Cohors prima Flavia Canathenorum [sagittaria] [milliaria] ("1st Flavian cohort of Canathaens, archers, 1000 strong") was a Roman auxiliarycohort of infantry.
Name
Flavia: Flavian. The Imperial family name shows a link to the emperors Vespasian, Titus or Domitian. The unit was probably raised during the reign of Vespasian.[1]
Canathenorum: Canathans. At the time the unit was raised, the recruits came from the city of Canatha and the nearby area.[1]
sagittariorum or sagittaria: Archers.
milliaria: 1000 strong. A Cohors milliaria peditata had a nominal strength of 800, a Cohors milliaria equitata of 1040. On the military diplomas the sign is used instead of milliaria.
Since there is no indication for equitata, the unit was a Cohors milliaria peditata (infantry unit) with a nominal strength of 800 men.
Military diplomas
The unit is attested on military diplomas for the province of Raetia issued in 116, 116/121, 125/128, 139, 151/170, 154/161, 156, 157, 157/161, 159/160, 160, 162, 166 and 167/168.[2][3]
Sorviodurum (Straubing): The unit was stationed here in the 2nd and 3rd century.[5]
Tiles with the stamp C I F C were found in Eining and Kösching, tiles with the stamp COH I CAN in Regensburg-Kumpfmühl and Sorviodurum (CILIII, 11992).[4]
Attested personnel
The following personnel is attested on diplomas or inscriptions:[4]
Commanders
Aelius [.] (ca. 162): he is listed on the military diploma (CILXVI, 118)
Farkas István Gergő: THE ROMAN ARMY IN RAETIA Dissertation, University of Pécs Faculty of Humanities 2015, P. 151–152, 243–259, 409-412 (PDF 19,1 MB, P.154-155, 246-262, 412-415)
John Spaul: Cohors² The evidence for and a short history of the auxiliary infantry units of the Imperial Roman Army, British Archaeological Reports 2000, BAR International Series (Book 841), ISBN978-1841710464
