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

48 The Roman Army
The emperor was ultimately responsible for approving the appointment of
centurions, though it is likely that he intervened personally in a soldier’s career
only in exceptional circumstances. Powerful patrons like Pliny could approach
the emperor directly, or an army commander, to secure his recommendation
for a prospective centurion. Vespasian, on finding that a young man of good
birth who was unsuited for military service had acquired appointment as a
centurion in the army because of his poor financial circumstances, granted him
money and an honourable discharge (Frontinus, Stratagems 4. 6. 4).
84 Suetonius (1st–2nd C.AD), On Grammarians, 24
Marcus Valerius Probus of Berytus, for a long time tried to obtain an
appointment as a centurion until he became tired of waiting and devoted
his attention to study.
85 ILS 2656=Smallwood NH 294, inscription, Rome, 2nd C.AD
To Tiberius Claudius Vitalis, son of Tiberius, of the tribe Galeria, from
the rank of Roman eques he received the post of centurion in Legion V
Macedonica, was advanced from Legion V Macedonica to Legion I
Italica, was decorated in the Dacian War with Necklaces, Armbands,
Ornaments, and a Rampart Crown, was advanced from Legion I Italica
to Legion I Minervia, was again decorated in the Dacian War with
Necklaces, Armbands, Ornaments, and a Rampart Crown, was
advanced from Legion I Minervia to Legion XX Victrix, was also
advanced within the same legion, was again advanced from Legion
XX Victrix to Legion IX Hispana, was advanced from Legion IX
Hispana to Legion VII Claudia, Loyal and Faithful, was also advanced
within the same legion, served in the second cohort as princeps posterior
for eleven years, lived forty-one years.
Vitalis, after entering the army with equestrian rank, made seven moves in his
career, two of them within a legion; he was presumably sent where a need arose
and may have taken his century with him in order to reinforce another legion.
His advancement on two occasions within a legion may be explained on the
hypothesis that he was needed to do a special job in one century for which no
other suitably experienced candidate was available (see also texts nos 86–7).
86 CIL 8. 217=ILS 2658, inscription, near Cillium, Africa, 3rd C.
AD
[ _ _ _ Petronius Fortunatus] served for fifty years, four in Legion I
Italica as clerk, officer in charge of watchword, orderly (optio),