Cohors I Belgarum and its members from the area of Ljubuški

Abstract

This paper analyzes monuments of the First Belgian cohort (cohors I Belgarum equitata) from the area of Ljubuški. Of all the cohorts that were settled in Humac, most registered monuments belong to the auxiliaries of this unit. Three officers are among them (centurion, decurion, signifer), and ordinary soldiers whose monuments are mostly fragmented with damaged inscription field. Four monuments of this kind were discovered. Besides these monuments, we analyzed votive monuments mentioning cohors I Belgarum equitata, such as monuments dedicated to Liber, Fortuna Augusta, Mithra and emperor’s genius. We have found that these votive monuments are not adequately interpreted in the current scientific literature, and we offer a new reading. Also, paper discusses the question of marriage of Roman soldiers, as well as recruitment of local young men in the roman auxiliary troops.