Alarii
were the troops of the allies in the Roman army, and were so called because they were
usually stationed in the wings (
alae). The alarii consisted of both horse
and foot soldiers, and were commanded by praefects, in the same manner as the legions
were commanded by tribunes. The cavalry of the allies were called
equites
alarii, to distinguish them from the cavalry of the legions (
equites
legionarii); and the infantry-soldiers were called
cohortes
alariae, to distinguish them from the
cohortes legionariae.