The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook
The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook
The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook
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152 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>Army</strong><br />
provision for the accommodation of wives and children or to take<br />
account of them in the transfer of legions to new bases. Although many<br />
soldiers doubtless remained unmarried, many others did form unions<br />
and regarded themselves as married men. This will have become more<br />
common as the legions settled into permanent bases, while soldiers’<br />
families lived in nearby canabae or other settlements. <strong>The</strong>refore the<br />
status of a soldier’s ‘wife’ and children, and rights concerning the<br />
acquisition and leaving of property, assumed greater importance.<br />
Emperors tended to deal with the problem of military marriages in a<br />
piecemeal fashion as individual difficulties were brought to their<br />
attention, and there was no decisive action until Septimius Severus swept<br />
away the prohibition, probably in AD 197. By then its relevance had<br />
been undermined by concessions made to soldiers in respect of making<br />
a will and inheritance rights. Severus, however, after his violent<br />
usurpation of power, wished to cement the army’s loyalty by a dramatic<br />
gesture of goodwill (Campbell 1978).<br />
251 CIL 3. 3271, inscription, Teutoburgium (Dalj), Pannonia, 1st<br />
C.AD<br />
To Tiberius Claudius Valerius, son of Brittus, decurion of the second ala<br />
of Aravaci, from Spain, fifty years of age, thirty years of military service,<br />
and to Claudia Januaria, his wife, and to Claudia Hispanilla, his daughter,<br />
both still living, in accordance with his will, Flaccus, decurion, his brother,<br />
and Hispanilla, his daughter, heirs, had this erected.<br />
252 ILS 2389, inscription, Lugdunum (Lyon), Lugdunensis<br />
To the spirits of the departed and the everlasting memory of Celerinius<br />
Fidelis, a citizen from Batavia, soldier of Legion XXX (Ulpia Victrix),<br />
clerk of the procurator of the province of Lugdunensis, who lived forty<br />
years, and when he died left three surviving children. Celerinius<br />
Augendus, outstanding man, holder of the equestrian military offices,<br />
and Maturinia Pia, arranged for the erection of this (monument) to a<br />
dutiful brother and a beloved husband, and made the dedication while<br />
it was still under construction.<br />
253 CIL 7. 229=RIB 594, inscription, Bremetenacum (Ribchester),<br />
Britain<br />
Covered by this earth is she who once was Aelia Matrona and lived<br />
twenty-eight years, two months, eight days, and Marcus Julius Maxim-