An Expert in Roman Military Logistics on the Possibility That L. Artorius Castus Took Vexillations from Britain to Armenia

For some time now, whenever the idea is put forward on the very real possibility that L. Artorius Castus took British legionary vexillations from Britain to Armenia under the direction of the British governor Statius Priscus, Antonio Trinchese, a colleague of Dr. Linda A. Malcor, immediately cries foul, claiming that the distance makes such a troop movement highly improbable.   Trinchese continues to hold fast to his view, despite there being ample evidence that he is wrong.  I presented some of this evidence in the following recent blog posts:

https://mistshadows.blogspot.com/2023/12/statius-priscus-from-britain-to-syria.html

https://mistshadows.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-legion-from-rhine-goes-to-armenia.html

https://mistshadows.blogspot.com/2023/11/anthony-birley-on-officers-and-troops.html

As Trinchese has remained unconvinced, and keeps coming up with new reasons why such a transfer of detachments would most likely not have occurred (winter conditions, etc.), I thought it best to consult a scholar whose field of expertise was Roman military logistics - and, indeed, a man who had literally written the book on the subject:

Dr. Jonathan P. Roth is Professor of History at San Jose State University. He received his B.A. in Ancient Near Eastern History and Archaeology from the University of California, Berkeley, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University. He has taught at Tulane University in New Orleans, New York University, and the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Roth has researched, written, and lectured extensively on ancient warfare and warfare in world history. He founded and serves as the Director of San Jose State's Burdick Military History Project. His book Logistics of the Roman Army at War, 264 B.C. to A.D. 235 was published in 1999, and his Roman Warfare, a survey textbook, was published in 2009. From 1983 to 1989, Professor Roth served in the New York Army National Guard. He rose to the rank of second lieutenant and served as a platoon leader, a chemical officer, and a mobilization officer. Professor Roth has been widely recognized for his scholarship and teaching. As a Fulbright Scholar, he studied at the Georg August University in Guttingen, Germany. In 2006, he was honored as San Jose State University's Outstanding Professor.

Because I have been accused repeatedly by Dr. Linda A. Malcor of "leading the witness" or unduly influencing the scholars I correspond with by submitting decidedly slanted/biased questions, I wanted to quote here the exact, unedited email I wrote to Professor Roth regarding the Castus expedition:

"There is consensus among scholars now (including Tomlin and Birley) that the Lucius Artorius Castus whose memorial stone is at Podstrana, Dalmatia took legionary vexillations to Armenia under the British governor Statius Priscus. I don't have trouble with this, especially as an entire legion from Bonn on the Rhine was sent there. Birley in his Viri Militares Moving from West to East in Two Crisis Years (Ad 133 and 162) demonstrated that this kind of thing happened on a regular basis.

Your opinion, if you would kindly give it?"

And Professor Roth's response:

"The Romans certainly would have been capable of making this sort of troop movement from one side of the empire to the other. After all, the Crusaders did it.  The latter, with far more primitive logistics,  marched, and didn't take riverboats, although either is possible in this case."

As for what route the British vexillations under Castus would most likely have taken, I have that from Anthony Birley's MARCUS ARUELIUS: A BIOGRAPHY (p. 126), in the context of Statius Priscus's transfer from Britain to Cappodocia:

"... having probably travelled rapidly up the Rhine and down the Danube, and through Thrace, Bithynia and Galatia."

Prof. Roth added:

"As for the route, we have to guess, of course. The river route is one possibility. After the Balkans one could march. The Romans did move troops across the Channel and the Mediterranean, so in theory they could sail down the coast to the straits and across the Middle Sea. Obviously, weather would be an issue. But long distance marching in the winter is certainly possible."

I, personally, am satisfied with Prof. Roth's answer to my question - and I hope my readers will be also.  We do not have to listen to anyone who states as a fact the extreme improbability of Castus's having taken British detachments to fight in Armenia.