12-18-2004, 08:24 AM
Interesting discussion anyway!<br>
Tacitus says during one point in the Batavian revolt, the Batavians among the rowers prevented the sailors (nautae) and marines (propugnatores - defenders) from doing their jobs. This is a provincial fleet though, where the situation might well be different.<br>
The pay status of naval troops is insecure: we have only proof that the viaticum was 3 aurei for them too. It is true that service conditions were undoubtedly better in the legions.<br>
Being a soldier doesn't necessarily mean you're a citizen, see all auxiliary tombstones: milites, but only citizens on discharge.<br>
The citizen-status of the troops joining I and II Adiutrix is a difficult one. We have several diplomata giving citizen status to legionaries of those units in 69 and 70AD. That does indeed indicate that they were time-served naval troops who transferred to I and II Adiutrix immediately before discharge, then got their citizenship. However, there are no diplomas <em>at all</em> of these legions from later on (which is what you'd expect if these soldiers got their citizenship after service). That may be due to the vagaries of history, after all we have only (fragments of) about 1000 diplomas out of an estimated 200,000 granted. It may also mean that all non-time-served-troops got their citizenship at the time of the discharge of the other ones.<br>
Epibata seems to mean 'person on deck', not necessarily in a fighting function. But that inscription is for a 'discens epibata'. Discens means 'learning to be', so it must be a specialized job. <p>Greets<br>
<br>
Jasper</p><i></i>
Tacitus says during one point in the Batavian revolt, the Batavians among the rowers prevented the sailors (nautae) and marines (propugnatores - defenders) from doing their jobs. This is a provincial fleet though, where the situation might well be different.<br>
The pay status of naval troops is insecure: we have only proof that the viaticum was 3 aurei for them too. It is true that service conditions were undoubtedly better in the legions.<br>
Being a soldier doesn't necessarily mean you're a citizen, see all auxiliary tombstones: milites, but only citizens on discharge.<br>
The citizen-status of the troops joining I and II Adiutrix is a difficult one. We have several diplomata giving citizen status to legionaries of those units in 69 and 70AD. That does indeed indicate that they were time-served naval troops who transferred to I and II Adiutrix immediately before discharge, then got their citizenship. However, there are no diplomas <em>at all</em> of these legions from later on (which is what you'd expect if these soldiers got their citizenship after service). That may be due to the vagaries of history, after all we have only (fragments of) about 1000 diplomas out of an estimated 200,000 granted. It may also mean that all non-time-served-troops got their citizenship at the time of the discharge of the other ones.<br>
Epibata seems to mean 'person on deck', not necessarily in a fighting function. But that inscription is for a 'discens epibata'. Discens means 'learning to be', so it must be a specialized job. <p>Greets<br>
<br>
Jasper</p><i></i>
