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

58 The Roman Army
Cornelius Minicianus, whose rank and character together bring prestige
to my native district. He is of noble birth and rich, but he loves
intellectual pursuits like a man who has to earn his living. Moreover,
his honesty as a judge, his courage as an advocate, and his loyalty as a
friend are quite outstanding. You will think that you are the person
receiving a kindness when you see at first hand that he is the equal of
any position or honour that can be conferred upon him. I do not wish
to say anything more grandiloquent about a very modest man.
At the time of Pliny’s letter, Pompeius Falco was governor of the single-legion
province of Judaea, probably about 105–7; he then governed Moesia, around
116–17. An inscription (ILS 2722) shows that Minicianus was prefect of the
first cohort of the Damascenes in Palestine, presumably the post granted by
Falco, and later held a military tribunate in Africa.
102 ILS 9007=EJ 224, inscription, Superaequum Paelignorum, 1st
C.AD
Quintus Octavius Sagitta, son of Lucius, grandson of Gaius, greatgrandson
of Lucius, of the tribe Sergia, member of the Board of Two
quinquennalis on three occasions, prefect of engineers, prefect of cavalry,
military tribune by the people’s vote, procurator of Caesar Augustus
among the Vindelici and Raeti and in the Poenine Valley for four years,
and in the province of Spain for ten years, and in Syria for two years.
The post of tribune ‘by the people’s vote’ may be a survival of the tradition that
the people should elect a certain number of military tribunes, or was perhaps a
largely honorary position.
103 EJ 233, inscription, Emona (Ljubljana), Pannonia, 1st C.AD
Titus Junius Montanus, son of Decimus, of the tribe Aniensis, military
tribune six times, prefect of cavalry six times, prefect of engineers twice,
acting in place of a legate twice.
Montanus probably held each of these posts for a year, although his appointment
in place of a senatorial legionary legate will have been a temporary emergency
measure.
104 CIL 5. 7425=ILS 2720, inscription, Libarna, Liguria, 2nd C. AD
To Quintus Attius Priscus, son of Titus, of the tribe Maecia, aedile,
member of the Board of Two quinquennalis, priest of Augustus, priest,