Romanæ historiæ anthologia An English exposition of the Romane antiquities, wherein many Romane and English offices are paralleld and divers obscure phrases explained. By Thomas Godwyn Master of Arts: for the vse of Abingdon Schoole.

CHAP. 6.

De donis militaribus ob rem fortitèr gestam.

Cōcerning the rewards which were bestowed in war, some were by the Senate conferred vpon the L. Ge∣nerall: others were by the L. Generall conferred vp∣on his souldiers. Those honours which the L. Generall re∣ceived were three. First Nomen Imperatoris, of which* 1.1 be∣fore. Secondly supplicatio .i. a solemne procession continu∣ed for many daies togither, sometimes more, sometimes fe∣wer: all which daies the Romane people did obserue as ho∣ly daies, offring vp dayly praiers and sacrifice to the Gods in the behalfe of their L. Generall: The custome being that after some notable victory, the souldiers having saluted their chiefe captaine (whom I call their L. General) by the the name of Imperator, then would he send letters vnto the Senate dight with lawrell, wherein he required both that name to be confirmed, and approved by them, as likewise that they would Decernere supplicationes .i. appoint such solemne supplications. Thirdly, they honoured him at his comming home also with a Triumph. Triumphus vel ma∣ior, vel minor erat, saith Alexander. The lesser kinde of tri∣umph was properly called Ovatio,z 1.2 ab ove, from a sheepe, which in this time of his triumph was led before him, and afterward sacrificed by him: As also in the greater triumph

(called properly Triumphus) the L. Generall sacrificed a bull. It differeth from the greater triumph first in the accla∣mation; for in the lesser triumph the souldiers following did as it were redouble this letter O, and some are of opi∣nion that it was therefore called Ovatio. In the greater tri∣umph the souldiers followed crying Io triumphe, Io trium∣phe: an example whereof may be seene ina 1.3 Horace, where he describeth the triumph of Bacchus, the first autor of this greater triumph; from whoseb 1.4 name also divers autors doe deriue this word Triumphus, he being in greeke called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which by a litle change is made Triumphus. Second∣ly they differed, because in the greater triumph, the L. Ge∣nerall did weare a garment of state, called by some Trabea, c 1.5 by others Triumphalis, Picta vel Aurata vestis: likewise a garland of lawrell, riding in a chariot, the Senators them∣selues with the best of the Romanes meeting him, his soul∣diers with their coronets, their chaines, and other rewards following after: But in the lesser triumph the L. Generall did weare a plaine purple gowne without any gold imbro∣dering, and a garland of myrtle treed 1.6 commonly going on foote, sometimes permitted to ride on a horse; the gentle∣men and commonalty of Rome alone without the Senators did meete him. Moreover for a perpetuall memory of this their triumph in some publique place certaine trophies were erected.e 1.7 Tr••phaeum monumentum dixere nunc marmo∣reum, mod••o aeneum, cum in scriptione & titulis aevo perpetuo duraturis.f 1.8 Dictum est 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 .i. à conversione, from making the enimies to retire and turne backe. Sometimes there were statues, columnes, and arches built in token of triumph. These arches though commōly they were known by the name of Arcus triumphales, yet sometimes they are called For••ces,g 1.9 whence it is that Tully calleth Fabianes triumphall arch Fabianum fornicem. If it so happened that the Romane Generall himselfe personally, did take away a∣ny spoiles from the chiefe captaine of the enimies, then did hee hang them vp in a temple consecrated to Iupiter Fere∣trius,

who was so called,h 1.10 because as the Romanes concei∣ted, without the speciall assistance of Iupiter, Dux duce•••• fer••e non poterat: these spoiles had the name of Opima spo∣lia .i. Royall spoiles. The rewards bestowed vpon the soul∣diers were divers: either places of office, as the place of a Centurion, of a Praefectus, a Decurio, &c. or their pay was increased, the spoiles distributed amōgst thē, or lastly they received certaine gifts tearmed Dona militaria. In ancient times those souldiers which ha d best deserved, receaved a certaine measure of corne called by them Adorea;i 1.11 and hence it is, that Adorea is now vsed to signifie such laud & praise, as is due vnto a souldier. But after ages for the bet∣ter encouraging of the souldiers, haue found out more ho∣nourable rewards, of whichk 1.12 these were the chiefest; Ar∣milla .i. bracelet for the hand-wrest; Torquis, a chaine to weare about their necke; Phalerae, horsetrappings; Hasta∣pura .i. a speare having no iron at the end of it; (l 1.13 it is some∣times called Hasta donatica, and Hasta graminea:) Lastly Coronae, crownes, of which A. Gell. observeth these to haue beene the chiefe: 1. Corona triumphalis, which in olde time was made of Laurell, but afterward of gold, & thence was it called Corona aurea: it was sent by the Senate vnto the L. Generall in honour of his triumph; secondly Corona ob∣sidionalis, which was given by the souldiers vnto their Ge∣nerall, when they were freed from a siege: it was made of grasse growing in that place, where they were besieged, whence it had the name also of Corona graminea. Now the reason why they made this crowne of grasse growing in the place where they were besieged, was thereby to yeeld vp their right in that place vnto their captaine: for by that ceremony, asm 1.14 Pliny obserueth, they did Terrâ & ipsa al∣trice humo & humatione etiam cedere. And hence it is, that in races, and the like masteries, hee that was overcome, did gather some of the grasse of that place, and giue it vnto the conquerour, as a token that hee did acknowledge himselfe conquered.n 1.15 This is the reason of that Adage, Herbam da∣re

.i. to yeeld the victory. Thirdly Corona civica, which was bestowed only vpon him, which had saved a citizens life, o 1.16 though in processe of time it was also bestowed vpō the L. Generall, if he spared a Romane citizen, when hee had power to kill him. It was commonly made of oake; whence it was called Corona quernea. Fourthly Corona Muralis:p 1.17 He only was honored with this, which did first scale the wals, & enter first into the enimies citie: & hence this crown was cut vpon the circlet or top like vnto the battlements. Fiftly Corona Castrensis: This the L. Generall bestowed on him, which first entred into the enimies tents; it did beare in it the resemblance of a bulwarke, or at least of the mound, wherewith the bulwark was strengthned; which mound was called in Latine Vallum, and thence the crowne it selfe was often called Vallaris corona. Lastly Corona navalis, with which hee was honoured, which first entred into the enimies ship in a battle vpon sea: it was portrayd with ma∣ny ship-beakes called in latine Rostra,q 1.18 whence the crown it selfe was often called Corona Rostrata.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vid. p. 176.
• z 1.2

  Salmuth. in Pancir. l. ••erū deperd cap. de triumph.
• a 1.3

  Ode. 2. li. 4.
• b 1.4

  Salmuth. in Pancir. l. rerū deperd. cap. de triumph.
• c 1.5

  Alex. Gen. lib. 6. cap. 17.
• d 1.6

  Dion. Hali∣car. lib. 5.
• e 1.7

  Alex. Gen. dier. li. 1. c. 22.
• f 1.8

  Serv. Aenei. lib. 10.
• g 1.9

  Fr. Sylv. in orat. Cic. pro. Cn. Plancio.
• h 1.10

  Alex. Gen. dier. l. 1. c. 14.
• i 1.11

  Alex. Gen. dier. l. 4. c. 18.
• k 1.12

  Sig. de iure Rom. l. 1. c. 15.
• l 1.13

  Rosin. ant. lib. 10 c. 27.
• m 1.14

  Plin. l. 22. cap. 4.
• n 1.15

  Salmuth. in Pancir. l. rerū deperd. cap. de coronis.
• o 1.16

  Pigh. l. Ty∣rannif.
• p 1.17

  Dion. Hali∣car. lib. 10.
• q 1.18

  Pigh. lib. ty∣rannif.