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

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The army in the later empire 245 rather than twenty-fours years of service. So, on the basis of this evidence we cannot say that Constantine reduced the importance and role of the territorial troops in order to enhance the status of the field army. 395 CTh 7. 20. 2, AD 320 (?) The same Emperor (Constantine). When he had entered the army headquarters and had been greeted by the prefects and tribunes and the most eminent men, an acclamation arose: ‘Constantine Augustus, may the gods keep you safe for us. Your welfare is our welfare. We are speaking the truth. We are speaking on oath’. The assembled veterans shouted out: ‘Constantine Augustus, why have we been made veterans, if we have no special privilege?’ Constantine Augustus said: ‘I ought more and more to increase not diminish the happiness of my fellow-veterans’. Victorinus, a veteran, said: ‘Do not permit us to be subject to compulsory public services and burdens everywhere’. Constantine Augustus said: ‘Tell me more clearly; what are the most serious burdens, which oppress you most persistently?’ All the veterans said: ‘Surely you yourself know’. Constantine Augustus said: ‘Now let it be absolutely clear that through my benevolence all veterans have been granted the right that none of them should be harassed by any compulsory public service, nor by any public labour, nor by any exactions, nor by magistrates, nor by taxes. In whatever markets they do business, they shall not have to pay any taxes on sales. Moreover, tax collectors, who normally make extensive exactions from those in business, are to keep away from these veterans. They are for all time to enjoy repose after their exertions. By means of this same letter we have forbidden our treasury from disturbing any one at all of these men, but they are to be permitted to buy and sell, so that in the peace and repose of our era they may enjoy their privileges unimpaired and enjoy the tranquillity of their old age after their exertions… Given on 1 March, in the community of the Velovoci (?), in the consulship of Constantine Augustus for the sixth time and Constantinus Caesar (AD 320). It has been suggested that this constitution should be dated to AD 326 in the aftermath of the defeat of Licinius (consuls—Constantine VII and Constantius Caesar; in that case the place will be Heraclea). It would be striking that the soldiers’ acclamation mentioned the gods, fourteen years after Constantine had espoused Christianity in AD 312. However Barnes (1982:69) argues for AD 307. Constantine is notably willing to respond to the direct approach of
246 The Roman Army the soldiers, and associates himself with them by using the flattering term ‘fellowveterans’, and by speaking of their deserved peaceful retirement after all the labours of military life. The political relationship of emperor and army had not changed significantly from the first and second centuries. In sum, veterans had a considerable range of exemptions: from the poll and property tax, from compulsory public services and duties on the local council to which they otherwise might have been liable since they owned land, from market taxes, and customs dues. 396 CTh 7. 20. 3, AD 325 (?) The same Emperor (Constantine) to all veterans. In accordance with our instructions, veterans are to receive unoccupied land and they are to hold it tax-free in perpetuity. They are also to receive twenty-five folles in cash in order to buy the necessities of rural life, and in addition a pair of oxen and one hundred modii of assorted seeds. We grant that any veteran who wishes to engage in business should have a sum amounting to one hundred folles tax-free. In addition to these persons, therefore, who are based in farming or business, all you who are without land (?) and have no occupation, should make use of this assistance so that you do not suffer from hardship. Given on 13 October at Constantinople in the consulship of Constantine Augustus for the sixth time and Constantinus Caesar (AD 320, but on this date Constantine was in Illyricum; Barnes (1982:76) suggests 325). As in the early empire, a veteran could receive a plot of land or a cash handout as superannuation. Jones (1964:636) has calculated, on the basis of the amount of seed, that the allocations would have consisted of about twenty iugera of arable land and perhaps as much again for the alternate fallow year. Since the lands used for these distributions were unoccupied, the condition of the soil may have deteriorated, but it was an important concession that the land was tax-exempt. 397 CTh 7. 20. 5, AD 328 The same Emperor (Constantine) to Maximus, Praetorian Prefect. Care must be taken that veterans honoured with the status of an imperial bodyguard (protector), or who have achieved various distinctions through their merits, should not be subjected to unseemly abuse, and if anyone is caught while committing this crime, it is right that provincial governors should refer the matter to your court and send the above mentioned persons to your office, so that the offence can be most easily punished in accordance with its gravity.
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The Roman Army, 31 BC-AD 337 The Ro
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First published 1994 by Routledge 1
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Contents List of plates ix List of
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Plates 1 Ti. Claudius Maximus 2 Cen
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Preface and acknowledgements The Ro
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Abbreviations AE L’Année épigra
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P. S. I. Pubblicazioni della societ
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Emperors from Augustus to Constanti
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denarius (‘ten as-piece’) = 4 s
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2 The Roman Army benefits are still
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4 The Roman Army military as well a
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6 The Roman Army The defeat of Cart
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8 The Roman Army who supplied caval
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10 The Roman Army career seemed mos
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12 The Roman Army in a recruit, you
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14 The Roman Army thanks to the lor
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16 The Roman Army should keep in st
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18 The Roman Army more impartial th
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20 The Roman Army speedily. The rem
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22 The Roman Army I paid monetary r
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24 The Roman Army hay 10 drachmas f
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26 The Roman Army I have received a
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28 The Roman Army from having more
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30 The Roman Army 34 Speidel 1980:7
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32 The Roman Army 40 ILS 2442, insc
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34 The Roman Army units were now be
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36 The Roman Army and I have alread
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38 The Roman Army heirs, set this u
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40 The Roman Army 63 CIL 6. 2725=IL
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42 The Roman Army principalis, acti
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44 The Roman Army 77 CIL 6. 2896=IL
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2 The officers CENTURIONS Centurion
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48 The Roman Army The emperor was u
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50 The Roman Army to Numidia, and f
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52 The Roman Army of Legion III Aug
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54 The Roman Army tribune of the fi
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56 The Roman Army Aurelius Harpocra
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58 The Roman Army Cornelius Minicia
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60 The Roman Army officer for Egypt
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62 The Roman Army Furthermore, an e
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64 The Roman Army probably formed d
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66 The Roman Army Moesia, legate of
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3 The Emperor as commander-in-chief
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70 The Roman Army to restrain thems
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72 The Roman Army 127 Josephus (1st
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74 The Roman Army Cornelius Fronto
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76 The Roman Army his tribunician p
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78 The Roman Army Lucius, in the si
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1 Ti. Claudius Maximus Source: Kava
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3 Trajan as commander-in-chief Sour
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8 The Roman siege ramp at Masada Ph
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11 The Mithraeum at Carrawburgh on
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14 Bronze diploma—exterior faces
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18 Bronze diploma—exterior face w
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80 The Roman Army Figure 1 Legionar
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82 The Roman Army fighting at the c
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84 The Roman Army the other legions
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Figure 3 The disposition of the leg
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88 The Roman Army outside the fort
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90 The Roman Army advisers, will ha
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92 The Roman Army guards and mounte
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94 The Roman Army period of imperia
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96 The Roman Army being able to str
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98 The Roman Army (Section 16) The
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100 The Roman Army against archers,
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102 The Roman Army (see Plate 8), t
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104 The Roman Army the cohort menti
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106 The Roman Army the wishes of Em
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108 The Roman Army 177 D 49. 16. 3.
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5 The army in peacetime MILITARY LI
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112 The Roman Army do whatever may
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114 The Roman Army This is probably
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116 The Roman Army For the date and
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118 The Roman Army Thiadices, who s
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120 The Roman Army 190 P. Dura 60B,
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122 The Roman Army of that communit
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124 The Roman Army identified as br
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126 The Roman Army The town of Sald
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128 The Roman Army for the eternity
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130 The Roman Army [7] September [
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132 The Roman Army Although Tertull
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134 The Roman Army 220 CIL 3. 11082
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136 The Roman Army Cocidius was a C
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138 The Roman Army the names of Get
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6 The army, the local community, an
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142 The Roman Army informal adminis
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144 The Roman Army either military
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146 The Roman Army Two legions were
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148 The Roman Army the Medes, in th
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150 The Roman Army [ _ _ _ ] Centur
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152 The Roman Army provision for th
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154 The Roman Army Longinia, had be
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156 The Roman Army opinion I gave y
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158 The Roman Army property in acco
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160 The Roman Army the will. His so
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162 The Roman Army did make his wil
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164 The Roman Army In Roman law eve
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166 The Roman Army from home. Soldi
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168 The Roman Army 277 CJ 12. 33(34
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170 The Roman Army Published on 15
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172 The Roman Army solution, becaus
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174 The Roman Army ask that you sho
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176 The Roman Army The reference to
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178 The Roman Army with his own edi
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180 The Roman Army of passing trave
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182 The Roman Army The Roman empero
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184 The Roman Army foreseen. Or was
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186 The Roman Army the undivided su
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188 The Roman Army name a figure of
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190 The Roman Army disgraceful and
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192 The Roman Army only explicit re
Page 227 and 228: 194 The Roman Army Rome) even thoug
Page 229 and 230: 196 The Roman Army grandson of Germ
Page 231 and 232: 198 The Roman Army and (13) first T
Page 233 and 234: 200 The Roman Army the fatherland,
Page 235 and 236: 202 The Roman Army from your affirm
Page 237 and 238: 204 The Roman Army honourably disch
Page 239 and 240: 206 The Roman Army 337 FIRA 3. 171=
Page 241 and 242: 208 The Roman Army (Fourth hand) (S
Page 243 and 244: 210 The Roman Army service in the c
Page 245 and 246: 212 The Roman Army colonies, or del
Page 247 and 248: 214 The Roman Army Augustus himself
Page 249 and 250: 216 The Roman Army 349 CIL 16. 13=M
Page 251 and 252: 218 The Roman Army main roads did n
Page 253 and 254: 220 The Roman Army 357 ILS 9085, in
Page 255 and 256: 222 The Roman Army and Vergil in Ec
Page 257 and 258: 224 The Roman Army you who are aliv
Page 259 and 260: 226 The Roman Army 367 AE 1974. 283
Page 261 and 262: 228 The Roman Army 374 ILS 9400, in
Page 263 and 264: 230 The Roman Army considerable pro
Page 265 and 266: 232 The Roman Army military organiz
Page 267 and 268: 234 The Roman Army recruitment and
Page 269 and 270: 236 The Roman Army Domitius Aurelia
Page 271 and 272: 238 The Roman Army on the emperor (
Page 273 and 274: 240 The Roman Army This rescript is
Page 275 and 276: 242 The Roman Army peaceful repose
Page 277: 244 The Roman Army in respect of on
Page 281 and 282: 248 The Roman Army (Alexander) gave
Page 283 and 284: Select bibliography Alföldy, G.. (
Page 285 and 286: 252 Select bibliography Duncan-Jone
Page 287 and 288: 254 Select bibliography Marsden, E.
Page 289 and 290: Index of translated passages LITERA
Page 291 and 292: 258 Index of translated passages 24
Page 297 and 298: Index of names and subjects Promine
Page 299 and 300: 266 Index of names and subjects Ces
Page 301 and 302: 268 Index of names and subjects Gro
Page 303 and 304: 270 Index of names and subjects Pat
Page 305: 272 Index of names and subjects Vel
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The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook

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