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

32 The Roman Army
40 ILS 2442, inscription, Aquincum (Budapest), Lower Pannonia,
AD 218
To Jupiter Best and Greatest, for the welfare of our lord Marcus Aurelius
Antoninus Pius Fortunate Augustus, Lucius Septimius Constantinus,
orderly (optio) with the expectation of promotion to centurion, of
Legion II Adiutrix Loyal and Faithful, Antoniniana, willingly and
deservedly fulfilled his vow, in the consulship of Emperor Antoninus
and Adventus.
41 CIL 3. 11135=ILS 4311, inscription, Carnuntum (Petronell),
Upper Pannonia, AD 235–8
To Jupiter Best and Greatest of Doliche, for the safety of Emperor
Caesar Gaius [Julius Verus Maximinus Pius Fortunate Invincible
Augustus _ _ _ Ulpi]us Amandianus, soldier of Legion XIV Gemina,
clerk of the above mentioned unit, armourer, standard-bearer, orderly
(optio) of the second centurion in the e[ighth] cohort and candidate
(for promotion to centurion), along with Ulpius Amandus, veteran of
the above-mentioned le[gion], dedicated this to the deity.
The translation follows the interpretation of this inscription by M. P. Speidel
(1982a). The optio normally took charge of the century in the absence of the
centurion, and it is possible that those who specifically indicate their candidature
for promotion to the centurionate were more senior, here ranking above a signifer.
42 Speidel 1970, inscription, Philippi, Macedonia, AD 106 (see
Plate 1)
Tiberius Claudius Maximus, veteran, undertook the construction of
this monument while he was still alive. He served as a cavalryman in
Legion VII Claudia Loyal and Faithful, was appointed treasurer of the
cavalry, guard of the commander of the same legion, standard-bearer
of the cavalry, and in the Dacian war was awarded military
decorations for bravery by Emperor Domitian. He was promoted to
‘double pay’ soldier (duplicarius) in the second ala of Pannonians by
the divine Trajan, by whom he was also appointed to the position of
scout in the Dacian war, and twice awarded military decorations for
bravery in the Dacian and Parthian wars, and was promoted
decurion in the same cavalry ala by the same emperor because he had
captured Decebalus and brought his head back to him at Ranisstorum.
After voluntarily serving beyond his time, he was honourably
discharged by Terentius Scaurianus, commander with consular rank
of the army in the new (?) province of [Mesopotamia (?)_ _ _ ]