01-02-2010, 05:21 PM
Quote:I'm tempted to think he served as praefectus alae, but is this the only possibility?You're probably correct, Jona. Although the post could equally appear as praefectus equitum or praefectus equitum alae (or, as you suggest, praefectus alae). I cannot find a precise analogy to your man, as the "usual" (or, rather, most common) set of postings was praefectus fabrum, tribunus militum legionis, praefectus equitum. (I believe this may be so, as praef. fabr. was a kind of honorific post which might more often be expected of the better-connected young men who needn't bother with a cohortal command -- I can't give you proof of this, though.)
Here is a stellar career which shows the general sequence that was acceptable:
CIL 6, 3539: M(arcus) Stlaccius C(ai) f(ilius) Col(lina) | Coranus | praef(ectus) fabrum equo | publico ex quinque | decuriis praef(ectus) coh(ortis) V | Bracaraugustanorum | in Germania trib(uno) mil(itum) leg(ionis) II | Aug(ustae) praef(ectus) equitum alae | Hispanorum in Britannia | donis militaribus donatus | corona murali hasta pura | sibi et | C(aio) Stlaccio Capitoni patri | C(aio) Stlaccio C(ai) f(ilio) Col(lina) Capitoni fratri | L(ucio) Stlaccio C(ai) f(ilio) Col(lina) Frontoni fratri | Claudiae Secundae uxori
What a pity Devijver's Prosopographia Militiarum Equestrium isn't available on-line.
Perhaps if fellow RATer and equestrian-specialist popularis is around, he might like to join in?
