- The Roman Fire Brigade, known as the Vigiles Urbani, was created to protect Rome and the ports of Ostia and Portus.
History
- The Vigiles were created by Augustus in circa 6-7 BCE, to form a Fire Brigade at the same time as Rome’s Police Force, the Cohortes Urbanae.
- Their organisation was copied from the Fire Brigade of Alexandria, in Egypt.
- Augustus levied a Tax on the sale of Slaves of 4%.
Organisation
- Prefectus Vigilum
- The Prefectus Vigilum was the Commander, who was an Equestrian
- SubPraefectus
- To assist the Prefect.
- Brigade
- The Brigade had an approximate force of 3,500 men.
- The Brigade was divided into 7 Cohorts.
- Cohort
- Each Cohort had 7 Centuries of approximately 500 men.
- Each Cohort was responsible for 2 of the 14 Districts of Ancient Rome.
- In 205 CE, Septimius Severus doubled the number of Cohorts to 14.
- Century
- Each Century had between 70-80 men.
- A Vexillatio of four centuries was sent for a tour of duty of four months to Portus and Ostia.
Location
- The known location of 4 Cohorts are:
- Cohors I: opposite the Saepta Julia.
- Cohors III: On the Collis Viminalis (one of the Seven Hills of Rome)
- Cohors IV: near the Baths of Caracalla.
- Cohors V: On the Caelian Hill (another of the Seven Hills of Rome
Portus and Ostia
- A Vexillatio of four centuries was sent to the ports for a tour of duty lasting four months.
- Two centuries were based at Portus and two at Ostia.
- Their role would have been to protect the large number of Warehouses, where Goods for shipping were held.
Equipment
- The Vigiles had pumps, buckets, hooks (for pulling down burning material), picks, mattocks and axes.
- They used a ballistae for knocking down burning houses and creating firebreaks.
- And they operated a mobile Siphon.
The Crew
- Milites
- The Vigiles were called Milites (soldiers)
- They were issued with buckets, hooks, pumps and axes. They could use Ballistae to knock down burning houses. Householders were also required to have firefighting equipment.
- Siphonarius
- He operated a water pump with an Aquarius who supervised the supply of water.
- Medicii
- There were four doctors attached to each cohort.
- Vicitimarii
- There were also priests in each cohort.
Duties
1. Rome’s Firemen
- The Vigiles had a ‘Sypho’, a fire engine team of horses with a cart containing a reservoir of water and a pump. They also carried buckets, and formed teams to pass water from the water fountain bowls.
- They also enforced the fire regulations, every household was obliged to keep a supply of water in the event of a fire. Citizens could be beaten if they were found not to have conformed.
2. Nightwatchmen
- The Vigiles operated primarily at night.
- Apart from watching for fires, the Vigiles also had to maintain order. They raised the alarm in case of riots, caught runaway Slaves, and acted as a deterrence to petty crime.
Great Fire of Rome (64 CE)
- The Vigiles were unable to control the Great Fire of Rome that lasted for 6 days.
- Almost one third of Rome was burnt.
- As a result, Nero passed new fire regulations to provide the Vigiles with greater access to water.
- The regulations prohibited shared walls between newly built properties, all new buildings had to be built in brick and wide Boulevards were created to isolate future fires.
Image above: Fire Brigade in attendence at a fire in Arras, France.
Map: Saepta Julia, Rome