This unit was another part-mounted regiment auxiliary force of governor Petilius Cerialis. They were listed as the late-fourth century occupants of the Wallsend (Segedunum) fort in the Notitia Dignitatum, also evidenced by a couple of altarstones.
The Lingones were originally a Gallic tribe, who lent their name to the Roman area around what is now modern Langres in France (the “Civitas Lingonum”, attested as being part of the province of Lugdunensis I in the “Notitia Galliarum”, a work that is included, together with several other works, in the codices bound together with the manuscripts of our “Notitia Dignitatum”); the unit was presumably originally recruited there. See also the cohors II Lingonum, also stationed along the wall and commanded by a tribune, and the numerus Longovicanorum, commanded by a prefect under the Dux, but not stationed along the wall.
Evidence for the presence of Cohors Quartae Lingonum in Britain
- Military Diplomata – 103AD (RIB 1401.1)
- Military Diplomata 122AD
- Military Diplomata c AD126
- Military Diplomata (AD 158)
- Wallsend (RIB 1299 altar; 1300 altar; Notitia Dignitatum).
RIB 1299 - Altar dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus
To Jupiter, Best and Greatest, the Fourth Cohort of Lingonians, part-mounted, under the command of Julius Honoratus, centurion of the Second Legion Augusta, willingly and deservedly fulfilled its vow.
COH IIII LIN
GONVM EQ
CVI ATTENDIT
IVL HONOR
ATVS 𐆛 LEG II
AVG V S L M
No commentary.
RIB 1300 - Altar dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus
To Jupiter, Best and Greatest, Aelius Rufus, prefect of the Fourth Cohort of Lingonians (set this up).
AEL RVFVS
PRAEF COH
IIII LINGO
NVM
It probably came from Wallsend fort. (See Haverfield, Arch. Ael. 2nd Ser. 16 (1894) 78.)
RIB 1301 - Altar dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus
To Jupiter, Best and Greatest, Cornelius Celer, prefect of the Fourth Cohort of Lingonians, [set this up].
[...]NEL
CELER PR
AEF COH
IIII L[...]
[...]
No commentary.