new Roman novel--HORSES ON THE STORM

[Quintius Clavus]

And regarding the "common law wife". Rufio, IIRC, is a centurion. This early in Augustus' rule her status might be kind of up in the air - the date commonly understood for the beginning of a formalized marriage ban is 13 BC - Centurions eventually appear to have been able to marry in service. However, being a citizen, he (Rufio) would be expected to be married to a citizen for the marriage to be recognized officially. The earliest diplomas given to auxiliaries are dated to Claudius' reign, which included conubium - the right to marry a non-citizen woman in their first marriage after retirement. Soldiers from the Legions did NOT get that; they were expected to marry citizen women upon retirement. I don't remember now (the first novel is at home) whether she had any grant of citizenship.