Haplogroup E3b1a2 as a Possible Indicator of Settlement in Roman Britain by Soldiers of Balkan Ori

[Loki]

Haplogroup E3b1a2 as a Possible Indicator of Settlement in Roman Britain by Soldiers of Balkan Origin

Steven C. Bird

Abstract

The invasion of Britain by the Roman military in CE 43, and the subsequent occupation of Britain for nearly four centuries, brought thousands of soldiers from the Balkan peninsula to Britain as part of auxiliary units and as regular legionnaires. The presence of Haplogroup E3b1a-M78 among the male populations of present-day Wales, England and Scotland, and its nearly complete absence among the modern male population of Ireland, provide a potential genetic indicator of settlement during the 1st through 4th Centuries CE by Roman soldiers from the Balkan peninsula and their male Romano-British descendants. Haplotype data from several major genetic surveys of Britain and Ireland are examined, analyzed and correlated with historical, epigraphic and archaeological information, with the goal of identifying any significant phylogeographic associations between E3b1a-M78 and those known Romano-British settlements and military posts that were associated specifically with Roman soldiers of Balkan origin. Studies by Cruciani et al. (2007), Perečić et al. (2005), and Marjanovic et al. (2005), examining the distribution of E3b1a-M78 and E3b1a2-V13 in the Balkans, are analyzed further to provide evidence of phylogeographic associations between the E3b1a2 haplotypes identified within the Balkans by these studies and those regions of the Balkans occupied first by the Roman army in antiquity. E3b1a2-V13 is found to be at its highest frequency worldwide in the geographic region corresponding closely to the ancient Roman province of Moesia Superior, a region that today encompasses Kosovo, southern Serbia, northern Macedonia and extreme northwestern Bulgaria. The Balkan studies also provide evidence to support the use of E3b1a-M78 (in the present study) as a close proxy for the presence of E3b1a2-V13 (representing 85% of the parent E3b1a-M78 clade) in both the Balkans and in Britain.

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Please note that this clade is now named E1b1b1a2

[Loki]

Thracian soldiers in Roman Britain

Epigraphic evidence for the presence of individual
Thracian soldiers, as well as for Thracian military units
of the Roman army, is found in several locations in
Britain. Jarrett (1969) traced the probable careers and
locations of thirty-seven separate Thracian units in the
Roman military, ranging from the provinces of Syria to
Britannia. He noted the difficulty of determining
exactly how many Thracian units were formed in total,
because of the Roman military’s unmethodical habit of
naming many of the newly raised units the cohors I
Thracum (First Thracian Cohort), regardless of how
many of these units with the same name had existed
previously. These Thracian cohorts initially were raised
for service (probably) in Germany; some later were
assigned to service in Britain. The cohors I Thracum eq.
(mounted cohort of Thracian cavalry), is recorded on a
tombstone in Cologne from the first century; this unit
had moved to Britain by 122 and was still there under
Severus (r. 193-211). The cohors II Thracum moved
from Germany to Britain between the mid-first century
and CE 103, perhaps as a result of the Bouddican revolt.
Only one seventh cohort is known, the cohors VII
Thracum. It was attested in Britain in 122 and 135 and
in Brittania Inferior (corresponding to northern
England, with its capital at York) in the third century.
Among the alae (“wings” of cavalry), the ala I Thracum
was attested in Britain in 103 and 124; tombstones from
Colchester (about CE 45) and Cirencester (CE 62) attest
to the unit’s presence in Britain in the mid-first century
and an engraved trulla (washbasin or ladle), possibly
Flavian, places the unit in Isca Silurum (Caerleon,
Gwent) in the late 1st century.
25

The unit was moved to
lower Germany (Germania inferior) by the mid-second
century and was still there in 219 (Jarrett, 1969, p 218).

[Loki]

The unit was moved to
lower Germany (Germania inferior) by the mid-second
century and was still there in 219 (Jarrett, 1969, p 218).

Interesting ... the area of Germania inferior is where my paternal line comes from since I know, in 1596. Well, actually just to the north of that.

[Treffie]

Abergele in north Wales has an abnormally large amount of this group.

[Guapo]

Loki, are you related to Libre?

[Aemma]

So I gather you also share some heritage with our great friend Tonsor as well then!

I found this from Wikipedia--very interesting in light of having read the article you quoted above, Loki:

Hero - the Thracian Horseman
The Thracian Hero, also known as the Thracian Horseman, was an abstract figure. The Hero was a central figure in Thracian religion as protector of life and health of the people. The Thracian Hero was always depicted on a horse, usually slaying an object with a spear. Stone reliefs can be seen in Bulgaria's museums originating from Thracian times, through the Roman period and into the middle ages. The Christian church succeeded in hiding the Thracian religious altars and Gods, but the culture and rituals still continued. The Thracian Horseman was represented as St. George, on a horse slaying a dragon.

So then, how truly English is the figure of St. George then? (This should make Ossi speak up! )

Very interesting article though. Makes one think about our more accurate origins, if you will.

Hails to the Thracian Horsemen!

[Aemma]

Loki, are you related to Libre?

And to you as well Guapo! [Poor Loki! ]

[Osweo]

I wonder if the haplogroup was more widespread in the Balkans as a whole, before the Voelkerwanderung?

Either way, Illyrians should be getting as much or more of your attention as Thracians;

http://www.roman-britain.org/military/coh2del.htm

Dacians too, perhaps;
http://www.roman-britain.org/military/coh1dac.htm

Pannonians;
http://www.roman-britain.org/military/alaipansab.htm

Thracians on the Wall too;
http://www.roman-britain.org/military/coh2thr.htm

Aem, nobody ever thought St George was an English story! It's common knowledge that the cult was picked up on the Crusades!

[Guapo]

And to you as well Guapo! [Poor Loki! ]

I'm not E3b so not poor Loki.

[Aemma]

I'm not E3b so not poor Loki.

I thought I read something about Serbians and Albanians in that article above?? Are you sure you're not related to Loki, Guapo?