Bronze
Rome, 236 AD
Fragment of a square bronze table with inscriptions on both sides
Military diploma of Emperor Maximinus Thrax
Grants the right to marriage with a non-Roman woman
In a metal holder mounted on a Perspex plinth
Verification through Art Loss Register
Dimensions: approx. 7.5 x 7.5 cm
Good condition
Provenance: collection Ingo Underberg, Stuttgart
Literature: W. Eck-H. Wolff (ed.), Heer und Integrationspolitik. Die römischen Militärdiplome als historische Quelle, Cologne i.a. 1986; N. Lambert-J. Scheuerbrandt, Das Militärdiplom. Quelle zur römischen Armee und zum Urkundenwesen, Stuttgart 2002; B. Pferdehirt, Römische Militärdiplome und Entlassungsurkunden in der Sammlung des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums, Mainz 2004
The military diploma was as a general rule presented at the honorary release (honesta missio) and is an accredited transcript of the originally in the capital Rome published imperial edict (constitutio)
Object is regular taxed. 19% VAT is added to the purchase price for deliveries within the EU.

This is the fragment of a square bronze table with inscriptions on both sides. It is written on page 1 ‘Imperator Caesar Gaius Iuliu(s) V(erus Maxi)minus, the Pious and fortunate, high priest, for the second time equipped with the Tribunizian power, consul, (father of the fatherland). The names of the soldiers, who in the ten Maximinian Praetorianercohorten - I, (II), UI,IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, X, the (loyal and) protecting - loyal and bravely rendered the service: I have awarded them the right of marriage, as long as they with the only and in fact first (wife) …’. The second page reads ‘Written off the sooner table, which is mounted in Rome at the wall behind the temple of the deified Augustus at the Minerva. Maxim …’.

This bronze table is a so-called military diploma of Emperor Maximinus Thrax from the year 236 AD. At this time all free inhabitants already had the Roman civil law, so the purpose of the diploma is limited to grant the right of marriage (conubium) with a non-Roman woman. The named unit is the Praetorian Guard of the Emperor. The remaining word ‘Maxim’ inside the document could mark the beginning of an according list of names of the considered soldiers. The military diploma was presented at the honorary release (honesta missio) as a general rule and is an accredited transcript of the originally in the capital Rome published imperial edict (constitutio).

The bronze table measures approximately 7.5 x 7.5 cm. The dimensions, including the stand, are 15.5 x 8.7 cm. (tm)

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