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.

50 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>Army</strong><br />

to Numidia, and finally to Mesopotamia, finishing his career in the junior<br />

century of the ninth cohort. This is explicable if it is right that all centurions in<br />

cohorts 2–10 had equal rank. He may have served as a legionary before<br />

promotion to the centurionate. See also C. Bruun, Arctos 1988, 36.<br />

88 CIL 8. 2354, inscription, Thamugadi (Timgad), Numidia, 2nd<br />

C.AD<br />

Sacred to the Parthian victory of the Emperor, in accordance with the<br />

will of Marcus Annius Martialis, son of Marcus, of the tribe Quirina,<br />

soldier of Legion III Augusta, soldier on double pay in the ala of<br />

Pannonians, decurion of the same ala, centurion of Legion III Augusta<br />

and Legion XXX Ulpia Victrix, honourably discharged by Emperor<br />

Trajan Optimus Augustus, Conqueror of the Germans, Conqueror of<br />

the Dacians, Conqueror of the Parthians. Protus, Hilarus, Eros,<br />

freedmen of Marcus Annius, arranged for the construction of and also<br />

dedicated the individual statues (?) from a sum of 8,000 sesterces less<br />

the 5 per cent inheritance tax of the <strong>Roman</strong> people, and themselves<br />

added 3,000 sesterces. By decree of the town councillors.<br />

Martialis was promoted to a legionary centurionate from the command of a<br />

troop in an auxiliary ala.<br />

89 ILS 2666, inscription, Tuficum, Umbria, 2nd C.AD<br />

To Sextus Aetrius Ferox, son of Sextus, of the tribe Oufentina, centurion<br />

of Legion II Traiana Brave; this man was the first of all those who held<br />

the post of chief clerk (cornicularius) of the Prefect of the vigiles to be<br />

appointed centurion in Alexandria, by Emperor Caesar Antoninus<br />

Augustus Pius, father of the fatherland, because he conducted himself<br />

so diligently in the stages of his military service, by decree of the town<br />

councillors and with the agreement of the people, because of his<br />

worthiness. This man at the dedication of the statue granted a banquet<br />

and 4,000 sesterces to the townsfolk and the local inhabitants of both<br />

sexes.<br />

Promotion from the vigiles to centurion rank was unusual, and only one other<br />

example is known (CIL 6. 414b). Another inscription which was perhaps carved<br />

on the same stone records the gratitude of the community to Ferox for his help<br />

when it was needed, and most recently for helping to persuade Antoninus Pius<br />

to permit the community to levy a tax to defray the cost of laying a paved road<br />

(ILS 2666a—AD 141). Ferox, obviously a man of some wealth, had used his<br />

contacts with the emperor to gain a concession for his community.

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!