Kirkby Thore (Bravoniacum) Roman Fort

The name of this fort appears as Brovonacis in Iter II of the Antonine Itinerary, where it is said to lie 14 Roman miles from Old Penrith (Voreda) Roman Fort and 13 miles from Brough (Verteris) Roman Fort. The Notitia Dignitatum of the 4th/5th century gives the name as Braboniaco, where it occurs between the entries for Brough (Verteris) Roman Fort and Old Carlisle (Maglona) Roman Fort.

The fort at Kirkby Thore was originally a Flavian turf and timber fort destroyed C. 125 and rebuilt as stone fort. The fort has also been identified with the Ravonia entry of the Ravenna Cosmology (R&C#123), which occurs between the entries for Papcastle (Derventio) Vicus and Ribchester (Bremetenacvm Veteranorvm) Roman Fort.

The Bravoniacum Garrison

RIB 765 - Fragmentary dedication

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RIB 764 - Altar dedicated to Fortuna Balnearis

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Such are the inaccuracies of epigraphic expansion that the letters N M S S in the above inscription may also be construed to read Numerus Militum Syrorum Sagittariorum, which means ‘the irregular unit of Syrian archers’. The trailing letters of the inscription NOIV are also open to alternate interpretation, for instance NOnis IVnius/IVlius or ‘on the Nones of June/July’ (5th June/ 7th July). Unfortunately, there is no chance for a modern study of this altarstone, as it has since become lost.

Numerus Defensorum – The Defending Company

Praefectus numeri defensorum, Braboniaco
“The prefect of the Defensive Squadron at Braboniacum.”
(Notitia Dignitatum xl.27; 4th/5th C.)

The only unit of whose identity we can be assured is that listed in the Notitia Dignitatum which gives the late fourth century garrison as the Numerus Defensorum, an irregular unit whose name is roughly translated as ‘The Protection Squadron’.¹ This unit was commanded by a Prefect, under the overall command of the Duke of the Britains.

1. Interestingly this unit could be translated into German as Schutzstaffel, the same name as the infamous S.S. of nationalist Germany.

The Gods of Bravoniacum

Of the thirteen inscribed stones found at Kirkby Thore, seven are altarstones. There are two dedicated to the goddess Fortuna (RIB 760 et 764), another two to the god Jupiter, one of them shared with Serapis (RIB 761 et 762), and there are single altars to the bucolic Italian god Silvanus (RIB 763), the iron-age war god Belatucader (RIB 759) and another damaged altarstone which is missing the name of the deity (RIB 766; not shown). In addition there is a statue or altar base dedicated to Felicity or luck (RIB 765).

Altars to Belatucader and Fortuna

RIB 759 - Altar dedicated to Belatucadrus

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RIB 760 - Altar dedicated to Fortune the Preserver

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Altars to Jupiter and Silvanus

RIB 761 - Altar dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus

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RIB 762 - Altar dedicated to Jupiter Serapis

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RIB 763 - Altar dedicated to Silvanus

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Altars to Felicity

RIB 765 - Fragmentary dedication

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A Couple of Roman Tombstones

RIB 768 - Funerary inscription for Gaius Attonius

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RIB 769 - Fragmentary funerary inscription

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Other Roman Sites in the Area

There are a number of Roman marching camps close by the fort in Kirkby Thore (NY6225) and another at Crackenthorpe (NY6523) a couple of miles along the road to the south-east. Three Roman milestones have also been discovered; one at Temple Sowerby (NY6126; vide RIB 2285a infra) a couple of miles to the north-west, another at Hangingshaw (NY6821; RIB 2284) a mile beyond the Crackenthorpe marching camp, also one more at Braugham (RIB 2285).

RIB 789 - Fragmentary funerary inscription

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RIB 2285 - Milestone of Constantine I

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This stone is one of only two Roman milestones in Britain which remain in situ, the other famous example being at Vindolanda on the Stanegate military road in Northumberland. Standing about 4½ feet (c.1.4m) in height, the milestone lies in an iron security cage beside a layby on the north side of the modern A66, ½ mile (800m) north-west of Temple Sowerby.

1. Postumus was a Batavian nobleman, the Roman governor of Germany who became the first emperor of the short-lived ‘Gallic Empire’ in Autumn A.D. 260 when he was hailed emperor by the legions on the Rhine following the capture of the emperor Valerian by the Persians. He was murdered by his own soldiers shortly after capturing Moguntiacum (Mainz) from Laelianus in February 269 when he refused them permission to ransack the city.
2. Based on the expansion R[es] P[ublicae] C[ivitas] CAR[vetiorum]. The Carvetii tribe inhabited north-west England, occupying mainly the modern county of Cumbria; Bravoniacum lay close to their south-eastern border.

References for Bravoniacvm

• A Guide to the Roman Remains in Britain by Roger J.A. Wilson (Constable, 2002, 4th Ed.);
• Chronicle of the Roman Emperors by Chris Scarre (Thames & Hudson, London, 1995);
• Chronology of the Ancient World by E.J. Bickerman (Thames & Hudson, London, 1980);
• The Shell guide to British Archaeology by Jacquetta Hawkes (Michael Joseph, 1986);
• The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965);
• Air Reconnaissance of North Britain by J.K. St. Joseph in J.R.S. xli (1951) pp.52-65.

Map References for Bravoniacvm

NGRef: NY6326 OSMap: LR91

Roman Roads near Bravoniacvm

SE (5) to Appleby Maiden Way: N (15) to Whitley Castle (Whitley Castle, Northumberland) SE (12) to Verteris (Brough-under-Stainmore, Cumbria) W (7) to Brocavvm SE (7) to Castrigg SE (1.5) to Crackenthorpe

Sites near Kirkby Thore (Bravoniacum) Roman Fort

• Kirkby Thore 1 Temporary Camp (1 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Kirkby Thore 2 Temporary Camp (1 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Kirkby Thore 3 Temporary Camp (1 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Crackenthorpe Temporary Fort (2 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Castrigg Signal Station and fortlett (5 km)
  Fortlet and Signal Station
• Appleby In Westmorland Roman Signal Station (9 km)
  Signal Station
• Langwathby Moor Temporary Camp (10 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Brougham Camp (10 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp
• Brougham (Brocavum) Roman Fort (10 km)
  Flavian Auxiliary Fort (AD 69–96) and Vicus
• Warcop Temporary Camp (14 km)
  Marching or Temporary Camp