12.06.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>The</strong> army in the later empire 235<br />

378 CIL 3. 3424=ILS 545, inscription, Aquincum (Budapest), Lower<br />

Pannonia, AD 267<br />

To the Genius of Emperor Publius [Licinius Gall]ienus Unconquered<br />

Augustus, Clementius Silvius, most eminent man, acting in place of the<br />

governor, and Valerius Marcellinus, prefect of a legion, defender<br />

(protector) of our emperor, acting in place of the legate, townsmen<br />

from the province of Raetia, happily willingly and deservedly fulfilled<br />

their vow, in the consulship of Paternus and Archesilaus.<br />

Here two equestrians have taken over positions normally held by senators, but<br />

as the wording shows, this was still regarded as a temporary expedient. <strong>The</strong><br />

protectores seem to have been officers or prospective officers attached to the<br />

person of the emperor. By the time of Diocletian they constituted a personal<br />

bodyguard of which the emperor himself was the commander.<br />

379 CIL 8. 2615=ILS 1194, inscription, Lambaesis, Africa,<br />

AD 260 (?)<br />

In honour of Jupiter Best and Greatest and the other immortal gods<br />

and goddesses, Gaius Macrinius Decianus, most distinguished man,<br />

legate of the Emperors with propraetorian power of the provinces of<br />

Numidia and Noricum, (set this up) after the slaughter and rout of the<br />

Bavares and the capture of their notorious leader, a people who under<br />

the united rule of four kings had broken into the province of Numidia,<br />

first in the area of Millev, second on the boundary of Mauretania and<br />

Numidia, and on a third occasion with the Quinquegentiani peoples of<br />

Mauretania Caesariensis, and also the Fraxinenses, who were ravaging<br />

the province of Numidia.<br />

Texts nos. 379–81 demonstrate the changing circumstances in the government<br />

of the province of Numidia and the command of the III Augusta. Decianus is<br />

the last unambiguous example of a senatorial governor exercising military<br />

responsibilities; text no. 380 shows that the III Augusta was now commanded<br />

by an equestrian prefect (demonstrated by the equestrian title egregius—<br />

‘outstanding man’), text no. 381 that by Diocletian’s time the province was<br />

governed by an equestrian with the official title of governor (praeses), while<br />

another equestrian commanded the legion.<br />

380 CIL 8. 2665=ILS 584, inscription, Lambaesis, AD 270–5<br />

In honour of the good god, the boy (Azizos, the ‘light-bringer’,<br />

apparently an attendant of Apollo) for the welfare of our lord Lucius

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!