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
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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.