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Nerva · 06-11-2007, 01:41 PM

I use the praenomen 'Martinus'. I'm not sure but I believe this to be a Christian era name (3rd/4th Century). I portray a first/second century legionary and I'm not sure if this name is appropriate. I'm reluctant to use the name Marcus because calling myself Marcus Ulpius might be a bit pretentious as the only Marcus Ulpius' I know is a Batavian Auxiliary (which is already taken) and an Emperor (maybe someday Smile

).

Has anybody heard of the name Martius?

All advice kindly accepted :wink:

Peroni · 06-11-2007, 01:44 PM

Yes Martin, there are a great deal of inscriptions with the name Martius. Usually as a 'gens'

Go here and type Martius in 'Suchtext' and hit the enter key
http://compute-in.ku-eichstaett.de:8888 ... epigraphik

Probably means 'blessed of Mars' or 'warlike' something like that

Matthew Amt · 06-11-2007, 04:12 PM

Non-Romans who joined the auxliaries took the praenomen and nomen of the reigning emperor, and used a Latinized form of their native name as their cognomen. So there would be lots of guys around named "Marcus Ulpius", and their sons would of course inheirit the names as well (as citizens). Martinus could be a legitimate cognomen, I'd guess.

Freed slaves took the praenomen and nomen of their former owner, so even in the first century AD it's very possible that you could be Marcus Ulpius without being related to the future emperors.

So, Marcus Ulpius Martinus sounds good to me! You could still have folks call you Martinus.

http://www.larp.com/legioxx/nomina.html

Vale,

Matthew

Jona Lendering · 06-11-2007, 06:27 PM

Using the Epigraphik Datenbank already mentioned, applying the key "Martinus", and leaving out some inscriptions from the third and fourth centuries, here is a list of Martini:

Legionaries:

Aelius Martinus, I Italica, Salona, Dalmatia (CIL 3.2023)
Aelius Martinus, II Adiutrix, Sirmium, Pannonia Inf. (AE 1994, 1471)
T. Claudius Martinus, II Adiutrix, Budapest, Pannonia (CIL 3.6457)
Julius Martinus, II Augusta, Caerleon, Britain (RIB 373)
C. Julius Martinus, III Augusta, Zoui, Numidia (CIL 8.17622 )
Aurelius Martinus, IIII Flavia, Cyrrhus, Syria (CIL 03.195)
M. Ulpius Martinus, VII Claudia, Naissus, Moesia Sup (CIL 3.1676)
Ulpius Martinus, VII Claudia, Naissus, Moesia Sup (CIL 3.13812)
Aelius Martinus, VII Gemina, Rome (CIL 6.3890)
Flavius Martinus, XIII Gemina, Sebes, Dacia (AE 1971, 375d)
Flavius Martinus, XIII Gemina, Alba, Dacia (CIL 3.1629)
Flavius Martinus, XIII Gemina, Alba, Dacia (CIL 3.8065, 26b)
Flavius Martinus, XIII Gemina, Alba, Dacia (CIL 3.13612g)
Flavius Martinus, XIII Gemina, Hermannstadt, Dacia (CIL 3.8065, 26c)

Others:
C. Aurelius Martinus, prefect I Ala c.R., Dalj, Pannonia Sup. (CIL 3.10256)
Julius Martinus, praetorian?, Rome (CIL 6.225)
Aelius Martinus, praetorian, Rome (ICUR-06, 15787)
Aurelius Martinus, praetorian?, Rome (CIL 6.2459)
Au.......ius Martinus, praetorian, Rome (CIL 6.33043)
Aurelius Martinus, eques. sing., Rome (CIL 6.2486)
Valerius Martinus, praetorian, Rome (CIL 6.2758)
Vettius Martinus, eques sing./signifer, Rome (CIL 6.3280)
Flavius Martinus, ?, Ostia (CIL 14.271)
Aurelius Martinus, nauphylax, Ravenna (CIL 11.112)

I exclude the civil Martini, except for Lucius Lucceius Martinus, governor of Germania Inferior during the reign of Septimius Severus or Caracalla (CIL 13.8201).

I get the impression that the name originated along the Danube in the second half of the second century (eleven of fourteen inscriptions are from Pannonia and Moesia). Saint Martin was from Pannonia as well.

The origin of the non-legionary Martini can not be established, except for one case, which is again a man from Pannonia. I also get the impression that the name became popular in the third century. The "civil" inscriptions that I left out, suggest that the name was popular among Christians before the conversion of Saint Martin.

I think that a Marcus Ulpius Martinus in VIII Augusta, in the late second century, is a rare but possible name. There was some reshuffle of troops after Marcus Aurelius' Marcomannic Wars, if I recall correctly, and I would not be surprised if a recruit from Pannonia ended up in Germania Superior.

Peroni · 06-12-2007, 12:45 PM

Trajan walks into a poppina.. says to the bar keeper...

"Give me a Martinus"

The barman says... " Don't you mean a Martini"?

Trajan replies...

"Look, if I had wanted a double - I would have ordered one"!

:lol: