Cohors VI Nerviorum facts for kids
The Cohors VI Nerviorum was a special Roman army unit, like a team of soldiers. Its name means "Sixth Cohort of the Nervii," and the Nervii were a group of people from what is now Belgium. This unit was a type of Roman infantry (foot soldiers) called a cohort, which usually had about 480 soldiers. They were part of the Roman army's "auxiliary" forces, meaning they were not regular Roman citizens but helped the main army. This cohort served in the Roman province of Roman Britain (which is now England and Scotland) from the 100s AD to the early 400s AD.
Where Did They Serve in Britain?
The Cohors VI Nerviorum spent a lot of time at a fort called Greatchesters. This fort was located on Hadrian's Wall, a famous stone wall built by the Romans across northern Britain. They were based there from the 100s AD to the 300s AD.
Serving on the Antonine Wall
The soldiers of the Cohors VI Nerviorum also served further north in Scotland. Stone carvings, called inscriptions, found on the Antonine Wall tell us that about 480 men from this cohort were stationed at Rough Castle Fort. This was between the years 156 AD and 162 AD. One of their leaders there was a centurion named Flavius Betto. A centurion was a Roman army officer in charge of about 80 soldiers.
Rebuilding Forts
This cohort was also involved in building and repairing Roman forts. For example, they helped rebuild part of the Virosidum fort in what is now North Yorkshire. This work happened around 205 AD to 208 AD. While they were at Virosidum in 205 AD, the commander of the cohort was a man named Lucius Vinicius Pius. He was known as the "Prefect" of the Cohort, which was another type of Roman officer in charge of an auxiliary unit.
