medidas preventivas y correctivas

Equestrians commanded auxiliary units and held the tribunates of the urban troops and five of the six tribunates in a legion. By the late first century AD it had been established that these posts were held in a certain order – prefect of a cohort, military tribune (sometimes a milliary unit was commanded by a tribune), prefect of an ala – and although equites were not obliged to hold all three posts (tres militiae), some spent many years in various military assignments. Equestrian military officers might be holding their first post or might be experienced soldiers promoted from the rank of chief centurion (see above, texts nos 90, 94, 95). The promotion of such men not only increased the number of skilled officers but also fostered a degree of social mobility. The prefect of engineers (praefectus fabrum) in the late Republic served as a kind of personal adjutant to a military commander, and although the post continued to be held by men of equestrian rank with this function down to the mid-first century AD, it increasingly became a sinecure held by young equestrians, sometimes as a mark of honour. In addition, the patronage of senators or army commanders was often important in securing the advancement of equestrian officers; so the experience and presumed military ability of an applicant will have been only part of the reasons for his appointment. Men who had held one or more of these military posts often went on to occupy a combination of further posts, from financial procuratorships up to the major prefectures, e.g., the corn supply, Egypt, and praetorian guard. At the beginning of the imperial period most equestrian officers were Italians, often from leading municipal families. Gradually this predominance declined as equestrians

from the Romanized provinces were advanced (Pflaum, Carrières; 1960–

1; Saller 1980; 1982; Brunt 1983).

99 Pliny (1st–2nd C.AD), Letters 2. 13

Pliny to Priscus. You would willingly seize every opportunity of obliging me, and there is no one to whom I should prefer to be in debt. Therefore for two reasons I decided to approach you rather than anyone else with a request, which I am extremely anxious to obtain. You command a large army and this gives you a plentiful supply of largesse; moreover, the long period of your command has already enabled you to advance your own friends. Please turn your attention to mine—they are not numerous…

This is perhaps Javolenus Priscus who was governor of Syria possibly at the end of Domitian’s reign. It was in the power of consular governors to appoint some of the officers of the units in their province, though this prerogative was limited by the number of posts available and the need to ensure the emperor’s general approval (Letters, 4. 4, and texts nos 100, 101, Saller 1982:105–6, 131–4). Pliny is not always interested in citing the qualities that might recommend his nominee for appointment. Where he does so, his comments are bland and general—

friendship with Pliny, good birth, intellect, good conversation, diligence, honesty—

implying no special suitability for military command.

100 Pliny, Letters 3. 8

Pliny to Suetonius Tranquillus. The manner in which you so discreetly request that I should transfer to your relative Caesennius Silvanus the military tribunate which I obtained for you from the distinguished senator Neratius Marcellus, is in keeping with the respect that you always display towards me. It would have brought me great delight to see you as tribune, but I shall be equally pleased to see some one else in that post through your efforts… Your name has not yet been entered in the records, so it is easy for me to substitute Silvanus in your place, and I hope that your kindness is as gratifying to him as mine is to you.

Suetonius, man of letters and biographer of the emperors, had been offered a post in the gift of Neratius Marcellus (consul AD 95), who was governor of Britain by AD 103.

101 Pliny, Letters 7. 22

Pliny to Pompeius Falco. You will be less surprised at my rather insistent approach to you to grant a tribunate to a friend of mine, when you discover his identity and character. Since you have given me your word I can now reveal his name and tell you something about him. He is

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, great-grandson 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,

prefect of engineers, prefect of the first cohort of Spaniards and the first cohort of Montani and the first cohort of Lusitanians, military tribune of Legion I Adiutrix, decorated in the Suebic war by Emperor Nerva Caesar Augustus, Conqueror of the Germans, with a Gold Crown, Untipped Spear, and Standard, prefect of the first Augustan ala of Thracians; the people of the town (set this up).

105 ILS 9471=Smallwood NH 243, inscription, Alabanda (or Heraclea Salbace ?), Asia, 2nd C.AD

To Lucius (?) Aburnius [ _ _ _ ], prefect of engineers at Rome, military tribune of Legion III Augusta, prefect of the third Augustan part-mounted cohort of Thracians, prefect of the third Syrian part-part-mounted cohort of Thracians, placed in charge of the first Ulpian cohort of Petraeans, placed in charge of the corn supply on the banks of the Euphrates during the Parthian war, military tribune of Legion VI Ferrata, decorated by the divine Emperor Caesar Nerva Trajan Augustus, Conqueror of the Germans, Conqueror of the Dacians, Conqueror of the Parthians, with a Standard, Untipped Spear, and Gold Rampart Crown, prefect of the first Ulpian ala of singulares, appointed judicial officer for his native area in respect of the establishment of boundaries, recipient of congratulatory and honorary decrees from many provinces, Lucius Aburnius Torquatus, son of Aburnius Tuscianus, prefect of the second part-mounted Spanish cohort of Roman citizens, military tribune of the third Ulpian cohort of Petraeans, [prefect of the ala] of [Roman]

c[itizens_ _ _].

106. Pflaum, Carrières 121=Smallwood NH 249, inscription, Messana, Sicily, 2nd C.AD

Lucius Baebius Juncinus, son of Lucius, of the tribe Galeria, prefect of engineers, prefect of the fourth cohort of Raetians, military tribune of Legion XXII Deiotariana, prefect of the ala of Asturians, prefect of vehicles, judicial official of Egypt.

107 Pflaum, Carrières 116=Smallwood NH 246, inscription, Ephesus, Asia, 2nd C.AD

[ _ _ _ Aemilius] Juncus, prefect of the first cohort of Pannonians, military tribune of the fifth twin cohort of Roman citizens, military tribune of Legion X Fretensis, prefect of the ala of Gallic veterans, decorated by Emperor Trajan in the Parthian war with an Untipped Spear and Rampart Crown, procurator of Cilicia and Cyprus, judicial

officer for Egypt at Alexandria, procurator of the province of Asia; the decurions and messengers and cavalrymen who are stationed at Lares Domnici (set this up).

108 Pflaum, Carrières 120=Smallwood NH 265, inscription, Camerinum, Umbria, 2nd C.AD

To Marcus Maenius Agrippa Lucius Tusidius Campester, son of Gaius, of the tribe Cornelia, host of the divine Hadrian, father of a senator, prefect of the second Flavian part-mounted cohort of Britons, chosen by the divine Hadrian and sent on the British expedition, military tribune of the first part-mounted cohort of Spaniards, prefect of the first armoured ala of Gauls and Pannonians, procurator of the emperor, prefect of the British fleet, procurator of the province of Britain, with the public horse, patron of the municipality; the inhabitants of the Censorglacensis locality, having obtained through the generosity of the best and greatest Emperor Antoninus Augustus Pius, by means of his benevolent intervention, privileges by which their (rights) have been increased and confirmed in perpetuity, (set this up). This site was granted free by decision of the town councillors.

Campester was clearly a man of means, capable of entertaining a Roman emperor in his home, and his personal connection with Hadrian explains why he was singled out by him after only one military post and why he advanced so rapidly to the procuratorship of Britain. Campester’s influence with Antoninus Pius also secured benefactions for his native community, and his family’s status was enhanced by the fact that his son became a senator.

109 Pflaum, Carrières 59=Smallwood NH 268, inscription, Aquileia, AD 105

To Gaius Minicius Italus, son of Gaius, of the tribe Velina, member of the Board of Four for legal jurisdiction, prefect of the fifth part-mounted cohort of Gauls, prefect of the first part-mounted cohort of Breucians, Roman citizens, prefect of the second part-mounted cohort of Varcians, military tribune of Legion VI Victrix, prefect of cavalry of the first ala of singulares, Roman citizens, decorated by the divine Vespasian with a Gold Crown and Untipped Spear, procurator of the province of the Hellespont, procurator of the province of Asia, which he governed on the orders of the emperor in place of the deceased proconsul, procurator of the provinces of Lugdunensis and Aquitania and also of Lactora, prefect of the corn supply, prefect of Egypt, priest of the divine Claudius, by decree of the town councillors.

On the side of the stone is a longer inscription celebrating the devotion of Minicius Italus to Aquileia, which was probably his home town, and his personal intervention with Trajan on its behalf. After military service in Lower Germany, Italus rose to be procurator of Asia and then acting governor of the province, perhaps after the execution of the proconsul Sextus Vettulenus Civica Cerealis on the orders of Domitian in AD 88; he was in office as prefect of Egypt in AD 103.