Auxilia Cohorts and the Claudian Invasion of Britain

[D B Campbell]

And the tribune of V Alaudae in ILS 974 was probably decorated by Claudius for service on the Rhine

.....I suspect that the fact that there were major campaigns in Britain, but not on the Rhine ( which was apparently fairly quiet) at this time might make it more likely the awards were earnt in britain....

Of course, you're entitled to your opinion. But if Occam's Razor teaches us anything, it suggests that, if a tribune of V Alaudae, stationed at Vetera on the Rhine, was decorated a Tiberio Claudio (ILS 974), we should first look for an explanation closer to Vetera. If none can be found, then we are entitled to widen our search.

When you claim that there were no major campaigns on the Rhine at this time, you have perhaps forgotten Corbulo's campaign against the Chauci in AD 47 (Tacitus, Annals 11.18), major enough to warrant the award of triumphal insignia to Corbulo, and (no doubt) commensurate awards to his officers, amongst them (in my opinion) the unnamed tribune of V Alaudae. Fairly quiet? I don't think so.