The Castra Nova equitum singularium was an ancient Roman fort in Rome housing part of the emperor's cavalry bodyguard. The site of the fort now lies beneath the Basilica of St John Lateran. The Castra Nova, or "new fort", was one of two cavalry forts that provided a base in Rome for the mounted bodyguard of the Roman emperors (the Equites singulares Augusti).
Plan of the archaeological remains of the fort. After Collini 1944.
The Castra Nova was so-called because it was the newer of the two forts, built to house an enlargement of the cavalry guard. Their previous fort Castra Prioria which lay not far away to the north[1] had been built earlier, possibly under the emperor Domitian, and still housed the original force of 1500 mounted troopers. The full name of the fort is Castra nova Equitum singularium Augusti.
The fort can be precisely dated to AD 193, at the beginning of the reign of Septimius Severus. The new camp was necessitated by this emperor's increase of the size of his cavalry guard from 1,500 to 2,000 men.[2]
The site of the camp was always speculated as being beneath the cathedral of St John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano), but it was identified definitively by excavations between 1934 and 1938 undertaken by Enrico Josi.[3] Josi had obtained permission to explore the area of the basilica’s nave in advance of the construction of a new reinforced concrete floor. Within days it became clear that the remains of the Castra Nova existed in good condition just below the floor level and that the excavation was including a large part of the principia (headquarters) building. The completed excavations were then published by Colini.[4]
A large two-storey storage building and two barracks were also uncovered, but the greatest interest centered around the principia as its two strong rooms were very well preserved as were several office rooms. On the completion of the investigation the remains were preserved beneath the basilica (along with the remains of the Constantinian cathedral and a Neronian domus) in a spectacular underground archaeological park.[5]
The curatores inscriptions
Ionic capital carrying the two inscriptions from the curatores.
On 13 August 1934, an Ioniccapital was uncovered within one of the headquarters rooms (room “ε” on plan above), lying beside a short granite column that was still set into the floor. Upon the capital two inscriptions had been carved on behalf of an association of curatores, soldiers who were the grooms for the garrison horses. The first text was dedicated in AD 197[6] on 1 January in the consulship of Rufinus and Lateranus. The Equites were known to have served at the Battle of Lyon on the 19th of February, though evidently these men did not. The inscription records the dedication of the schola curatorum to Minerva Augusta, indicating that the collegium curatorum itself had only recently become in possession of an official meeting room that they could consecrate.
The second inscription[7] was dedicated in AD 203 ob reditum ab expeditione felicissima in urvem sacram i.e. on the return of the guards to Rome following their escorting of the imperial family. The expeditione felicissima may refer to the entire series of events since the equites singulares Augusti left Rome in AD 197.[8]
The toppling of the capital furthermore provided historical evidence attesting to the destruction of the Castra Nova by Constantine’s forces and providing a terminus ante quem for both the dissolution of the collegium as well as for the camp itself.
^On this castra see Buzzetti, C. 1997. ‘Castra Equitum Singularium’, in E. M. Steinby (ed), Lexicon Topographicum Urbis Romae, 1 (A - C). Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 246-248.
^Coulston, J. 2000. ‘Armed and belted men: the soldiery in imperial Rome’, in J. Coulston and H. Dodge (eds.), Ancient Rome: The archaeology of the eternal city. Oxford: Alden Press, 78. Also Speidel, M. P. 1994. Riding for Caesar. London: Batsford. p. 128
^Josi, E. 1934. ‘Scoperte nella Basilica Constantiniana al Laterano’, RAC, 11, pp. 353-358.
^Colini, A. M. 1944. ‘Storia e Topografia del Celio nell’antichità’ (APA (3rdseries) 7). Vatican: Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana.
^The remains are under the custodianship of the Vatican Archaeological Service and are only open to the public on request.
^It is probable, however, that detachments of the singulares Augusti did return to Rome several times between AD 197 and the return of the emperor in AD 203. For example see CIL 6.225 = 30730 dedicated by a turma in AD 200 pro reditus eorum ab expeditione Parthica. That the guard followed the emperor wherever he was is certain.
Sources
Buzzetti, C. 1997. ‘Castra Equitum Singularium’, in E. M. Steinby (ed), Lexicon Topographicum Urbis Romae, 1 (A - C). Rome: Edizioni Quasar.
Colini, A. M. 1944. Storia e Topografia del Celio nell’antichità (Atti Pontificia Accadia romana archeologia (3rdseries) 7). Vatican: Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana.
Coulston, J. 2000. ‘Armed and belted men: the soldiery in imperial Rome’, in J. Coulston and H. Dodge (eds.), Ancient Rome: The archaeology of the eternal city. Oxford: Alden Press.
Josi, E. 1934. ‘Scoperte nella Basilica Constantiniana al Laterano’, Rivista di Archeologia Cristiana, 11, 353-358.
Speidel, M. P. 1994. Riding for Caesar. London: Batsford.
January 06, 2023
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The Castra Nova equitum singularium was an ancient Roman fort in Rome housing part of the emperor s cavalry bodyguard The site of the fort now lies beneath the Basilica of St John Lateran The Castra Nova or new fort was one of two cavalry forts that provided a base in Rome for the mounted bodyguard of the Roman emperors the Equites singulares Augusti Plan of the archaeological remains of the fort After Collini 1944 The Castra Nova was so called because it was the newer of the two forts built to house an enlargement of the cavalry guard Their previous fort Castra Prioria which lay not far away to the north 1 had been built earlier possibly under the emperor Domitian and still housed the original force of 1500 mounted troopers The full name of the fort is Castra nova Equitum singularium Augusti Contents 1 History 2 The curatores inscriptions 3 See also 4 References 5 SourcesHistory EditThe fort can be precisely dated to AD 193 at the beginning of the reign of Septimius Severus The new camp was necessitated by this emperor s increase of the size of his cavalry guard from 1 500 to 2 000 men 2 The site of the camp was always speculated as being beneath the cathedral of St John Lateran Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano but it was identified definitively by excavations between 1934 and 1938 undertaken by Enrico Josi 3 Josi had obtained permission to explore the area of the basilica s nave in advance of the construction of a new reinforced concrete floor Within days it became clear that the remains of the Castra Nova existed in good condition just below the floor level and that the excavation was including a large part of the principia headquarters building The completed excavations were then published by Colini 4 A large two storey storage building and two barracks were also uncovered but the greatest interest centered around the principia as its two strong rooms were very well preserved as were several office rooms On the completion of the investigation the remains were preserved beneath the basilica along with the remains of the Constantinian cathedral and a Neronian domus in a spectacular underground archaeological park 5 The curatores inscriptions Edit Ionic capital carrying the two inscriptions from the curatores On 13 August 1934 an Ionic capital was uncovered within one of the headquarters rooms room e on plan above lying beside a short granite column that was still set into the floor Upon the capital two inscriptions had been carved on behalf of an association of curatores soldiers who were the grooms for the garrison horses The first text was dedicated in AD 197 6 on 1 January in the consulship of Rufinus and Lateranus The Equites were known to have served at the Battle of Lyon on the 19th of February though evidently these men did not The inscription records the dedication of the schola curatorum to Minerva Augusta indicating that the collegium curatorum itself had only recently become in possession of an official meeting room that they could consecrate The second inscription 7 was dedicated in AD 203 ob reditum ab expeditione felicissima in urvem sacram i e on the return of the guards to Rome following their escorting of the imperial family The expeditione felicissima may refer to the entire series of events since the equites singulares Augusti left Rome in AD 197 8 The toppling of the capital furthermore provided historical evidence attesting to the destruction of the Castra Nova by Constantine s forces and providing a terminus ante quem for both the dissolution of the collegium as well as for the camp itself See also EditEquites singulares AugustiReferences Edit On this castra see Buzzetti C 1997 Castra Equitum Singularium in E M Steinby ed Lexicon Topographicum Urbis Romae 1 A C Rome Edizioni Quasar 246 248 Coulston J 2000 Armed and belted men the soldiery in imperial Rome in J Coulston and H Dodge eds Ancient Rome The archaeology of the eternal city Oxford Alden Press 78 Also Speidel M P 1994 Riding for Caesar London Batsford p 128 Josi E 1934 Scoperte nella Basilica Constantiniana al Laterano RAC 11 pp 353 358 Colini A M 1944 Storia e Topografia del Celio nell antichita APA 3rdseries 7 Vatican Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana The remains are under the custodianship of the Vatican Archaeological Service and are only open to the public on request AE 1935 156 1954 83 1968 8b AE 1935 157 1954 83 It is probable however that detachments of the singulares Augusti did return to Rome several times between AD 197 and the return of the emperor in AD 203 For example see CIL 6 225 30730 dedicated by a turma in AD 200 pro reditus eorum ab expeditione Parthica That the guard followed the emperor wherever he was is certain Sources EditBuzzetti C 1997 Castra Equitum Singularium in E M Steinby ed Lexicon Topographicum Urbis Romae 1 A C Rome Edizioni Quasar Colini A M 1944 Storia e Topografia del Celio nell antichita Atti Pontificia Accadia romana archeologia 3rdseries 7 Vatican Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana Coulston J 2000 Armed and belted men the soldiery in imperial Rome in J Coulston and H Dodge eds Ancient Rome The archaeology of the eternal city Oxford Alden Press Josi E 1934 Scoperte nella Basilica Constantiniana al Laterano Rivista di Archeologia Cristiana 11 353 358 Speidel M P 1994 Riding for Caesar London Batsford Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Castra Nova equitum singularium amp oldid 1075532508, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
