Cohors amicorum is a Latin term literally meaning "cohort of friends". The notion cohort is to be taken not in the strict, military sense (primarily the constitutive unit of a Roman legion; circa battalion), but indicated a fairly large number; accordingly, friend is to be taken in a loose sense, rather as in amicus curiae; compare the Hellenisticaulic titlephilos [basilikos].
Roman historyedit
Originally, since the Roman Republic proper (i.e. before the Principate), the cohors amicorum was synonymous with the cohors praetoria (so called after the praetorium, the tent -in the field- or more permanent dwelling of a Roman commanding general, military headquarters but also site of his other actions, e.g. as a judge, possibly on an adjoining podium called tribunal): the military (including or annexing various logistic, domestic, financial and administrative) staff company functioning as suite and bodyguard of a high Roman official, such as a Roman governor (who brought a trusted staff of most kinds with him to his post), especially in command of one or more legions.
In the Principate, high administrative offices tended to be separated from military command (transferred to imperial legates), but the various not strictly military functions still had to be acquitted, so there was a mainly civilian 'company' of clerks, advisors, retainers etcetera, still referred to be such terms as cohors (amicorum), amici (possibly specified by the pivotal personality, e.g. Amici principis around the Emperor). In fact, the administration was to be streamlined in a rather typical officium (see that article) with ever more detailed rules on competences, career, etc.
The 'company' remained at least as a social notion, if now very informal, and seems to have existed with other persons of high rank, such as imperial princes.
its members were termed cohortalis (plural cohortales); the diminutive cohortalinus became a generic term (like apparitor) for non-cadre clerks in a high dignitary's officium (mainly administrative staff)
See alsoedit
For an alternative, highly formalised evolution of and from the originally parallel notion comitatus (also 'company'), see the article Comes.
From this sense of cohors derives the Italian corte (a princely, etc.) court' and hence corteggio 'cortège', which again came to mean a train of attendants or retinue, a similarly elastic notion
the modern military also knows special units performing various services to a command and its headquarters, by such terms as staff company or staff battalion
Sources and referencesedit
Johann Oehler, Cohors amicorum, in: Pauly–Wissowa (German-language encyclopaedia on nearly everything relevant to Classical Antiquity)
EtymologyOnLine
April 10, 2024
cohors, amicorum, latin, term, literally, meaning, cohort, friends, notion, cohort, taken, strict, military, sense, primarily, constitutive, unit, roman, legion, circa, battalion, indicated, fairly, large, number, accordingly, friend, taken, loose, sense, rath. Cohors amicorum is a Latin term literally meaning cohort of friends The notion cohort is to be taken not in the strict military sense primarily the constitutive unit of a Roman legion circa battalion but indicated a fairly large number accordingly friend is to be taken in a loose sense rather as in amicus curiae compare the Hellenistic aulic title philos basilikos Roman history editOriginally since the Roman Republic proper i e before the Principate the cohors amicorum was synonymous with the cohors praetoria so called after the praetorium the tent in the field or more permanent dwelling of a Roman commanding general military headquarters but also site of his other actions e g as a judge possibly on an adjoining podium called tribunal the military including or annexing various logistic domestic financial and administrative staff company functioning as suite and bodyguard of a high Roman official such as a Roman governor who brought a trusted staff of most kinds with him to his post especially in command of one or more legions In the Principate high administrative offices tended to be separated from military command transferred to imperial legates but the various not strictly military functions still had to be acquitted so there was a mainly civilian company of clerks advisors retainers etcetera still referred to be such terms as cohors amicorum amici possibly specified by the pivotal personality e g Amici principis around the Emperor In fact the administration was to be streamlined in a rather typical officium see that article with ever more detailed rules on competences career etc The company remained at least as a social notion if now very informal and seems to have existed with other persons of high rank such as imperial princes its members were termed cohortalis plural cohortales the diminutive cohortalinus became a generic term like apparitor for non cadre clerks in a high dignitary s officium mainly administrative staff See also editFor an alternative highly formalised evolution of and from the originally parallel notion comitatus also company see the article Comes From this sense of cohors derives the Italian corte a princely etc court and hence corteggio cortege which again came to mean a train of attendants or retinue a similarly elastic notion the modern military also knows special units performing various services to a command and its headquarters by such terms as staff company or staff battalionSources and references editJohann Oehler Cohors amicorum in Pauly Wissowa German language encyclopaedia on nearly everything relevant to Classical Antiquity EtymologyOnLine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cohors amicorum amp oldid 1192695642, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
