Ala I Ulpia Dromedariorum Milliaria

• The Roman Legions had specialised units for operating in difficult terrain, such as alpine cohorts and desert cohorts.
• The Ala I Ulpia Dromedariorum Milliaria was a Roman Auxiliary Camel Corps trained for operating in the desert in Syria.

Roman Camel Corps

• Ala I Ulpia Dromedariorum Milliaria
  • This unit was based in Syria and documented as being based there during the reign of Hadrian and founded by Trajan.
• Similar Auxiliary units may also have existed in Egypt and in Algeria, North Africa.
• ‘Dromedarii’ meant they were camel mounted troops of the Auxilia.
• ‘Milliaria’ usually meant an ‘Ala Milliaria’ of 720 or 768 Riders, consisting of 24 Turmae of 30 Horses each, or in this case, Camels.

Cohors XX Palmyrenorum

• The Cohors XX Palmyrenorum was a Unit of the Auxilia raised from Palmyra in Syria.
• It was a Cohors Equitata Milliaria, a mixed regiment of Infantry and Cavalry, with 800 infantry and 240 Horse. It was first sent to Dacia.
• Later, when it was based at Dura Europos in Syria, it was recorded as having a small number of dromedarii.

Other specialised units

• Roman Alpine Regiments

Syria