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

66 The Roman Army
Moesia, legate of the Emperor with propraetorian power of the province
of Upper Moesia, superintendent of the community of Ariminum,
procurator of the province of Dacia Malvensis, prefect of the ala of
lance-bearers, prefect of the third ala of Thracians, military tribune of
Legion VI Victrix, prefect of the sixth cohort of Gauls, decorated by
Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus in the German war with
two Untipped Spears, two Standards, and a Mural and Rampart Crown;
Junia Flaccinilla to her beloved husband and Macrinia Rufina to her
devoted father (set this up); he lived 42 years, five months.
116 Dio (2nd–3rd C.AD), 68. 32
Later, however, when the Dacian war had begun and Trajan needed
the help of the Moors, he (Lusius Quietus) came to him on his own
initiative and performed exceptional exploits. After being honoured
for this he achieved even more numerous and more distinguished deeds
in the second war, and in the end he advanced to such a pitch of courage
and good luck in this war that he was enrolled among men of praetorian
rank, became consul, and then governor of Palestine (Judaea). It was
because of this especially that he was envied and despised and met his
downfall.
Since the holding of important office was generally believed to be the prerogative
of men of high rank, the promotion of men of talent from outside the traditional
governing class often fostered resentment. The consulship of Helvius Pertinax,
who was to become emperor in AD 193, caused disquiet in some quarters
because of his low birth, despite his military success (Dio, 71. 22). Dio (78. 13)
vehemently criticized Macrinus, who became emperor in 217 from the position
of praetorian prefect, for appointing men of dubious antecedents, for example,
Marcius Agrippa who had been a slave and lady’s hairdresser and who was
sent to govern Dacia.
117 Tacitus (1st–2nd C.AD), Annals 1. 80
It was also Tiberius’ practice to prolong tenure of posts and to keep
some men in the same army commands or governorships up to the day
of their death. Various reasons for this have been recorded; some think
that he found new responsibilities tedious and preferred to let one
decision stand indefinitely, others think that he was jealous that too
many people might enjoy the fruits of office; others believe that precisely