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

The army, the local community, the law 159
he does not formally accept it, let him be disinherited. Then in the second
rank let [ _ _ _ ] Antonius [ _ _ _ ], my brother, be my heir, and let him
formally accept my inheritance within the next sixty days. And to him, if
he does not become my heir, I grant and bequeath seven hundred and
fifty silver denarii. As steward of my military property with the purpose
of collecting my assets and handing them over to Antonia Thermutha,
mother of my above-mentioned heir, I appoint Hierax, son of Behex,
soldier on double pay of the same ala, troop of Aebutius. And she is to
keep the property until my son and heir is free from guardianship (i.e.
until he comes of age) and receives it from her. To him (Hierax) I grant
and bequeath fifty silver denarii. I grant and bequeath to Antonia
Thermutha, mother of my abovementioned heir, five hundred silver
denarii. I grant and bequeath to my prefect fifty silver denarii. In respect
of my slave Cronio after my death, if he has handled everything properly
and handed it over to my above-mentioned heir or steward, then I wish
him to be set free and I wish the five per cent tax (for manumissions) to
be paid on his behalf out of my estate.
Let all fraud and deceit be absent from this will.
Nemonius, soldier on double pay, troop of Marius, purchased the estate
and its assets for the purpose of making the will; Marcus Julius Tiberinus,
soldier on pay and a half, troop of Valerius, held the scales, Turbinius,
standard-bearer of the troop of Proculus, acted as a witness (?).
The will was made at Alexandria in Egypt in the Augustan camp,
winter quarters of Legion II Traiana Brave and the Mauretanian ala,
on 27 March, in the consulship of Rufinus and Quadratus.
(Second hand, in Greek) I, Antonius Silvanus, the above-mentioned,
have examined my will written out above, and it has been read through
and it satisfies me as it stands above.
(Various other hands) I, Nemonius [ _ _ _ ], soldier on double pay,
troop of Marius, signed (?).
Julius Tiberinus, soldier on pay and a half, troop of Valerius.
Turbinius, cavalryman, standard-bearer of the troop of Proculus.
Valerius [ _ _ _ ] Rufus, cavalryman, standard-bearer [ _ _ _ ]
I, Maximus, soldier on double pay [ _ _ _ ] signed.
[ _ _ _ ]
(In Greek) I, Antonius Silvanus [signed].
In a Roman will the heir was responsible for the entire estate like a modern
executor. This will was made during military service but conforms with normal
legal practice. The soldier, and probably his family, are Roman citizens, but he
cannot be legally married. He does not therefore refer to Antonia Thermutha
as ‘wife’, but as ‘mother of my heir’, since to use the term ‘wife’ might invalidate