03-31-2006, 11:08 AM
"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.
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.
