History Roman military diploma
roman military diploma ad 80 (museum carnuntum)
diplomas issued during principate period (52-284 ad) retiring veterans had served in corps of roman armed forces enlisted peregrini, is, inhabitants of roman empire not roman citizens (the vast majority of empire s population in 1st , 2nd centuries). such corps were: auxilia; roman navy, praetorian guard s cavalry (equites singulares augusti); , cohortes urbanae (the city of rome s public-order battalions).
the first known diploma dates ad 52, under emperor claudius (r. 41-54), appears have regularised practice of granting roman citizenship non-citizen auxiliaries after 25 years service (26 in navy).
diplomas not issued discharged legionaries, legions recruited roman citizens only. however, legionary diplomas exceptionally issued after civil war of 68/69 ad. emergency measure, 2 new legions, , ii classica (later reconstituted , renamed , ii adiutrix, respectively) formed naval marines, many of whom did not hold citizenship. @ end of crisis, these awarded roman citizenship.
in 212, constitutio antoniniana, issued emperor caracalla, granted roman citizenship inhabitants of empire, ending second-class peregrini status. made military diplomas largely redundant, , indeed last known auxiliary diplomas date ad 203. diplomas service in navy, praetorian guard cavalry , cohortes urbanae continued issued until late 3rd century. might explained fact barbari (foreigners outside roman empire) still recruited units.
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