The Vetonnes were a Hispanic tribe from the Roman province of Lusitania, who inhabited the upper Tagus valley to the immediate south of Salamanca in western Spain. This unit is first attested in Britain on the tombstone of one Lucius Vitellius Tancinus, a trooper in the ala from Bath sometime during the latter half of the first century and they were probably moved to South Wales sometime before the second century, judging from a diploma found at Caerleon. The tombstone of Candidus, another trooper from Brecon (Cicucium or Y Gaer) in south Wales, has been dated on stylistic grounds to the late-first / early-second centuries, and suggest that they were the first garrison unit following its construction in the mid-70’s. By the late-second century the regiment had been moved to Bowes, and other undated inscriptions from Binchester, probably dating from the early-third century, attest their continued presence in the north of England.

Evidence for the presence of Ala Hispanorum Vettonum civium Romanorum in Britain

1. Burn 95; CIL XVI.48; military diploma, dated: January 19th AD103.
2. Burn 100; CIL XVI.65 military diploma, dated: July 17th AD122.
3. Aquae Sulis (Bath, Avon; RIB 159; c. AD50-70 or Flavian).
4. ?Isca Silurum (Caerleon, Gwent; RIB 2401.1; diploma; AD103).
5. Cicucium (Brecon Gaer, Powys; RIB 403; late 1st/early 2nd C.).
6. Lavatris (Bowes, Durham; RIB 730; AD197-8).
7. Vinovium (Binchester, Durham; RIB 1028 et al; early 3rd C. AD?).