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

Veterans 195
This wooden tablet was perhaps intended as a simple statement of discharge,
enabling a soldier to prove that he was a bona fide veteran; or it may have been
a temporary proof of veteran status until Noster received a bronze diploma. It
is difficult to speculate further since we cannot know if any special circumstances
attached to this case. Cf. texts nos. 329–30.
322 ILS 1986=Smallwood GN 295, diploma, Stabiae, AD 52
Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, chief priest, in the
twelfth year of his tribunician power, acclaimed imperator twenty-seven
times, father of the fatherland, censor, consul for the fifth time, has
granted to the trierarchs and oarsmen who served in the fleet which is
at Misenum under the command of Tiberius Julius Optatus, freedman
of the Emperor, and who were honourably discharged, and whose names
are written below, to them, their children, and their posterity, citizenship
and the right of marriage (conubium) with the wives they had when
citizenship was granted to them, or, if they were unmarried, with those
whom they married afterwards, limited to one wife for each man.
11 December in the consulship of Faustus Cornelius Sulla Felix and
Lucius Salvidienus Rufus Salvianus.
To the common sailor Sparticus Dipscurtus, son of Diuzenus, a
Bessian.
Recorded and authenticated from the bronze plaque which has been
affixed at Rome on the Capitoline, on the righthand side of the temple
of the Faith of the Roman people.
(Witnesses) Lucius Mestius Priscus, son of Lucius, of the tribe
Aemilia, from Dyrrhachium, Lucius Nutrius Venustus, from
Dyrrhachium, Gaius Durrachinus Anthus, from Dyrrhachium, Gaius
Sabinius Nedymus, from Dyrrhachium, Gaius Cornelius Ampliatus,
from Dyrrhachium, Titus Pomponius Epaphroditus, from Dyrrhachium,
Numerius Minius Hylas, from Thessalonice.
This diploma, which refers to sailors of the fleet, who had the same kind of
benefits as auxiliaries, is the earliest known example. Claudius, who had a
reputation for generosity in extending citizenship, probably turned what had
been a concession to individuals or small groups, into a regular part of the
conditions of military service.
323 Dušanic, 1978=Roxan 1985:79, diploma,
Negoslavci, Pannonia, AD 65 (Plates 13 and 14)
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, son of the divine Claudius,