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Cohors Secundae Gallorum

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The Second Cohort of Gauls

The Second Cohort of Gauls were a part-mounted unit levied from the various Gallic tribes of central and northern France, and are mentioned on four inscriptions on stone recovered from Voreda. Three of the stones can be dated and prove that this unit were stationed at the fort from at least AD178 to c.249. Five military diplomas naming this unit in Britain are variously dated from AD122 (CIL xvi.69) until 178 (RMD 184). It would appear that Coh II Gal came to Britain in the train of the emperor Hadrian, and were removed following the dissolution of the Gallic Empire in AD274 - evidently due to their pro-Gallic views - during which entire period they were garrisoned at the Old Penrith fort, known to the garrison unit as Voreda.

The unit is not recorded anywhere else in Britain but an undated altarstone has been found at Piacenza in Italy, which appears to have been transported back from Voreda by the prefect Lucius Naevius Verus Roscianus, presumably after he had retired from military service because he wished to be reminded of his old unit, also likely because the stone had cost him a lot of money.

Evidence for the Cohort in Britain

  1. Burn 100; CIL XVI.65 military diploma dated: July 17th AD122.
  2. L' Année Épigraphique 1997.1779b diploma dated c.AD126.
  3. L' Année Épigraphique 1997.1001 diploma dated 27th February AD158,
  4. Old Penrith (RIB 915 altar AD244-249; et 916 altar; et 917 altar AD178),

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