Analysis of inscription (RIB 1713) Vindolanda
Inscription (RIB 1713) relates to a sandstone funerary headstone used as a building-stone found amongst debris associated with the east gate of Vindolanda fort in 1818 commemorating the life of Cornelius Victor (RIB 1713, Funerary inscription for Cornelius Victor, 2014). There is a degree of ambiguity in relation to his military position as a senior centurion. Victor is listed on the inscription as a singularis consularis ‘governor 's bodyguard’ either mounted (eques) or infantry (pedes), seconded from an auxiliary unit; he also served as a courier and special emissary (Glossary of military terms, 2014). If indeed he was a special emissary it supports the argument of a senior centurions’ position. …show more content…
At the time of her husband’s death she must have had the financial means to have employed a stone mason to cut and engrave the tombstone. Due to the complexities of roman marriage rights and inheritance laws, this suggests she was a beneficiary if not the main one of her husband’s estate. There is evidence at Vindolanda of wives and families living within the fort, with the more senior officers having the privilege of marital rights and other ranks in some form of cohabitation. Even though marriage was supposedly banned for serving soldiers due to the degradation of the fighting man and costs involved with supporting families, it would be virtually impossible to prevent the men from forming relationships with local women if serving for their whole careers at one posting …show more content…
There was the initial problem of the number of auxiliary troops who were retiring each year. This was a concern as these troops were in many cases battle-hardened and at their prime who may have had designs of instigating uprisings in their homelands. Emperors from Augustus onwards extended the service requirements to an average of 25 years; this reduced the heavy cost to the treasury of pensions and land. Furthermore, assimilation with the local populace may very well have been encouraged. From the historical sites and the artefacts extracted that in themselves may be limited in initial context they do add to the greater understanding of the period. It appears that there were well established settlements with people drawn from all parts of the Roman Empire that lived and
Inscription (RIB 1713) relates to a sandstone funerary headstone used as a building-stone found amongst debris associated with the east gate of Vindolanda fort in 1818 commemorating the life of Cornelius Victor (RIB 1713, Funerary inscription for Cornelius Victor, 2014). There is a degree of ambiguity in relation to his military position as a senior centurion. Victor is listed on the inscription as a singularis consularis ‘governor 's bodyguard’ either mounted (eques) or infantry (pedes), seconded from an auxiliary unit; he also served as a courier and special emissary (Glossary of military terms, 2014). If indeed he was a special emissary it supports the argument of a senior centurions’ position. …show more content…
At the time of her husband’s death she must have had the financial means to have employed a stone mason to cut and engrave the tombstone. Due to the complexities of roman marriage rights and inheritance laws, this suggests she was a beneficiary if not the main one of her husband’s estate. There is evidence at Vindolanda of wives and families living within the fort, with the more senior officers having the privilege of marital rights and other ranks in some form of cohabitation. Even though marriage was supposedly banned for serving soldiers due to the degradation of the fighting man and costs involved with supporting families, it would be virtually impossible to prevent the men from forming relationships with local women if serving for their whole careers at one posting …show more content…
There was the initial problem of the number of auxiliary troops who were retiring each year. This was a concern as these troops were in many cases battle-hardened and at their prime who may have had designs of instigating uprisings in their homelands. Emperors from Augustus onwards extended the service requirements to an average of 25 years; this reduced the heavy cost to the treasury of pensions and land. Furthermore, assimilation with the local populace may very well have been encouraged. From the historical sites and the artefacts extracted that in themselves may be limited in initial context they do add to the greater understanding of the period. It appears that there were well established settlements with people drawn from all parts of the Roman Empire that lived and