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

210 The Roman Army
service in the consulship of Publius Galerius Trachalus and Tiberius
Catius (AD 68), and in the consulship of Titus Flavius and Gnaeus
Arulenus (AD 69).
(Copied?) on the authorization of Marcus Junius Rufus, prefect of
Egypt, in the consulship of Lucius Nonius Calpurnius Torquatus
Asprenas and Titus Sextius Magius Lateranus, on 1 July, year 13 of
Emperor Caesar Domitian Augustus, Conqueror of the Germans, month
of Epeiph, the seventh day.
At that place (where the original inscription was displayed) Marcus
Valerius Quadratus, son of Marcus, of the tribe Pollia, in the presence
of those men who were to act as witnesses, declared and swore by
Jupiter Best and Greatest and the Genius of the most revered Emperor
Caesar Domitian Augustus, Conqueror of the Germans, that Lucius
Valerius Valens and Valeria Heraclus and Valeria Artemis, the three
children mentioned above, were all born to him during his military
service, that they had been inscribed on the original bronze record, and
that they had acquired Roman citizenship through the benevolence of
the same splendid emperor.
This wooden tablet is part of a diptych and is inscribed on the outer and inner
faces in a way similar to the bronze diplomas certifying military privileges. In
AD 94 Valerius Quadratus copied down Domitian’s edict and then the
certification of discharge of veterans of the X Fretensis; finally he made a
declaration before witnesses of the birth of his three children, who received
Roman citizenship through Domitian’s edict. The damaged text of the interior
face seems to suggest that legionaries of X Fretensis were receiving a statement
of benefits and privileges at this time, but this may have been confined to a
special category, i.e, only those who had joined up in 68 and 69 (Campbell
1984:443–4).
In any event, the language of Domitian’s edict, like that of Octavian, illustrates
his expansive generosity to veterans and their families. If it is true that since
Augustus’ time legionary veterans had received on an ad hoc basis citizenship
for children born in service, Domitian’s edict could have established this formally
as a military privilege. Domitian came to rely more openly on the goodwill and
loyalty of his troops, especially since he found it difficult to trust the senatorial
class, and this edict may have been issued in the aftermath of the revolt in 89 of
Saturninus, governor of Upper Germany.
VETERAN COLONIES
In 47–44 Caesar sought to accommodate about 15,000 of his veterans
on lands in Italy, although he avoided confiscation, and they were settled
in relatively small groups without disruption of the status of existing