Upward Mobility?

[Nathan Ross]

As I understand it, the end of a career progression for a Roman soldier rising from the ranks, should he prove both capable and lucky, would be Praefectus Castrorum - after which he would retire from the army. I've also read that membership of the Equestrian order was a possibility for former camp prefects - (was this purely on the basis of wealth amassed, or was it a reward of service?). Would there be any possibility of continuing a career from this point, however? As an equestrian, would a former Praefectus Castrorum be eligible to serve as an equestrian tribune, commanding auxiliaries or legion vexillations (or would this be something of a backwards step, career-wise?)<br>
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In the province of Egypt, where the administration was in the hands of equestrians anyway, might a former praefectus castrorum, or even a former senior centurion who'd made the wealth qualification for the equestrian order, be advanced to command of a legion? (i.e filling the role of the senatorial legate, which I believe was also called Praefectus in Egypt), or were legion commanders in this province always selected from a pool of likely (and well connected) candidates in Rome, just as with the senatorial legates elsewhere? <p></p><i></i>

[Quintius Clavus]

Adrian Goldsworthy in "The Complete Roman Army" mentions that former chief centurions were or at least could be admitted to the Equestrian Order. He has a whole section on the officers - senatorial, equestrian, centurions and below.<br>
A retired chief centurion with equestrian rank, could go home and serve as a chief magistrate in his hometown. Unfortunately, I cannot for the moment cite the source for this.<br>
Another career path for a chief centurion was to move up in rank to serve as a Tribune of the Praetorian Guard.<br>
See "Imperial Rome at War" by Martin Windrow, illustrated by Angus McBride (pages 14-15). The Praetorian Tribune is specifically described as previously serving as a centurion, and, in my humble opinion, as a primi ordines centurion (one of the 5 or 6 centurions of the first cohort). He makes the statement that Praetorian tribunes were former centurions, but whether that kind of statement would hold in all cases, I simply do not know.<br>
Roman society had good chances for upwardly mobility until the later empire when things became more rigidly stratified. Augustus was a big catalyst for broader opportunities, especially for the equestrian class. His reforms expanded career paths enormously, both civilian and military.<br>
I recommend reading Goldsworthy's "The Complete Roman Army". It is a good and recent study of the army.<br>
Hope this sheds some light on the subject.<br>
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Quintius Clavus<br>
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[Anonymous]

Commoners could definitely be granted equestrian citizenship, and even senatorial citizenship after that. One good example is Pertinax, the son of a slave who later rose to equestrian status, then senatorial status before becoming emperor.<br>
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In Augustus' reign it was possible to rise from the lowliest ranks to consul in about three generations -- by Pertinax' time one could do it in a lifetime. The third century itself is a perfect example of social mobility at work. <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

[url=http://www.roman-empire.net/decline/pertinax.html" target="top]Pertinax[/url] <p></p><i></i>