Old ways, new names : identity, reciprocity and continuity in the northwestern Roman alae, 52 B.C.-A.D. 212

Abstract

This thesis focuses on Rome’s desire to exploit the well-documented prowess of northwestern Iron Age groups in the area of cavalry, while also taking into consideration the dynamics of control and risk involved in such a process. How and why was the cavalry particularly important in the incorporation of northwestern tribal societies into the Roman system? What facilitated the transferal of martial culture to service under Roman authority? How did the mechanics of an existing reciprocal system enable the maintenance of loyalty and effectiveness? What made the peoples of northwestern Iron Age Europe the ideal cavalry recruit? How did provincial uprisings like the Batavian revolt in AD 69 impact imperial use of these populations? Could an auxiliary soldier ever truly ‘become Roman’?

The author’s purpose is to investigate the origin, cultivation and maintenance of relations between Rome and specific areas which were important cavalry recruiting grounds, with a focus on the cultural import of equestrian status and the fluidity of martial values and loyalties. Aspects considered include the integration of ‘barbarian’ elites and their followers through Roman patronage and the careful construction of networks of reliance and friendship. The importance of existing societal circumstances in the process of merging different martial cultures into the Roman system is emphasized and extensively discussed. The Batvian revolt of AD 69 and its aftermath will be examined to determine how it affected the overall development of the Roman auxiliary system as manifested after the Flavian period and the impact on the identity of the auxiliary cavalryman. Archaeological evidence is used to investigate the early organization of the auxiliary and the lasting impact of various cultures in the development of Roman cavalry equipment, as well as the changes in frontier societal structure brought about by military installations. Where direct evidence is lacking, historical texts and comparative analysis can be used to infer what is not explicitly apparent in the sources and form a clearer picture of one branch of the complex responses to Roman influence. By employing a narrower approach to the subject, this thesis seeks to identify larger themes of incorporation and to further the understanding of interactions between certain non-Roman communities and the expanding influence of Rome. At the same time, this study will provide a more nuanced view of the experience of a particular group within the imperial system as well as a new way of dealing with the difficulty of interpreting ancient identity.