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

234 The Roman Army
recruitment and settlement (van Berchem 1952; Jones 1964:52–60; 607–
54; 1417–50; Goodburn and Bartholomew 1976; Luttwak 1976:127–
90; Duncan-Jones 1978; Barnes 1982; Johnson 1983; Williams 1985;
Isaac 1992:161–218).
376 Herodian (2nd–3rd C.AD), 7. 2
(Herodian is describing Maximinus’ personal bravery in a battle against
German tribes in AD 235.) The emperor publicised this battle and his
own courageous role in it by means of despatches to the senate and
people, but in addition ordered that it should be depicted in huge
paintings, which he then erected in front of the senate house so that the
Roman people could see as well as hear what he had done. Afterwards,
the senate had the painting destroyed along with the rest of the
monuments in his honour. There were other battles too where
Maximinus intervened personally and performed deeds of prowess in
battle and was always congratulated for his bravery.
We can trust this account because all our sources are usually very hostile to
Maximinus. He was the first Roman emperor to fight in battle, and in the later
third century it became more difficult to isolate emperors from the realities of
their role as commander-in-chief. In AD 251 Decius was defeated and killed by
the Goths, while in AD 260 Valerian was captured by Shapur I, the Persian king.
377 Aurelius Victor (4th C.AD), The Caesars 33. 33
And the senators were disturbed not only by the common misfortune
of the Roman world but also by the insult to their own order, because
he (Gallienus) was the first, through fear that his own idleness would
result in the transfer of power to the best of the nobles, to forbid
members of the senate to undertake military service or to go to an
army.
Victor’s evidence is suspect because of his hostility to Gallienus and his
enthusiasm for the cause of the senate, and it is doubtful if the emperor formally
decided to exclude senators from military service. Moreover, Victor’s attribution
of motive is questionable. It is likely that in the first instance Gallienus decided
unofficially to employ equestrians to command legions because they had more
military experience. There may in any case have been an insufficient number of
senators competent and willing to serve. There were precedents dating from
the end of the first century AD for the use of equestrians in posts normally held
by senators, although usually in exceptional circumstances (Campbell 1984:404–
8; Gallienus—Pflaum 1976; Osier 1977; nos 378–81).