Cohors Primae Tungrorum [milliaria]

This was a regiment of tribesmen from the Tungri tribe of eastern Belgica who inhabited the western fringes of the Arduinna Silva, in the Brabant and Hainailt districts of Belgium south-east of Brussels. Their capital was Atuatuca, now Tongres or Tongeren near Maastricht in Belgium. They are mentioned on four military diplomata dating to the beginning of the second century and are first attested on stone at the Carrawburgh fort on Hadrian’s Wall in the period 122-138AD also nearby at Chesterholm/Vindolanda on the Stanegate, and it appears likely that the unit was split between these two forts during Hadrianic times. They are next recorded on the The Antonine Wall in the Central region of Scotland between 139-161AD, seemingly again split between the forts at Cramond and Castlecary. They are finally recorded back on Hadrian’s frontier at Housesteads on a building inscription dated to 205-208AD, and were to remain there until the end of the fourth century as recorded in the Notitia Dignitatum.

Evidence for the presence of Cohors Primae Tungrorum [milliaria] in Britain

  1. Military Diplomata (AD 98)
  2. Military Diplomata 103AD (RIB 1401.1)
  3. Military Diplomata 122AD
  4. Cil Vii.1195 privilegia militvm, dated September 16th 124AD.
  5. L’Année Épigraphique 1997.1779b diploma dated c.126AD.
  6. Chesterholm (Vindolanda writing tablet; Hadrianic).
  7. Carrawburgh (RIB 1563b 122-138AD).
  8. Castlecary (RIB 2155 139-161AD).
  9. Cramond (RIB 2135 altar).
  10. Housesteads (RIB 1578-1580, 1584-1586, 1591, 1598, all altars; 1618/1619 tombstones; 1631b 205-208AD; Notitia Dignitatum).