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The Wrong Marcius Turbo

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2012

Ronald Syme
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Extract

Comparable to the legates who govern the consular provinces of Caesar, and standing at parity or sometimes above them, the high equestrian dignitaries, by their careers and promotions, serve to explain how a whole system worked. They also illuminate a process. Enormous benefit accrues to the study of social history. The men themselves can seldom be grasped as personalities, given the dearth of literary evidence, nor do they often impinge on great events.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Roman Studies , Volume 52 , Issue 1-2 , November 1962 , pp. 87 - 96
Copyright
Copyright © Ronald Syme 1962. Exclusive Licence to Publish: The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies

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References

1 Many of the problems can only be indicated summarily in this paper, which has a restricted purpose. Annotation has been cut to the primary evidence, so far as practicable.

2 Eusebius, Hist. eccl. IV, 2, 4. For the chronology of the Jewish risings, Fuks, A., JRS LI (1961), 98 ff.Google Scholar

3 Stein, A., Die Reichsbeamten von Dazien (1944), 15Google Scholar; Die Präfekten von Ägypten in römischer Zeit (1950), 59 Accepted by A. Fuks, o.c. 100

4 For the dates, A. Stein, o.c. 55 ff., 61 ff.

5 HA, Hadr. 5, 8; 6, 7.

6 ILS 1352 (Tingi).

7 CIL XVI, 165; AÉ 1913, 157.

8 CIL VI, 32374.

9 HA, Hadr. 6, 7; 7, 3.

10 Natalis was already there before Trajan's decease (ILS 1029). It is perhaps worth noting that, unlike Catilius Severus, whom Hadrian appointed governor of Syria (HA, Hadr. 5, 10, cf. ILS 1041), Natalis did not proceed to a second consulship.

11 For the text see A. v. Premerstein, Bayerische S-B (1934), Heft 3, 15 f.

12 cf. Tacitus (1938), 242 ff.

13 cf. JRS XVIII (1928), 53; Laureae Aquincenses I (1938), 276 ff. As now emerges, T. Julius Maximus (suff. 112) was legate of Pannonia Inferior in 110 (CIL XVI, 164): that is, the successor of P. Aelius Hadrianus (suff. 108). His command of I Adiutrix and of IV Flavia in succession (ILS 1016) can there-fore be put in 105–8. For IV Flavia in the conquest of Dacia add the inscription carved on the wall of Decebalus' capital, Gradiştea Muncelului: see Daicoviciu, C., Atti del III Congresso Internazionale di Epigrafia Greca e Latina (1959), 185.Google Scholar

14 CIL III, 1443; 1081 = ILS 3594 (Sarmize-gethusa). And the diplomata CIL XVI, 57, 160, 163.

15 ILS 2417 (Sarmizegethusa), set up by a centurion of IV Flavia in charge of the speculatores of that governor.

16 For the previous status of this territory, Daicoviciu, C., Atti del III Congresso Internazionale di Epigrafia Greca e Latina (1959), 185. f.Google Scholar; Gerov, B., Klio XXXVII (1959), 209 f.Google Scholar The next territorial change, the separation of Porolissensis, probably took place in 124, cf. Daicoviciu, C. and Protase, D., JRS LI (1961), 68 f.Google Scholar The new diploma (ib. 63) attests Porolissensis in 133, Flavius Italicus as the equestrian governor.

17 CIL XVI, 68 (cf. add., p. 215); Athenaeum XXXVI (1958), 9.

18 Eutropius VIII, 6, 2. Cf. the story about the removal of the superstructure of the Danube bridge (Dio LXVIII, 13, 6).

19 As by A. v. Premerstein, o.c. (n. 11) 45; Kornemann, E., Gestalten und Reiche (1943), 316 f.Google Scholar Against this notion, JRS XXXVI (1946), 164.

20 Forni, G., Athenaeum XXXVI (1958), 3 ff., 193 ff.Google Scholar

21 HA, Hadr. 6, 7: ‘Marcium Turbonem post Mauretaniam praefecturae infulis ornatum Pannoniae Daciaeque ad tempus praefecit’; 7, 3: ‘Romam venit Dacia Turboni credita titulo Aegyptiacae praefecturae, quo plus auctoritatis haberet, ornato.’

22 cf. JRS XXXVI (1946), 162.

23 CIL III, 1462 (Sarmizegethusa) = ILS 1324, cf. 1551 (? Tibiscum).

24 Observe the soldier L. Pellartius C. f. Lem. Celer Julius Montanus (AÉ 1952, 153: Aquileia).

25 AÉ 1911, 108.

26 Seston, W., Mélanges XLV (1928), 160.Google Scholar

27 AÉ 1931, 25; cf. 1941, 111.

28 Leschi, L., CRAI 1945, 144 ff.CrossRefGoogle Scholar, with drawing on p. 145, whence AÉ 1946, 113.

29 e.g. Stein, A., Die Präfekten von Ägypten (1950), 59 ff.Google Scholar; Thomasson, B. E., Die Statthalter der römischen Provinzen Nordafrikas von Augustus bis Diocletianus II (1960), 246 ff.Google Scholar

30 Birley, E., Gnomon XXIII (1951), 442Google Scholar; Pflaum, H. G., Latomus X (1951), 476Google Scholar (revoking his first impressions); Seston, W., Rev. Ét. lat. XXXII (1954), 451 f.Google Scholar; Syme, R., JRS XLIV (1954), 118Google Scholar; Studii clasice III (1961), 131 (summary of an address on ‘La Dacie sous Antonin le Pieux’).

31 cf. JRS XLIV (1954), 118.

32 Pflaum, H. G., Les procurateurs équestres sous le Haut-Empire romain (1950), 61Google Scholar; P-W XXIII, 1251.

33 ILS 9506. This man, ‘]M. f. Fal. Bassus,’ is to be identified with M. Aemilius Bassus, prefect of a cohort in 110 (CIL XVI, 163).

34 AÉ 1904, 9 (Aequum).

35 viz., VI Ferrata.

36 For the governorship of Tineius Rufus, P-W VI A, 1376 ff.; his consulate, FO XXVI.

37 Lifschitz, B., Latomus XIX (1960), 109 ff.Google Scholar The milestone takes its reckoning from Caparcotna (in to the Caesarea in Galilee, between Caesarea and Scythopolis). For Caparcotna as the camp of VI Ferrata under Pius, cf. ILS 8976.

38 Hadrian spent some of the winter of 129–30 at Gerasa, cf. AÉ 1915, 42 = Gerasa (1938) 390, no. 30.

39 Dio LXIX, 12, 1 ff. Hadrian, it is alleged, wanted to sever Phoenicia from Syria (HA, Hadr. 14, 1). Was there a notion of adding it to Judaea, i.e. to a new Syria Palaestina?

40 ILS 1056 (Burnum).

41 Frézouls, E., Syria XXX (1953), 247 ff.CrossRefGoogle Scholar, whence AÉ 1955, 225. Not accepted as the Guard Prefect by B. E. Thomasson (o.c. n. 29, 251 ff.). He clings to the caesarea inscr. (AÉ 1946, 113).

42 CIL XVI, 60.

43 ILS 308.

44 HA, Hadr. 2, 2.

45 CIL III, 143992. The man's tribe was misread in AÉ 1933, 31, corrected in AÉ 1948, 202.

46 E. Ritterling suggested c. 95 (P-W XII, 1445); the annotation on AÉ 1948, 202, dates the inscr. to the period 85–92; and H. G. Pflaum proposes 104–5, putting at that date the arrival of II Adiutrix at Aquincum.

47 E. Ritterling, P-W XII, 1444 f.; Syme, R., JRS XVIII (1928), 47 ff.Google Scholar; Alföldy, G., Acta arch. Ac. sc. Hung. II (1959), 119 ff.Google Scholar, 128 f., 135 f. The last two writers assume a sojourn of the legion at Singidunum.

48 Birley, E., Roman Britain and the Roman Army (1953), 104 ff.Google Scholar

49 Dio LXIX, 19, 1.

50 HA, Hadr. 9, 5.

51 Historta IX (1960), 367, 373.

52 According to Leschi, ‘la gravure est excellente, les lettres sont disposées à intervalles régulières’ (CRAI 1946, 145).

53 Published by Gerov, B., Klio XXXVIII (1959), 194 ff.Google Scholar

54 ILS 8909, 9180; cf. further Stein, A., Die Reichsbeamten von Dazien (1944), 30 f.Google Scholar Julius Fidus Aquila also stands on the new diploma (above, n. 53).

55 AÉ 1924, 66; ILS 1352.

56 Jones, A. H. M., Studies in Roman Government and Law (1960), 117 ff.Google Scholar

57 CIL X, 8023; ILS 5350; X, 7580 = ILS 1358.

58 It is not mentioned, for example, in the catalogue of the wars under Pius in CAH XI (1936), 336 f. The evidence is registered by Hüttl, W., Antoninus Pius I (1936), 284Google Scholar, viz. HA, Plus 10, 5; Aelius Aristides XXVI, 70; Or. Sib. XII, 180 f.; Polyaenus, Strat. VI, praef.

59 For 143, cf. Oliver, J. H., ‘The Ruling Power,’ Trans. Am. Philosophical Soc. XLIII (1953), 887.Google Scholar

60 Preda, C., Studii şi cercetäri de numismatica I (1957). 113 ff.Google Scholar The spot is Dîmbău, on the Tirnava mică (Klein-Kökel), above Blaj. The hoard comprises 134 denarii, from Nero to Pius: forty-four of Trajan, thirty-three of Hadrian, two only of Pius. The Pius coins are Mattingly, BMC, R. Emp. IV, nos. 226 and 421. The second is a DIVA FAV-STINA type: the Empress died between December, 140, and July, 141 (PIR 2, A 715). The hoard had already been used by B. Mitrea in his discussion of this war, Studi şi cercetări de istorie veche V (1954), 467 ff.

61 ILS 1092.

62 CIL XVI, 107 f. For the other documentation, A. Stein, o.c. (n. 3) 28.

63 But the rebuilding of the fort at Gherla, which occurred precisely in 143 (AÉ 1906, 112), has been invoked as significant.

64 CIL XVI, 90.

65 Hence highly eligible for a consular command in the sequel. There is nothing on record.

66 CIL III, 7972 (Sarmizegethusa).

67 AÉ 1959, 38.

68 For details and dating, see now Baradez, J., Libyca II (1954), 89 ff.Google Scholar; Romanelli, P., Storia delle province romane dell' Africa (1959) 351 ff.Google Scholar The most acute phase seems to belong to 145–7.

69 AÉ 1931, 38.

70 AÉ 1941, 79.

71 Tacitus, Hist. II, 58, 1.

72 CIL XI, 5744.

73 CIL XVI, 99.

74 Porcius sent a letter to this legate of Numidia, cf. ILS 5795.

75 AÉ 1930, 40; cf., presumably of the same year, ILS 1070.

76 CIL VIII, 2453; ILS 5351; AÉ 1904, 21; 1954, 151. There is no sign anywhere of this man's consulship, normally to be presumed. The procurator Varius Clemens, to judge by his career (ILS 1362) should belong about 150–4. He too sent a letter to the legate, i.e. Valerius Etruscus (ILS 5795).

77 e.g. to the Annona, Ti Claudius Secundinus L. Statius Macedo (ILS 1339) and C. Junius Flavianus (1342); to the Annona and Egypt, L. Valerius Proculus (1341) and M. Petronius Honoratus (1340).

78 ILS 1362b. Attested in Raetia in 157 (CIL XVI, 183). Not heard ofafter becoming ‘ab epistulis Augustor.’ (for his predecessor, precisely in 161, cf. ILS 1451). The next clear instance is M. Bassaeus Rufus (ILS 1326), who, procurator of Noricum c. 160, proceeds to Belgica and the post a rationibus, ending with the Vigiles, Egypt and the Guard. A new scheme of promotion may have been shaping even before the death of Antoninus Pius.

79 Prefects of the Vigiles: T. Haterius Nepos, c. 118 (ILS 1338); C. Tattius Maximus, attested in 156 (2161); T. Furius Victorinus, c. 158 (9002).

Prefects of the Annona: Claudius Julianus, under Hadrian (Frag. Vat. 235); L. Valerius Proculus, in 144 (ILS 7269, cf. 1341, his cursus); M. Petronius Honoratus, ? 144–7 (1340); Ti. Claudius Secundinus L. Statius Macedo, under Hadrian or Pius (1339); C. Junius Flavianus, ? under Pius (1342). Also, Q. Baienus Blassianus (see n. 80) probably held either the Annona or the Vigiles.

80 The Prefect of Egypt ‘Bla[’ (CIL XIV, 5341), generally held to be a Blaesus(A. Stein, o.c. (n.3) 161), has now been identified as Q. Baienus Blassianus (for that nomenclature, cf. Inscr. It. X, 4, 37 ff.: Tergeste). That is the signal merit of Pflaum, H. G., Bull. soc. ant. France 1954/1955 (published in 1957), 112 f.Google Scholar; cf. the annotation to AÉ 1959, 61. And Egypt duly authenticates, with P. Oxy. XXIV (1957), 2413. This Prefect can be lodged in 133, for the briefest of tenures, between T. Flavius Titianus and M. Petronius Mamertinus.

81 M. Gavius Maximus, Guard Prefect in 139 (ILS 2182), had been procurator of Tingitana c. 130 (CIL XVI, 173). His patria is Firmum in Picenum. Falerio, not distant, furnishes ‘M. Gav[ius] M[aximus’ on a fragment (CIL IX, 5479)—and also an Ignotus who was a rationibus and praefectus vigilum (5440).

82 viz. T. Flavius Constans (PIR 2, F 247) and Flavius Titianus (379).

83 From the end of Trajan's reign to the late years of Marcus Aurelius no governor is registered by P. Meloni, L'amministrazione della Sardegna da Augusto all' invasione vandalica (1958). Trajan transferred the province to the Senate, cf. ILS 1038 (the cursus of [L. Cosso]nius Gallus, suff. 119). The author assumes that it remained so until Marcus (o.c. 35). But the enigmatic knight, Cl. Paternus Clementianus (ILS 1369, cf. PIR 2, C 953), whom he reckons Trajanic, is surely later.

84 L. Seius Avitus (CIL XVI, 165; AÉ 1913, 157); Ulpius Victor (CIL XVI, 101; III, 5161); T. Varius Clemens (ILS 1362).

85 viz. Q. Caecilius Redditus (CIL XVI, 169 f.; III, 5163); Censorius Niger (CIL XVI, 176; III, 5174).

86 CIL XVI, 75; III, 5177.

87 Otherwise, a tenure of either Raetia or Noricum c. 148–151 would not clash with any known governors.

88 Stein, A., Die Legaten von Moesien (1940) 71.Google Scholar Better c. 151, as Hüttl, W., Antoninus Pius I (1933), 125.Google Scholar

89 W. Schulze, LE 171.

90 ILS 9200.

91 Otherwise the tribe ‘Palatina’ would point to Puteoli. And in fact a Flavius Longinus is there honoured as ‘curator rei publicae’ in 161 (CIL X, 1814), duly registered under PIR 2 F 305 (the consul and legate of Moesia Inferior).

92 Statius, Silvae III, 3, 115 ff. The consul is L. Tettius Julianus (suff. 83).

93 HA, Hadr. 15, 7.

94 ADDENDUM.—The first draft of this paper, establishing the identity of T. Flavius Priscus, the equestrian governor of Dacia Inferior and Mauretania Caesariensis, was composed long ago, in 1949, and the conclusions were briefly stated in JRS XLIV (1954), 118. The annotation was added in 1961. Since then the massive ‘thèse complérnentaire’ of H. G. Pflaum has at last seen the light, Les carrières procuratoriennes équestres sous le Haut-Empire romain (1960–61). That scholar pronounces his agreement about the inscription from Caesarea (AÉ 1946, 113); and T. Flavius Priscus C. Gallonius Fronto Q. Marcius Turbo is now registered on the list as no. 157 bis. He does not discuss the Dacian War of 142. Instead, he puts the two governorships of T. Flavius Priscus towards the end of the reign of Pius—which might be right, and cannot be disproved.