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

54 The Roman Army
tribune of the fifteenth urban cohort, [tribune] of the eleventh urban
cohort, tribune of the ninth praetorian cohort, decorated by Emperor
Nero with a Rampart Crown, a Gold Crown, two Standards, and two
Untipped Spears, [chief centurion for the second time ?] of Legion XIV
Gemina, [tribune] of the first praetorian cohort and placed in charge
of the veteran soldiers of several armies staying in Rome, procurator of
the Emperor in Pontus and Bithynia [ _ _ _
See Dobson 1978:203–4. Antonius Naso is probably the same man who according
to Tacitus (Histories 1. 20) was dismissed from the praetorians by Galba; he was
presumably restored to favour after that emperor’s downfall and resumed his
military career; he may have won his military decorations during the rebellion of
Vindex, or possibly for the suppression of the conspiracy of Piso in 65.
96 AE 1978. 286, with Letta 1978:3–19, inscription, Leccei dei
Marsi, 1st C.AD
To Aulus Virgius Marsus, son of Lucius, chief centurion of Legion III
Gallica for a second time, camp prefect in Egypt, prefect of engineers,
military tribune in the praetorian guard of the divine Augustus and
Tiberius Caesar Augustus of the eleventh and fourth praetorian cohorts,
member of the Board of Four quinquennalis when the office was
conferred by the town councillors and people in the Augustan colony
in the Troad (Alexandria Troas) and in Marruvium; through his will
he granted five silver statues of the Emperors and 10,000 sesterces to
the inhabitants of the district of Anninus (in the territory of Marruvium);
the inhabitants of Anninus (set this up) in his honour.
This is the earliest clear example of the position of chief centurion twice. The
inscription also suggests that the praetorian guard was increased from nine to
twelve cohorts in Tiberius’ reign, probably soon after AD 23, when, according
to Tacitus (Ann. 4. 5), there were still only nine.
97 CIL 11. 5992=Smallwood NH 297, inscription, Tifernum
Mataurense, Umbria, 2nd C.AD
To Lucius Aconius Statura, son of Lucius, of the tribe Clustumina,
centurion of Legion XI Claudia Loyal and Faithful, Legion IV Flavia
Steadfast, Legion V Macedonica, Legion VII Claudia Loyal and Faithful,
decorated by Emperor Trajan Augustus, Conqueror of the Germans,
with Necklaces, Armbands, Ornaments, and a Rampart Crown for
service in the Dacian War, and decorated by previous emperors with
the same awards for service in wars against the Germans and
Sarmatians, elevated by the divine Trajan from military service to