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

The Emperor as commander-in-chief 71
on equal terms with the rest. So, he marched on foot with the soldiers
and ran with them, did not wash, or change his clothes, joined in every
task with them, and chose exactly the same kind of rations as they had.
Cf. Herodian, 4. 7—Caracalla used wooden utensils, baked his own bread,
avoided extravagance, marched on foot with his men, sharing their labours
and sometimes carrying a legionary standard. He seems to have gone further
than other emperors in his efforts to identify himself personally with the troops,
since he not only called the troops ‘comrades’, but wanted them to address him
in this way instead of ‘emperor’.
125 BMC 1, p. 151, no. 33, =Smallwood GN 276, sestertius, AD
37–8
Obverse. Head of Gaius, laureate.
GAIUS CAESAR AUGUSTUS GERMANICUS, CHIEF PRIEST,
TRIBUNICIAN POWER.
Reverse. Gaius standing on a platform, speaking to five soldiers, four
of whom carry standards.
SPEECH TO THE COHORTS (of the praetorian guard).
Dio, 59. 2 describes how in AD 37 Caligula drilled the praetorians before the
senate and paid Tiberius’ bequest, doubling it in his own name. It is possible
that the coin type illustrated above was originally minted specifically to celebrate
the formal adlocutio, though it continued until AD 40/41.
126 BMC 1, p. 218, no. 122 =Smallwood GN 292, sestertius, AD
64–6
Obverse. Head of Nero, laureate.
NERO CLAUDIUS CAESAR AUGUSTUS GERMANICUS, CHIEF
PRIEST, TRIBUNICIAN POWER, IMPERATOR, FATHER OF THE
FATHERLAND.
Reverse. Nero standing on a platform accompanied by the praetorian
prefect, addressing three soldiers, two of whom hold standards.
SPEECH TO THE COHORTS (of the praetorian guard). BY DECREE
OF THE SENATE.