrium quae fuerunt ab Augusto ad Gallienum II, LeuvenGoogle Scholar
Diebner, S. 1987: ‘Sonderformen von Urnen und Grabstelen in den Regionen Mittelitaliens’, in von Hesberg, H. and Zanker, P. (eds), Römische Gräberstraβen, Munich, 229–37, pls 40–4Google Scholar
Dobson, B., and Mann, J.C. 1973: ‘the Roman army in Britain and Britons in the Roman army’, Britannia 4, 191–205Google Scholar
Domaszewski, A. von, with Dobson, B. 1967: Die Rangordnung des römischen Heeres (2nd edn), Beihefte der Bonner Jahrbücher 14, Cologne and GrazGoogle Scholar
Eichholz, D.E. 1972: ‘How long did Vespasian serve in Britain?’ Britannia 3, 149–63Google Scholar
Elkington, H.D.H. 1976: ‘the Mendip lead industry’, in Branigan, K. and Fowler, P.J. (eds), The Roman West Country. Classical Culture and Celtic Society, London and Vancouver, 183–97, cf. 230–4Google Scholar
Erwin, P., and Sauer, E.W. 2001: ‘The geophysical survey at Alchester’, in Sauer 2001a, 3–9Google Scholar
Espérandieu, É. 1918: Recueil général des bas-reliefs, statues et bustes de la Gaule romaine VII, ParisGoogle Scholar
Espérandieu, É. 1928: Recueil général des bas-reliefs, statues et bustes de la Gaule romaine X, ParisGoogle Scholar
Espérandieu, É. 1931: Recueil général des bas-reliefs, statues et bustes de la Germanie romaine. Complément du recueil général des bas-reliefs, statues et bustes de la Gaule romaine, Paris and BrusselsGoogle Scholar
Field, N.H. 1992: Dorset and the Second Legion. New Light on a Roman Campaign, TivertonGoogle Scholar
Forni, G. 1953: Il reclutamento delle legioni da Augusto a Diocleziano, RomeGoogle Scholar
Forni, G. 1992: Esercito e marina di Roma Antica. Raccolta di contributi, Mavors, Roman Army Researches 5, StuttgartGoogle Scholar
Franke, T. 1991: Die Legionslegaten in der römischen Armee in der Zeit von Augustus bis Traian, Bochumer historische Studien, Alte Geschichte 9 (2 vols), BochumGoogle Scholar
Frere, S.S. 1983: ‘Roman Britain in 1982. Sites explored’, Britannia 14, 280–335Google Scholar
Frere, S.S. 1984: ‘British urban defences in earthwork’, Britannia 15, 63–74Google Scholar
Frere, S.S. 1985: ‘Excavations at Dorchester on Thames, 1963’, The Archaeological Journal 141 (for 1984), 91–174Google Scholar
Frere, S.S. 1987: Britannia. A History of Roman Britain (3rd edn), London and New YorkGoogle Scholar
Frere, S.S., and Fulford, M. 2001: ‘The Roman invasion of A.D. 43’, Britannia 32, 45–55Google Scholar
Frere, S.S., and St Joseph, J.K. 1974: ‘The Roman fortress at Longthorpe’, Britannia 5, 1–129, pls I–VIIGoogle Scholar
Fulford, M. 1996: The Second Augustan Legion in the West of Britain, The Ninth Annual Caerleon Lecture, Cardiff and CaerleonGoogle Scholar
Fulford, M. 1999: ‘Veteran settlement in 1st-c. Britain and the foundation of Gloucester and Lincoln’, in Hurst 1999b, 177–80Google Scholar
Fulford, M., and Timby, J. 2000: Late Iron Age and Roman Silchester, Britannia Monograph 15, LondonGoogle Scholar
Gabelmann, H. 1972: ‘Die Typen römischer grabstelen am Rhein’, Bonner Jahrbücher 172, 65–140Google Scholar
grainge, g. 2002: The Roman Channel Crossing of A.D. 43. The Constraints on Claudius's Naval Strategy, BAR Brit. Ser. 332, OxfordCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hassall, M.W.C. 1999: ‘Soldier and civilian: a debate on the bank of the Severn’, in Hurst 1999b, 181–9Google Scholar
Hassall, M.W.C. 2000a: ‘The location of legionary fortresses as a response to changes in military strategy: the case of Roman Britain AD 43–84’, in Le Bohec, Y. and Wolff, C. (eds), Les Légions de Rome sous le Haut-Empire 2, Paris, 441–57Google Scholar
Hassall, M.W.C. 2000b: ‘Pre-Hadrianic legionary dispositions in Britain’, in Brewer 2000, 51–67Google Scholar
Hassall, M.W.C. 2001: ‘inscription’, in Booth et al. 2001, 253Google Scholar
Hassall, M.W.C., and Tomlin, R.S.O. 1977: ‘Inscriptions’, Britannia 8, 426–49Google Scholar
Hassall, M.W.C., and Tomlin, R.S.O. 1984: ‘Inscriptions’, Britannia 15, 333–56Google Scholar
Hassall, M.W.C., and Tomlin, R.S.O. 1992: ‘Inscriptions’, Britannia 23, 309–23Google Scholar
Henderson, C.G. 1988: ‘Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum)’, in Webster 1988, 91–119Google Scholar
Henderson, C.G. 1999: ‘The design of the neronian fortress baths at Exeter’, in DeLaine, J. and Johnston, D.E. (eds), Roman Baths and Bathing, JRA Suppl. 37, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, 164–83Google Scholar
Hind, J.G.F. 1989: ‘the Invasion of Britain in A.D. 43 – an alternative strategy for Aulus Plautius’, Britannia 20, 1–21Google Scholar
Holbrook, N., and Bidwell, P.T. 1991: Roman Finds from Exeter, ExeterGoogle Scholar
Holder, P. 1982: The Roman Army in Britain, LondonGoogle Scholar
Howgego, C. 2003: ‘From Jerusalem to Finstock’, The Ashmolean 44, 2–4Google Scholar
Hurst, H. 1999a: ‘Civic space at glevum’, in Hurst 1999b, 152–60Google Scholar
Hurst, H. (ed.) 1999b: The Coloniae of Roman Britain, New Studies and a Review, JRA Suppl. 36, Portsmouth, Rhode IslandGoogle Scholar
Jarrett, M.G. 1964: ‘Legio II Augusta in Britain’, Archaeologia Cambrensis 113, 47–63Google Scholar
Johnson, A. 1983: Roman Forts of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD in Britain and the German Provinces, LondonGoogle Scholar
Jones, M. 1988: ‘Lincoln (Lindum)’, in Webster 1988, 145–66Google Scholar
Kajanto, I. 1965: The Latin Cognomina, HelsinkiGoogle Scholar
Keppie, L. 1984: ‘Colonisation and veteran settlement in italy in the first century A.D.’, Papers of the British School at Rome 52, 77–114Google Scholar
Keppie, L. 1993: The Origins and Early History of the Second Augustan Legion, The Sixth Annual Caerleon Lecture, Cardiff and CaerleonGoogle Scholar
Keppie, L. 2000: ‘Legio VIIII in Britain: the beginning and the end’, in Brewer 2000, 83–100Google Scholar
King, A., and Soffe, G. 1994: ‘Recherches récentes sur les temples Romano-Celtiques de Grande-Bretagne. L'exemple de Hayling Island’, in Goudineau, C. Fauduet, I. and Coulon, G. (eds), Les sanctuaires de tradition indigène en Gaule romaine, Paris, 33–48Google Scholar
Kooy, C. 1981: ‘Le croissant lunaire sur les monuments funéraires gallo-romaines’, Gallia 39, 45–62Google Scholar
Kortüm, K., and Schlipf, t. 2002: ‘Untersuchungen im Bereich des römischen Legionslagers von Rottweil’, Archäologische Ausgrabungen in Baden-Württemberg 2002, 101–4Google Scholar
Levick, B. 1999: Vespasian, London and New YorkGoogle Scholar
Linckenheld, E. 1927: Les stèles funéraires en forme de maison chez les Mediomatriques et en Gaule, ParisGoogle Scholar
Lörincz, B., Mócsy, A., Feldmann, R., Marton, E., and Szilágyi, M. 1999: Onomasticon Provinciarum Europae Latinarum II, ViennaGoogle Scholar
Lörincz, B., Mócsy, A., Feldmann, R., Marton, E., and Szilágyi, M. 2002: Onomasticon Provinciarum Europae Latinarum IV, ViennaGoogle Scholar
Manley, J. 2002: AD 43. The Roman Invasion of Britain, a Reassessment, Stroud and CharlestonGoogle Scholar
Mann, J.C. (ed. Roxan, M.M.) 1983: Legionary Recruitment and Veteran Settlement during the Principate, University of London institute of Archaeology Occasional Publication 7, LondonGoogle Scholar
Manning, W.H. 2002: ‘Early Roman campaigns in the South-West of Britain’, in Brewer 2002a, 27–44 (revised version of the 1987 First Annual Caerleon Lecture)Google Scholar
Maxfield, V.A. 1986: ‘Pre-Flavian forts and their garrisons’, Britannia 17, 59–72Google Scholar
Maxfield, V.A. 2002: ‘Soldier and civilian: life beyond the ramparts’, in Brewer 2002a, 145–63 (reprinted version of the 1995 Eighth Annual Caerleon Lecture)Google Scholar
Mercando, L., and Paci, g., with Colonna, G. 1998: Stele romane in Piemonte, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Monumenta Antichi 57 (Serie miscellanea 5), RomeGoogle Scholar
Mócsy, A., Feldmann, R., Marton, E., and Szilágyi, M. 1983: Nomenclator provinciarum Europae Latinarum et Galliae Cisalpinae, BudapestGoogle Scholar
Neumann, A. 1962: ‘Veterani’, RE Suppl. IX, 1597–609Google Scholar
Petry, F. 1988: ‘Le grand camp légionnaire’, in Aux origines de Strasbourg, 39–45Google Scholar
Reddé, M. (ed.) 1996a: L'Armée romaine en Gaule, ParisGoogle Scholar
Reddé, M. 1996b: ‘Le camp de Strasbourg’, in Reddé 1996a, 203–7Google Scholar
Reece, R. 1991: ‘Roman coins from Exeter’, in Holbrook and Bidwell 1991, 33–8Google Scholar
Richmond, I. 1968: Hod Hill II, LondonGoogle Scholar
Rivet, A.L.F. 1979: The Place-Names of Roman Britain, LondonGoogle Scholar
Sablayrolles, R. 1995: ‘La hiérarchie inférieure des vigiles: entre tradition et originalité’, in Le Bohec, Y. (ed.), La hiérarchie (Rangordnung) de l'armée romaine sous le haut-empire, Paris, 129–37Google Scholar
Sablayrolles, R. 1996: Libertinus Miles, les cohortes de vigiles, Collection de l'École Française de Rome 224, RomeGoogle Scholar
Salway, P. 1981: Roman Britain, Oxford and New YorkGoogle Scholar
Sauer, E.W. 1998: ‘Middleton Stoney/Upper Heyford, Aves Ditch, an Iron Age linear earthwork (SP 51852465)’, South Midlands Archaeology (CBA South Midlands Group) 28, 73–5Google Scholar
Sauer, E.W. 2001a: ‘Alchester, a Claudian “vexillation fortress” near the western boundary of the Catuvellauni, new light on the Roman invasion of Britain’, Archaeological Journal 157 (for 2000), 1–78Google Scholar
Sauer, E.W. 2001b: ‘Alchester Roman fortress’, Current Archaeology 173, 189–91Google Scholar
Sauer, E.W. 2002a: ‘Alchester and the earliest tree-ring dates from Roman Britain’, Bulletin of the Association for Roman Archaeology 13, 3–5Google Scholar
Sauer, E.W. 2002b: ‘The Roman invasion of Britain (AD 43) in imperial perspective: a response to Frere and Fulford’, Oxford Journal of Archaeology 21.4, 333–63Google Scholar
Sauer, E.W. 2003a: The Archaeology of Religious Hatred in the Roman and Early Medieval World, Stroud and CharlestonGoogle Scholar
Sauer, E.W. 2003b: ‘Wendlebury (Alchester fortress): headquarters, granary and timber bridge (SP 570 203)’, South Midlands Archaeology (CBA South Midlands Group) 33, 92–105Google Scholar
Sauer, E.W. 2005a: ‘Forum germanorum in north-west Italy: the home community and life of arguably the earliest known legionary veteran in Britain’, Oxford Journal of Archaeology 24.2, 199–214Google Scholar
Sauer, E.W. 2005b: ‘Wendlebury (Alchester fortress): two tombstones, the frst known life story of a premedieval inhabitant of Oxfordshire (SP 571 203) and a geophysical survey south of the town (centred around SP 572 200)’, South Midlands Archaeology (CBA South Midlands Group) 33Google Scholar
Schallmayer, E., Eibl, K., Ott, J., Preuss, G., and Wittkopf, E. 1990: Der römische Weihebezirk von Osterburken I. Corpus der griechischen und lateinischen Benefciarier-Inschriften des römischen Reiches, StuttgartGoogle Scholar
Sharples, N.M. 1991: English Heritage Book of Maiden Castle, LondonGoogle Scholar
Shepherd, J. 1998: The Temple of Mithras, London. Excavations by W F Grimes and A Williams at the Walbrook, English Heritage Archaeological Report 12, LondonGoogle Scholar
Tassaux, D., Tassaux, F., Caillat, P., Maurin, L., Santrot, M.-H., Santrot, J., Starakis, P., and Tronche, P. 1984: ‘Aulnay de Saintonge: un camp militaire Augusto-Tibérien en Aquitaine’, Aquitania 2, 105–57Google Scholar
Todd, M. 1999: Roman Britain (3rd edn), Oxford and MaldenGoogle Scholar
Tronche, P. 1983: ‘Les monnaies’, in F. Tassaux, ‘Aulnay-de-Saintonge: un camp Augusto-Tibérien en Aquitaine’, Aquitania 1, 66–73Google Scholar
Tronche, P. 1994: Un camp militaire romain à Aulnay de Saintonge (Charente-Maritime), AulnayGoogle Scholar
Tronche, P. 1996: Le camp d'Aulnay-de-Saintonge, in Reddé 1996a, 177–88Google Scholar
Wacher, J. 1995: The Towns of Roman Britain (2nd edn), LondonGoogle Scholar
Walter, H. 1974: La sculpture funéraire gallo-romaine en Franche-Comté, ParisGoogle Scholar
Waton, M.-D. 1988: ‘Problèmes de l'implantation et d'occupation du camp romain: l'exemple d'Istra’, in Aux origines de Strasbourg, 46–51Google Scholar
Webster, g. (ed.) 1988: Fortress into City. The Consolidation of Roman Britain, First Century AD, LondonGoogle Scholar
Webster, g. 1993a: Boudica (2nd edn), LondonGoogle Scholar
Webster, g. 1993b: The Roman Invasion of Britain (2nd edn), LondonGoogle Scholar
Webster, g. 1993c: Rome against Caratacus (2nd edn), LondonGoogle Scholar
Wheeler, R.E.M. 1943: Maiden Castle, Dorset, Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London 12, OxfordGoogle Scholar
Whittick, G.C. 1982: ‘The earliest Roman lead-mining on Mendip and in north Wales: a reappraisal’, Britannia 13, 113–23Google Scholar
Woodward, A., with Hill, J.D. 2000: ‘The massacre levels: a contextual analysis’, in Barrett, J.C., Freeman, P.W.M. and Woodward, A., Cadbury Castle, Somerset. The Later Prehistoric and Early Historic Archaeology, London, 105–16Google Scholar
Wright, R.P. 1970: ‘Inscriptions’, Britannia 1, 305–15Google Scholar
Young, C.J. 1975: ‘The defences of Roman Alchester’, Oxoniensia 40, 136–70Google Scholar