Roman Names and Roman Military Diplomas.

[spedius01]

Ave,

"In the earliest days, most Romans had only two names, that of the clan or gens to which they belonged (nomen), and
their personal name by which they would be addressed by relatives and friends (praenomen). Later, as families divided, branches of the same gens were distinguished by a third name (cognomen).

e.g. Gaius (personal name) praenomen
Julius (name of gens) nomen
Caesar (branch of Julius gens) cognomen

A few Romans, who had earned some special distinction, were granted a fourth name (agnomen) which was usually connected with the event which had made him famous,

e.g. Publius Cornelius Scipio, who conquered the Carthaginians in North Africa, was called Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus.

It is usual in Latin books to find the praenomen abbreviated. This is not the same as our practice of giving someone's initials. In Latin each abbreviation stands for a particular name:

A. = Aulus
C. = Gaius
Cn. = Gnaeus
D. = Decimus
L. = Lucius
M. = Marcus
M'. = Manius
P. = Publius
Q. = Quintus
S(ex). = Sextus
T. = Titus
Ti(b). = Tiberius"

The above is quoted from "Ecce Romani 6: Valour and Intrique" A Latin Reading Course from The Scottish Classics Group, Third Impression 1977.

Why have I quoted, at length, the above?

First, if we're using Roman names as pseudonyms, it could be useful to know how Roman names work.

Secondly, it serves as an introduction into where my chosen pseudonym originated.

Marcus Spedius Corbulo was a real person, (possibly named after a famous Roman general, Cn. Domitius Corbulo, who was forced to commit suicide by Nero in the year 67). He was an auxiliary infantryman (pedite) in cohors II Ituraeorum stationed in Egypt. He was discharged, during the reign of Trajan, after serving 25 years and was granted Roman citizenship on the 24th of September 105. This information was discovered on a Roman Military Diploma, a bronze hand-engraved two-piece tablet, awarded to each soldier in the auxiliaries upon his discharge.

Diplomas give the names of all auxiliary ala (cavalry) and cohors (infantry), from a province, discharging men on that day. On this Diploma there are three ala and seven cohors. It also mentions two cohors transferred from Judea/Syria Palaestina in preparation for the invasion and annexation of Arabia, which took place in the year 106. A Diploma will also give the Emperor's name, complete with all of his titles, the provincial governor, the two consuls in office, the soldier's unit and its' commander, seven witnesses and the day/month date. Each Diploma was a copy of an original bronze tablet set up in Rome. Diplomas were also awarded to members of the fleets, the Praetorian guards, Legions formed from the fleets and various other pseudo-military bodies. A true testimony to Roman organisation and efficiency.

As historical documents Diplomas are priceless and have been instrumental in advancing our knowledge of the provincial garrisons and troop movements. Diplomas have enabled scholars to fill gaps (lacuna) in the lists of known Roman consuls and provincial governors. When G. L. Cheesman wrote his ground-breaking, inspirational book "The Auxilia of the Roman Imperial Army" in 1914 he based his conclusions on just 60 Diplomas, by 1984 there were 330, we now have over 800!! (Cheesman was subsequently killed in 1915 whilst fighting in the trenches during World War I)

When next you see my pseudonym, you'll know it's source.

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

PS. If you'd like to see a picture of this Diploma it's on page 55 of Peter Connolly's brilliantly illustrated book "The Roman Army". Cheesman's book is still in print and, although outdated, many of his conclusions are still valid as an introduction to the auxilia.

[warmaster]

Interesting, thanks for the info.

[ste]

i've said it before, it always amazes me how much people on this forum know of their subject

[fatetriarrii]

Very interesting, I had fun reading it

[Redpossum]

Excellent work, Spedius, very interesting, and by all means continue with this most excellent series of essays.

[spedius01]

Ave,

Below is the Latin text of the Diploma:-

Imp(erator) Caesar divi Nervae f(ilius) Nerva Traianus
Augustus Germanicus Dacicus pontifex maximus
tribunic(ia) potestat(e) VIIII imp(erator) IIII co(n)s(ul) V p(ater) p(atriae)
equitibus et peditibus qui militaverunt in alis
tribus et cohortibus septem quae appellantur Augusta
et Apriana et Vocontiorum et I Augusta Lusitanorum
et I Pannoniorum et I Flavia Cilicum et
II Thracum et II Thebaeorum et II et III Ituraeorum
et classicorum et sunt in Aegypto sub
C(aio) Vibio Maximo item extranslatarum in Iudae
am I Hispanorum et I Thebaeoram quinis et vicenis
pluribus(q)ue stipendiis emeritis dimissis honesta
missione quorum nomina subscripta
sunt ipsis liberis posterisque eorum civitatem
dedit et conubium cum uxoribus quas tunc habuissent
cum est civitas iis data aut si qui caelibes essent
cum i(i)s quas postea duxissent dumtaxat singuli
singulas a(nte) d(iem) VIII K(alendas) Octobr(es)
M(arco) Vitorio Marcello
C(aio) Caecilio Strabone
co(n)s(ulibus)
cohort(is) II Ituraeorum cui prae(e)st
L(ucius) Aquillius Oculatius
ex pedite
M(arco) Spedio M(arci) f(ilio) Corbuloni Hippo
descriptum et recognitum ex tabula aenea
quae fixa est Romae in muro post templum
divi Aug(usti) ad Minervam

Ti(beri) Iuli Urbani
Q(uinti) Pompei Homeri
P(ubli) Cauli Restituti
P(ubli) Atini Amerimni
M(arci) Iuli Clementis
Ti(beri) Iuli Euphemi
P(ubli) Cauli Vitalis

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

[fatetriarrii]

Uhh.... What is it all saying? I mean, I read your text, but I haven't studied latin. I believe, from your previous text, that it has something to do with the legion he was in, battles he was in? Who he is, if he is a citizen, where he is from... Am I wrong about something, or missing something? TY, great info

[Redpossum]

Heh, roman abbreviations can be fun.

All around the med, one finds "X Leg Fret" and the like scrawled on old stones.

X Leg Fret meant 10th Legion Fretensis, Julius Caesar's favorite bully boys, who more or less kicked the shit out of every opponent they ever faced, at least in Julius' lifetime.

If I recall correctly, the Fretensis was later one of the three roman legions present at the siege of Masada, along with the Apollinaris (a legion specially trained in desert warfare) and another legion whose name and number escape my failing memory. It shows how seriously the romans took the siege, firstly that they assigned three legions, and secondly that they sent a crack unit like the Fretensis.

[spedius01]

Uhh.... What is it all saying? I mean, I read your text, but I haven't studied latin. I believe, from your previous text, that it has something to do with the legion he was in, battles he was in? Who he is, if he is a citizen, where he is from... Am I wrong about something, or missing something? TY, great info

Ave fatetriarrii,

It says, and this is a rough translation:-

The Emperor Caesar Nerva Traianus Augustus, conqueror of Germany, conqueror of Dacia, son of the deified Nerva, pontifex maximus, in his ninth year of tribunician power, four times acclaimed Imperator, five times consul, father of his country, has granted the cavalrymen and infantrymen who are serving in three alae and seven cohorts called (ala) (1) Augusta and (2) Apriana and (3) Vocontiorum and (cohorts) (1) I Augusta Lusitanorum and (2) I Pannoniorum and (3) I Flavia Cilicum and (4) II Thracum and (5) II Thebaeorum and (6) II Ituraerorum and (7) III Ituraerorum and the Fleet, and are stationed in Egypt under C. Vibio Maximo, who have served twenty-five or more years, whose names are written below, citizenship for themselves, their children and descendants, and the right of legal marriage with the wives they had when citizenship was granted to them, or, if any were unmarried, with those they later marry, but only a single one each, also transfer into Iudea (1) I Hispanorum and (2) I Thebaeorum.
Eight days before the Kalends of October, in the consulships of M. Vitorio Marcello and C. Caecilio Strabone (AD. 105, Sept. 24)
Cohort II Ituraeorum commanded by L. Aquillius Oculatius
ex-infantryman
M. Spedius Corbulo son of Marcus from Hippo.
Copied and checked from the bronze tablet set up at Rome on the wall behind the temple of the deified Augustus near (the statue of) Minerva.

(Witnessed by:)
Ti(berius) Julius Urbanus
Q(uintus) Pompei Homerus
P(ublius) Caulius Restitutus
P(ublius) Atinius Amerimnus
M(arcus) Julius Clementis
Ti(berius) Julius Euphemus
P(ublius) Caulius Vitalis

Hope the above helps.

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

[spedius01]

Heh, roman abbreviations can be fun.

All around the med, one finds "X Leg Fret" and the like scrawled on old stones.

X Leg Fret meant 10th Legion Fretensis, Julius Caesar's favorite bully boys, who more or less kicked the shit out of every opponent they ever faced, at least in Julius' lifetime.

If I recall correctly, the Fretensis was later one of the three roman legions present at the siege of Masada, along with the Apollinaris (a legion specially trained in desert warfare) and another legion whose name and number escape my failing memory. It shows how seriously the romans took the siege, firstly that they assigned three legions, and secondly that they sent a crack unit like the Fretensis.

Ave possum,

I had a quick check of my notes, the three legions were possibly V Macedonica, X Fretensis and XV Apollinaris and the seige of Masada finally ended in 73 AD with the Judeans commiting mass suicide! A coincidence perhaps, but, Cn. Domitius Corbulo lead a successful campaign in Armenia during 58 and 59 with "X Frentensis", along with other units from the Roman garrison of Syria. Cn. Domitius Corbulo is possibly for whom the originator of my pseudonym was named! A little bit tenuous, I know, but you get the connection?

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

[sum1won]

Yeah, Ive read a book or two on Masada and it was one of the nastier events for the romans- mainly because it was a natrual fortress made nearly impregnable due to gradual stockpiling/fortifications building over years and years, and the hard-core fanaticism of the defenders. It was impossible to storm or batter down with seige engines, as it was built upon a plateau/mountain feature. Eveauntually the romans built a ramp that allowed them to capture the fortress, which was on reason they had so many troops there- so that the ramp would finish within the foreseeable future. The roman troops outnumbered the judaens at least 25:1- by even more if you take into account that not all of the judaens were warriors (many were families of rebels) if I remember right- they needed that many people to build the ramp. (which was ENORMOUS)

[spedius01]

Yeah, Ive read a book or two on Masada and it was one of the nastier events for the romans- mainly because it was a natrual fortress made nearly impregnable due to gradual stockpiling/fortifications building over years and years, and the hard-core fanaticism of the defenders. It was impossible to storm or batter down with seige engines, as it was built upon a plateau/mountain feature. Eveauntually the romans built a ramp that allowed them to capture the fortress, which was on reason they had so many troops there- so that the ramp would finish within the foreseeable future. The roman troops outnumbered the judaens at least 25:1- by even more if you take into account that not all of the judaens were warriors (many were families of rebels) if I remember right- they needed that many people to build the ramp. (which was ENORMOUS)

Ave sum1wum,

I've got a couple of novels about Masada. "The Wolf of Masada" by John Fredman and "Masada" (formerly The Antagonists) by Ernest K. Gann, also a video based on the latter called "The Antagonists" starring Peter O'Toole and Peter Strauss. L(ucio) Flavio Silva Nonio Basso, to give him his full set of names, was the Roman commander at Masada and his story continues in Gann's "The Triumph". Incidentally Silva became a Roman consul in the year 81, eight years after Masada.

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

[fatetriarrii]

I don't know if it is the same fort, but when Alexander was claiming persia he came to a similar fortress, up on a cliff. The king defied him, even though out-classed and out-numbered, because he would need "flying soldiers" to reach the top. Alexander gathered 300 of his best climbers around him and they clambered through the night.

Half or so fell to their deaths, but when he reached the top, alexander said to the king "how do you like my flying soldeirs?" The king surrendered immediately!

O, and thank you very much for the translation, it was interesting to read and helpful for my language-impaired world I geuss it just goes to show how much the romans cared about legislature

[Redpossum]

I don't know if it is the same fort, but when Alexander was claiming persia he came to a similar fortress, up on a cliff. The king defied him, even though out-classed and out-numbered, because he would need "flying soldiers" to reach the top. Alexander gathered 300 of his best climbers around him and they clambered through the night.

Half or so fell to their deaths, but when he reached the top, alexander said to the king "how do you like my flying soldeirs?" The king surrendered immediately!

O, and thank you very much for the translation, it was interesting to read and helpful for my language-impaired world I geuss it just goes to show how much the romans cared about legislature

Excellent story, and typical Alexander. I swear than man must have had solid brass huevos the size of texas grapefruit. And to this day we still don't know what he died of.

And as far as the romans and legislature, they were the world's original bureaucrats. I do not exaggerate or speak rhetorically here; I mean that in the most literal sense.

The romans documented every aspect of public life, both civil and military, in meticulous detail. This is in part, in large part, why we know so much about them. They left written records.

[fatetriarrii]

Must have been annoying for the citizens then, but thank god for it. If they hadn't, we wouldn't have known nearly as much. I mean, look at the incas, now they didn't even HAVE a written language (just knots)

[sum1won]

I don't know if it is the same fort, but when Alexander was claiming persia he came to a similar fortress, up on a cliff. The king defied him, even though out-classed and out-numbered, because he would need "flying soldiers" to reach the top. Alexander gathered 300 of his best climbers around him and they clambered through the night.

Half or so fell to their deaths, but when he reached the top, alexander said to the king "how do you like my flying soldeirs?" The king surrendered immediately!

O, and thank you very much for the translation, it was interesting to read and helpful for my language-impaired world I geuss it just goes to show how much the romans cared about legislature

I doubt it was the same fort- from what I heard, the judaens got on fairly well with Alexander. They did not get on well with one of his successor's- the one who took control of that general area.

And the fort is in what is now the country of Israel- the bottom half, if I remember right. Not persia.

[spedius01]

Ave

If you would like to see actual pictures of Roman Military Diplomas, go to:

http://www.romancoins.info/MilitaryDiploma.html

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

[Redpossum]

As thoroughly as those pre-columbian cultures were smashed by the conquistadores, as fanatical as those spanish priests were about eradicating all trace of their previous life and culture, I do not think we can really make any such sweeping statements about them.

The knots you refer to were the "reminder" system for their messengers or runners. Who knows what else may have existed?

[fatetriarrii]

True, possum. The point I am making is that either one, the knots were their language (we just haven't cracked it yet) or that we haven't found their language (due to lack of proloferation or disintigration) or (the easiest answer to assume until proven otherwise) they didn't have one.

It is a good point, though, and hopefully they had one we will find soon!

[spedius01]

Ave

My main interest is, and has been for more than 3 years, the second part of this topic, Roman Military Diplomas.

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo