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

The army, the local community, the law 177
anyone who, after this edict, is caught giving or taking any of the things
mentioned above. [Year ?] of the lord Hadrian Caesar, 8 Thoth.
Mamertinus’ frank admission of hostile criticism of the army’s behaviour, and
the series of edicts issued by Prefects of Egypt about these matters, are a further
indication of the government’s inability over a long period to deal with the
problem of illegal and excessive requisitions, for which soldiers had a major
responsibility.
294 Pliny (1st–2nd C.AD), Letters 10. 77–8
Pliny to Emperor Trajan. You have acted with great wisdom, sir, in
issuing instructions to Calpurnius Macer, distinguished man, to send a
legionary centurion to Byzantium. Consider if you think that we ought
to look after the interests of the people of Juliopolis in the same way.
This community, although very small, bears extremely heavy burdens
and suffers more severe injustices precisely because of its comparative
weakness. Whatever help you give to the people of Juliopolis will be of
benefit to the whole province. For they are situated at the head of the
route into Bithynia and put up with countless people travelling through
the town.
Trajan to Pliny. Such is the situation of Byzantium with a huge crowd
of travellers converging on it from all sides, that in accordance with the
precedent established earlier, I decided that it was necessary to assist its
government with the protection of a legionary centurion. If I decide to
help the people of Juliopolis in the same way, I shall burden myself with
a precedent, for many other cities, particularly the weaker ones, will
seek the same kind of assistance. I have sufficient confidence in your
abilities to think that you will take every precaution to ensure that they
are not exposed to injustice. However, if anyone has acted contrary to
my rules of conduct, they should be brought to book at once; but, if
their offences are too serious for adequate punishment to be exacted on
the spot, then if they are soldiers, you should inform their commanding
officers what you have discovered, or, if they are persons passing through
on their way back to Rome, you may write to me.
An important road from Nicaea ran along the northern bank of the river
Sangarius through south-east Bithynia to Juliopolis, thence to Galatia and the
army camps in Cappadocia. Communities situated near major roads probably
suffered more than most, because of the passage of officials and soldiers. It is
significant that Trajan assumes that soldiers may be the main culprits in making
improper demands on the local population for travel facilities. This problem
had existed from the time of Augustus, and we find Libuscidianus, the governor
of Galatia at the start of Tiberius’ reign, lamenting that he has to tighten up