The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook

174 Suetonius (1st–2nd C.AD), Augustus 25. 3
The army in the field 107
As military decorations he rather more readily bestowed ornaments
and necklaces, which were valuable for the gold and silver they
contained, than rampart and wall crowns, which conferred high
distinction; these he granted as sparingly as possible, and impartially,
and often even to ordinary soldiers.
Augustus apparently attempted to preserve the tradition of awarding military
decorations by merit alone.
175 Josephus (1st C.AD), Jewish War 7. 13–15
Therefore he (Titus) immediately ordered the men appointed for this
purpose to read out the names of soldiers who had performed a
distinguished exploit during the war. (Section 14) Summoning each
man by name, he applauded them as they came forward, being just as
delighted as if it had been his own achievement, granted them gold
crowns, gold necklaces, small gold spears and standards made from
silver, (Section 15) and promoted each man to a higher rank; moreover,
out of the spoils he generously distributed to them silver and gold and
clothing and other booty. When they had all been honoured as he judged
each one deserved, he offered prayers for the entire army, then descended
amid tremendous acclamations and went on to offer sacrifice for his
victory (at Jerusalem).
176 Suetonius, Augustus 24. 2
(Augustus exercised discipline extremely severely) He dismissed the
entire tenth legion in disgrace for insubordination, and he also
disbanded, without the benefits associated with completion of service,
other units which were improperly clamouring for discharge. If any
units abandoned their position in battle, he decimated them and fed
the remainder on barley. If any centurions abandoned their position,
he executed them, just as he did ordinary soldiers; for other kinds of
offences he imposed various humiliating penalties; for example he would
order men to stand all day in front of the general’s headquarters
sometimes clad only in their tunics and without sword-belts, or
sometimes holding a ten-foot pole or even a piece of earth.
After the disorder of the civil wars when discipline was frequently subverted
and soldiers were encouraged to desert their commanders, Augustus attempted
to re-establish traditional military practices and the authority of the imperator.
He needed to show that he was not at the mercy of his troops.