06-17-2015, 11:55 AM
The urban tribunates were primarily part of the career of the primipilares and not of the equestrian career. Primipilus -> urban tribunates -> numerus primipilorum -> and from their for the few most talented guys to the higher procurators and prefects in competition to the equestrians.
The equestrian career usually leads to the procurators and the higher praefectures after (or parallel to) the militia and does not include the urban tribunates.
You are mixing up 2 distinct careers which are partially separated. The majority of procurators and higher prefects are equestrians. Vice versa the majority of the urban tribunes are ex-centurions. Since Claudius of course. Before Claudius it was fully mixed and rather unregulated.
You might be interested in Dobsons thesis about the carreer of the primipilares:
http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/8434/
Dobson shows, that the career of an centurio ex equite romano from centurio to primipulus is not neccesarily faster than the career of a centurio ex caliga. Both are about 30-35 years old and need still some promotions to become primipilus and from there reach the centenarian rank (procurator II, tribunus praetorio). Same with the equestrian officer, who usually starts his equestrian career (militia) with roughly the same age and also goals for the centenarian rank and more. But he also needs some promotions to get there.
The equestrian career usually leads to the procurators and the higher praefectures after (or parallel to) the militia and does not include the urban tribunates.
You are mixing up 2 distinct careers which are partially separated. The majority of procurators and higher prefects are equestrians. Vice versa the majority of the urban tribunes are ex-centurions. Since Claudius of course. Before Claudius it was fully mixed and rather unregulated.
You might be interested in Dobsons thesis about the carreer of the primipilares:
http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/8434/
Dobson shows, that the career of an centurio ex equite romano from centurio to primipulus is not neccesarily faster than the career of a centurio ex caliga. Both are about 30-35 years old and need still some promotions to become primipilus and from there reach the centenarian rank (procurator II, tribunus praetorio). Same with the equestrian officer, who usually starts his equestrian career (militia) with roughly the same age and also goals for the centenarian rank and more. But he also needs some promotions to get there.
Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas
