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Inscription database entry HD055885 : Military diploma from Slavonski Šamac (Pannonia inferior)
Translation:
Emperor Caesar Vespasian Augustus, supreme priest, tribune for the second time, emperor for the sixth time, father of the fatherland, consul for the third time.
To the veterans who fought in the Misenian fleet under Sextus Lucilius Bassus, who served twenty-six or more stipends and are settled in Paestum, whose names are given below, for them, children and descendants of them, citizenship is granted, and the right of lawful marriage, either with a wife they had when citizenship was velieved to them, or, if they were unmarried, with the wives they will have later.
On the fifth day before the Ides of February (February 9th) during the Consulate of Emperor Caesar Vespasian Augustus for the third time.
Marcus Cocceius Nerva (in 71 AD)Centurion Liccaius, son of Birsus, from Marsunnia
In place 23
Copied and verified from the bronze tablet attached to the base of the Temple of Augustus at the Capitol in Rome.
Witnessed by:
Marcus Virus Marcelus, decurio of the Legio Savariensis (?)
Lucius Domitius Severus, Veteran of the Breuki
Gaius Marcus Nobilis from Emonca
Gaius Pidienus from Aquileia
Lucius Valerius Pavonis, Veteran of the Breuki
Gaius Julius Clarus from Aquileia
Lucius Mineus Iucundus from AquileiaTranslation provided by a replica shop!
Transcription:
Right side (rotated -90° in pic) / “Outer tablet 1”
M(arci) viri Marcellli dec(urionis?) leg(ionis?) |Savar(iensis) -| L(ucii) Domiti(I) Severi vet(erani) | Breuci -| C(ai) M(arci) Nobilis Emon(ensis) -| C(ai) Pidieni Aquileiens(is) -| L(ucii) Valeri(I) Pavonis vet(erani) | Breucio -| C(ai) Iuli(i) Clari Aquileiens(is) -| L(ucii) Minei Iucundi Aqui- | leiensis.
Left side / “Outer tablet 2”
Imp(erator) Caesar Vespasianus Aug(ustus), pont(ifex) | max(imus), trib(unicia) pot(estate) II, imp(erator) VI, p(ater) p(atriae), co(n)s(ul) III, | veteranis qui militaverunt in | classe Misenensi sub Sex(to) Lucilio | Basso, qui sena et vicena stipen|dia aut plura meruerant, et sunt | deducti Paestum, quorum nomina | subscripta sunt: ipsis liberis poste|risque eorum civitatem dedit et | conubium cum uxoribus, quas | tunc habuissent, cum est civi -| tas iis data, aut, siqui caelibes | essent cum iis quas postea du|xissent dum taxat singuli sin|gulas. A(nte) d(iem) V idus Febr(uarias), | imp(eratore) Caesare Vespasiano Aug(usto) III, | M(arco) Cocceio Nerva co(n)s(ulibus). | (centurioni) Liccaius Birsi f(ilio) Marsunnia | loco XXIII. | Descriptum et recognitum ex | tabula aenea, quae fixa est | Romae in Capito(lio) | in podio arae | gentis Iuliae.
Note: Pipe character (|) represents line breaks. Text in brackets is inferred text because Latin made heavy use of abbreviations to save space and materials.
Sourced via (Bosnian / bs) Mesihović, S., & Šačić, A. (2015). Historija Ilira. Sarajevo: Univerzitet u Sarajevu
I also found it in an English paper but it’s JSTOR paywalled (boo hiss): Roxan M. M. Holder P. A. & University of London Institute of Classical Studies. (2003). Roman military diplomas. iv. Institute of Classical Studies School of Advanced Study University of London.
On the right “page” looks like a roller. Sorry if you mentioned this and I missed it -
Is this a generic tablet which would be covered in ink to then impress onto parchment/paper/whatever, and used to produce many diplomas?
Nope! This is the genuine article. The diplomas were made of bronze both because it was a highly valued honor, and because papyrus doesn’t survive rough conditions all that well, and the last thing a retiring soldier needs is his discharge forms unable to be verified! This one, specifically, was made out to
Centurion Liccaius, son of Birsus, from Marsunnia
In place 23
These tablets do have an ‘original’ (though I don’t believe we’ve ever recovered one) also of bronze, in which the names of all the discharged soldiers for that unit/year would be listed, kept in Rome in case anyone needed to verify it. “In place 23” refers to how far down the list of names on the original Centurion Liccaius was, for quick(er) reference.
The roller-looking thing is a bronze cover to protect the wax seals of the signatories from damage, in case they need to be verified as well. I imagine verification rarely happened - the fact that they went through all this trouble was probably discouragement from forgery enough, like numbering on paper currency.
Thank you for the detailed reply!
