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

194 The Roman Army
Rome) even though they were still serving in the army. Later, diplomas
were issued both to serving soldiers and to veterans, and from Trajan’s
reign onwards only to veterans since all soldiers now received their
benefits only on the completion of service (unless they performed
particularly creditably—text no. 326). However, although diplomas
were issued to praetorians and urban soldiers at least from Vespasian’s
reign, the evidence suggests that legionaries did not normally receive
them (text no. 329), and it is possible that not all praetorian and
auxiliary veterans received them, but only those who made a specific
request or had a special need, and that they had to pay for their issue
themselves. Perhaps they intended to settle in an area distant from the
base of their original unit and needed clear proof of their status; or, in
the case of praetorians, veterans requiring a diploma may have intended
to settle where they were likely to marry a non-Roman woman.
Diplomas provide important evidence not only for the record of
individual soldiers but also for the organization of the Roman army,
recruitment and settlement patterns, the history and location of auxiliary
units, and the tenure of provincial governorships (CIL 16 and
supplement; Mann 1972; Mann and Roxan 1988; Roxan 1978; 1981;
1985; 1986; Eck and Wolff 1986).
320 Augustus, Res Gestae 3. 3
There were about five hundred thousand Roman citizens who swore
the military oath to me. Rather more than three hundred thousand of
these I settled in colonies or sent them back to their home towns when
they had completed their service, and to all of them I allocated land or
granted money as a reward for their military service.
See also texts nos 18–19 for Augustan expenditure on discharged soldiers, and
the establishment of the military treasury.
321 ILS 9060, with Mann and Roxan 1988, tablet, Fayum, Egypt,
AD 122
In the consulship of Manius (?) Acilius Aviola and Pansa, on 4 January,
Titus Haterius Nepos, prefect of Egypt, granted honourable discharge
on the completion of his military service to Lucius Valerius Noster,
cavalryman of the ala of Vocontians, troop of Gavius.
(Second hand) I have read everything written above, and I have
granted honourable discharge, 4 January.