CIL XIII.3606; Ager Nerviorvm Diploma dated: c.98AD
This document names part of the British army of Tiberius Avidius Quietus of around 98AD. It states that an ala and six cohortes are listed therein, but in reality, a single cavalry regiment and only five infantry cohorts are contained within the body of the text. In addition, it would appear that the second half of the diploma is missing. This would have contained the date on which the discharge certificate was issued – including the names of the current consuls – also the name of the man to whom the certificate belonged as well as the name of his former unit and commanding officer. All this would have been followed by a standard declaration of veracity and normally signed by seven witnesses.
NERVAE F NERVA TRAIANVS GERMANICVS PONTIFEX MAXIMVS
POTESTAT COS II PEDITIBVS QVI MILITANT IN ALIS COHORTIBVS
SEX QVAE APPELLANTVR AVG PROCVLEIANA C R I TVNGRORVM
I HISPANORVM ASTVRVM ET I HISPANORVM FIDA VARDVLLORVM C R
II LINGONVM ET II NERVIORVM IN BRITANNIA SVB T AVIDIO
DIMISSIS HONESTA MISSIONE A NEPOTE QVI QVINA ET VICENA PLVRAVE
STIPENDIA MERVERVNT QVORVM NOMINA SVBSCRIPTA SVNT IPSIS LIBERIS
POSTERISQVE EORVM CIVITATEM DEDIT ET CONVBIVM CVM VXORIBVS QVAS TVNC
HABVISSENT CVM EST CIVITAS IIS DATA AVT SIQVI
[For Imperator Caesar] Nerva Trajanus Germanicus, [son of the divine] Nerva, high priest, holding consular power twice. To the horsemen and foot-soldiers who are serving in the cavalry squadron and six infantry cohorts who are named:
Ala Augusta Proculeiana civium Romanorum []
Cohors Primae Tungrorum []
Cohors Primae Hispanorum Asturum []
Cohors Primae Hispanorum Fida Vardullorum civium Romanorum []
Cohors Secundae Lingonum []
Cohors Secundae Nerviorum []
which are in Britain under Tiberius Avidius. Those who have received an honourable discharge from Metilius Nepos and have served twenty-five years or more, whose names are written below. To them and to their children for posterity has been granted the citizenship. Also lawful marriage to their wives they have at that time they are assigned the citizenship, or, if they were unmarried, with those whom they later marry, [provided that it be only one woman for one man.]
[Dated c.98AD]