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auxiliary-diploma-given-by-emperor-hadrian-to-ulpius-valens-ms-1836

AUXILIARY DIPLOMA GIVEN BY EMPEROR HADRIAN TO ULPIUS VALENS

MS 1836
MS Short Title AUXILIARY DIPLOMA GIVEN BY EMPEROR HADRIAN TO ULPIUS VALENS
Text AUXILIARY DIPLOMA GIVEN BY EMPEROR HADRIAN TO ULPIUS VALENS AFTER 26 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE AUXILIA I ULPIA CONTARIORUM IN PANNOIA SUPERIOR COMMANDED BY QUINTUS PLANIUS SARDUS, UNDER THE CONSULS LUCIUS CUSPIUS CAMERINUS AND CAIUS SAENIUS SEVERUS. COPIED AND CHECKED FROM THE BRONZE TABLET SET UP IN ROMA ON THE WALL BEHIND THE TEMPLE OF AUGUSTUS NEAR THE STATUE OF MINERVA
Description MS in Latin on bronze, Roma, 1 July 126, tabella I, 14,5x12,1 cm, single column, 26+15 lines in Latin capitals, 2 holes through the tablet for a wire that originally bound the two tablets together, secured with the seals of the 7 witnesses.
Binding Barking, Essex, 1995, red cloth gilt folding case, by Aquarius.
Context There are 3 praetorian diplomas (MSS 1801, 1870, 2051/7) in The Schøyen Collection, further 11 auxiliary diplomas (MSS 1836, 1899, 2051/1-6, 2051/8, 2052, 2086), and 3 fleet diplomas (MSS 698, 1921, 2032).
Provenance 1. Ulpius Valens (126 until his death); 2. Found in Bulgaria or Hungary; 3. Axel Weber, Köln; 4. Bernard Quaritch Ltd., London.
Commentary The present diploma gives Ulpius Valens an honourable discharge from the army of Emperor Hadrian, Roman citizenship for himself and his descendants, and the right of legal marriage. The present MS contains the unusual information, of both date, place and the exemplar copied. The exemplar, the bronze tablet set in the wall on Forum Romanum, in fact, still survives in fragments.
Published R. Frei-Stolba and M.A. Speidel, eds.: Römische Inschriften - Neufunde, Neulesungen und Neuinterpretationen. Festschrieft für Hans Lieb, 2.: Werner Eck & Margaret M. Roxan: Two new Military Diplomas, pp. 55-79. Margaret M. Roxan & Paul Holder: Roman Military Diplomas, IV. Institute of Classical studies. London, 2003. no 236, pp. 463-464.
Place of origin Roma
Dates 1 July 126 AD