Pontius Pilate's Real Bodyguard - The Roman Army in Judaea 4 BC - AD 66

Who were the Roman soldiers in Judaea in the early first century AD? The Easter story features probably the most famous appearance of Roman soldiers in the popular consciousness with the assumption - not least from Hollywood - that these were Roman legionaries. In fact, the evidence makes clear that they were not from the legions. These were auxiliaries, the non citizen soldiers, and many were locally recruited.
THis is a look at the Roman province of Judaea, at governors like the Prefect Pontius Pilate, and the soldiers of the garrison. Along the way, we look at the Sebasteni from Samaria, The Italian cohort and teh Augustan cohort.
The title comes from an old nickname for the First Foot, the Royal Scots, the oldest regiment of the line in the British Army - and now part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. They had existed for so long, that they were later nicknamed Pontius Pilate's bodyguard. Today we are looking at the men who actually were in Judaea in the Roman period before the great rebellion against Nero in AD 66.
For those interested in reading more, the first place to look is:-
M. Speidel, 'The Roman army in Judaea under the Procurators,' in M. Speidel, Roman Army Studies. Vol. 2, Mavors, (1992), pp. 224-232
Also of relevance and for the case that the Sebasteni were primarily Samaritans, see:-
S. Mason, 'Why did Judaeans go to war with Rome in 66-67 CE? Realist-Regional perspectives', in P. Tomson & J. Schwartz (eds.), Jews and Christians in the First and Second Centuries: How to write their history (2014), pp. 126-206 and also the same author's 'The Jewish War AD 66-74' (2016).

[@zatoichi1]

Just another day thinking about the Roman Empire. Thank you, Adrian Goldsworthy.

[@kawadashogo8258]

I love that we live in a time where a historian can just get on KZbin and talk about things like this. Like, we don't have to just wait for each of your books to get published, but in addition to the books we can also see you here on a regular basis. I really enjoy these videos. Especially videos like this one about relatively less noted topics that I might not otherwise have thought about. I just love this channel.

[@SamtheIrishexan]

Right. Being old enough to remember doing research projects in school and having to use sources, wikipedia was not accepted for citations lol. I thought for sure human curiosity would win out and the internet would make us all far more intelligent. Unfortunately, it has caused massive changes to culture and is rife with propoganda. Once we find a solution or people settle down I have faith that it will finally be a force for good, a source for truth aboit anything you can think of.

[@dillardlester8111]

One of the things I most appreciate about these presentations (and your books) is how good you are at telling us what we really know and what we don't about these times. Keep them up, please.

[@happycats685]

yes, he stands out! so happy he is making these videos

[@burgundian-peanuts]

Dr. Goldsworthy: we are spectacularly lucky to have your talks available! The content is so much denser, higher-quality, and more authoritative than other history channels.

[@Atrahasis7]

I didnt know you had a youtube channel, Jesus I loved your history books on Rome, Greetings from Portugal.

[@manonymous4737]

I’ve been enjoying listening to your audiobooks while I am at work, they have been a lifesaver, and I have to say Derek Perkins is the greatest choice to narrate them. I finished your book on Caesar and straight away listened to it again.

[@johnhudghton3535]

Completely agree with this. Some time back as a clergyman schooled in ancient history and classical civilisation, I explored which units crucified Jesus. I came to the same conclusion as you. This would account for two things in the gospel accounts 1. The over the top mocking and sheer brutality of the troops towards Jesus 2. The ability of the officer in charge of the crucifixion to make an indication of faith when he saw the way Jesus faced the brutality of his torture and death. It has annoyed me for many years that so many preachers are ignorant concerning the historical detail and draw far too many wrong assumptions based upon "hollywood" style portrayals. The other bugbear of mine is the lack of differentiation between the territories and just whose jurisdiction they were under. Too many TV portrayals of Roman soldiers operating in "peacetime" Galilee etc. Thanks for a clear representation of the subject.

[@tylerrichards6456]

Your book Caesar: Life of a Colossus is one of the finest historical narratives I’ve ever read. So excited to discover you are creating even more content on YT. Love what you do man.

[@Redhand1949]

I have some of your books. Very pleased to discover your channel!

[@anneneill5009]

So glad I stumbled across this channel - just tell me facts without low budget reconstructions involving people who’ve raided the dressing up box staring off into the middle distance.

[@zatoichi1]

Indeed. An informative and intellectually stimulating lecture without nonstop generic stock footage montages created for people who can't pay attention long enough to somebody teaching.

[@antiquityart]

Absolutely fascinating. I wasn't aware of the complexities surrounding auxiliaries and provincial Roman armies outside of germania and Britannia. Could we have a video on the iudaean war, Iotapata, Masada etc by next easter? 😊 There's so much to unpack esp. the credibility of Josephus as a source, latest archeological findings and the myths surrounding the whole campaign. Please 🐇🐣

[@patrickselden5747]

Fascinating, Adrian - there's lots of stuff here I didn't know. Thank you... ☝️😎

[@davidmccarter3429]

As someone with extensive training in history, I am particularly pleased with the constant reminders by Prof. Goldsworthy that our knowledge is fragmentary. It is great when he acknowledges that in so many details we just do not know for sure. This is a sign of a careful historian. I also love how he weaves the literary, inscription, and archaeological evidence together in his narrative and when he notices how British colonial experience in India may have influenced interpretations of the past.

[@northerncaptain855]

Thank you Sir, a superb picture of the Early Roman Empire Period.

[@theodoridi]

❤ very informative. Thanks 🙏

[@lulubelle0bresil]

Wonderful, thank you!

[@nickbozman6948]

Thank you for a great bit of history. please let us know more. well done. kind regards,

[@JonBrownSherman]

One of the best channels on YT!

[@franklucido3252]

Very well done and highly detailed. Thank you.

[@scoon2117]

Thabks man im taking notes! I aleays love to hear the nuances and how reality is always much stranger. If only we could get a true picture of how things were.

[@procinctu1]

Thank you Sir. That was very edifying.

[@danielferguson3784]

Isn't a Italian army unit mentioned in the New Testament somewhere? Cornelius might have been a Legionary Centurion commanding an Auxiliary Cohort ?

[@twanderson7756]

Yes - see my comment above - though we should regard 2nd Italian as an 'independent' regular unit rather than auxiliary.

[@MGBait]

Dr. Goldsworthy, have you identified which unit the centurion who liked to teach the locals Latin came from?

[@GeldardtheGrey]

Really informative, Adrian, thank you.

[@gorygremlin13]

Great lecture

[@fr.michaelknipe4839]

So well done and informative. Thanks for posting👍🏼👍🏼

[@danielferguson3784]

In the civil war at the end of Nero's rule. The soldiers from the east under Vespasian, are said to be softened by luxury of Syria, unused to action, so not often in armour? A regular complaint about the effect of oriental service.

[@KernowekTim]

Fascinating. Thank you. Subbed with pleasure.

[@MrScrotorb]

More please Adrian! I freakin luuurve ittt

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

Fascinating stuff. I think a take away is that for everything we can say with reasonable certainly about the Roman Empire, there's probably an exception somewhere.

[@KeisarillinenTakomo]

Thank you Adrian for these fine videos. Always a pleasure listening facts about my favorite subject, ancient Rome. About X Fretensis, correct me if im wrong but i think it was Fulminata that means thundering...

[@ConradAinger]

On the matter of bodyguards, I have read that King Herod, emulating his master in Rome, actually had a bodyguard of Germans. Is this true? It has occured to me that they might have been auxiliaries, actually keeping an eye on Herod. I cannot remember where I read of this seemingly improbable idea.

[@AdrianGoldsworthytheAuthor]

There was a bodyguard unit of Germans and Gauls. Greeks tend to refer to both as Celtoi, so it isn't always clear precisely what the sources mean. These had originally been given to Cleopatra by Mark Antony. After defeating them, Octavian/Augustus gave them to Herod. The latter also seems to have recruited other foreign soldiers, including Thracians and perhaps other Gauls and Germans. Remember this is all happening after a couple of decades of civil wars. There were probably a fair few mercenary/allied/proto-auxiliary units knocking around looking for employment.

[@ConradAinger]

@AdrianGoldsworthytheAuthor Many thanks I graduated the year before last. Modern History, but of course my interest in history goes beyond the modern. Though I haven't read any of your fiction yet, I shall soon be putting that right.

[@danielferguson3784]

Such German Guards certainly were Auxiliaries. They could not be Romans.

[@terrywashington9411]

Wow 😮 I love this history of biblical presentations.thank you, I am a historian buff.

[@WagesOfDestruction]

Assuming a person joined the Roman army as a soldier, could he move between units?

[@AdrianGoldsworthytheAuthor]

Depends on their rank - and on the period. Normal for equestrian officers, common for legionary centurions - have a look at my 'Two Centurions' video for some examples. Less evidence elsewhere. We know of some sailors who were transferred into a legion because there was a dispute over whether or not they were entitled to the better discharge bonus due to legionaries. Also there is Tiberius Claudius Maximus, who was a legionary and then a junior officer of auxiliary cavalry. One day, I will see about doing a video on this - probably not for a while though.

[@leonhale8425]

At the time of Paul,s [Shael] arrest there is given account of a number of footmen and calvary that took him to Caseara

[@Wien1938]

I do wonder how many of the mercenary units (for want of a better term) from the days of the Hellenistic kings were simply transferred into Roman or client service?

[@andrewmckenna9586]

Super interesting

[@Catonius]

a little obscure but would love a presentation about apatropaic imagery.

[@michaelclarke1792]

The Royal Scots Regiment, the oldest Regiment in the British Army, were nicknamed ‘Pontius Pilates Bodyguard!’

[@FKYT]

That's in the video just after 3 minutes lol

[@thejohnbeck]

about the "recruitment is messy", "but centurion, they said i'd be in that other role" "thank your recruiter"

[@Reziac]

One might think this would be a dry topic, but... it definitely was not. You bring it to life. Also, I did not know Callan was out on DVD....

[@AdrianGoldsworthytheAuthor]

I have had those for a while. One set has the surviving episodes from the Black and White series and the other the Colour series. If memory serves, quite a few episodes were wiped, so the narrative jumps a bit.

[@Reziac]

@@AdrianGoldsworthytheAuthor Huh. I'll have to look for those. Thanks! Also, subbed. :)

[@joebombero1]

I believe the officer class would have been Roman, as the French Foreign Legion is run today.

[@Mark-Bretlach]

replace the creaky chair please, still enjoyed your talk, didn't know much about the auxiliaries, thanks

[@PeterOConnell-pq6io]

Ditto previous comments complementing the scholarship underlying your presentation. I hadn't appreciated the fact despite the Romans empire-wide policy of offering incentives for non-citizens to serve as auxiliaries, Jews, folks historically renowned for their martial skills, weren't recruited. Small wonder how that pent up excess of under-employed military potential, left to its own devices, and antagonized by Roman policies, exploded into revolt in 66AD.

[@r0ky_M]

When Adrian covers the details of Pilate's teneurship in a future episode, I'd like to know how realistic it would be for a Praefectus of Judea to release a convicted insurrectionist/murderer slated for crucifixion- which the N.T. claims for Barabbas.

[@hippopotamus6765]

It certainly has the fingerprints of a hellenised Jewish story. Just another Greek tragedy.

[@AdrianGoldsworthytheAuthor]

We will look at that one day. With most things like this, there are not many simple answers and there is a lot we do not know.

[@hippopotamus6765]

The whole story of Pilate is BS. No evidence to support any of it.

[@zatoichi1]

I'm curious which world you live in where only "realistic" events occur. From my study of history, most of the events recorded in history are in some way an aberration or something phenomenonally extraordinary and this is why it is recorded after all. How often do you read chronicles of the ordinary events in your region?

[@r0ky_M]

@@zatoichi1 NT scripture is not known for historical reliability and both Philo and Josephus describe a very different Pontius Pilate to the biblical version. Biblical scholars like Dr. Ehrman will even point this out, but I'd also like to hear Dr. Goldworthys Roman knowledge perfective on the matter much more so than yours.

[@mqcapps]

I know you're skeptical about ancient claims without the notarized press statement.. which is good.... so my question is the gospels talk about Jesus crucifixion, images of Tiberius in the temple etc, therefore was it Roman auxiliaries who performed the arrest and crucifixion as one gospel source mentioned that it was a roman "cohort" (speira) plus temple guards who did the arrest in the garden of Gethsemane,

[@sarahslibrary2024]

Thanks

[@davidphillips6803]

I've read from different sources that the tenth legion was stationed in the area of Judea around the time of Christ and several years after that.

[@AdrianGoldsworthytheAuthor]

People write some very imaginative stuff, but this goes against all the evidence. Legio X Fretensis was one of - usually 4 - legions in Syria for much of the first century. It was stationed at Jerusalem AFTER the destruction of the Temple and the fall of the city in AD 70. Before the big rebellion, Judaea's governor was an equestrian (the social class one down from the Senate). A legion was commanded by a senator. In this period a senator would not be placed under command of an equestrian.

[@carveraugustus3840]

Read Tom holland's book, PAX, super interesting. Buy Adrian's book on Philip and Alexander Good stuff so far. I absolutely love the year of the 4 emperors Julius Tiberius Alexander and Vespasian and Titus and the war in Judea All super interesting

[@timmccormack710]

Pontius Pilate, a name or a title? Pilate, a Roman cap, Pontius an administrator of the college of Pontiuses that regulated the religions of Rome. A Capped Pontius.

[@twanderson7756]

Adrian - you've missed Cohors Secunda Civium Romanorum, ie quite possibly Italian Roman citizens and thus high status, at Caesarea when noted by Acts 10. Could well have been Pilate's bodyguard who would have accompanied him on his progresses - and, who knows, might have provided soldiers for the Resurrection. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eZybeKuZjqx1d5osi=-VZu8kw5jadrKJ8y

[@happycats685]

Gratius tibi ago!

[@stuartjackson8091]

the nickname of the royal Scots goes back to when they started in French service in 1633, made up of the regiment's of the green brigade that were a Scots contingent fighting for the Swedish, they had a argument as to was the oldest regiment, the Scots guards saying they were related to the old Scots body guard of the French kings, and the note sure but I think either French or Swiss united slagging them off by calling them Pontus pilots bodyguard, I could be wrong but its something along those lines.

[@lemokemo5752]

Very topically selected.

[@danielferguson3784]

It seems a little strange to use auxiliary troops so near to their recruiting ground, when usually they were posted well away, so as to not be a focus for revolt. Local rivalries would support removing such troops, & bringing in others without any local entanglements, at least at first, a more local character only beginning to appear with later generational enlistment. Even here though the younger generations may inherit many aspects of their ancestors culture & ethnicity, as well as their DNA. We cannot automatically assume hostility between a population & occupying troops, because of local rivalry between ethnic groups etc. I can't think that the Roman administration would allow such an unstable situation to develop or continue for long. The Ceasaria - Sebastia complaint in the time of Claudius shows this. Rather the Romans put troops into an area to police it & keep the peace, not to promote disaffection.

[@r0ky_M]

Perhaps the rivalry/antipathy between Jews and Samaritans worked in Romes favour by having Samaritans as auxillia in efforts to prevent Jewish revolt.

[@lonnietoth5765]

Who were the fake ones ?

[@GoogleUserOne]

I CLAUDIUS SNAKE INTRO!

[@GeldardtheGrey]

I CLAVDIVS you mean. 😉

[@wolfa5151]

Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool.

[@josebonifacio7292]

😮Shit...past😮👹

[@barbararice6650]

I doubt a far flung empire operated like that in dem der days, however I don't know how it did, Roman was a local not a Roman thing to the Judeans i guess 😑

[@urMom4sherriff]

Noice.