10-17-2011, 10:44 PM
It would be "possible", though not probable for a plebeian legionary to have the career you want. Marcius Turbo was a member of the Ordo Equester to hold the prefectures he held. Your hero, once he reached Primus Pilus - this is the post held for only one year at a time - would probably have the income for eligibility and be enrolled in the Ordo Equester.
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Legionary legates were usually of the Senatorial order, but it is possible that exceptions existed. The position of Camp Prefect could be held for many years and usually followed the year of service as Primus Pilus. One would expect only one per camp or fortress, yet Varus (in AD 9) had two with him according to Velleius Paterculus.
Patronage did play a significant role by all appearances in promotion within the Roman army. It did matter whom one knew. Your legionary as he moves swiftly up the ladder, might encounter some resentment along the way, however, as others are passed over.
Trajan as a soldier, himself, would recognize outstanding bravery and a doctoral thesis on the career paths of centurions did look at battlefield promotions, of which the Dacian Wars would be a prime example of where such could (and probably did) happen. (I'll get you that reference citation later - it is accessible through the British Library's online thesis collection as a PDF file and FREE once you have registered with them online).
Soldiers below the rank of centurion could not legally marry while in service during this period, though once your man is in the senior centurionate, the rules might change (Sara Eliza Phang, The Marriage of Roman Soldiers). He would be expected to marry a Roman citizen, when he did marry, because he is a citizen himself. Legionaries did not get the grant of "conubium to marry a non-citizen like auxiliaries did and as a senior officer he would be under some social pressure to not marry beneath his station.
Camp followers were a feature of military life in many ages. Under a commander like Trajan they would presumably be under some form of discipine and probably kept well to the rear during periods of hard fighting - such as being encamped some distance to the rear of the main front line units engaged in combat. Caesar was known to put his baggage train in its own camp well to the rear/or among "fiendly" tribes during the fight against Vercingetorix.
Hope this helps some.
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Legionary legates were usually of the Senatorial order, but it is possible that exceptions existed. The position of Camp Prefect could be held for many years and usually followed the year of service as Primus Pilus. One would expect only one per camp or fortress, yet Varus (in AD 9) had two with him according to Velleius Paterculus.
Patronage did play a significant role by all appearances in promotion within the Roman army. It did matter whom one knew. Your legionary as he moves swiftly up the ladder, might encounter some resentment along the way, however, as others are passed over.
Trajan as a soldier, himself, would recognize outstanding bravery and a doctoral thesis on the career paths of centurions did look at battlefield promotions, of which the Dacian Wars would be a prime example of where such could (and probably did) happen. (I'll get you that reference citation later - it is accessible through the British Library's online thesis collection as a PDF file and FREE once you have registered with them online).
Soldiers below the rank of centurion could not legally marry while in service during this period, though once your man is in the senior centurionate, the rules might change (Sara Eliza Phang, The Marriage of Roman Soldiers). He would be expected to marry a Roman citizen, when he did marry, because he is a citizen himself. Legionaries did not get the grant of "conubium to marry a non-citizen like auxiliaries did and as a senior officer he would be under some social pressure to not marry beneath his station.
Camp followers were a feature of military life in many ages. Under a commander like Trajan they would presumably be under some form of discipine and probably kept well to the rear during periods of hard fighting - such as being encamped some distance to the rear of the main front line units engaged in combat. Caesar was known to put his baggage train in its own camp well to the rear/or among "fiendly" tribes during the fight against Vercingetorix.
Hope this helps some.
Quinton Johansen
Marcus Quintius Clavus, Optio Secundae Pili Prioris Legionis III Cyrenaicae
Marcus Quintius Clavus, Optio Secundae Pili Prioris Legionis III Cyrenaicae
