Cohors Secundae Nerviorum

This regiment was raised from the Nervii tribe of Gallia Belgica (modern Belgium), who inhabited the Hainaut region of south-eastern Belgium, extending southwards into the eastern Artois region of northern France; their cantonal capital was located at Bagacum (Bavai, France). They were originally sent to Britain with the propraetor Quintus Petillius Cerialis in 71AD, along with five other Belgian cohorts. They appear on an undated building inscription from the fort at High Rochester in Northumberland, where there labours were shared with another unit Cohors IV Gallorum. The unit is also attested on undated altarstones at Carrawburgh and at Wallsend (Segedunum), both on Hadrian’s Wall, so they either occupied these forts at different times or else they were spread a bit thin on the ground.

Evidence for the presence of Cohors Secundae Nerviorum in Britain

  1. Military Diplomata (AD 98)
  2. Military Diplomata 122AD
  3. Military Diplomata – 124AD (RIB 2401.6)
  4. Military Diplomata c AD126
  5. High Rochester (RIB 1298a vex. with Vex Coh IV Gal).
  6. Wallsend (RIB 1303 altar?).
  7. Carrawburgh (RIB 1538 altar).
  8. Whitley Castle (RIB 1198 altar; 1202 213AD; 1203 214-217AD).