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

240 The Roman Army
This rescript is probably of a type common in the law codes, where an emperor
confirms a previous decision. The insistence that veterans’ sons join up would
fit in with the tough measures of Diocletian, who laid upon cities or landowners
the obligation to ensure sufficient recruits annually from their territory. This
should be seen in the context of a general development of hereditary occupational
ties. Lactantius (text no. 383) had denounced the oppression associated with
the military levy under Diocletian, a burden which from the late third century
communities sought to avoid by substituting monetary payments (aurum
tironicum). One way round the difficulty of finding sufficient numbers of recruits
was the absorption into the Roman army of peoples who had fought against
Rome and were then settled on Roman territory.
391 AE 1981. 777, inscription, near Cotiaeum, Asia, c. AD 300
Aurelius Gaius the second, served in Legion I Italica in Moesia, chosen
for Legion VIII Augusta in Germany, (served ?) with Legion I Jovia
Scythica in Scythia and Pannonia; as a recruit served as novice
cavalryman, then as cavalry lance-bearer (lanciarius), orderly (optio)
of a centurion of the third rank, orderly of a senior centurion, orderly
of a [chief centurion (?)], orderly of the imperial companions (comites)
[ _ _ _ ] of Legion I Jovia Scythica, travelled round the empire, to Asia,
Caria [ _ _ _ ] Lydia, Lycaonia, Cilicia [ _ _ _ ] Syria Phoenice, Arabia,
Palestine, Egypt, Alexandria, India [ _ _ _ ] Mesopotamia, Cappadocia
[ _ _ _ ] Galatia, Bithynia, Thrace [ _ _ _ ] Moesia, the territory of the
Carpi [ _ _ _ ] Sarmatia on four occasions, Viminacium [ _ _ _ ] the
territory of the Goths on two occasions, Germany [ _ _ _ ] Dardania,
Dalmatia, Pannonia [ _ _ _ ] Gaul, Spain, Mauretania [ _ _ _ ] then I
progressed and after [all] these [troubles (?)] I came to my native
community, Pessinus, where I was reared, and am now living in the
[village] of Cotiaeum [ _ _ _ with (?)] Macedonia (his daughter?); from
the proceeds of my labours, I have set up this stone in honour of Julia
Arescusa my own dearest wife, as a memorial until the resurrection.
Farewell everyone.
Aurelius had served as a cavalryman in the lanciarii, who had probably been
organized by Diocletian as part of the comitatus. In his long military career, in
the record of which there are several gaps because of the damaged state of the
inscription, he had visited at least twenty-three provinces or dioceses, four
towns, and five regions situated outside Roman territory. He served in Legion
I Jovia Scythica, which was recruited by Diocletian and based at Noviodunum;
moreover the campaigns in which he participated against the Sarmatians, Goths,
Germans, and in Mesopotamia, India, and Egypt, suggest a date in the reign of
Diocletian, probably around AD 300. Aurelius was apparently a Christian
serving in the army, before Christianity had been officially adopted.