06-22-2007, 05:01 PM
Quote:Of course, if Poenius Postumus, PC of Legio II Augusta, had guessed correctly ...Ah, indeed -- if only ...
Quote:I believe that this post [praefectus legionis] was (uniquely?) reserved to an equestrian, governors normally being of senatorial rank.All military praefecti are equestrians. Since no senator could set foot in Egypt, the legion(s) there had to be commanded by praefecti instead of the usual senatorial legati. (Similarly, the province was governed by the Praefectus Aegypti, a high-ranking equestrian.)
Quote:Vegetius quote ... is the first original evidence I have seen of the principal roles of the Praefectus Castrorum. I note with interest that nowhere does it mention command of troops in battle.It would be surprising if our highly-decorated, experienced ex-centurion -- in effect, the highest ranking career-soldier in the legion -- was not entrusted with the odd battlefield command. As far as original evidence, turn to Tac., Ann. 13.39, for Insteius Capito commanding part of Corbulo's army in Armenia; Jos., Bell. Jud. 2.531 & 544, for Turranius Priscus commanding VI Ferrata in Judaea; ...
or indeed the well-known C. Velius Rufus (ILS 9200), who (after holding the post of primus pilus) was praef(ectus) vexillariorum leg(ionum) -- clearly a variant of the usual praef. castr.
