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

52 The Roman Army
of Legion III Augusta, chief centurion, member of the Board of Two
quinquennalis, patron of the municipality, curator of the community;
the town councillors, the board of six Augustales, and the citizens of
the municipality of Matilica (set this up).
This is fairly typical of the more elaborate 2nd century pattern of promotion to
the centurionate from the guard: junior staff posts, posts in the century, treasury
clerk, senior staff post, reservist, centurionate in Rome.
Quinquennalis was used to describe a municipal magistrate appointed for
five years, or as a title bestowed every fifth year on a municipal magistrate
charged with conducting the local census.
92 ILS 7178, with AE 1961. 208, inscription, Oescus (Ghighen),
Lower Moesia, 3rd C.AD
To Titus Aurelius Flavinus, son of Titus, of the tribe Papiria, chief
centurion and leader of the magistrates of the colony of Oescus, town
councillor of the communities of the Tyrani, Dionysiopolitani,
Marcianopolitani, Tungri, and the Aquincenses, patron of the guild of
engineers, honoured by the divine Great Antoninus Augustus with
50,000 sesterces and 25,000 sesterces and promotion because of his
dashing bravery against the enemy forces of the Cenni, and exploits
successfully and bravely accomplished. Claudius Nicomedes, town
councillor of the community of the Tyrani, (set this up) to his very
worthy friend. This site was granted by decree of the town councillors.
This is a good example of the wealth and standing of a chief centurion in his
local community and the surrounding area. It is notable how Caracalla
intervened personally in his career.
93 ILS 2544=MW 393, inscription, Augusta Taurinorum (Turin), 1st
C. AD
To Gaius Valerius Clemens, son of Gaius, of the tribe Stellatina, chief
centurion, member of the Board of Two quinquennalis, priest of the
divine Augustus in perpetuity, patron of the colony, the decurions of
the ala of Gaetulians which he commanded in the Judaean War under
the divine Vespasian Augustus, father, (set this up) as a mark of respect.
This man, on the occasion of the dedication of statues of him both on
horseback and on foot, granted oil to the people of both sexes.
Clemens had probably held this temporary command of an ala while he was a
centurion.