Alfl>ldy - Brlan Dobson -

Worner Eck (Hg.)

Kaiser, Heer
nd Gesellschaft
d r Romischen
Kaiserzeit

937
KAI
... t1ttn1 tohuu Vñrlng Stuttgart
....
t,I
Heldelberger
Allhistorisch&
Belttllg& und
Eplgraphlsche
Studien

herouegogeben
von
Kaiser, Heer
Géza All61dy

811nd 31
und Gesellschaft
in der Romischen
Kaiserzeit
Gedenkschrift für Eric Blrley

Franz Stelner Verlag Stuttgart

2000

•
 Inhalts verzeichnís

1. Da, Heer- im sozialen und wirtschnfdirhen Gefilge des lmpertum

Romanom

l.Jlas.:c Blois: Anny and Socirty rr; che Late Reman Rcpublic:
Profe<�conafüm anJ thc Role cifthc 'vfílilary Middlc Cudrc 1l

(',ér.a :\lfohly: Oa.<. Hoer n dcr So11alslm�1ur ch:.s

R,'tmi<ehcn Kai<crm1chcR 'I l

David J. Breese Su¡,¡,ly111� thc \m,¡•

\11choel \1"31\dCf' Srcidel Sold und Wi11schuflslago

der rt\m1<ehcn Soldatcn

11. Die einzelnen Rnn¡:grupp•• des Heern und ihre •11dule11 Be,1,•hun�tn

-\ntl-<>ny R. Birky· Scnaturs J.!I ticncral, 1)7

Sc2oknc Dcmougm. ltctlilÍO Mihllac. • 12'

Bnan Dob:.on lbc pn1111p,lure,· ID At:ny .rnJ Soc1<ty 13')

011.: l'>cuh1.hc f,f,itho1l\�l.. C.:JJ1.t:Jnht1�Juí11ulinu:
Kuisi:,r, lletr und lrtsell:�ch.on '" dtr run1bc.btin ÜJst.r1dt: JulJ1 <.:. MdUll lh>U(>la M,ssio ñom lb< Lo�i<>:is
Godcu�cllrin l'iir ílr,c Oirley I Gézo l\lfijldy .•. (H� )•• Stullf,Jrt
Sccrncr. 2000 l>elJs D. Saddtnyton: 111e Sons of l\atncs Uscd by Au,1 liancs
(Heidclhe�él' i1lt11,<.1nN,1,. hr R,·itf.tgr uncl cplgrnphucbe StudJffl.. Bd. m the I:arty Pnrcipatc
11 ¡ 163
ISBN J SIS 07654-9
Micbel Reddé: 1 es M.mn, 179

m. Heer und Ge,i.ells.thaf\ In den etnzeleen Teilen <les Róm[�chen Reiches:

0
,se OTC&
Cccíl>a Rice, DOMO ROMA II contributo Jcll, capualc
all'eserr.to di c-0r.Cne e alle milizie urhane \eta ontperia)('I 1'>3

Yann Le llohec: l .e ,(,le social et pohtiqne rle l'armee iorname

J,�rlr Vc..·nvcrlnng des werxes i.u&r.1:i.Jb der Greo1:en <k.--s l�rhch<:rrcx:htsgcselz.:s ist
unzulñssig und !\crafu:ir. Dies gil1 i,uhest,n.Jcrc für Obcr.,ctzung. �ochdruck. Mikmver- daos les provmces d'Arnque ....2•)7
fihnu11g ódec v�rgleiél1haru Vctfahrcn :-.i•wic fiird e Spcicbcrungm D.t.11;n\'Gratbe1t�
O'llflg<'I\. Íf('(ln1rk1 uuf a.1t�n ngst'C6:t5nd1gem l*apie,. C· t9'J9 by f':'aJ\I.. Slt'iner Vcrlag Rene Rehuffat: L'armée romamc a Gf olaia 227
\'.'icsbadcn UmbH, �,tz .Scutt�nrt. Oruck: Druckerei P,;1rr. F. 1-rn�burg.
P1111tetl i II Gcnn.:n1y Patnck Le Roux: AnnCC <..1 seciétc en Hrspamc sous l'Empirc 261
ó lnhll,l!S\'Cr/GICnJU�
Franeois Bérard: La garnison úc Lyoo el les uffic:iale,
du gouvemeur de Lyonnaise . 279
Margaret Roxan: veteran Sculcmcnt ofthe Au.,ilia in Geuuanla
John .1. \\1 ilkes: Army and Socicty in Rornaa Dalmatia
Slobodan Dusanié: Army and Miniug íu Moesia superior
Míroslava Mirkovié: ,lililary Diplomas li·o,u Vimiuacium and
the Senlemeni of Auxiliar,' Veteraus: City or Countryside?
Fruz '111i1ú1of: Soldaten und Vcteranen in der Gesellschaft
des ronnscben Agypten (1.-2. Jh n. Chr. \ . 377
Valerie A. Mrudield: The Deploymcrn of'tne Roman Auxilia
111 l 7p¡,c-r Egypt and the Eastem Dcscn during che Principare
IV. Vurill
P. John Cssoy: LU3ERALJ.TAS J\ VGVSTT: Imperial Military
Donau ves and t he Arras Heard .
Gabnele Wesch-Klein: Commeatus id est cc11tpus, tJUD ire, redlre
qtns possu. Zur Gewahrung von Urlauh im rümischen Heer ...
Michael P. Speidel: Who l'o11ght in the FronL�.................................. .... •.........
Werner Eck: Monumente der Virtus, Kaiser uod J leer im Spiegel
cplgraphischer Denkmülcr . ·-·······- 4S3
índex _ ···--······
Yorwort
Bric Birlcy madc a major conrribution 10 scholarship in many ditfercru ficlds: the
307 bistory, archaeology and epigraphy of Rornan Britain, panicularly tl-c military
aspects, the study of Reman frontiers, sarnian and coarsc portery. In this vohuue
32i dedicated to his memory we have decided lo conccmrate 011 'iis first love, lhe
Reman army, psriicularly its Rangordnung, in which he provee! himselí'to be íhe
)43 obvious succcssor to Alfrcd von Dornaszcwki. lt scems most :lfJPJ upriate there-
fore in view of Dornaszcwki's long associatlon wirh Heidelberg 11.:al this volume
will appcar in the sedes of íhe Heldelberger Al!/Jisro,-itH:lt� 8eitrlixt: nn,t Epi-
J<,S grapliische Studien,
\V e did not intend to confiné ourselves however purcly ta Rangordnung is­
sues, but to examine H::. E1ic Bir ley tli<l the iuterplay of empcrur, army und socieiy,
and lo invite hü, pupils und Iriends aud other scholar» active in thc ficld to rake
paJ l iu punluciug u 1.,uulp1 ehensive ueuuneut, coveriug all aspects and u.JI prnv-
iuces. In the event t.l1c: cover has uol beta as cornprehensivc as wc hud hopcd, as
407 various colleague» Iravc experienced tl.iffi..:ulty in fulfilling thcir commümerus fo
U.."­. Wc r.HllITTI especial ly 11 ubcrl Dcvlj \'t:r, \\·hose gc..,l.'n:>u� 1 í:hulü to Rric remain.s
lfcsl1 in our cnc1nori�. ,,.·ho d.ic<l ::so lrag:<:ally bt·JOn.: be coul<l makc. his pmmisecl
cvutributiun. \Ve hupv ucve11hvle.ss lhat U\1¡: 1.:ol1dctio11 uf '"·i<lc: rangin� studics
printcd h�re. lh'hih: uol �xhat1�Liu� lhc c:hu�vn tl1c1nt:. \\·JU ptt:'·�t:nl s..;·n,l�c.:.h <lclail
44 5 i:mtl sul'h Jjficrc:ut pui1:ts IJ4.. 1¡.·i�\" lhut lh1: vuhuut: 111uy be rc..�anl�d as a ba­.ls for
furtht:r �)')\ccnati1,; stutl_y uf 1.hal l.h�utc. \Vilh Ibis 10 cniull \vC ha\'c cn<:uur�gcd r1ur
<:.ú11ll'ibuturs tv assess the ptese:1t $late of ouJ' h.t,o�" lt;d.�t! � ,·,�11 us lo intnJduci:
. 459 fl'�sh w,ights. tu provide (he btoadesl possible ltlstorieal sel'.ir�� ror rulun:, 1•,ork.
\Vi; lrust U1.:1.L ia :su i.luing uur juinl tfforls havc pruduct:U a propcr Lriñutc 1(1 Etic's
473 mcmory an<l a \'alwthlc 1.;onlribution Lo �holarship.
We Lhuuglll iL mighl he goou lu lisl bclow thc major trihu1.t.-s lhal havo '>een
paid lo him, includiug lhu,c in Lhc joumals oí thc local socicLies 10 which he con-
tnhutOO. so rnuch. \\.'e r:otc also thc hibliogr.1phy o íhis ,,·orks: puhlishecl in 81·/ton-
""'· tu be complch::<l une day prubabl� by Ruhin Birlc_y. Wc ulTcr llur lhanks 10
497 our coordbutors. aud \\.ish co me-ntil)n in parLicuJ:.:ir Georg Kortc, ,,·ho has ,Jone so
much to prepare this wotk fo, che press.
Gb.;i Alfiilcly - Brian Dobson - Wemer ]::ck
 Nachrufe

Nanonal Journals

Britanma, socíe:v for the promoaon of Rornan Srndies 2i. 19%. xi-xiv (David
Brccze)
Annual Rept1rr l'roceeding,s 19% nfthe Soerery oí Antiquanes nf I ondon. 19')7,
45 l. (aurhor unknown)
f'roccedrngs ofthe llrit,sb Academy l ')'17, 199,!, l 14-12 (Hrrnn ll\>bson)
r.
Procccdings. Sociery oí Annquanes of Scotland l i». 1\19>, xiii-xvi (David
Breczc) Das Heer im sozialcn und wirtschaftlichcn Gcfügc des
º""ª
Saalburg-Jahrbuch 4.;, 19\15, 140-44 ( Alfüldy)
Impcrium Romanum
Local Journals

Archacolcgra Aehaua, Sociery of Anuquaries of'!ewca.,tle upon Tyne, 5th Series

24, 1 \196, 218-20 (Briau Dobscn)
Durham Archacological Joumal. The Archirecmral and Arcbaeological Sociery of
Durhum ami '.'iorthumberland 11. 1995, 9i f. (Brian Dobson)
Transacuons, Cumberland and Westmoreland Antiquarian ar.d Arehacological
Socicty n.s., 1991>, 243 f (Rosemary Cramp)
Transacuons.Dumíuesshire and Galloway Natural History ami Ar.uquannn Socí-
cty, 3rJ series, 69, l 99-l, 1 14 (W.F Corrnack)
Times. Yorkslure Architectural and York Archaeologiccl Sociery 33, 1995. 18-10
l Brcnda Hcywood)

Bibliographie

Lnc Ihrley: A Oibliogr¡¡¡,hy 1928-74, cornpilcd by JJ. Wilkcs, Britannia 6. 1975,

Ü-A.\1r'iÜ
 Brian Dobson

Thc primipitares in Army and Soclety'

UT LOCUPt.ETAM AQL'ILAM TIBI SEXAGESIMl'S A"1\11S AílFERAI

(JIJ\; 14. 197)

Juvenal Ray<; ir all The pnmipilate bmught nches, hui only as B reward for long
servicc Thc lny:slcy of th<! cít11en rroops of a Icng-scrvicc army was to be re­
warded by a gol den hand<hake for those who reacbcd thc pinnncle of the centu-
rionurc. Thcre wcre further implica11oru. not explcred by Juvenal The emperor
certainly could and did exact long yelltS of'serviee � soldicr and centurion beforc
gtanting the honour ofthe pnmipalote. and thc moncy tha1 went wiL1111. But íhcrc
was another way of •�acting a pnce íor this hono\11' Mcn who hnd bdJ the pn-
mipilate migh; be retamed in serviee und found funhcr employmení, on spccittl
tasks or in newly-creared poStS, for which thcir experience 3Jld loyaltv made thcm
alone surtebte. and which "'""' thcrcforc c1clu.<ivcly co1úidcd to rhem Prirt1lp/.
lares, and only prrn11p,lu�,. wcrc 10 be ¡,rcfocts nf thc camp, uibunes in Romc,
prefcct-ccmmanders oí lc¡:1011> ·n,c:y wcrc ª'"°
to m3ke a si¡¡ruticant ccm ribull(lll
to 1h� equally new pos1s ;.. p11x:ur.1ur., 1111d ¡_u,:;a, prcfce1� •l<>n.:side and wen out-
uumbered by thei, eques�a.w colleJguc, Such mcn newever, pnnicularly thnsc
who hccumc pmcurn1ors and �� prefects, maght nea! ID rc.,ch !he primipilalc
wcll befare sixty. but 1h"Y lllllde up for any shoncnang nf <erviee hefNe tilo rri·
mirilulc hy years of servíce after u, wh1ch mighl •mnun1 In fille-tn or rwenty
The emperor had not fidshed wuh 1h...,n \\hen thty reured. ahhough he hud
hnrt forty nr more ye.,rs' service hum Iban. bcfote andior af'er the pnmipilate. He
still felt In have n do1m oo lheu wetlth."" as dlscu.s&ed below The mumcipaliucs
lno had great expectanons frorn lbt p:urooagc and wealth of their pr'mlpilarcs,
though they could only weleome lhem bacl from nnhtary service nñer somo
Uúrty to torty years awoy.
Tbe uu�nlioo of llus p:ipcr •• ID re<;tare the saguific:w:c of lh• µ1 '"'"·'Pi·
/11slprimipi/ariY to lbc cm¡x:ror. ID lhe onny and 10 SO(ÍCI)'. in lcm» of the wealtlt
and long servicc wltich ("-�lh loyahy) chorncterise hun. c�ing ncw cvídcncc wl:<re
3ppropriate, onJ highlightmg un.solved problems.1 We oecd to cons,dcr how much

• ll ""­a5 Eri...: Oult) "'·J:n liDllk"C'A> �· tttmlíon IO tbe pn,mp,/11.n:J, u, l'J'."tl. 1 ollcr cllCsc tew
thoug.his. on p,oblc� \lte ilia.::u:nal to,gah.:r­ a.�• tribute to Wl WL.'.L"It.11)'. a.1 my t:achtr nd
my fn�nd. 1 3JT\ gmt.:fuJ ro Dr ,·..'\ ),la,.ÚJ('kf md Profcstar J l" V111UJ fo.i cor:uuentmp. on
lhi� paper. ll:ey t:!.kc nn hlamc fnr m mn1'l"fl"N:
A general rcfcrcncc ria.y � osa&: kJ lhea­.é',t>obsoo, OOKa', and frootters ­ DavuJ J.
Oret"¿t lln<l Bn.a:n Dcb;on. .Raft'Wl Off.itt" •od f1oaltec t�fuvcn X.1 Stu.ttsan 1 ?IJ?. l:i.pt'·
ci.ally IU(­117. 1•1'�.717; Oobson_ Pr:mq:1� = 8na• l>ab,,;on, OH Prunlpihre­s. Kóln 1V78.
A íurther u:,bre .. 1abo:1 userl � t:. lhdey. Ronw Aany - E 8trlt'!,, lhr Rr­1n;in Auny P..i.pers
140 Hn;1n Dobson
.he lucky pnml¡,tJan., rccoivcd, how long Lhc post of primusptfus was helcL
,,vhcthur Lhcrc \.\·1.:1.s a rnirua1Ltm agc, antl ,vh:.at ad\.·untage if nny candjdates for tlu:
?nrrup1k1lc uug11l r�t:.oiv(: frorn U1cir ur1g0-, sc:rvicc tn Lhe guards, <Hrect oon1ruis·
sioning as cc:nturiucL A íurlhcr 4ucslion, applic.1hlc lO ccn�uno11; as ,,;ellas pri�
nupl{ar,•s. n:ughl b1,; \Vhcn lh.cy n:cciv;;d lhe praemia m¡fillae. ú 1hey cbosc lo
serve un rdtlii:r than FL'Lirc \Vht.11 Ll1c_y hatl fullillcxl lhcir .srt,tJendla or had se.rved as
J•1r1.•uuspilus 1tspeclivcl.y. fi.ually tlttav 1t::1nains Lht: _proh]t.'!JJ of the: n<,lure of the
nmk.:'posl uf¡Jrtn1usp,/ru; 1Jer1u11. 'l,c1nlali.s111gly nonc ul' Lhcsc 4ucslions receive a
rcady aris\vcr.
Thc l.1tlc prfm1pdar1s sectas. tu In, au ,nyc:nl.Jon u r lhc Li111c of Aug:ustus. lr is
unknovt'n lo Cat:sar• .,vhu can oaly <lcscribt: rncn as hav1ng; held the prinupilate
su¡,er:orc a,11,n... Th1!> 1mphcs thtll lhc pos.e hatl u lin,i tcd lcnure. <tnd its tenure \Vas
worth meut,omag. Evcn if thc lcr111 pm111pil1ms emerged during lhe civil war ¡,e-
nod, tite clear link becwee11 lhe tiLle and <1ssured weruth musr have W31t.:;d ti'.1 1hc
ordering ofthe praemta mi/11/ae by Aug,uslus. 'lbere had been wealthy cautunons
i1: earlier times. uotably Caesar's, ftom whom he had borrow,1d !i.mds to light a
civil war.' Wl.tat there had 1101 becn was 1t guonm¡eed paymg out from a cen1ral
fund of a sum of rnoney whicn rcprcsentcd for thc pr111111apilus wealtlt which be-
ca1ue proverbial. Toe conccpt bclongl:i to !.1 ,;i luation ,,,. hcre there is u standing.
army \vhose rc\.\·::ir<l:¡ fOr scrvicu urc nol 1100 Lo ,,·ar.
Tlle tttle pn111ip1lans had a spcciul qualily. 111siuld 11ot be inht'lited. thougb it
might be reforred to in mwnpt1ons honourioy sons, sons-m-law and des�endan:s,
particularly m the Greek East.'' Ltke co11s11laris ar a hJglter leve! lt marked rhe
achievemer.1 of a panicular pos,úon wluch was preserved m a fltle. lt sufJ1ccd 10
descnbe lhe man for ever after Such an honour is only easily paralleled for scna-
tots and procurators. lt marked a um11ue value place<! ou ihe higjiest ral'.king or all
leg1ona1y ceutunons. roid ;o reflected gJory on the whole of ihe cenmrionate. And
the wealth was there to mamtam the ,ta11<li11g. though the ,,de was not depende11t
on lhc rnajntcnancc llf ü Cl"':11:iUS..
This 1nilitury an�tocracy, as 11 can fairly be d1:."-Scribcd,. \\'�S 1101 sirupJy a ,vay
QÍ honouring or :;ven cnriching U:c legionary ccnturiunalc. one n1ore ti,� in the
h1erarchy o r rc,vanls on rctire;ncnL Thc pti1n1pllnle. Lhe e.n1rance into che pr1-
nupxlores. bi:c.an1c lhc naluru1 lu,rgcl oí t..'Vcry ccnlurion, tn the co.horts in Iton1e .as
l92Q�S6 (\•t3vocs IV) Amsttrd3:r:n 1?�8 Carmen C;1stiUo. Pr11n1p:far..•s (1978-92). in: v. le
Uohcc. ([d.\ La Hierarchie tRangord..;ung� de l'nrmée romaine sous Je •111ut·I rnptrc, Perls
19Cí:i, 111 2201 hai; preved rnoss uscful.
'.!. I.acs. bcU. C,all. S. 35 tUalventlliiJ 111u supenore «nno pritnum pifrmr dux(.riJt; 1hr«: reter-
cue'CS 10 B�c11h.1s, bc)J Ga.11. 2, 2J pri',,.l{Jii1, bcü, GaU. 3, 5 pntn•p11,' c,·ntu,u,, bell. G.a.J 6,
38 qu, mímum rlilu,n :-ril Cuesure,r. ,JJ,�ernt; bcll. c:v :: 91 ,•,r.r ('r,H•tln11.. r ('vPC,1� m
t'.H.>i't•1't1r Caesaris. ({:ti 3".J.Pl!t'ÍOt,• dn,16 t1¡;ud t•uu1 µriruun, 1,f!u,n m lt:fi1J1:e ),: duxomt. Ntit<:
ul:-.n L. Pujnus, b:dt civ. 1, 13, l pnmu\' pflu., of Pontpt.:}' h.<1ld1ng tbc same rank m Auius
v,u us:\, <oi4Jbv1t:..
Caes. bdl. ov 1;'l9
4 CIL xm 6752; R!D 17 U; JGRJ{lll 4:.2 cr .176; 111474; IV 617.
The p11}J11p;/t1rt:>:. InArrny aocl �;:ic1c1)' 141
wcll as in ihe legions, icvcry snldicr with a chance uf bccoming cenmrion, cvcry
equestrian or town oouncil1or sccking � direct couuurssron. Ahhough tht praemia
of ccnturions were considerable. thc ¡,rirntJ11faríS couunanded more, four rimes as
rnuch probably, and • íitlc for lifc. But there were certain lmpttcalions, as Juvenal
points out, and nol just Juvenal.' Pnmipilt1rt!S tended lo be old. The reason "as
qulre simple, Although thc mcchanism is far from clear, cennmons dld noi lcave
rhe service automatica.ly on scrving their slfpe.nclia, as ordmury soldiers d.id who
were 1101 evocati, Ceniurions wcre allowed, eucouraged, perhaps somenmes com-
pelled, Lhougb it seerns unlikcly, to serve louger, This was presumably scen as
worthwhile from the army's point of'vlew. Ceruunons rcached that rank probably
on average in their íhirties," and had much to cffer by servmg beyond meir mtssío
age of around forty-fivc. Compctition for the pruuipilatc, which mean! reaching
Iirst the primi ordines, was ficrcc; long servíce woukl be ncccssary. and rhere was
no guarantee of succcss Howcver for a ceuuuion, u man who liked nulírary liíl!
and was alrcady assurcd of n comfonable incomc, prolonging his service In (hu
hope of the primipilatc was worth while Tbe record agc for a p1'i1111,spilus known
lo mt: is L. Relonius Lucius, ,vho St:t\•eU SS yc:ars to alla1n Lhe prin1iplfate a1 78.'
Closc bchind bim, not ncc�ssari.ly a youug(:r u1a11. is L. :\·faxitnius Gaetllhcu.'i,
who rccords 57 sri¡,endiri at the momeur of reaching his pnim¡nlate rn AD 184.'
On the ol.:Jcr himd lhe list prcparcd hy Eric B1tley uf 20 long-scrv111g cenmnons.
i .e. forry years or n'Jorc as soldicr an.d centuriors, .u1<.:,lucling L.bc longc!St·serv,ng
centuriou know11, 61 yom-s, only includcs 5 who bad ,eache<l thc pnmipilatc.11ot
including the longesl-serving ono.' Clcarly lrn1g s�IYice ,u JtSelf uid uot guarantee
the prinúpilau�-. M�o did continuc lo serve a.", ccnrurlon to é111 a<lva1u.:1::J agc, pre·
st1mably at leasl partly with hopes of a hdatcd pnmlpilalé, m,J Juvrnal '� salirical
corruue.nt that you 1nighl be sixty hcfurc }'0\1 got ro cht pri1uipilatc may con10
close to a�lé-ilen1�nl of �obcr cxpcct.arion. tbr the 1uaio1Jly. but no! alL
A bri�f �'ortl Í::¡ ncccssary on chronolo.gy. '('he dh;lÚ1<.:liv1$ Cc.aturc.'i'. or the prs·
,nit>ilaris seeiu tu b� lhe ,vorl of .4..ugust.u::;, the title 1ts�IL th� prae1nifl 1ni/:rl(U:.?,
the creaiiou of 1he posls of prcfcct of thc c�mp and µ1<1etorian tr,bunc, alrcady
rnrcly or never bolh held by lhc sume man, and the distiucJive command of ihe
legio11s i11.Egyp1. Claudíus furlhcr dolincd thc career by sep,uutui;t 11 clc,rly from
\o\'hat bccan1c lhc cqu�'"tdan rn:'litiae and promoting rncn who h.1d held th� po::;l oí
prhnus¡nl'tLf ire,-i,m regl!Lady lo tht pro<.:urulorships1 the1nscives esta:,Ji::iJ1cU by
(�laudi� as statc ílffi.:iaJs. tl01 pri\'atc unc:s}.:, f\.·lorc: diffic1,1lt nov, is tht: dat,ng ol
thc creation of lhe post of prt'n1uspiius ircru1n1 as: it no,v appears, ur sccrus LO,
around J-\l) 14. and lts OíltUJ-e i.::vnlinut.s lo he baftl111g, a po11n dtscu�scd bt'l<.n,v.
" Plut., nill hí$1 )4. 9.
6 IJree:t.t!t'JJobson, Of(u:.cr,¡ m\,J '101\tk•rs 89, l87,
7 ( '11 111 11 JO 1 : AF I S44, ll6.
a ,\E t9S:i. 1:;s.
9 E. ijirlc;)\ l'hc-Roln:ln :\:n,�r2t9f..
10 Dob:1on. Pnmlpil.M'!s b-14.
 Bnen Dobson
The larer rnodificanons are rclauvcly ururnportaru, lite possibilny oJ promouon lo
ceníennrian procuratorshtps írom primuspilus or preiect of rhe camp, 11 und thc
gradual change ot thc title Irom praefecuu: ,·a�·Jr<)ru,,, le¡:ü>ntS to praefeaus (e­
g1011i.•. Jt was important Uut1 severus chose to find commnnders for tus tnree Par-
thian legtons from the prirmpilares, on ihe model of die legionts) In TJgypt. Al·
though ali the legions seem to havc rccoived prcfcct-communders, who wcrc still
prnnipllares, under Gallicnus, sorne ,¡mo bcfore the end of the cenrury thc link
bcL\VCCn pruniJ>llilj)rJ111lpila,..cs and milirary scrvice was broken, as lho primipi
laris bccame thc admuusrrator of the tax known as ihe prímtpitum n,is develop-
mc111 h11J lis roots earlier, but cousidererion of this must he lcfl to another occu
síon."
Thc amount a prmupllorls rcecivcd on rctircmcru is normally tukcn to be
<,0(),00() sesterces, depending 011 011 cmcndarion al' u corrupl paasagc in Suctonius.
I hnve relared lhis to a 1>mhahlc paymont ol 60,000 • your, rising lo 100,0000 un·
dcr Ou1rULia11, ÍOl' which therc 1$ no direct evidence; the only indicuiion is thal
¡Jruni¡1,/orc:s aro prometed Lo ccntcnarian precuratorshlps, never to soxagtnurii1n, n
Micht1el Speidel rhe Youngcr has argued fer a p»ymcnt of 54,000 ri,in¡¡ to 72.000
hased u11 a <>U: 1 10110 lo the pay of o lcgronury. '1110 evidence he cites lor thi�
howcvcr retcrs ro lwo ¡,meposlrl atlcsuxl un pupyri tn tite c11rly fo1111li ccntury. He
íollows Jnh11 i111dcn11fying thcse us ccmurions, und us bcmg ul¡mm11., ordo and
¡m11111¡,1/11s rank respectively. There 1• however u difficulty iu •upp<,si,t!', puv fura
mnn pcrfornung command d1111cs lo be rclutcd LO ,11111 uf 11 ¡m11111spi/11., in lho curly
fnurll1 ccutury, when tho 1111111:pilnres hnd lo,t 1hc1r link wlth the lcgions and the
old career, as noted nbovc. Iherc is ulso lhc �tucrul probhlru uf relotíug early
l\',urih century evidcnce, nnd for prnepostn, not oñlcers in estoblíshed posts, when
eareers were chnncm¡¡ so drustically, lo c11rcers as they had been in nn earher 1>�·
nod. The othcr argurnení he usos is UM as ("'o.hgulu reduccd U1c :ui101,nt recelvlld
LO 600,000. lherc musl hav" heon w1 carlicr, highcr. ligore. Md Clnudhts mny
havc rcslored lho mnnunl reccivetl tu that carller ílgw·e. l bis is valid, as for as the
cx,slcncc ol' �11 earhe_i· h1gher figure ,s concomed, ancl bis ft¡,ures are nn altemnlive
rcco11slructlon of pay 6Cttle.s Lhal ,n lhc obscncc of finn d1rcct evldence hnve as
much chance of being corree! as my own. 1 he probnbi.llty llUtl rhe pl'imuspllus
rcccivcd t,vice ns 1nuch us u pn'rnu.r urcJ" and lOur tin1es as nluch as a11 ord1oary
lcglouary 1,,":enturion ls co1-nn1on ground, as is the receivtng as gratuuy of �t least
600,000 s�rerces under Augustus, 1 l/2 limes the census of an equestrirut. with
11 r. rostu101us AcUi11uui; lAh l•J92, ')19) i...� now t"le eo:liesl pru111pifar:s \vbo bccan1c a ccntc­
nanan pn..::u1:i1.or, befote ..\O l02, follov.·cd by Marnus 1 urbo, \\'{UJ b\1We..·er .,.,ent un tu the
Ron1..: lr1b1111atcs. Regular pron1otlon to conter.wriun prot.:urutorship:f appt:ln. unJer rlu!:., see
l)ol,.,ion, JJrimtpil:ues 9�98
11 J·o, sotne dis.c�s.:ou see: 11''1. Carrié, ZPE 35, 1979, 212-24
l::t Suct. ('!IU@:, 44; RrDt."'l.e/Dohi.un, Officen> ;wJ P11.1ulic:n l.89· 191
The prun,pdar«s m Anny end $oc1ety 143
appropriaLe incrcascs laLcr 10 line wilb the vru'lous pay increascs auested or con-
jC!clun..­­r.l. '
How long did the primuspi/11s remain in posr? 1 have argucd for one year, r�
tlccling lhe old rcpublicun notion ofappointme111 ol'ccn111rion, a, Lhe hegiru1.iHg of
a campaiguing season, wirh no guaran1ee of rc-appoinrmenr, hesl exemphtícd in
the career of Spurlus Ligusrlnus." Clesrly undcr Cacsar a m:tn totild be primus-
p1/t1s nnd tben cominue 10 serve, afler relinquishing tite J10SL, thou¡;h;, is not ctear
whe1her he simrly reverroo to being a cl'!11urion In thc ('):amples ciled 111 n. 2
Crnstinu� wn., an ,,,.o,•niris, llncultts was 1tl, 11nd had hcld his 11rimi¡>ilo1e l'our
yenrs previo11sly, 10r so1ne n1on1hs �t Jen.sr, l.ron, sun,mcr to carly ,vinter. Oalvcn�
tius mny nr may nnl he �mtply íl ce11111rion once m(lru. 1n che carly etttptre il wa�
pn.ssihle t('I hold whol in presumably 1hc ordiunry prlmipil:.tc more 1hn11 once,
C\vice, even 1hree times.•• Thcs phrasing scems 10 imply u lixcd J)eriod of lcnure,
nnd [ have suggestecl one ycar, linking lu this lhc solcmn dcJication� by pr/mipdl,
ol1cr1 lo lwnw 11q11il,w." J'hc point ha• bcon 11111<lo In me by rhe lole f'ronk Oilliurn
1lrnt th1s 111i¡;h1 imply evcry cen111rion, or 111 lc:is1 tho most senior, chnng,ng rnuk
,111d possibly chtties et1ch yeílr, Beorin¡; in mind (he cvi�c·nco f'or othcr senior een-
Lurions outsicle thc le¡don, 1he pri11,,¡,ps pravtarii hcuJing Lhc go\'ontnr'� �to rr nnd
1he senior ccornrions o( lhe prnclorinn cohons, tlds muy not be thu cose. A tmn$fcr
flf oue of r he� l"rnm Li l\'lc lo lime ro be prrn11,spi/11,, o,· roto 1hc pr1111/ ol'l;ll11<J.1 ,o
fill n gop creoled hy a pmmo1io11 to 1>rin111.spil11s, would not cnuso u shut11c oí 1111
the legion'R centurion• lf' one orgues for a longcr tenure of lhe pn111lpil11lo. which
is pO$Siblc, lhcrc ore not.1hlo t<lnsoquonecs. Thc numbcr (lf ltvlng ¡,ri111ip1/o,c.,
would dm1> sharply, liom a Lhcorclicnl numbcr or 600 (probnbly loa high, ijS ir
,IS$lll11CS nn nveru¡¡e survivol oí20 yo�rs) 10 300 (a 1wo year prunipilale) 01· 2()(1 (a
thrce yc:u pr11nipi1n1c). Thc chnnc\!S of n.n ludividuo! ccutudu11 of Lu.:\:0111ing
µri11111sµr/11,1 dtoJ) drnmnucnlly (fro,n betler 1han uuo lu duoo lv vos in six ur une
1111J.iue 1especl1vely).11 Thore is nlso 10 b� c1.1usidt1·eJ il10 uood tu •upply scvan
crJbuncs ol'vlRll,·1 ond ncnrly lhirty prcfctts ofd1c cnnw, bea111114 u1111i11J U,at Lite
cvidcncc suggc•L� lhuL muny prlmipllarer rcrircd 1n1111ediately nfter 1he prl111i¡iila1c
without holding cilhcr oflicc. Jt scc111� unlikcly lhu1 lhe rribunnle. were helu l'or
long, hccausc ot' l'unhcr pmmolion. TI1c prcfecluros of the CMlp were oflen hcltl
hy mcn who hatl hud u lon¡¡ curecr to rcach lhc pnmipilalc, who might be ready
for rctiremcnl in a le1, yc:in¡. A primipiluLc hcllf for two years would produce: c.
15 prímlprlarcs. rrwc: :tllow hu)l'to retiro immelfiatcly ench yenr, sny seven, ei¡;hl
rcmain lo produce suy l,vo lrihunos (as.,,,¡ uming � threo­yenr ienure of the v1g1(es,
and fivc pruí,-cts (m;summg a six-yeur lcnurc as prcfoot of 1hc camp) 'l'fli, rQ11Jd
14 r,.,i. AIC"ll'.ondcr Spetdol .loum Ro1u. Stud. 82, J lJ­IJl, 101!- J IJ.2. <;t'. l>ob�<NJ. t>tuu.ipll.tJ,:� J )9·
145.
15 Uv 42, J1-J5.
16 CIL lX JóJO:X506J =Dossou2640:AE 1992, 734
17 Dob.on, Prim1p1taros 155-160; A�: 1972. 5211; 19�2. �49; 1981, 735: 1986, 984 (ali I h•lko).
lS Di­.:ei�iDobsou, Otnom .wLl Frualtc:rt 204(..
144 Orian Dobson
produce sorne struin 011 tbe system. and ihrco years for the pnnupilate (five retire
immcdiatcly, one/rwo tribunes, four/íhrcc prcfects} seems to produce ahnost msu-
pcrablc diJllculues. \\lh1lt it is impossible to demonstrate that the pnrnipilatc was
only hcld for one year, l stil I prcfcr to rcunn that belief os fittmg best the peculiar
distinction of'the pOSI.
An alternuti ve way of prodncmg more vacancies as primuspilus wouíd be thc
doubling uf the numbers by having two ordinary pnmipilt. This must he di;cin-
guishcd from the prublem of the ¡Jrin1us¡n'/1ts itetum, The evidence for two ordi­
nsry primtpili is CIL YIIT 18065 ami en XVI App. 13.''' Ctí, VIII 18065 refers
to [\\'O pr/11,i¡>lli, hu, u Is a dedication on wluch there are vnrying numbers of
con111ru,ni'i. in tnc ccmuries, suggcsnng thc poss,hllhy 1ha1 what wc have hcre rs
not so mueh II complete mil caíl as a lts1 o r the cenrurions who subscnbed ro ihe
dcdrcauo­i. mchuting us it happcncd two ¡,nmiplli, me c,mgoing and the lucommg.
CU.. )l."VT App. 13 is more difficutt, rnenhomng mcn in rwo centunes. each coru-
manded hy a prlmus1rll11s, b111 n< tlus comprchcnd« the total evidente for a second
ordi1101y pnmuspítns, w11h nothing to indlcate uow such au officer might he 111·
cluded in thc lcgionary orgn111zn11011, tbc possibrhry may <1111ply he lcA open.
lt should be pointed out that there are no particular dimculttcs "" for as rhc
post of f!fim11<¡ul11s itsclf 1s coocerned wuh II ronure for one year Thc nnponancc
of 1he ¡w,m11<p/111s sccrus 10 he íergcty in 1ho rchgions 1111<1 ccremomul 11cuvity OI
ch� legicn." Por 1hut very reason I íhink it uulikcly that the ¡mm11sp1/11s cver uc-
compnmed a vcxillutlon. Inscripuons whicb seem to suggest l111s on closcr unuly-
sis may be nunhured to cx-primipill
11 is supposcd then th01 thc fllÍlllll,<fllJIIS scrved lOI' O penod Ol time, suggcstcd
to be 011c vcar, uud ihen rcnrcd, 01 was rcuuned for duty. In thc cvcnt of retiro·
,r
111e111 thc ,,;.,11.,11iu woultl be rcccrvcd W hat happened he staycd mi'I Thcrc ,s no
dírect evidcnec. u11v 1110,e uian ohcrc is fer what happcncd to ccnturions who hu<l
servecl hcyond lhc ti1110 1hey wc,c eligible for /ronest11 111,.,.,rn In thc case or thc
ceutunoM, a� tite praemln duc would ho i11c1o.ised jf thc 111a11 rcache<l lho ¡1r1m1
,,rtlitu·s. aL1d I ncrt:ascd aga111 1.f he n:achcJ prcnnispilr,s. 1t sco1t1$ hc:st to a.o;¡sumc
1hcir elaim w,•s dcfoo'l'cJ 1ill ret1rement. lhough 1ha: leaves ,he problcm ol whal
lrnppcued if lhoy clicd whil� sull servin¡¡. A ccmurlon alter nll mi¡;ht lose h·.s ccn-
turionate. 1hough porhups only under exccpllonal circumstauces.l' lt msy be 1hut
Lhc sltualion wa,; rolhcr úolkn'Jll for 1he prinmspclu.r, who lll effecl wru; complet-
in� ttis serv1ce in g,"..l<les eligible for ¡>mnmo, and could 11011mprove hi8 pracmia
by further ,erv,cc as tite cent11roo11 could \<>t could l1e os prefect of thc camp'').
lt) Dobson., .Prinnr1larc:li 1)4f.. Till! !Ug¡?C'51Cd rc.i,hn� lu J\E 1992, 124(1. Gén(ia) (tf:Juurianun
d1u?t·1n;1) p(rilni){J(rli) i!I ;vw lllll}Cttsin lo c.my uny wcigbt.
20 Dob:,iou. Pütuipii,,c,. 6�.
2J T"'·� :ann 1.44 \üem�·nlcu� ,evií'w:o; 1hc cenlu:tótlS :ift¿,r th� Olllhoy In A 1 > 14 untl ,w,u\•es
M1n1e íu� 1H'di'l(l-1T ilnd !'•·utJ....Jrtt1s}� 2, 55 {Pioo íC'll\OVt:� cc:nwriuns ar.tl Jl:'p}ui:i::� llll'lU l,y lti:1
owu nonunce�. Al) 18); Su..­l. C(ll, 44 {C:.­.h�la d1:;miss,; >� ct.'ntuflom fvr •lti.: �nd wca.knC:$.5l
Tlt'!' prinripi,'urtw in J\rmy­u.nd S(�1ery 145
There are proh1e111l-i here on ,vh,ch there see1ns to be no d1r(..'Cl cv1<lcncc to guide
us.
Was there n lixed age for lhe p1·1m1¡>dAte? Juvenal says you nught make ,t by
s1x1y, writmg in snhre. There are a number of exrunples ns has bccn sccn wh,ch
show thnt this could be htemlly croe. In other coses. •• 1 havc arg11ccl. w,th n ca·
reer con11nu1ng al\er the pttmi¡,ilate for porlúps li lleet1 ycurs.. en lhc ca,c of men
who renched tbe great prefecrmes for 1we111y or mure, il may be suggcstccl drnt
they did not even bave to wait ull !Hly to become ¡wimuspilus.'' Thcrc is 110 .,cninl
proof of !ííl}' as a u1u11nn>1u n.t;..::; the youn.e.t:st 1, nuv.·n pr1111usr11lu$ or nu1n :1huu1 to
becon1t: ¡1rit11r,spiJt4s happeus co be a 4�-yea1 olt.1 \V hll d1t'.Ll proJJe d1,•1n ron,w11n­
m111/0111s prtmlptlt .rc,i, hui that 111 no wny impües 1hm hé hod tobo lllty lO bcco111c
primus¡nh,s: ,, m:iy mean that he wns fony-uine as pn11111,pl/11.,." fhe cxumplcs
qnoted suggest thnt thcre was 110 mutimum or maxi11111111 a,l\e lalc1 down; 11 l., lik�ly
1ha1 pnironnge andior merit mlght bnng o Utan 10 tite pruni¡1ilatc wdl bcli,rc liílv,
1hough it should perh�¡1s be rmed as cxceptlonnl. As olniady 1101<:J. ccnlunnn,
were IJkely to be tir,;1 nppl'tllfM ns such 111 thttr nud-thlnles; scrvil'c ns centurions
r,,r h1111re pr1m1p11i cn111rl he n11yth1113 hetw�en Jif1�11 and thu'I) ycars." ·1 hat
therei \V('IS $('1111r. forn, nf reg11la1ion on when 11 1nnn ,vos eh?i1blei 11,r �he pr�1n1pdalc
however is suggested hy che phrose usecl 111 ('11 VllT 14471 l)essnu 2b4J. p.p.
¡>rn�rt>RtlltlJ(') tt:111¡,orf! /hrrr, et lii,•n Hntlrtant>.
fuvenul's sarcnsm, thc cxatnplc, qomcd <>I I Reu111111� 1 uc11is nnd l.,,
Max11111us Oaelulicus a11d B11lcy·� h�I or' meo with ove, 40 yems' serv,ce, do
ro1se the qucstion of ho,v ol<l u 1na11 11·,,ghL he und Rtill function ef'l'tottvely ns o
ce11tu11on und n prunu.,¡,llt1s. Thc high dcgrcc of' phys,col titn,�r;:; requi,e<I 1�1r
111urch111g and fighling us hcuvy inf'un�y nocJs no omphusis; lhc ccnlurio�s moy
havc i¡,arccl thcmsclvcs ú1c lahour of march111g by riding, h111 thc nocd to sta11d m
cho bnttlc l 1110 nPcl light hn11d·to,hru1d c�uld hnl'(Hy he avo,dcd. Tho 111�rcn�1110. use
nívcx1llntion� rnthcr thon \Vholc leg.1011� 111,ght nll()\V �cn1nr re:11ti.1rin11\ to hl'C1,n1r
111 cfTcct anchorcd lo dutics ut thc 1cgion¡¡ry haRC, und il is \\'Orlh pn1nl1ng out 1hnt
cvc11 vvi1cn ,vholc lcglons ,ve.Te lltinsfcn-cd 1(11· or 1nvolvcd 111 can1po1g111ng neve,
aa mu<.:h us half Lh..: h::giuu:, of tbi: c111pin: ,,•ere involvl-<l 1n .my ,var. '< l"hc J 1vy
pu:;:;agc rt:gar<lin!( Spuriu:; Ligu�linus pui111Ji Lo u rnux1111u111 u,g� or 1illy lür ccnu1·
1·lv11g bt,111� l,;Ulloo up Coi U(;llve s�1v1ct:, ai,J tlu:, U8lte:. \V11li lb\: .ugc ol' (°;Gcliu,,
who died io battle at 1be ,ige or S3 as a senior centurio11" ln quie1cr 1i111es oml
provlnces some se11ior centur:ons might be allowed to serve on 111to thc,r s, ,ucs ,,r
'oeyond. stU I with some hopes of the prlmlpilote, as the Blrley tabló shows, 1 huugh
wlth those hopes diminlsJting ns younger men ca,ne i111c• colllpotit1u11. \�11dí1cr
tltis becomes co!Ullloner is lhe use of v�xillations rather Ui..n whole l�g,ous in-
22 Dobaon. Pnm1p.ilsres 6fi\1 ..
23 CIL VI )580 Oe%m1 .,ú4 l
24 nob,;qn, Pnmip1lr.rclí 62
lS Dr«'.t<"/Dvbwn. Offi<.'t'J� ;;ind Fronlii:1:1 121.
!(, <:11 Xlllt,:f,4N.:f.pai�·I.[:, 111.�=-l>cssaui.2,1,1
146 B1·u1.11 Dol:­S<>tt
creases 1s di fñcult In suy Again thcre rs no evidence on whether there \VAA an age
linnt on the length of time a man rmght serve as cenrurion; we are lefl free ro pre-
sume Lhat ccmunons wcrc lrec to retire whcn thcy wisbcd aücr servmg their baste
stipendia, but wc Jo not know Iho <.:ahgulu pussage alreudy quotod seems to
imply Lhal he was disrmssmg ccntunons on the grounds of age, and depriving
them of the commodo of p1·1mi1,;1,, though prcsumubíy not of those due to them as
centurions or prinn ontínos > but 1J1c passagc is obscuro. l I is not el car if it was
normal to review tho ccntunona' titncss to hold office; the well-known examples
relnre to excepticnal circumstances (fii. 20, above).
Hiere rs in Iect n difflculty nhout che Cnlignln passage nnd the mscription al-
roady quered referring to consommauo prinu pilt. C'<1hRul,1 p/,:ri�·c¡uu ccntunonuin
matuns lum e.1 nonullis ante ¡1,ttu�1.tt11uot qu<·1n consu111n1aturi essent ,Jie:1 primo:
pilos ademis; ['l,dens dicd prope �11e,n cousummauonis pru«: ptl! sai, Consumma-
Jiu seerns to imply the com1>lctcd rcrm oí servicc, but ,e rs not clcar why the re·
rnoval oí men from office nr death tn orneo shnuld he s1ei,1íican1, unless the
prucnu« for havíng becn J)ri,nu,f¡>ilus were lont , r scrvrcc as ¡1rl11111s¡>1/¡,s was not
completed. The alternative �iat ro,1.v1111111wrlo rcprcsents thc rcaching of the pn-
uupilate, 011 n Jny alrcady namcd, makcs beucr scnsc 10 thc rwo ccntexts ­ note
1h11L Pudcns is noc cnl led ¡m11111s¡,/111s. but ,s tcss snt isfnccory ns a translancn,
le has been arguec 1h111 thc prnmpilate wns rcscrved tor mcn üom the yunrd.
aml dcmed to logronaries, or írom lwlim1s ns opposed w provurcials. 111 terms oi
c�o cxclusion of 1>rov,nciuls or of lct,ionnrics thcsc hynothcses cannot stand."
Much moro d10icull is the qucstlon of proporuons of ccnturions from the ranks of
me le¡¡1011s. üom the mnks of thc guurd, und dircclly-cumnll,'1011ed, umo111, tho
pr11111¡>il1. Ors¡;lnrs ulnne will 1101 help much hcrc. lL� d1rci.:tly comn11ss10ncli muy
0
shnre thcm wiLh lhc ¡¡11.ird nr w1Lh lc¡¡ion•rics, w1d l1aliu11s,st1II hcin¡¡ n:.:rui1r.d in
nun,hcr\ 1nto thc: lcJ!iuns hcl'hrc 11 a<lrian, n1uy UJ)pcur as cc:..-nl urions anti u¡;¡ ¡,r, ...
11
1n1¡,tb th,rty or forly yean,; latcr ' As Mnnc nny
pcr cent of 11r1,u1¡1il11rcs g1ving
c·.Hr<'..eNI �ay nolh111g nh-oul 1111.ar :,;crv,cc hclúrc lhc rrlmipilulc. corps of orig,n 1,;
rart,culorly difficuh. lt is probublc lhut thcrc urc more ltuhans, ¡¡uárdsmen, ;,.nd in
r•art1culnr rlirectly�cQ111n1i�i;1on�tl <:Cntunons u1nong Lhc JJr,mi¡n'l, Lhun rccruitJng
i11 s1n11lnr rro?ort1<11u¡ from th<.• avu1lab­le ccntunons would produce, bul llus pref..
erence for lluhans and guanlt­.1ncn an<l d1rcclly...:ommiss1oncd ccnlunons docs nol
nppear to exclude tho po.sibJiiLy thal " hrgh proporliun uf prtmlp1/i ha<l scrvcd m
the rru1ks Qf the log,ons.1''
So far i t is s.uggcstt­d thal lhc pobil of priniuspr'JuJ', sln:�dy pí\:sti.gious. undcr
lhe Principutc wJS linl.,;d to a uew tl1l� ol' primipilrlflS and n suarruueed ¡;ratuity
1.7 l)1,h11.un, l'nmrp11aré'I 4ill. i::f. nu\lt Afi l 9RS. 115
28 Dobicu. rtiill.ipjJ:ircs 15­39. esp. l ú for tiat��Jag bt'C\\'Cc.: n bciu& rccn1i1�d and 1eacil.iog lhe
pnnup1lutc. A� !'>t:S.. 7!51!i .1 prov1n;:ullond u leg1onury i;old1cr.
29 Dobs,,u, L11unipd;·u·es l50­l52 ll'i1,nlp1S 10 st:uw dun ,1 pruulpH:ile h111,;d¡• pro�·ided r,l)rn lhe
mnk,.. or 1hc lcginns anrl spr.ctal favQ1.1r to prJctorians and �X <.>Qtclf\J Ro111<1110 need 1\ól bl!
1uuluuUy' �.\..:lu:.­i\'t'
Tht' prrt1rfpil"rt.'1 ,u Anny und Soci<:l�· 147
on retirement that would hti the redpiem to a census exceeding lhat or u,c onli-
oary e,¡11�>. We will ren,m 10 lite themes ofwhat wns exJ.>e<;Jed of thc pnm1p1lan.,
in retiremenr firsr 1he emperor had hy no me,,ns exhnusted ihe potential value ol
these senior cenn1rions, So1ne ,ve assu1ne \Vl:'.nt to tl:e ,u,nu·,�,s ¡1r11111p,Jar1un,. n
bf.ldy only attested in Al> 11,, though il'e ¡,rmr,pi/un/ws may b� 1aken as it'fomng
to 1t continued 1ill AD 69 ni leas!." lt 1s uhce1tn,n whether the preJ'ects of thc
camp and ,he Romc tnhune., passed througil th,s hody or reverted to ic after
holding their JlOS<S, or whcther lhey remained d1stinct frorn II Tho memhers oí
this body seem to havo heon Ltscd ror Lhe typo of indiv,dunl prngnmen1 ollen
given to c;enior ccnturion� und Rcn11e t.rihunes nlso 1• ft n1u$1 he ernphns1sed thnl
we k11ow vcry lit,lc about ú,c m,meru., pr/mlpl/al'i111•1. Thc 1em1 'hody' is used fo,·
conven1ence. IL appcars lhal a nun1her of prllt1ipilarcs ,vcre uvailuhle 111 Ro1ne nncl
�rrnrently Cln co.n,pait,'1'11 fOr crnpcrors :.u,\I in1pcrial pr.ncos nnyvv·ay lhe t>ns1c
refere,nce i� to a n,un on 1ho staff of Oc11nunii:U6 nncl pi;. Hyginus 6 yive.r; thc prt·
mipd11re.< o ¡lince in cumr bcs•.do 1ho 01·()('tlli. ·11icy muy be sc,m os 1n<livid11uls
rnthcr thnn ns u uni1, lhough Home arrungcmcnls l'or 1hcir puy unJ 11ccomn10<l11t1on
wou In nccd lo be matlc.
·n,c lir!<t �,roup of posts Hs,i¡;ncd lo prin11p1!,sr,·,, woro 1 hu prcl'oclur"' oí 1hc
camr. Aguin 3S » rc�ulur post pru,fcc·111s ,,astrurirm se.irn. to ,1ppcor rirllt an<lor
Augus1us." Whcn lho p11nem of oq1,ewín11 nnd primipilm i.r c,u·cel'\I bccom�s cl,1<1r
un<lcr Clnu<.lius lho prc:Cec111re ,1f tho comp is normo lly held dtrcccly o ílor 1he pri-
n,ipilute nn,1 closcs lh• c"roor. 1hougb 1l1.:1·e nro a íew cases •>f rnen prorno1ed J\ir·
lhcr. Only in 1wo, ptrlu,po tltroo, on.rly ,.1r�t1'$ doos i1 seom ¡,ossib)o 1hm nu
c�uc::�tritu1 U) op1>v�cJ cu H prirnipUuris "''ª$ UIU\lt ¡,tt(�l "'f lh\! é(HUJ>.1; 'I h.: po:,I
cullctl J\11" rmu, ul' r,tl�,,t ,xporl,:m., of tlic way, uf 1ho .e.14iu11. 1'llc µri111ipiluris
1ms.,cssctl lhis, us woll .i, u ptuV<JI loy,,lty dito,lly tu tLo 0111poi�r 'J'ho1c is 11.0
way ol lilslgning • leng1h of1e1111rc 10 the prefecture ofthe camp: mai1y who hcld
,1 would uJrcm.ly be nged slx1y or over. le wos quite co11U1\011Jy bue 1101 excl11Si\'Cly
held in thc same le,ion ,,s the pri1111pl1111c.
'!'he other 01(\lor use of prfmfpilares wns M rnbuncs in Romc. in tht vigiles.
1he urban cohorts. the eqnírrs si11gulnrcs A111111s1i, 11ntl lho pr11e1ori1m colwrts. With
very few excepto11S thcse posts also wcro 1 he c�clusivc preserve t>f Lhc ¡1ri111lpl·
JO T:i\;� onu. 2, J J (AD 16) is thc c,nly rcfcrcn� to thc •1tu1:('ru.s �1rtr,11pUnrlr1.1n. lt 1r, os..sumcd l'
f"iudpfüuih,,., ('rae:. a.un. 4, 72} refco; ro thc Suntt body, uscd .i¡.:aia, Tac. hitL 3.70. f. 111ih­
,w,b11:r ,·,rls (To\', ruw 4. 41.) Is us�\i 1u :in 11lt.:r"a1lvc, sec csprc1:..lly hl�t .1,70 anrl ,,7.\, !­ee
also l>ob5on, PnrT11p1 l11rcli 6;11., l't�. 1.111.10��-.!.CJ:), lt>'/(
31 Spt,.aa] .u;:si.gu1il.:u1J. � Dvl>i"u. P1i.ut.i¡.ij},n1;:1 661'. Í\)1 pi uJ1iµ,l111 l.'.!.. 86f. fo, pt,1ttv1i;.t,1 IJ ili­
\111.C$
J2 Doh­;vu. PJ'hlli'.,illlre­� 7, (i,t
11 Vc5110�1u,; Pullio• .SueL Vc:,p. l. J c:L .6­H 11,s'I, 2111. Primip1htrc.'i IC'>5r Am1J,; !)al:1nus, C1L
X 6JOJ ­ �11.iu 6265. Pnuup.il:.lJ',J::S 174[; also a ��:>ib.ltty ts L. ,\por.tus, éspC:rand1c:".1 55�.
Pnm1pil:uc'­ 1 (1'1f.
U8 l'na,t­.,
tores lhe tribunes "'ere tL'fflttui.cx!.ers under the prcfects of J1l non.. le,gJon;u')
rroops on Romo, with tew exceptiens. Thcy. hk• tbc ¡,rm111•il1, themsclves th.:
le.l<!crs of tbe cennmens, and lhc p¡ck,:is ,,r thc C3Mp. �.teda ho<ly of rncu
m ley posuions bound in To) ,,lty úr.t and l<>remu<t ro 1hc emperor. The ahdity of
govcmors to appoint lcgion.r,, cemunons .md on OC.."UWD :r.uisfa thcm kJ a le-
¡:,on in tbcn new pro, inccs ¡,n;sumably 1)n'y had a marginal effect in butlding up
patrouazc in comparison
Promohon l><:yonJ the Rume cobons seem. to be pnmanly a ri:Jtlcf fur thc
1mliv1dual rnthcr iban n rolicy declsion tu use pnm1p1Ü1ra m the w�) 11-.a( for me
prefectura of the camp and ihe Rorne 1nbu1Uto; u cleart) was, lkfon: hegmmn!i
on .l ll rnay he couvenient to loo), 11• !he separanon of two d1�inc1 1..1111rocrs "-'hi.C.h
is the work of ("laadJ�
Augustan ,nlutiun.< seem ro be empmcal ra1her d1l111 thcoeetica], Tlus .s par­
uculnt'y clear lor tbc: commands of cobo:U a!ld al,.e wd thc tenurc o!lh<: leg,oo-
ary tribunates, Sueh f)ll<tS b.1,1 been held by equestnans m thc late repuhli�: thi<
contruucd. but ufongsille equ.,strian• there were nativc cbiclUlfu .111d cc.,,r.lrinr,<
and ¡mm1piii Olher posr.; were mclll<!c.J. prad;.ctus (abru"' a, a semor post,
praefectus ru.1v1u111. und prnl!frC1us rastrorum, 1hough as nnteJ tht la.st­named
wcre dhndy mainl) if nc'K c�clusiv ely reserved tor pnmtfJll�­3. There ""­a; no set
order oí posts, and. no re.auensbrp to íhc procuratorial carece, as lhe pr()('urarnr
,li,¡¡usti was 1101 yet cl�rly • st3k official,
Claudtus chng«I 011 thrs, b� c<tabu,hrn¡¡ a elear o,d.:r nf Jló',l<, !he'"'""""
equestres - thc f;ct lh.t he ongiully pla.tc r:hc lej<tono,y lnbu.'!ate as l.11rd, r.01
>CCOOd. "6 ít l•I<'< became, 11 ani:npn�an.l compared ",th
thc elear d"11nguishin¡¡
oru progrcssion ibrough gr¡uks. 'Ihe centurioas and pr1'111püare. have ao liinher
part tn thc poSb nf p,:;cú·1:tu� roh, nrl, m!,111f1J ,,,;tuu.,., Jeg¡,,,,o .axf praefect11$
1
,dor. arthoLgh they n,;tuir,ed tlieJ.r monopoly of prr,efcrnu l'úJtrorum Cl.1JJiu&
al<-0 est:lhli<b<,a thal ti,;, pl"O<urat3r was a mte offirial .,lti'l ¡udt<:� r,-w.ers. FO!'
lh� pr11111,nil.1r<:­l he al�o 1n:roduceJ rcgu1M prou..KJt1on of the p,1m:upll,� 1icrum lo
procuratc,r<lu;,s. senior ¡,rocur.tt015hip., "'hich ,..,,uld t:., e duc..ianan Nltl.
Thc �! ot 1?rirrm<pdu., 1trrum rcnu1ll'S a mystery. lr secm, d1fficuh lo :,ccept
that il wa, t.hc iltrruion oflhc ordirory prim,piJic1lc. as 11 clearly foll.,...., lhe pr:m<>-
nan 1nb,UU1c, ;ind unen aL,o the trihunatc of tllc ,·,g,te< and of an ur:r.m cohon
statinncd m ltaly. \'et c4ually !�ere i, :iu ul>vious place íorsuch a man 10 lhe hicr-
an:hy or !he lcb'Íon. or any ck"" ...,...,,...¡ ofh•m n,TCislll8 dOtJc. wilhin rhc 1�
Assignrng h,m a levoJ of pay pro<luccs further anomahcs; it must full romC\\bcrc
between the ro\· of a pltU!(O!ÍUTI mbune, ab,,e 1bá, of an ordu"'1'y prrffti...<p1I•< il&d
¡,rtfcct of 1he c�mp. and bcfov. llrnr .,ra du<:cnanan pm.:urator. In my mouograpb
rn, thc pnm1p1f11tes I nncm¡,r� ro cut !he Gor,lia:i kmt by suppc,si� llm he <>t<!:·
c1•tú tbe duries ofprefc�'t ofthc.<amp bur wirh h1gher p�y. lh• p.-oblern here,.
"'­'Pffl'Tl:"t'•� l <'1-.:mr..a. Tac.. h.,t J, 1.J. n­," vrdi.,w, ,...,la::oc.• .,,.,1 e G".'hn,r omir.JF. \'almM.
huu, rr:itlon;in Ct.nlu"oo dirrt'r W­ tnt•uac u o 1cu.w1I Cor mto,mog... Ca.,�. O,i, ?"5. l!l. '­
1< Doo......n. htt111pd..11 .-� 6,..14
149
thosc men who hcld \he post of ¡mn11«,r.,il1L< ,rerom but �inply Jcrail �,e 1wo lc-
gioas tn Y>h1ch !he'., hclJ pnnup, ...:es. wubour d...un11wshtng ,n v.hich tbe h1¡hc,-
)l0St v:as hcld. Therc are .ti.so tiome Jns1ancc!. of p,·11n11SJ)i/us 111..·tum \\•hcu no lc-
gíon Uí narn«4­.
n.e m:mer ia 001' funher comphcated t>y ,\(' '.978, 286. wi1h tite phrase
rrun. ,,,,. I•',( JJJ C,i/jicue urn,m in a c:,�T :lw musl t,.: "'11,:J •roun,I AO 14
lle orde; of po;;¡11 m 1hat care­cr 1s pccnbJT� as 11 contu ucs ,,,.11.:f r.uJrr frg.,
pru.,·f fitbr.• Ir 1n1/ in ¡,r,1e1. ,f11,1 .1UI( rr J, C,iesu.ri)' .4.t(� r:oh,,,r!.. ti ,·1 /C pr+1t.'·
ro,1Q.t. Á) t no,, arxc:pt L. Xtppic''> pc,!111 that che ,.ohur.1 /(J relt;rrcd 10 1s 1h1.· \/
r1r.óa,;,1. no: yet clcaliv d1srinsui.sha1 lro1n the! pra-::torian cohortft, 1 musl !:,'O �n 111
lccq>I thal the .mlcr Í.> ,tíreet :uid ha, no! l>ccn di.tortod. Tlus mtl.cs ít 1yp1c•lty
Augu.<ta:i"' ,n nor oum:•pondiug lo any set nrdcr of po,rs, ;md meru1s u is si I IJ
unlike lhc cac«r< a, v. e k.�o"· rhcr., trom Cl�udtu. onwanl,.. lt do,-,. SUU'f>I hn"·
.,cr l.ldl th! pu"" off1T1mu.rp,.'1,s iít'nlnt rnay he no more t1an bolL11og o rn:nqn­
latc 3gain. though bov. tn1> fit; '""' thc <tn,cturc ofu lc,t,n1 i!lXI ,..,at r:,; 1. c>t-
aoc .,
ri.:,; ¡,> it -.hould be tin11¡tlu 2 nccess.v'} prclnnmary lo holding JcJre,,i,n.o
procur.1tor;fúps. i1S app.ut'"nl 111�1:or function. rernrun .1 myc.tcr:..
Then: oeed not ha,·c b� º"" lll .­·"')· l�oo mdced. as Jire"<!) nlll,­J, a
nwnhcr ofmcn ,,,tl\l n.sn,c.: a Jegjon for thei.r lirst pri1111pJlu1e do t'lOI íor lhcir P',)$l\.
35 prrm:u.!pJh,s i�. ff there. v.crc. � Jl <icc.:mc; to h�\'e bL-en t.."S.,eoliaJ 10 hokt l.he
rractoriau tnhunalc before ,t, • rroblem would emerge. len pracLOJ'ian ·, tbune, 10
fiU neJrty thirty \.'.a.JlCJC'c; as J1r,mi..tp;Ju.r il�rum \\·ouJiJ rcqujn: a mirumuol oi
tm:.: year.;· 'lel'\1CC a<J pri,,,usp,/us u,-n,m 1( Lic tribun:ncs werc on I� hcld for une
YC.11, 1 h.1vc arguc'tl elsc"hen; 1h.11 rnen gomg on tv 1na.1or procururor,;h1r, an<l the
gre..t pre!cctures canld nnt ,,.... l¡i speoJ rr.orc 1han one yc,,r Q<h m the lnbun�-
tcs. • h secms �tter on 1he uvJilablt 1:­v1denl'e to �ugg::.l 1en 01 fe\1,·:r pru,upil,
U"'1llfl 31 any ooc lime. 1t '!lay be that u,c m•m pur¡,osc uf ruc J)l'St w-..
le !,o a
bndtc co llle pm<urator>h1ps.
lt i., ll()f clcar llut aU rcn pr:icwrian uibuncs .,·cnr on to hok thc ru.11100 Fe"'
ho"C'\rt � tn ha>-e retnacl u mbune or rl1.ol from n;,rur:i.1 rrnses." Tite tncnl
.teman<! fur pmcura1or< 1'35 out gr<al lf on� llilllks m t�r:ns oJ lhe ,ac<>nú cen-
ru,y, "'11h 'l<J ¡...fc<ls of a}.,,. ron·pc,ing fur }O sex3¡¡cMnan proc11rJtnr.,h1ps,
moving on to 30 .:tntcnanan auJ 30 Juce1iaritn. p¡;rhaps l•� ccnlcn.aJian procura-
tors .md 10 r.ract,('lnan tribu:ne2 añer 'JCCOmini pn,11,p!h tlenatt v.·cre c<>mpi:lH'l_g
for t.bt­ 30 d1k"CT.arian procurato:--.i;ht.pr. Ho'."C' er th1s rna.�tc no n'.lowar1t.·e for 1he
tác1 that mcHt than one duccrt..ri:m rn,."'Cllf.l1Jfflh.ip � .ac.: gene�� l1cld.. ., ­­: fh)).f, ;a1
lea.1 hw,g A>ggcsted b) Sallcr."
'� °""""'- Prrnt¡,,llt,n ;S,41
17 1;,1�tW":1. t'lun,r1b1n b· I J f.or 1uy c­athtr diSl;.u.J\I�•=- óÍ 1hi) 1m..:dpuon �(e Hr�c,eO, ,.,,011
Olf�t ai frmt,o-> :?si:­�­; 1 KqicY•; cet':"'>UOD .pp,:-.an. .n .-\lhr-n1:rum, �. Wf».
IIIQI'
3� Dl>b>oL l'nnupd.1= tn
N llcl,,ua. P,._Jim • ;¡.�
,in r �a J.._""f Jaon1. Rorn.. Stud. 70. IQSO, 4. !J.l. n.f'('Cu.11}· �XI .. 11)
)50 Brian Dobsuu
Saller's analysis ortne ducenarian procuratorships is helpful here. l lis article
was a protcst al Püaum's rather rlgid scneme, and suggested among other polnts
that lhc cvidence showed tnat for the 32 centenarian procurators in the second
century only 13 ducenannn posts were ilútially availahle, for which they com-
peted wiíh thc primimt! bis l am suggesung rile lafter are besr reckoned as ten or
fewer, Oddly enough Sullcr's tables givc uie pnm,pili bis 26% of lhe ducennnnn
posts lbr ali Ptlaum carcers, whroh is remarkably close to the likely mpur of li4
suggested, 01 coursc thc figure, cannot bo pressed, but Lhey suggesí that perbnps
the prmrlpill t,,,.
hud as good a chance In proportion to their numbers a; íhc
cquesrrinn centenarian procurntors of reaching the duccnurian posts. All praoto
non tnbunes mighl nerhop• huve o hopo of u duccnnrian procuratorship, gcncrnlly
us procumror of an imperial provincc, without disturbing the dominancc of thc
equestrian ordcr.
Ihere are point� tn be modo about which proeunuorships, seoretnriuts nnd
protecrul'eij might ho reachcd by the prlmiptlarcs. ['irst ,uHI Ioremost, reserved for
tl,e 1m1111¡dlffn•., werc thc prefcciures o!' the legions in Egypl, wlnch conld 11111 be
QU111111M1ltd by $Cnatoiial legati becausc of the exclusión of senuton, from 01111
province, which was govemcd hy :, prcfcct. 111 th• period up tu Claudius the•o
1>rufec1-conunnnders were supphcd in u ch11wcttristicully m/ /1(11' lushicn, with no
pattcm to the careers. rrom I Cir¡,iniu� thc cerecr is clear, 'vi. Cluudius Seeundi-
""" show lng rhe developed form." Therc is nothi n¡¡ to nu� on !he complcx it ic, "1
11,c nomenclature of 1his post. lt docs not uppear thut u sepnnue prerccr or thc
curnp was nppolnred rn mese le¡¡im,,, wnen in E¡¡ypl \VhU11 the Po1rthián lcgiuns
wcre rmsed, they were given prcfoct-c11mmandcrs, wltich avoided me ancmaly M
lc¡¡10119r, legares unrler tho e<111o•tri:m govcrnur of Mcsopotamla anJ n lcglonnry
lcgate in charge or the lc¡µon 11 Par1b1cu bnscd 1n ltaly rhe leg1ons seem aU to
lut\'e been pm under prefect-commandns lium 1..iallttm1s onw�rds, nt Hrsl 01 lenst
,,rtn11r1darr.,· hut ,vith no clt3r 1ni.hcauon v.•htlh�r thf'Alte ,,rt"re lhe Jhnn�r 1iról'ec.·1s
of d1e camn M me11 followln¡¡ thc prin11,sp,/11s iierrtm route. l lowever ns lhe prl·
1111pd<1res then1selves wero lar�cly witltdrawln¡¡ frolll strictly miht.ary dutics llu:y
wcro 1101 desti11ed to he the hontficiuncs oJ' u,is rr11nsfür of leiioanry command
uul ufl11e hnnds ofthe sem,torn ''
Of the 011ter procurutornhips, thc ¡,rocururur­goven1vrshlps IIJld tlte pretectures
of the íleets m Ttaly sccn, particul•rly ,ui111bk for lite pti1111pi/11n•J. Wh.llc iu uo
wa)' rescrved f<;1r thcni, thcsc rosts do np¡,car commo11ly for meu who advunce,J
beyot1d their Fim duccnorian procurutunihJp. 'l'his is not controd1cted by SnUer's
lind111gs, if 1t is acccptctl lhul sóme procurator,al cxpcricncc incvilahly fcll lnto
whol Snllcr would lcm1 Lhc <ivll domnu1, for pt/m/¡1ilrm,., os wcll a., For cqucslr1·
nns. This would ap¡,ly parlicuhuly to tite first duccnanon post hcld, which is oftc11
lhe only onc ror prlm:pl/u,·es. Alsu lho numbers are so smalJ tltot µcrccotages
�l CIL V�!',/= Pe�$nn l,\:l1). Pn111lplLu."C1t ?J.14; Ot<:.­:·t.e,Dob�o:l. Offic...­ri a.u.l Fronlk:rs 242·
S?.
42 Oobson. l'ruu.ip1Jarcs 139­45.
M1c ¡,11,'TJipdurl!:i w A11uy �nJ S:.ic:Íél)' 151
íluctuatc wildly. (iivcn !his. and cxcludlng. legionary commanJs which ore exclu-
sive to tl1c pnmi¡1,larer, ic may be suggested tht the ltaJí:u, tlcat pr<:focttrr�.s a11J
Lhc pmcurntor·grrvcmorl\hipl'. and pt'ocur�tvrsbips of in1pc:ri.aJ pro"·­incc5. :irc n1ru-
ginnlly n1orc crnnnu·111 than n1iglu llave bceu e�pé>l.;.Lc<l, and posls ln a<.:cuunts: and
ta.J(CS , procurntors of •cnotorial 11rovit1ce� ru1d 111 .E!gypl, ure mzr�inully les� com-
1non. •J ln nonc, exccpt for lcgiona.ry coirunanUs. Ji<l llu: p11'1111,?llurf'.\' Lhrcnten to
fom, a majority. Thcrc is no di�ccmihle speci.tl reletionshlp betwceu thc ccnte-
narian pmvincial Jl,;ct prcícctures an<l thc pr/mipll,m•s.
Ali procurulorial curccrs are cswntially individual careers, and 1hi, is par-
licularly lruc or th<>$C who rcachcd the ¡:reat prefecrures. Jlere the rw1m11 ,,1n,r,
s1:em to havc done wcll in tite greatesr c,f ali, tbe proc:toiir111 prulécturc, with an
in1preR�ive nJn nf i,uccl!.i;i:;, 11 Serviro AS: le3iC'nnry cen1urions ulongsir.lL" cn1pernrs
whn had followed tite normal s�nntorinJ carecr, such as J rajan un� Hrulnan. or i11
K�me as soldier. ce,rn1rio11 nnd 1ribune, ought givc upporlunihcs u, acquire i111pe·
rinl pmronnge earJy.
lfwe reckon ur !he value ofthe¡m111ipi/11res lt> tite cmJX.'IW, thcn, we mu�t
include the prin,,piloce os the 11at11ml j\oal of eve,­y citizen soldicr und c,111unon,
helping to hind the lc•ynlty or tite centurion body. The,1 wo 11111,1 a,Jd tho camn
pr<,fects on<l the Rome trihune;, key figure� 111 the lcgions nnd U1c �itizQn troops i11
Romo. 01' ptui1culur impor1m1co wcre lhc Rome trihunes; conspirnl'i-is whkh in
volved thom wcre lho most 1mmc<lio1ely 1nennc111g. rinally thcr� is thc suµply of
¡,erhaps ",¡uartcr of tho sc11io1. ducenori,tn Jlr(ICUrotorahips. with lhu possibi lily or
nn occai;1011al 110tohle 1iroetoriru1 lll'efect.
Thot doe, Mt cxhau�I thc camrihution or the pmr¡ipi/""'·'· 'l'hcy wcrc of
C0\11'$C uscful for odd johR, a., thc cxi�tcnc.e of the "''''"""" prrm/pilurium hcmi<
witncsR. Fluc nlRO 111 rctirc111c11t thcy bulked lnr�e iu locnl swicty. J'Jucc cpisuJos,
almMt u11dct ,uccc��ivc cm¡icrors wcll illustrnt< lhis• .iud lhc t111pc1t,r'• im,-rcst
Fir,;t, 1.11,dcr T1hcriutt. thcrc i� .:i.. riot nf Pt,lle111ia ,vhen 111­, lv\vo:,fol" lt.. ­lJ up thc:
funcrul of a ¡71·Jmipl/<1ris till ltis hcirs u¡¡rccd lo prnvidc a free f;llldiritorinl �hO\\.
Uuuor l'uli1.1ula, u; wdl as hi, rcduclion oí thc pmemlo mil/litw fcir pmni¡u/111·es
anU Lhc Lli�tui1>:,al ol' sorne appun.:ntly hcfbrc con1ptc:ing their sorvice ns ¡,r,111,;s..
pilus. c;n tite groun<ls or a¡¡e, ,;�uilicant.ly cnough. he on nnothcr ocrnsiou in,esti-
gatcd thc wills of primipJiures. from AD 14 onwurds,and dcclarccl i11valid those
whéro norhing was lefi lo Tlberhts <>t him,clt: Finally \'mi in cstahlishing hi•
colony nl Antiwn forc.ed a rmmber of ¡1t11mptlar<'s lo lransfor U1crc." Thc mes-
sagcs � clcar: the pru,u¡n'laJ'iS in J. ccrt.a.in scnsc rcW.inOO n.'5pons1hililics tn H1e
empe,·ur, aud his weallil. oweu lll llle eruperor. mighl be callc<l upon, illlcl U1c pri-
n,ipiloris in t.he LUttnic11>::11ities wns a l,rge ligure, aga1u .tOr ,vcttJLh ú1al n1ighl be
43 P. S.iller. op. �iL (fu. 40) 63 cC Pt1mipilare� 113.
44 Dob!IQII, Pnnup1!are, 113 (n 232, te "­'hich ecd as o p,c,�1btf.ly (;l11uJ.1us Lus::inu� unilcr
troJuu, Ab 1987, 216.
�5 Suet. T1b. 37; Colig. 38· N,10 9
152 Dri�nDobwn

pul al thc scrvice ot Jus fellow rownsmen, :nakmg the co-npnlsory transter of a
numbcr a Iorm ofend0\"'-111C:tJt f()r Anuurn.
'!'he social posuion nf the prinuprlr.ns has bccn discussed elsewbere, • Here
may be emphasised once more his wcalth, his comparanvc rarcty, thc cpportum-
lJCS open to his sons as drrectly comrmssioncd ccnlunons or equesman officers.
<111d tbe close rnterhnkmg oí the rmluary IT"Jtcm1t_y °' ln thc towns the fjequent
7

occurrence of senior magrstracies has been documcntcd. wuh lhc mcreasmg ten­
écncy for rhe patronage atone 10 be held." Age agarn plays a par; here. Toe pn-
nnpilans by dcfiniuon ouly played a full part 'o the Efe of rus muoc:1pality añer
reliremcnl. ut what could be an advanced age, Ile could however acr as patroa
effectivclv dirring his service. 'The known benefacnons are considerable.....
Thc prinupilares. u may be argued, constitute an important element in tbe
army and socicty. wrth close h.nks to the en.perors, They are s1gn1fica"lt 10 them-
selves and as the top of a pyrarnid of tne ciuzen soldiers and eenamons ofRome.
who wcrc cncouraged to see iu tbe post of ,,r;mu.tpi/'4.t their p::lSspon mto society
al un honoured level. virtually iheir only route to rbe equesman order."' Hopes of
tho primipilatc kept cenrunons serving, aopareany a desrred end, As pnm1pili. as
c,,mp prcfccts, as rcprcscnuuives ofthc .<)81otwy cenrunonate, lhey stood fo: IO)-
alty to thc cmpcror and lor discipline. As tnbuncs in Rome, paruculady as praeto-
rian tribuncs and tribunos of thc equües singulares 1lugusti. they srood. ,&.Slly
experienccd officcrs, bctwoen thc cmperor und conspuacy. preferred !O equesinan
officers. As prcfcct-cornmandcrs in 1::gypt nnd then of the Panhian legions toc­y
gave che cmpcror un alternuuve he appat,,"ntl) preferred 10 equestrians rn these
posts. Finally thc cmpcror was no; �, erse ro usmg such men as hrs precararors
and as his groar prcfects.
In socicty gcncrally and tn the mumcipalmes m particular they were rmpor-
tant. with weahh andas represenung a military anstocracy, most of whosc mcn1-
bc1-s, as servéng l;c:nrur1ons,. \.Vtre not present. Re:c truly thcy "·ere old and
wcalthy. men who tad served 1hc cmreror. army and soc:cty. and by ycars <>f
:'!icrvicc had •,vo:i thc1r- r�·ard.

4G Dobso.o.. Pturu:;,1lzirc1 115-121, Hn:czc:1).lb$-on. Officers and Frocnieri 201-:?l "!•

..J1 Oo�nn., l'nn11p1l.ares 111-110: �e also A[ 19&4. 8Ql-5. \IJ0Cf(': � f;:llbr.-r-111-ta" <,f., pn�
"ª"''"'U!,
1•1jrulcr1.r ts .i oldJ AE fQ87, i:?S, wt-1ch Jinlt:.3 thc �n pr::n:¡r.lmn 1- Arouln, lla-
ll!UULS lltlJ <.:. lnlc1s L .q,·d�. daring 1he l..l.l.t� le tlte lmle uf lr'-1at and runfumn;,: .�. l:hr-
lcy's duLU� ufliUll l<J t'aaln;, ll.t.w ti.e ilW.d ctun1ry, cf. 000500. P-'ltn,pila.,e,: 3}1
�h l)nh&.'"ln, ..>ru:..uptlt.rc.s 122-: .?b
.:¡Q Oob�un. Pw.atptl.,rti L!';
)O Brcczc:t>otison. Ofii,;;crs and Frn.nt1cr, 204