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

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74 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>Army</strong><br />

Cornelius Fronto was intending to write a history about the campaign led by<br />

the emperor Lucius Verus against the Parthians (AD 163–6). This letter illustrates<br />

the importance in imperial life of personal involvement in all aspects of military<br />

command and personal responsibility for victory.<br />

133 BMC 3, pp. 497–504=Smallwood NH <strong>337</strong>, sestertii, c.<br />

AD 134–8<br />

Obverse. Bust of Hadrian, laureate or bare-headed.<br />

HADRIAN AUGUSTUS, CONSUL FOR THE THIRD TIME, FATHER<br />

OF THE FATHERLAND.<br />

Reverse. Hadrian, in military dress, sometimes accompanied by an<br />

officer, addressing soldiers from a platform in some versions, in others,<br />

from horseback.<br />

THE ARMY OF BRITAIN. BY DECREE OF THE SENATE.<br />

<strong>The</strong>se coins are part of a series issued by Hadrian celebrating the army stationed<br />

in the provinces. Similar examples are known for the armies of Cappadocia,<br />

Dacia, Dalmatia, Germany, Spain, Africa, Moesia, Noricum, Raetia, Syria, and<br />

Thrace; there is also a type which shows Hadrian addressing the praetorians.<br />

<strong>The</strong>y serve to emphasize his concern for the troops and leadership of the army,<br />

qualities also demonstrated in his personal visits to army camps; for his speech<br />

in Africa, see text no. 17.<br />

134 ILS 419, inscription, Moguntiacum (Mainz), Upper Germany,<br />

AD 197<br />

In honour of Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax Augustus,<br />

unconquered Emperor, and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Caesar, for<br />

Legion XXII Primigenia, Loyal and Faithful, in recognition of its<br />

distinction and courage, the community of the Treveri (Trier) after being<br />

defended by it during a siege (set this up).<br />

It is significant that the Treveri make their dedication in the first place in the<br />

name of the emperors, who are seen as the directing force behind the army’s<br />

success (for emperors as commanders, see Campbell 1984:59–69; 1987:28–9).<br />

IMPERIAL MILITARY HONOURS<br />

135 Augustus, Res Gestae 4. 1; 3<br />

I celebrated two ovations and three curule triumphs (29 BC) and was<br />

acclaimed imperator on twenty-one occasions. <strong>The</strong> senate voted more

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