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ONLY GOOD THINGS COME, TO THOSE THAT SUBMIT TO THE WILL OF ROME
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| Legionary and Auxiliary Gamble at Tali |
The History and Lineage of Honors of Cohors II Italica, Voluntariorum Civium Romanorum
Cohors II Italica traces it roots back to the earliest days of the Principate of Rome when Augustus was still Emperor.
Two events caused the levy of the Cohors II Italica. The First was the Pannonian uprising of 6 AD and the second was the
defeat of Varus in 9AD at the hands of Germanic barbarians in the Teutoburg Forest (Chessman, 66, 1914). The defeat of Varus
caused widespread panic and Augustus was said to have been heard lamenting, "Varus, give me back my legions"; around
the walls of the palace (Tacitus Annals, XXII, Intro 2005) For the lineage of Honors, we will assume that Cohors II, Italica
was raised in 9 AD since the Pannonian uprising would have diverted men and materiel, but necessarily may not have caused
a such a strain as the loss of three complete legions by Varus in 9AD.
Cohors II Italica began recruitment in 9 AD within weeks of the defeat of Varus reaching the capital city. Auxiliary
Cohorts were raised, comprised of Roman Citizens and Freedmen whom were awarded citizenship upon enlistment. The need for
troops was so severe, that time did not allow for the formation of Legions. In addition, the political situation in Rome
was turbulent and Augustus could not afford to take a chance in appointing additional senators to be legates with out fear
of them turning the Legions on himself or deploying his loyal base of senators away from the political spot light. The Cohort,
because its membership was in possession of civitas, was appointed a Tribune to command it (Cheesman, 65, 1914).
The Cohort's cadre was comprised of retired as well as active serving centurions from previous postings who put the
new recruits through initial training, before marching it off towards Germany. The Training was harsh and fast paced on the
new recruits, especially those from the cities. The Cohort was organized as a Infantry/Peditata Cohort at 480 Troopers strong.
It was one of the few times ever in its history that it was ever up to its full strength. Outfitted, and trained, the Cohort
was ordered to the Germanic frontier.
Cohors II Italica fought in a series of small campaigns across the Rhine, in an attempt to exact a bloody revenge
and to regain some of the honor lost by Varus. It was after a couple of years that Cohors II recruited some of its first
non civitas members from Gaul and Germania as well as continued replacements from Rome and the Italian peninsula itself.
Cohors II was shocked and stunned at the death of their beloved Augustus in 14 AD, but were honored and humbled at being specifically
mentioned by the late Augustus in his will directing that they in addition to the Legions, receive a special dominative (Cheesman,
66, 1914).
Cohors II Italica assembled with a large Army comprising of eight Legions and scores of Auxiliary Cavalry Ala and
Infantry Cohorts commanded by Germanicus in pursuit of Arminius across the Rhine in 16 AD. It was at Indistaviso that Cohors
II Italica was have the first of one its finest hours. Germanicus had found Arminus and his German Army on a large wooded
hill at Indistaviso. As Germanicus and his Army approached, Arminus positioned his Germanic Cavalry to the flanks of the
Roman field Army. Germanicus positioned most of his Auxiliary Infantry Cohorts in the front ranks to include Cohors II Italica.
Armed with Spear and Oval Clipeus, these weapons would give them an advantage over the Legions should the German Cavalry should
they charge the center of the formation. Behind them, Auxiliary Archers were positioned to give the Auxiliary Infantry missile
support through plunging fires to break up any Germanic force attempting to meet them head on. Germanicus equally divided
his Cavalry to both flanks with his eight legions marching closely behind his Archers (Barker, 21, 1976).
Arminius had his forces dash out and hit the Roman Army head on. Cohors II Italica, on the right flank of the forward
positioned Auxiliary forces, met the charging Germans and held the line, while the Auxiliary Cavalry swept around and hit
the Germans on their flanks. The German center soon began to bow inwards as the first wave of Germans began to flee into
the wood line. Arminius then led all his reserve forces personally in a charge against the Auxiliary line in an attempt to
break it and to destroy the main body of the Legions. Cohors II Italica and the rest of the Auxiliary Infantry Cohorts, held
and repulsed this charge, driving them all back into the wood line. It was here that a young member of the cohort, Quintus
Minicius was able to press forward to Arminius himself, and plunge his gladius into the thigh of Arminius, severely wounding
him, and forcing him to flee the battle in disgrace on horseback. The cohort, along with the legions then pursued the fleeing
Germans into the wood line where they were cut down trying to cross the Weser. Others hid in trees, where spear, ax, gladius
and arrows were used to fetch the cowering Germans out of the trees (Barker, 21, 1976). It was a solid defeat for the Germanic
tribesmen and Germanicus saw to it that all members of Cohors II Italica were rewarded with Roman Citizenship for their bravery
that day, in the face of near insurmountable odds. The first of the three lost Eagles; that of the 19th Legion was also recovered.
Cohors II Italica's work was not finished though, and quickly found itself dispatched along with the rest of Germanicus'
Army to the Angrivarii border near the banks of the Elbe (Graves, 252, 1934) where they were to engage Arminius for the last
time. Arminius had attempted to ambush Germanicus and his Army in the water logged plain by hiding part of his forces in
the woods as well behind a rampart he had built up (Barker, 22, 1976). As the main body of Legions stormed the rampart, with
his cavalry in the rear, Germanicus ordered Cohors II, along with rest of his Auxiliary Infantry into the woods, where they
initiated a movement to contact with the Arminus Germanic forces. <
Cohors II Italica was able to use its advantage in flexible equipment and tactics along with the rest of the Auxiliary
forces to maximum advantage even after the first Legionary assault on the rampart stalled and failed. The second assault,
under the cover of missile and siege engine fire was too much for Arminius forces, and the Legionary forces succeed in smashing
its way through and routing the forces there. At the same time, the Germanic forces in the woods began to crumble. Arminius,
still in a weakened state due to the wound received by now Centurion Q. Minicius, was unable to adequately inspire and rally
his forces (Barker, 22, 1976). Cohors II Italica swiftly pursued the fleeing Germanic forces, using the advantage of its
lighter throwing javelins and round Clipeus shields, inflicting severe losses until Germanicus could commit his cavalry reserves
into the final pursuit of the fleeing foe. Arminius would escape though the bogs, but the Eagle of the 26th Legion was recovered.
Cohors II Italica in the spring of 17 AD would march with Germanicus in Rome, in celebration of his Triumph. Shortly
after, the Eagle of the 25th Legion would be recovered and Arminius would be betrayed and dead at the hands of his own people.
Cohors II did not mill around in Rome long after the conclusion of Germanicus' Triumph and soon found itself dispatched
to Judea for a multiple of reasons; politics largely playing a role in its deployment there.
The political situation in Judea was extremely explosive and Tiberius wished to support the Procurator but with out the
possible ramifications that stationing a full Legion might cause. Rome had since made Judea a Roman procuratorial province
due to the lack of competency of Herod the Great's successors (Rogers, 88, 2005). Cohors II Italica along with its sister
Cohorts was positioned in Judea to help maintain order and control of Judea. For the next few decades Cohors II Italica was
stationed outside the coastal city of Caesarea, north of Joppa where in conducted patrols in the area as well as limited operations
to root out zealots opposed to the rule of Herod's family. Cohors II would later provide Pontius Pilate details of a full
century or two at a time to provide security to his residence as well serve as part of a bodyguard detail to him in Hierosolyma/Jerusalem.
One of the Centurions, a man named Cornelius, allegedly had contact with a man named Simon Peter in Joppa, and possibly became
one of the first followers of Jesus Christ in the Roman military (Acts, Chapter 10, Para 44).
Cohors II Italica spent much of its time providing security, and putting down minor revolts of zealots. The situation
in Judea flamed out of control in 66 AD with the defeat of Cestius Gallus, the Roman Governor of Syria. Vespasian was sent
by Emperor Nero at the head of three Legions to quell the rebellion. Cohors II Italica, under the leadership of Tribunus
Aulus Bucius Lappius (Diploma, CIL 16, 00035) was pulled into Vespasian's Army and soon found itself in support of operations
to reestablish control of Galilee, which it did in 67 AD after the capitulation of Tiberias and Gamala, and fall of Jotapata
after a brief siege (Scarre, 58, 1995). At Jotapata, an Auxiliary named Titus Minicius distinguished himself and the second
century while on picket duty. The Jotapatans attempted to bypass the pickets with a foraging and skirmishing policy, but
were foiled in their attempts by Minicius and his fellow alert pickets. Minicius detected them enough in advance to assemble
two contubernium worth of II Italica Auxiliaries and hold back the Jotapatans long enough for relief forces to be assembled
to beat the foraging and skirmishing party back, subsequently bringing the siege to a quick end, due to lack of provisions
and water for the Judeans (Josephus, Jewish War, Chapter 7, Para 12). The rest of the Judean coastal cities soon quickly
submitted themselves back to Roman rule (Scarre, 58, 1995). Cohors II then successful participated in operations that saw
the capture of Jericho and Emmaus in 68 AD.
The entire campaign came to a brief halt upon the receipt of Nero's death. Vespasian departed for Alexandria shortly
after, placing his son Titus in charge of operations (Scarre, 58, 1995), but not before drawing a contingent of archers from
his Auxiliary cohorts to include some even from II Italica (Grave Stele, CIL 03, 13483a).
Hierosolyma/Jerusalem had always been the center of political power in Judea and II Italica marched with Titus in
early 70 AD. Hierosolyma/Jerusalem was laid siege too in March of 70 AD and held out till September 70 AD (Rogers, 88-89,
2005). II Italica initially served by conducting foot patrols and picket duty, arresting and picking off Judeans either attempting
to flee or enter the city. As the siege progressed, it became more active in the actual assault phase of the operation.
Even with the burning and seizing of the Temple, resistance held out in the Upper City. Eighteen days of preparation saw
the erection of large earth mounds on the west and east sides of the walled Upper City (Rogers, 89, 2005). II Italica with
its previous knowledge of the City, to include Herod's palace, was chosen to be part of the assault on the east side. Auxiliaries
and Legions alike stormed both sides in a two pronged attack. Resistance was fierce, but II Italica along with others forces
on the east side were successful in breaking through near Herod's palace and crushing any and all resistance (Rogers, 89,
2005). II Italica played a vital role with its extensive understanding of the internal street and building network of the
city and was subsequently able to root out and bring to justice much of senior leaders of the Judean revolt residing in Hierosolyma/Jerusalem.
Several members of II Italica were noted for their bravery and gallantry that day to include T. Minicius and Q. Apuleius Castus
(Grave Stele, CIL 03, 13483a), the former eventually being elevated to the centurionate at some time. Roman control of Hierosolyma/Jerusalem
had been reestablished. Under the orders of Titus, the city was set to fire.
Cohors II Italica C.R. departed Hierosolyma/Jerusalem with Titus and was again privileged to march in its second
Triumph with Titus. At the conclusion of the Triumph, II Italica was bestowed Civium Romanorum in mass for its gallantry
in the Campaigns of Vespasian and Titus during the Jewish Revolt. II Italica also received the most amount of Italian recruits
into its ranks since its founding, where after a few months it was dispatched to Syria, near the city of Antioch.
II Italica conducted military operations in much of the same way as it did in Judea, but enjoyed the greater popular
support of the local inhabitants. Trade roads were patrolled and secured, insuring that merchants and traders were free
to sell and trade goods in Antioch. The occasional band of brigands was dispatched, and a wary eye to the east was also maintained
in the event that the Parthians planned to expand their empire to the west. Tribunus Publius Valerius Patriunus at some point
after the Triumph assumed command of the Cohort (Diploma, CIL 16, 00035).
II Italica stood ever watchful and faithfully conducted its duties, standing watch of the east while Emperor Trajan
settled once and for all the Dacian problem, but it was not long after the successful completion of this campaign, that II
Italica was called back into campaign service under Trajan. In late 113 AD Trajan assembled a large army of eight legions
and numerous Auxiliary forces to include II Italica, just south of Antioch, and marched forward to Armenia. The Parthians
were felt to have been interfering with Armenia and Trajan wished to have the matter settled~permanently (Rogers, 70, 2005).
Enroute, this large Army picked up additional reinforcements at Melitene (Scarre, 60, 1995). II Italica served honorably
and saw the King of Armenia submit to Trajan and Rome, becoming an official Roman Province and ending Parthianan influence.
II Italica marched with Trajan into Mesopotamia, and was part of series of rapid military successes, to include the
capture of the cities of Nisbis, Singara, and Ctesiphon, the Parthian capital city. II Italica distinguished itself at the
Battle of the Tigris River in 115 AD. With Ctesiphon within his grasp, Trajan launched a bridging operation across the Tigris
River. His auxiliary forces and 8 Legions met fierce resistance from the Parthians as they defended their capital. In order
to get across the Tigris successfully, Trajan employed his siege engines from both the opposite bank as well as ship mounted
artillery on the Tigris to provide covering fire for his troops. Simultaneously, a series of feints were launched to distract
the Parthians as to the location of his main effort (Barker, 23, 1976).
II Italica was part of a series of these feints, using its equipment and mobility to skirmish to maximum advantage
against the Parthians. Use of the hasta/spear, along with good Roman military discipline, allowed it to break up Parthian
heavy cavalry attacks, where they then closed and destroyed the disorganized cavalry forces. Centurion Q. Flavius Rufio,
led a series of particular successful counter attacks against the Parthian cavalry, targeting Parthian leadership. Few gladii
were not wetted in Parthian blood that day. II Italica would march with Trajan to the Persian Gulf in 116 AD, only to march
back with him that same year at word of new Judean uprisings as well as a Parthian attempts to re conquer its lost territory
(Rogers, 75, 2005). Trajan's death and Hadrian’s assention to the purple in 117AD ended in the near term, Rome's
further conquest of Parthian territory. Hadrian consolidated his forces and reconsolidated Roman territory, holding on to
Armenia, but largely letting go most of the Parthian gained territory (Rogers, 76, 2005). Under the command of Legate Attidius
Cornelianus' army, II Italica marched back to Palmyra, where is established a series of fortlets on the Eastern Frontier ever
watchful of Parthian aggression and trickery (CIL 16, 00106).
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