A typical Roman auxiliary soldiers. Auxiliaries were recruited from across the Empire for their specialist skills and were essential to the defence and maintenance of Hadrian’s Wall © Historic England

Who were auxiliary soldiers?

The Roman army was divided into two basic groups: legionaries and auxiliaries. The former were recruited exclusively from the citizens of the Empire. Britain was home to three legions (units of about 5,000 legionaries) that formed the major strength of the Roman army. However, the Roman army relied heavily upon auxiliary units. These were recruited from the many non-Roman citizens who lived within the Empire – often those who had been recently conquered – or even from tribes living outside the Empire. They served in much smaller groups and were often assigned to tasks such as border control where they might deploy specialist skills such as horsemanship or archery.

The results of this recruitment are commonly seen on Hadrian’s Wall. The Asturians based at Chesters Fort were cavalry troops, perfect for quickly patrolling the flat valley of the river Tyne. Archers from Hama in Syria are recorded at Housesteads and are depicted with their traditional equipment and weaponry. This includes the recurved bow, a shorter, more powerful alternative to traditional Roman straight bows.

The auxilia were not just there to swell the ranks of the army. Their fighting ability complemented that of the Roman citizens in the legions and Hadrian’s Wall simply would not have worked without them.

There were great benefits to service as an auxiliary. The pay was good, if not as high as in the legions. If a recruit could survive the many risks of being at the sharp end of Rome’s wars, it was also a path to citizenship. In return for 25 years’ service, all Roman auxiliaries could achieve honesta missio – an honourable discharge – and receive the same rights as all Roman citizens for themselves and their families. A diploma records that the first generation of soldiers serving in the First Cohort of Dacians received these rights at the end of their service in AD 127.

Sometimes the rewards came in other ways. The cohors I Thracium, also present at Birdsowald in the 3rd century, was granted the title civis romanus (citizens of Rome), which indicates that its soldiers had been granted citizenship en masse, presumably for some exceptional act of service.