Black Romans in Britain

[wolfinthewood]

oursin has noted that it is 2007 International Blog Against Racism Week.

In his excellent book Staying Power: the History of Black People in Britain (1984) Peter Fryer points out that as early as the mid-third century CE there was a numerus or military division of ‘Moors’, North Africans, stationed on Hadrian’s Wall.

This is recorded in the Notitia Dignitatum, an official register of Roman officials, governors and military commanders.

The entry reads:

Sub Dispositione viri spectabilis Ducis Britanniarum:

***

Per Lineam Valli:

***

Praefectus Numeri Maurorum Aurelianorum. Aballaba.


Translation:

At the disposal of the worthy man the Duke (Commander) of the Britains:

[list of military officers, with their commands]

Along the line of the Wall:

[A further list of officers and commands, including]

The Prefect of the Division of the Aurelian Moors. [Stationed at] Burgh-by-Sands, Cumbria.


These troops will have been recruited in the Roman provinces of Africa and named after one of the Emperors (possibly Marcus Aurelius [121–180]).


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