The Numerus Batavorum,[2] also called the cohors Germanorum,[3]Germani corporis custodes,[4]Germani corpore custodes,[5]Imperial German Bodyguard[6] or Germanic bodyguard[7] was a personal, imperial guards unit for the Roman emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty (30 BC – AD 68) composed of Germanic soldiers. Although the Praetorians may be considered the Roman Emperor's main bodyguard, the Germanic bodyguards were a unit of more personal guards recruited from distant parts of the Empire, so they had no political or personal connections with Rome or the provinces.[8]
Gravestone of Indus, a member of the Germanic Bodyguard[1]
The members of the Numerus Batavorum were recruited from the Germanic tribes resident in, or on the borders of, the Roman province of Germania Inferior, with most recruits drawn from the Batavi[11] but also from neighbouring tribes of the Rhine delta region, including the Frisii,[12]Baetasii[13] and Ubii.[14][15] Little is known about their organization; the 500 bodyguards were formed up in five centuries, each century commanded by a centurion. From inscriptions it is known that there existed, as in all Roman cavalry units, the officer rank of decurion. The exact size of the unit, which was at least partially mounted, is also unknown, but is described in ancient sources as a cohort, which in this period normally implied a strength of 500 men or less, similar to a numerus, whose size could vary. Under the Emperor Caligula, the Bodyguard may have consisted of 500 to 1,000 men.[16]
The Germanic Cohort was valued as loyal and reliable.[17] Emperors like Nero trusted the Germani especially because they were not of Roman origin.[18]
The guard was disbanded briefly after the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest,[19] and was finally dissolved by Galba in 68[3] because of its loyalty to Nero (ruled 54–68), whom he had overthrown. The decision caused deep offense to the Batavi, and contributed to the outbreak of the Revolt of the Batavi in the following year.[20] Their indirect successors were the Equites singulares Augusti which were, likewise, mainly recruited from the Germani. They were apparently so similar to the Julio-Claudians' earlier Germanic Bodyguard that they were given the same nickname, the "Batavi".[21]
^National Museum of Rome, Baths of Diocletian, Rome. Inscription: AE 1952, 148: Indus / Neronis Claudi / Caesaris Aug(usti) / corpor(is) custos / dec(uria) Secundi / natione Batavus / vix(it) ann(os) XXXVI h(ic) s(itus) e(st) / posuit / Eumenes frater / et heres eius ex collegio / Germanorum "Indus, bodyguard of Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus, of the Second Decuria, of the Batavian nation, [who] lived 36 years, is buried here. [The gravestone] was erected by his brother and heir, Eumenes, from the collegium of the Germanic tribesmen".
^Alexandra W. Busch: Militär in Rom. Militärische und paramilitärische Einheiten im kaiserzeitlichen Stadtbild (= Palilia Vol. 20). Reichert, Wiesbaden 2011, ISBN 3-89500-706-4, Die Unterkunft der Germani corporis custodes, p. 94
^Fuhrmann, Christopher J. (2012). Policing the Roman Empire: Soldiers, Administration, and Public Order, OUP, New York, pp 128/129. ISBN978-0-19-973784-0
Die germanische Leibgarde der julisch-claudischen Kaiser ("The Germanic Bodyguard of the Julio-Claudian Emperors") at kriegsreisende.de.
November 11, 2023
numerus, batavorum, also, called, cohors, germanorum, germani, corporis, custodes, germani, corpore, custodes, imperial, german, bodyguard, germanic, bodyguard, personal, imperial, guards, unit, roman, emperors, julio, claudian, dynasty, composed, germanic, so. The Numerus Batavorum 2 also called the cohors Germanorum 3 Germani corporis custodes 4 Germani corpore custodes 5 Imperial German Bodyguard 6 or Germanic bodyguard 7 was a personal imperial guards unit for the Roman emperors of the Julio Claudian dynasty 30 BC AD 68 composed of Germanic soldiers Although the Praetorians may be considered the Roman Emperor s main bodyguard the Germanic bodyguards were a unit of more personal guards recruited from distant parts of the Empire so they had no political or personal connections with Rome or the provinces 8 Gravestone of Indus a member of the Germanic Bodyguard 1 From Commentarii de Bello Gallico it is known that Julius Caesar also had a Germanic bodyguard 9 10 Contents 1 Overview 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksOverview editThe members of the Numerus Batavorum were recruited from the Germanic tribes resident in or on the borders of the Roman province of Germania Inferior with most recruits drawn from the Batavi 11 but also from neighbouring tribes of the Rhine delta region including the Frisii 12 Baetasii 13 and Ubii 14 15 Little is known about their organization the 500 bodyguards were formed up in five centuries each century commanded by a centurion From inscriptions it is known that there existed as in all Roman cavalry units the officer rank of decurion The exact size of the unit which was at least partially mounted is also unknown but is described in ancient sources as a cohort which in this period normally implied a strength of 500 men or less similar to a numerus whose size could vary Under the Emperor Caligula the Bodyguard may have consisted of 500 to 1 000 men 16 The Germanic Cohort was valued as loyal and reliable 17 Emperors like Nero trusted the Germani especially because they were not of Roman origin 18 The guard was disbanded briefly after the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest 19 and was finally dissolved by Galba in 68 3 because of its loyalty to Nero ruled 54 68 whom he had overthrown The decision caused deep offense to the Batavi and contributed to the outbreak of the Revolt of the Batavi in the following year 20 Their indirect successors were the Equites singulares Augusti which were likewise mainly recruited from the Germani They were apparently so similar to the Julio Claudians earlier Germanic Bodyguard that they were given the same nickname the Batavi 21 Herod the Great a client king of Judea had a Germanic bodyguard modeled upon that of Augustus 22 See also editLeibgarde Imperial Roman army The Varangian Guard which was the revived form of the Numerus Batavorum serving in the period from under the Eastern emperor Basil II and culminating in the 1204 Sack of Constantinople References edit National Museum of Rome Baths of Diocletian Rome Inscription AE 1952 148 Indus Neronis Claudi Caesaris Aug usti corpor is custos dec uria Secundi natione Batavus vix it ann os XXXVI h ic s itus e st posuit Eumenes frater et heres eius ex collegio Germanorum Indus bodyguard of Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus of the Second Decuria of the Batavian nation who lived 36 years is buried here The gravestone was erected by his brother and heir Eumenes from the collegium of the Germanic tribesmen Suetonius Caligula 43 a b Suetonius Galba 12 Suetonius Caligula 58 3 and inscriptions e g AE 1952 148 CIL VI 4340 4342 4343 4437 21068 AE 1976 750 1923 73 Rankov 1994 p 5 sfn error no target CITEREFRankov1994 help Grunewald amp Schalles 2001 p 97 sfn error no target CITEREFGrunewald amp Schalles2001 help Webster Graham 1985 The Roman Imperial Army of the First and Second Centuries A D Black London Oklahoma p 101 ISBN 0 8061 3000 8 Caesar de bello Gallico 7 13 1 Roymans Nico 2000 Germania inferior ed Newald and Schalles Walter de Gruyter Berlin ISBN 3 11 016969 X p 97 in English CIL VI 8802 8803 8804 8807 AE 1952 146 147 148 149 1968 32 CIL VI 4342 VI 4343 CIL VI 8808 CIL VI 8809 Roymans 2000 p 258 Alexandra W Busch Militar in Rom Militarische und paramilitarische Einheiten im kaiserzeitlichen Stadtbild Palilia Vol 20 Reichert Wiesbaden 2011 ISBN 3 89500 706 4 Die Unterkunft der Germani corporis custodes p 94 Suetonius Galba 12 multisque experimentis fidelissimam Tacitus Annals 15 58 Germanis quibus fidebat princeps quasi externis Suetonius Augustus 49 1 Tacitus Hist II 5 Fuhrmann Christopher J 2012 Policing the Roman Empire Soldiers Administration and Public Order OUP New York pp 128 129 ISBN 978 0 19 973784 0 Rocca Samuel 2009 The Army of Herod the Great Osprey Publishing pp 15 16 ISBN 978 1 8460 3206 6 Retrieved 8 March 2014 Further reading editRoss Cowan Roman Guardsman 62 BC AD 324 Oxford 2014 Michael P Speidel Germani Corporis Custodes In Germania 62 1984 pp 31 34 not evaluated in German Oliver Stoll Leibwache In Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde 2 Aufl Bd 18 Berlin Walter de Gruyer 2001 p 232 233 ISBN 3 11 016950 9External links editDie germanische Leibgarde der julisch claudischen Kaiser The Germanic Bodyguard of the Julio Claudian Emperors at kriegsreisende de Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Numerus Batavorum amp oldid 1156871594, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
