Una guarnigione di cavalleria africana al confine settentrionale dell’impero all’inizio del III secolo d.C.

  • Salvatore Fadda Scuola Archeologica Italiana di Cartagine
Parole chiave: arte romana, arte provinciale, epigrafia latina, esercito romano, cavalleria numida

Abstract

Dall’area del forte romano di Bravoniacum presso il moderno villaggio di Kirkby Thore, nella contea inglese della Cumbria, provengono poche iscrizioni latine estremamente frammentarie e alcuni rilievi funerari i cui dati, incrociati con un’epigrafe dal cuore della Numidia e con diverse altre fonti, permettono di delineare il tipo guarnigione che occupava il forte nella prima parte del III secolo d.C.

Gruppi di cavalieri africani reclutati su base etnica furono disposti nella provincia all’inizio del III secolo d.C. e mantenuti come truppe a rapido dispiegamento per il contrasto delle insurrezioni tribali nei territori collinari della neocostituita provincia della Britannia Inferior e probabilmente anche a supporto delle operazioni militari a nord del Vallo di Adriano.

Gli elementi indiziari passati in rassegna in questo lavoro suggeriscono che all’epoca della spedizione di Settimio Severo in Britannia, tra il 208 e il 211 d.C., una divisione di cavalleria leggera ausiliaria di origine numida fosse stata posta di stanza al forte di Bravoniacum, costituendo la prima comunità africana dell’isola.

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Pubblicato
2019-05-17
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Sezione
Saggi e studi