07-20-2011, 12:43 AM
We know that Gaius Crastinus was the primus pilus of Caesar's favorite Legio X and that he died in spectacular fashion during the battle of Pharsalus. All this we know from:
Caesar, in BC III.91, says that he attained first-spear status superiore anno, or the year before. Since the battle of Pharsalus happened in August of 48, this would put the promotion of Crastinus sometime in 49.
Now, we know that Caesar crossed the Rubicon in January of 49. We also know from Caesar BC III.91 that Crastinus was an evocatus, or a discharged veteran who had been called back to service. Bernadotte Perrin discusses this very well in "The Crastinus Episode at Palaepharsalus," Transactions of the American Philological Association, Vol. 15, 1884, pp. 46-57.
My question is this: Why promote Crastinus to first-spear as Caesar was returning from Gaul, only for Crastinus to be discharged so quickly thereafter? His promotion and discharge both had to happen in 49. While it is possible that his promotion came in 49 and his discharge in early 48, it still seems that the promotion and discharge were too close for the promotion to have made any sense.
Thoughts?
- Caesar, Bellum Civile III.91
- Caesar, Bellum Civile III.99
- Lucan, Pharsalia IV.470-474
- Florus, II.13
- Plutarch, Caesar 44
- Plutarch, Pompey 71
- Appian, Bellum Civile, II.82
Caesar, in BC III.91, says that he attained first-spear status superiore anno, or the year before. Since the battle of Pharsalus happened in August of 48, this would put the promotion of Crastinus sometime in 49.
Now, we know that Caesar crossed the Rubicon in January of 49. We also know from Caesar BC III.91 that Crastinus was an evocatus, or a discharged veteran who had been called back to service. Bernadotte Perrin discusses this very well in "The Crastinus Episode at Palaepharsalus," Transactions of the American Philological Association, Vol. 15, 1884, pp. 46-57.
My question is this: Why promote Crastinus to first-spear as Caesar was returning from Gaul, only for Crastinus to be discharged so quickly thereafter? His promotion and discharge both had to happen in 49. While it is possible that his promotion came in 49 and his discharge in early 48, it still seems that the promotion and discharge were too close for the promotion to have made any sense.
Thoughts?
