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

218 The Roman Army
main roads did not intersect in the middle, which was usually occupied by the
headquarters of the commanding officer.
353 ILS 6105=MW 486, inscription, Rome, AD 82
In the consulship of Domitian [Augustus for the eighth time] and Titus
Flavius Sabinus, on 13 June (or 15 July), in the Flavian colony of Peace
Deultum, in [the council chamber? _ _ _ ] and Gaius Occeius Niger,
Members of the Board of Two, spoke about the desirability of [offering
the patronage] of our colony to [ _ _ _ Avi]dius Quietus, legate of the
Emperor, most distinguished man, and what they thought ought to be
done in respect of this matter, [they came to the following decision on
this matter]:
Since we have served in Legion VIII Augusta, and after completion
of our [twenty-five years] of service [have been settled] by the most
revered emperor in the colony of Deultum, we should petition him
(Quietus) that through his outstanding kindness [he should deign] to
undertake the patronage of our colony, and that he should permit [a
plaque with a record of this matter] to be placed in his house, [so that
he may himself delight] in his own kindness and so that his own [good
offices] in the enhancement [of our status] may be known. There were
present at the inscribing of the decree (a list of names follows).
Since the text is damaged, the date may be either the ides of June or July.
Deultum in Thrace was a Flavian veteran settlement founded before AD 79.
Veterans of the VIII Augusta are mentioned, but that legion had left the adjoining
province of Moesia in 69 and was stationed in Germany after the civil wars.
The building of the colony, which was probably planned before 69, may have
been delayed by the civil wars, and veterans of the VIII Augusta who had been
intended as the original settlers were then brought back to establish it (Mann
1983:36–7). Or it may be that the veterans were simply sent to a familiar area
close to their former legionary station. ‘Peace’ in the colony’s title presumably
celebrates the end of the civil wars.
354 CIL 3. 1443=Smallwood NH 479, inscription, Sarmizegetusa,
Dacia, 2nd C.AD
[On the authority] of Emperor Caesar Trajan Augustus, son of the divine
Nerva, the Dacian colony was founded by [Legion] V M(acedonica);
Scaurianus, his [legate] with propraetorian power [gave this as a gift.]
The original stone has been lost. This translation follows the restorations
accepted by Smallwood; another version produces:…founded through [Decimus
Terenti]us Scaurianus, his [legate] with propraetorian power.