06-27-2017, 12:14 PM
There are a few references to recruits to the Roman army taking - or being given - a new 'Roman' name on enlistment. These men seem to be non-citizens, usually (by not always) joining the auxilia.
One of the best known is Antonius Maximus, an Egyptian formerly named Apion; he reports his new name to his father in a letter from Misenum, where had just joined the fleet (presumably): I have sent you by Euctemon a portrait of myself. My name is Antonius Maximus, my company the Athenonica.
From the later empire, there's a reference in the Passio of St Mercurius to a soldier of the Martenses (legion? or auxilia palatina?) who was renamed by his officer: The king said, "Were you called this name by you parents, or were you called Mercurius in the army ?" The martyr said, "I was called Mercurius by the tribune in the army. My father called me Philopater." (Mercurius's father was called Gordianus, and was also a soldier).
Is there any way of knowing how often this was done? Did the recruits gain Roman citizenship along with their 'Roman' name, or was it just a sort of nom de guerre for army use?
This one, from the cemetery at Concordia (c.AD400), seems to suggest that 'barbarians' recruited to the palatine auxilia could also take Roman names:
AE 1890, 00146: Ego Gunthia et Fl[a]vius Silvima[rus] / d(e) n(umero) Herulorum emi / arca(m) de proprio meo / si quis e[am arcam] / putave[rit ape]/rire da[bit] p(ondo) V
Which I think means - "I am Gunthia and Flavius Silvimarus of the Numerus Herulorum..." Is that right? If so, Gunthia - a Gothic name, or maybe a Herulian one? - also had the very Roman-sounding name Silvimarus, and continued to call himself by both...!
Are there any other examples of these kind of name changes in the Roman army, or the use of two names simultaneously?
One of the best known is Antonius Maximus, an Egyptian formerly named Apion; he reports his new name to his father in a letter from Misenum, where had just joined the fleet (presumably): I have sent you by Euctemon a portrait of myself. My name is Antonius Maximus, my company the Athenonica.
From the later empire, there's a reference in the Passio of St Mercurius to a soldier of the Martenses (legion? or auxilia palatina?) who was renamed by his officer: The king said, "Were you called this name by you parents, or were you called Mercurius in the army ?" The martyr said, "I was called Mercurius by the tribune in the army. My father called me Philopater." (Mercurius's father was called Gordianus, and was also a soldier).
Is there any way of knowing how often this was done? Did the recruits gain Roman citizenship along with their 'Roman' name, or was it just a sort of nom de guerre for army use?
This one, from the cemetery at Concordia (c.AD400), seems to suggest that 'barbarians' recruited to the palatine auxilia could also take Roman names:
AE 1890, 00146: Ego Gunthia et Fl[a]vius Silvima[rus] / d(e) n(umero) Herulorum emi / arca(m) de proprio meo / si quis e[am arcam] / putave[rit ape]/rire da[bit] p(ondo) V
Which I think means - "I am Gunthia and Flavius Silvimarus of the Numerus Herulorum..." Is that right? If so, Gunthia - a Gothic name, or maybe a Herulian one? - also had the very Roman-sounding name Silvimarus, and continued to call himself by both...!
Are there any other examples of these kind of name changes in the Roman army, or the use of two names simultaneously?
Nathan Ross
