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Roman Army Military Decorations!
#1
Ave!

This topic has arisen as a direct result of a discovery made by Malko Linge in "Suetonius' Nero". This is a subject not discussed AFAIK before. In this Forum we are awarded decorations for one reason or another. The Roman soldier who is the subject of this opening post was a rare man, a remarkable man who had been there, done it, seen it and has the tee-shirt and decorations to prove it. In other words a genuine hero.

George Shipway based one of his main characters in "Imperial Governor" on this man, see chapter 4, page 75. This is how he characterized him.

"Marcus Vettius Valens, the lean, seamed, leathery legate of XIV Legion, was the real power in Wroxeter. He had risen from the ranks of the Praetorian Guard to become tribune of the 3rd cohort, in which he accompanied the Divine Claudius to Britain and took part in the capture of Colchester. Thereafter he saw service in Pannonia with XIII Legion, where he greatly distinguished himself, and later in Asturia. Officers commanding legions who have themselves been legionaries are rare in Rome's history: the mere narration of Valens career marks him as an exceptional soldier. During my British campaigns he excelled as a master of administrative detail, a skilled tactician and an iron disciplinarian adored by his men. He hid these qualities under a sour pessimistic exterior which only changed in battle, when his cheerful confidence was a tonic to faint-hearts and a gage for the brave."

In "The Military Decorations of the Roman Army" by Valerie A. Maxfield from Batsford, 1981, ISBN 0-7134-27183, on the very last page, page 304 is this, Vettius Valens, M. 132, 186, 189, 211f, 216.

p. 132 - "Vettius Valens and Pellartius Celer both received their first set of decorations while serving in the ranks of the praetorian guard, the one under Claudius in Britain, the other under Titus in Judaea; both subsequently became evocatus and by the end of the war in which he was participating each had been awarded a gold crown.(95)"

(95) CIL 11, 00395 = D 02648; AE 1952, 0153

p. 186 - "(Date) Neronian (Name) M. Vettius Valens (Rank) primipilares (Dona) torques, armillae, phalerae."

p. 189 - "The career is extremely close in timing to that of M. Vettius Valens whom we know to have been evocatus in 43 when decorated by Claudius bello Britannico with the same award as that given to Silvanus. Since the corona aurea does later appear to be characteristic of the evocatus (below, p. 210) and is only comparatively rarely awarded to a centurion, there is a good case to be made for Silvanus being praetorian evocatus when decorated by Claudius."

p. 211f - "(Date) Claudius (Name) M. Vettius Valens (Rank) beneficiarius + evocatus praetorian (Decorations) t. a. p. cor. Aur.
A slight variant on the pattern is presented in the case of Vettius Valens. Valens was serving in the praetorian guard during theClaudian invasion of Britain; his award is referred to in the following terms: benef(icario) praef(ecti) pr(aetoria) donis donato bello Brtan(nico) torquibus armillis phaleris, evoc(ato) Aug(usti) corona aurea donat(o). He received torques, armillae and phalerae as a praetorian principalis and then, having been designated evocatus, a gold crown was added to the reward. Such a procedure is in some ways analogous to what went on in the early Flavian period when an award was earned at one rank, promotion intervened between the winning and the receiving, and the scale of the decoration was augmented to the higher rank (above p. 156). It is possible that Valens was designated for decoration while serving as beneficiarius but that his sixteen-year term expired while he was still actively engaged in Britain; he was retained as evocatus and, perhaps on the occasion of the British triumph in AD 44, was given the appropriate awards.
"

p. 216 - "(Date) Claudius (Name) M. Vettius Valens (Rank) beneficiarius praef praet (Text) T A P"

Finally we come to Malko Linge's discovery in the topic "Suetonius' Nero".

Belegstelle: CIL 11, 00395 = D 02648; AE 1952, 0153
Provinz: Aemilia / Regio VIII Ort: Rimini / Ariminum
M(arco) Vettio M(arci) f(ilio) Ani(ensis) Valenti
mil(iti) coh(ortis) VIII pr(aetoriae)
benef(iciario) praef(ecti) pr(aetorio)
donis donato bello Britan(nico)
torquibus armillis phaleris
evoc(ato) Aug(usti) corona aurea donat(o)
|(centurioni) coh(ortis) VI vig(ilium)
|(centurioni) stat(orum)
|(centurioni) coh(ortis) XVI urb(anae)
|(centurioni) coh(ortis) II pr(aetoriae)
exercitatori equit(um) speculatorum princip(i)
praetori(i) leg(ionis) XIII Gem(inae) ex trec(enario)
[p(rimo) p(ilo)] leg(ionis) VI Victr(icis)
donis donato ob res prosper(e)
gest(as) contra Astures torq(uibus) phaler(is) arm(illis)
trib(uno) coh(ortis) V vig(ilum)
trib(uno) coh(ortis) XII urb(anae)
trib(uno) coh(ortis) III pr(aetoriae)
[tr(ibuno)] leg(ionis) XIIII Gem(inae) Mart(iae) Vic(tricis)
proc(uratori) Imp(eratoris) [[[Neronis]]] Caes(aris) Aug(usti) prov(inciae) Lusitan(iae)
patron(o) coloniae speculator(es) X h(onoris) c(ausa)
C(aio) Luccio Telesino C(aio) Suetonio Paulino co(n)s(ulibus)

The above is a remarkable career of a remarkable man.

Do you have any examples of similar Romans?

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo
[Image: spedius-mcmxliii.gif]
~~~~~~Jim Poulton~~~~~~
North London Wargames Group
Reply
#2
Ave!

His career would appear to continue, I've discovered two more inscriptions bearing his name.

Belegstelle: CIL 11, 00383
Provinz: Aemilia / Regio VIII Ort: Rimini / Ariminum
M(arco) Vettio M(arci) f(ilio) An(iensi) Valenti
quaestori provinc(iae)
Macedon(iae) quaestori pleb(is)
seviro eq(uitum) [R]om(anorum) praet(ori)
leg(ato) provinc(iae) [N]arbonens(is)
[iurid(ico)] provinc(iae) Britan(niae)
[leg(ato)] leg(ionis) XV Apollinar(is)
provincia Britannia
patrono

Belegstelle: CIL 11, 00421 = D 06662
Provinz: Aemilia / Regio VIII Ort: Rimini / Ariminum
M(arco) Vettio M(arci) f(ilio) Ani(ensis) Valenti
Imp(eratoris) Caesaris Nerv(ae)
Traiani Opt(imi) Aug(usti) Ger(manici)
Dacici Part(hici) IIvir(o) quinq(uennali)
praef(ecto) flamini auguri
patrono coloniae
vicani vici Aventin(i)
optimo civi
patrono suo

Is this the same man?

What do you think?

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo
[Image: spedius-mcmxliii.gif]
~~~~~~Jim Poulton~~~~~~
North London Wargames Group
Reply
#3
Ave!

These details are provided here so that Forum members can identify the decorations we receive and the reasons why; they can be compared with those awarded by the Romans. Images can be seen by clicking on the button marked as "Medals" at the top of the screen.

"Legionary Decorations

The Roman Legion, like most organized armies throughout history had a very distinguished awards system. Decorations were usually worn by the soldiers on parades and were generally awarded at the end of a campaign or could be added to the eagle standards for entire units.

The following are some of the known awards in order from least to most important:

Torques - A minor rank & file decorations for valor worn around the neck.
Armillae - Another rank & file minor decoration for valor worn as an armband.
Phalerae - A third type of rank & file decoration was an embossed disc, worn on the uniform.

Corona Aurea (Gold Crown) - Awarded to both Centurions and apparently some principales, for killing an enemy in single combat and holding the ground to the end of the battle

Corona Vallaris (Fortification) - Was made of gold and decorated with the uprights (valli) of an entrenchment. It was awarded to the first soldier or Centurion to force his way into an enemy's palisade.

Corona Muralis (Wall) - Was made of gold and decorated with turrets. It was awarded to the first soldier or Centurion who got over the walls and into a besieged city.

Corona Civica - Was made of oak leaves and acorns. It was awarded to a soldier who saved another's life in battle: "To have preserved the life of a Roman citizen in battle, slain his opponent, and maintained the ground on which the action took place." An extraordinary award, it brought many social privileges thereafter for the soldier's lifetime.

Corona Graminea (Grass) or Obsidionalis (Siege) - The rarest of honors, was given to a Legate who broke the siege of a beleaguered Roman army. The wreath was made out of grasses gathered from the site where the siege had been lifted. It was presented to the general by the army he had rescued.

Other awards given strictly to officers and seemed more likely to be ceremonial as a recognition of a term of service rather than for some act of valor:

Hasta Pura - Was a spear, possibly with a silver shaft, but without the iron tip for use in combat. Was awarded to the Primus Pilus possibly upon completion of service.

Vexillum - This award was a little miniature standard mounted on a silver base.
"

I discovered these details at http://www.unrv.com/military/legionary-decorations.php

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo
[Image: spedius-mcmxliii.gif]
~~~~~~Jim Poulton~~~~~~
North London Wargames Group
Reply
#4
"Corona Graminea (Grass) or Obsidionalis (Siege) - The rarest of honors, was given to a Legate who broke the siege of a beleaguered Roman army"

actually seems to have been available to anyone who did this, whatever their status, though obviously if you were a scummy legionary you were unlikely to have had the opportunity.
Gnaeus Petreius, a primus pilus, was awarded one in the Cimbric wars (Pliny NH 22.6).

In the Republic, status or rank seems to have been largely irrelevant as a discriminatory factor in the award of decorations - the link between type of award and rank seems to have evolved in the early empire, possibly linked partly (among other things) with the establishment of a standing army.
Reply
#5
Quote:"Corona Graminea (Grass) or Obsidionalis (Siege) - The rarest of honors, was given to a Legate who broke the siege of a beleaguered Roman army"
Gnaeus Petreius, a primus pilus, was awarded one in the Cimbric wars (Pliny NH 22.6)

Ave Kate,

Thank you for the pointer.

I've found a reference to the event in Valerie Maxfield's book (see above) on page 68:-

"The lowest-ranking soldier known to have been awarded it was a senior centurion, the primus pilus Cn. Petreius. The legion in which he was serving in the war against the Cimbri in 101 BC had been cut off by the enemy and when the tribune in command balked at the idea of breaking through the enemy camp Petreius promptly killed him and led his men to safety.(4)

(4) Pliny Nat. Hist. 22.6
"

How is Wales treating you these days? Did you know, that as I was born in Newport, Gwent, historically I'm Silurian? Is that correct?

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo
[Image: spedius-mcmxliii.gif]
~~~~~~Jim Poulton~~~~~~
North London Wargames Group
Reply
#6
Hey,

I just in hurry. Today I want to fly to London and drive further to CreweSmile
In the book of Brian Dobson Primipilares, he said that M. Vettius Valens (CIL 11, 00395 = D 02648; AE 1952, 0153) in 66 A.D. was about 58 or 60 years old. May be he was born in 6 to 14 A. D.
So (CIL 11, 00383) and (CIL 11, 00421 = D 06662) belongs to the next generations. In (CIL 11, 00421 = D 06662) he must be at least 116 A.D. still alive, because Traian was named Dacius. And Traian is not named Divus. A duovir, flamen and patron must be 35 years and older.

So Brian Dobson thought about son and grandchild.

If M. Vettius Valens got his son with 30 years, he was 20 years old about 56/64 A.D. The next generation may be 20 years old in 86/94 A.D. The great grandson was 20 years round about in 116/124 A.D.

In Thomas Franke Die Legionslegaten der rämischen Armee in der Zeit von Augustus bis Traian. I read M. Vettius Valens hold his legateship of the legio XV Apollinaris in 137 A.D. He age may be 30 to 35 years. (CIL 11, 00383) can t be the same as in (CIL 11, 00421 = D 06662).

So a possibility for an great grandson Smile

Bye

Malko Linge
_________________

Christian
Reply
#7
Quote:The legion in which he was serving in the war against the Cimbri in 101 BC had been cut off by the enemy and when the tribune in command balked at the idea of breaking through the enemy camp Petreius promptly killed him and led his men to safety

Also very interesting that murdering his superior officer was entirely acceptable under the circumstances. (I'm doing stuff on killing superiors, among other disciplinary things)


Wales is great thanks, Jim, if as damp as ever. I don't know if it's Silurian (isn't that also a geological epoch - makes you sound very ancient indeed!) or just Siluran.

Kate
Reply
#8
Quote:
Spedius:2mjkmb7n Wrote:I don't know if it's Silurian (isn't that also a geological epoch

Aren't they from Doctor Who?

[url:2mjkmb7n]http://www.doctorwhoworld.org.uk/silurian5.html[/url]
TARBICvS/Jim Bowers
A A A DESEDO DESEDO!
Reply
#9
Quote:Wales is great thanks, Jim, if as damp as ever. I don't know if it's Silurian (isn't that also a geological epoch - makes you sound very ancient indeed!) or just Siluran.
Kate

Ave Kate,

I thought you might find this interesting.

"The Silures

Background to the Silures

Location of the Silures
The south east of Wales.

Background information
The tribal name Silures, may itself be one given to the tribes by the Romans. It Latin it means 'the people of the rocks', reflecting to the mountainous region in which they lived. The tribe's people were noted for their aggresive, firey nature and their mass of thick, black curly hair.

Following the short-lived uprisings of the Iceni and the Brigantes in 47, the new governor of Britain, Ostorius Scapula, turned his attention to the Silures.

Legion XX Valeria was probably moved from Colchester to a new legionary fortress at Kingsholm near Gloucester, as the Silures were a volatile race who did not take kindly to the Romans and their incursions into Silures territory. The movement of the XX west left the eastern part of Britain weakened, so a Colonia of veteran soldiers was established at Camulodunum within the confines of the old fortress recently evacuated by the Twentieth Legion

Tacitus
'Neither severity nor clemency converted the Silures tribe, which continued the struggle and had to be repressed by the establishment of a legionary camp.'

The reason for the Roman desire to invade and quell the Silures once and for all, was because Caratacus of the Catuvellauni had opposed the full invasion and fled to Wales after the defeat of his tribe.

Tacitus
'The march then proceeded against the Silures, whose native boldness was heightened by their confidence in the prowess of Caratacus.'

Tacitus
'On this occasion, favoured by the treacherous character of the country, though inferior in military strength, he (Caratacus) astutely shifted the seat of war to the territory of the Ordovices: where, after being joined by all who feared a Roman peace, he put the final chance to trial'

After his defeat in Wales, Caratacus escaped through the lands of the Deceangli in north-eastern Wales and had sought refuge amongst the Brigantes in northern England. Queen Cartimandua had already agreed a treaty with the Romans in return for being allowed to stay in power as a Client King. On his arrival, Caratacus was taken prisoner and passed to the Roman governor, Ostorius. For his part in the capture of the renegade British king, Scapula was awarded the Triumphal insignia, which had in the time of the emperors, replaced the Triumphal procession through the streets of Rome, which was the accepted celebration in the earlier Roman republic.

This was not the end of the Silures, as they continued to show their agression to the next three governors of Britain. The first governor was Aulus Didius Gallus who ruled Britain from 52-57AD. His inititaion into the Silures way of life was immediate.

Tacitus
'On recieving news of the legate's death, the Caesar, not to leave the province without a governor, appointed Aulus Didius to the vacancy. In spite of a rapid crossing, he found matters deteriorated, as the legion³ under Manlius Valens had been defeated in the interval. In this case, again, the loss had been inflicted by the Silures, and they carried their forays far and wide, until repelled by the advent of Didius'

Gallus was drawn away from the matters of the Silures by an uprising among the Brigantes.. The Briganties monarchy was in turmoil, and as a client of Rome, Queen Cartimandua called upon the Romans to support her cause in the civil war between her own clan and those loyal to her estranged husband, Venutius, who were unhappy with the Queen's earlier betrayal of Caratacus.

The rule of Gallus was marked by unrest and disorder until he was replaced in 60 AD.

Tacitus
'Veranius, after harrying the Silures in a few raids of no great significance, was prevented by death from carrying his arms further.'

The Silures could now live with a lessened fear of the Romans, as there was a more pressing matter to attend to. The Boudiccan rebellion, befell the next governor, Suetonius Paulinus. He may well have made prior plans to completely vanquish the Silures and so end their constant nagging war with the Romans. It was not until the arrival of another governor, Julius Frontinus that the Silures finally succumbed to the superior might of the Romans in 76AD.

Tacitus
'Julius Frontinus was, so far as a subject of the emperor could be, a great man, and he shouldered and sustained the burden cast on him: his arms reduced the Silures, a powerful and warlike race; he surmounted not only the valour of the enemy but also the physical difficulties of their land.'


Principal towns and settlements in Silures territory

Venta Silurum - (Caerwent, Gwent)

Other settlements
Blestium - (Monmouth) - Mentioned in the Antonine Itinerary, was probably a fort established in the centre of the iron mining district.

Burrium - (Usk, Gwent) - The only settlement attributed to the tribe by Ptolemy, where it appears as Bullaeum. There was a large fortress here, which was no-doubt accompanied by a settlement.

Cardiff - (Glamorgan) - A settlement outside the Roman fort.

Isca - (Caerleon, Gwent) - A very large settlement was attached to the fortress of the Second Legion.

Llanmelin Wood - (Gwent) - Iron Age camp just north of Venta, may have been the pre-Roman tribal capital of the Silures.

Machen - (Gwent) - Settlement associated with the nearby lead mines under military control.

Redwick - (Gwent) - A small settlement on the Severn estuary, SE of Caerwent.
"

I found the above here http://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/clb ... ilures.htm

Here's some more information.

"The Silures

The Silures were a powerful and warlike tribe of ancient Britain, occupying approximately the counties of Monmouth, Brecon and Glamorgan.

They made a fierce resistance to the Roman conquest about AD 48, with the assistance of Caratacus, a military leader and prince of the Catuvellauni, who had fled from further west after his own tribe was defeated.

To aid the Roman administration in keeping down local opposition, a legionary fortress (Isca Silurum, Caerleon) was planted in the midst of tribal territory, and by AD 78 they were overcome. Their town Venta Silurum (Caerwent, 6 miles west of Chepstow) became a Romanized town, not unlike Silchester, but smaller. Its massive Roman walls still survive, and excavations have revealed a forum, a temple, baths, amphitheatre, shops, and many comfortable houses with mosaics, etc. An inscription shows that under the Roman Empire it was the capital of the Silures, whose ordo or county council provided for the local government of the district.

Reference is occasionally made to this period of Celtic history by the use of made-up terms such as "Silurian". The poet, Henry Vaughan, called himself a "Silurist", by virtue of his South Walean roots.

The geologic period Silurian was first described by Roderick Murchison in rocks located in the original lands of the Silures, hence the name.
"

I found this additional piece of information here http://www.walesonline.com/info/hist/silures.shtml

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo
[Image: spedius-mcmxliii.gif]
~~~~~~Jim Poulton~~~~~~
North London Wargames Group
Reply
#10
Quote:
Kate Gilliver:ihwtjpf1 Wrote:
Spedius:ihwtjpf1 Wrote:I don't know if it's Silurian (isn't that also a geological epoch
Aren't they from Doctor Who?
[url:ihwtjpf1]http://www.doctorwhoworld.org.uk/silurian5.html[/url]

Ave Jim,

The message to Kate should also apply to you too.

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo
[Image: spedius-mcmxliii.gif]
~~~~~~Jim Poulton~~~~~~
North London Wargames Group
Reply
#11
Ave Malko,

Once again you've come to the rescue with important information and sources. Thank you. I've rewarded you with a kahma point.

I looked up Dobson and found this reference, "The Primipilares in Army and Society" by Brian Dobson, but that was all I could find.

Can anyone else please supply further details?

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo
[Image: spedius-mcmxliii.gif]
~~~~~~Jim Poulton~~~~~~
North London Wargames Group
Reply
#12
It's a book in German, B.Dobson, Die primipilares(Bonn 1978)
Greets!

Jasper Oorthuys
Webmaster & Editor, Ancient Warfare magazine
Reply
#13
Quote:It's a book in German, B.Dobson, Die primipilares(Bonn 1978)

Ave Jasper,

Thank you, most helpful.

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo
[Image: spedius-mcmxliii.gif]
~~~~~~Jim Poulton~~~~~~
North London Wargames Group
Reply


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