Published Fragments of a Military Diploma with Governor Claudius Constans from Dacia Inferior Being Mentioned for the First Time

Culture: Roman

Period: 10 December 129 to 9 December 130 A.D.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 8.1 cm x 10 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 3474

Provenance: From the German collection Peter Weiß, between 1967 and 2015.

Condition: Fragments were found in different times and later reunited, hence a slightly different patina. Anyway, the inscription is beautifully readable.

Description: Two belonging fragments of a military diploma from the period of emperor Hadrian. Preserved are large pieces of Tabella I. of a constitution for the province Dacia Inferior from the period between 10 December 129 and 9 December 130 A.D. The diploma has a special meaning due to the listing of troops in the relatively new province which was established by Hadrian in the course of the division of Dacia. Mentioned are in addition to three alae the auxiliary unit “vexillatio equitum Illyricorum” and five cohorts. It may be about veterans from Trajan’s Dacian Wars, who were stationed after the combats in the newly established province. Furthermore, historically important is that for the first time a governor named Claudius Constans is mentioned. See for the importance the publication by Peter Weiß “Neue Militärdiplome”, in: Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 117, 1997, pages 243-246. Also published in: P. Holder “Roman Military Diplomas V (2006)”, p. 778 f., no. 376.