Inscription of Cn. Pompeius Strabo, Asculum, c.89BCE

Inscription of Cn. Pompeius Strabo, Asculum, c.89BCE

Bronze tablet (29cm x 52cm), includes holes where nails would have once fixed this to a wall, found in Rome c. 1909 and presented by Professor Gatti to the Palazzo dei Conservatori; currently housed in the Capitoline Museum.

TEXT
(A)
[C]n. Pompeius Sex. [f. imperator] virtutis caussa| equites Hispanos ceives [Romanos fecit in castr]eis apud Asculum a.d. XIV k(alendas) Dec(embers)| ex lege Iulia. In consilio [fuerunt:]|L. Gellius L.f. Tro(mentina), Cn. Octavius Q.f.[--, M. Caecilius –f. --, Ser. Sulpi]cius C.f. Ani(ensis), L. Iunius L. f. Gal(eria), Q. Minuc(ius)| M.f. Ter(etina), P. Attius P.f. Ouf(entina), M. Maiolei(us) M., vel M’., [f.--,---,-Ae]mili(us) Q.f. Pal(atina), Cn. Corneli(us) Cn.f. Pal(atina), T. Anni(us) T.f.| Ouf(entina), M. Aureli(us) M.f Vol(tinia), L. Volumni(us) L.f. Ani(ensis), L. [---,---f.] Suc(cusana), T. Pompei(us) T.f Cor(nelia), C. Rabeiri(us) C.f. Gal(eria), | D. Aebuti(us) D.f. Cor(nelia), M. Teiedi(us) M.f. Pol(lia), C. Fundili(us) C.f. G[al(eria), vel Q[ui(rina), -M?]aia[ni(us)] M.f.[--]r(—), T. Acili(us) T.f. Vel(ina), Cn. Oppi(us) Cn.f Vel(ina), Q. Petelli(us) L.f. Vel(ina), | L.Terenti(us) A.f Vel(ina), T. Terenti(us) A.f. Vel(ina), L. Vetti(us) L.f. Vel(ina), C. Fornasidi(us) C.f. Pol(lia), Cn. Pompei(us) Cn.f. Clu(stumina), Sex. Pompei(us) Sex.f. Clu(stumina),|M. Hostili(us) M.f. Vel(ina), L. Aebuti(us) L.f. Men(enia), Q. Hirtulei(us) L.f. S[e]r(gia), L. Iuni(us) Q. f. Lem(onia), Q. Rosidi(us) Q.f. Qui(rina), C. Tarquiti(us) L.f. Fal(erna), Q. Marci(us)| L.f Pap(iria), L. Opeimi(us) Q.f. Hor(atia), L. Instei(us) L.f. Fal(erna), T. Noni(us) T.f. Vel(ina), L. Noni(us) T.f. Vel(ina), C. Herius C.f. Clu(stumina), L. Ponti(us) T.f Qui(rina), M. Lucani(us) M.f.| Hor)atia), L. Sergi(us) L.f. Tro(mentina), P. Pedani(us) P.f. A[i]m(ilia), C. Laetori(us) C.f. Vel(ina), A. Fulvi(us) A.f. Tro(mentina), Q. Ampudi(us) Q.f. Aim(ilia), L. Minuci(us) L.f. Vel(ina),| Ti. Veturi(us) T.f. Vel(ina), Cn. Busseni(us) Cn.f. Ste(llatina), T. Petroni(us) P.f. Fab(ia), M.’ Otacili(us) M,’f. Pol(lia), L. Pullienus L.f. Men(enia), M.’ Aebuti(us) M.’ Pol(lia), P. Salvienus | L.f. Mai(cia), L. Otacili(us) L.f. Pup(inia).

Gnaeus Pompeius, Commander-in-the-field, son of Sextus, On behalf of Valor| made Spanish cavalry Roman Citizens in the camp at Asculum on the seventeenth day of November| in accordance with the Julian law. Present at the council were Lucius Gellius, son of Lucius, of the Tromentine tribe, Gnaeus Octavius, son of Quintus, Marcus Caecilius–son of–,Servius Sulpicius, son of Caius, of the Aniensian tribe, Lucius Iunius, son of Lucius, of the Galerian tribe, Quintus Minucius| son of Marcus, of the Teretian tribe, Publius Attius, son of Publius, of the Oufentinian tribe, Marcus Maioleius, son of Marcus/Manius,- -,- – -,- Ae]milius, son of Quintus, of the Palatinian tribe, Cnaeus Cornelius, son of Cnaeus, of the Palatinian tribe, Titus Annius, son of Titus| of the Oufentinian tribe, Marcus Aurelius, son of Marcus, of the Voltinian tribe, Lucius Volumnius, son of Lucius, of the Aniensian tribe, Lucius [---,--- son of] of the Succasanian tribe, Titus Pompeius, son of Titus, of the Cornelian tribe, Caius Rabeirius, son of Caius, of the Galerian tribe, Domitius Aebutius, son of Domitius, of the Cornelian tribe, Marcus Teiedius, son of Marcus, of the Pollian tribe, Caius Fundilius, son of Caius, of the Galerian/Quirinal tribe, [Marcus? Aemilianus?], son of Marcus, [--]r(—), Titus Acilius, son of Titus, of the Velinian tribe, Cnaeus Oppius, son of Cnaeus, of the Velinian tribe, Quintus Petillius, son of Lucius, of the Velinian tribe| Lucius Terentius, son of Antonius, of the Velinian tribe, Caius Fornasidius, son of Caius, of the Pollian tribe, Cnaeus Pompeius, son of Cnaeus, of the Clustuminian tribe[1], Sextus Pompeius, son of Sextus, of the Clustuminian tribe| Marcus Hostilius, son of Marcus, of the Velinian tribe, Lucius Aebutius, son of Lucius, of the Menenian tribe, Quintus Hurtuleius, son of Lucius, of the Segian tribe, Lucius Iunius, son of Quintus, of the Lemonian tribe, Quintus Rosidius, son of Quintus, of the Quirinal tribe, Caius Tarquitius, son of Lucius, of the Falernian tribe, Quintus Marcius| son of Lucius, of the Papirian tribe, Lucius Opeimius, son of Quintus, of the Horatian tribe, Lucius Insteius, son of Lucius, of the Falernian tribe, Titus Nonius, son of Titus, of the Velinian tribe, Lucius Nonius, son of Titus, of the Velinian tribe, Caius Herius, son of Caius, of the Clustuminian tribe, Lucius Pontius, son of Titus, of the Quirinal tribe, Marcus Lucanius, son of Marcus| of the Horatian tribe, Lucius Sergius, son of Lucius, of the Tromentine tribe, Publius Pedanius, son of Publius, of the Aimilian tribe, Caius Laetorius, son of Caius, of the Velinian tribe, Antonius Fulvius, son of Antonius, of the Tromentine tribe, Quintus Ampudius, son of Quintus, of the Aimilian tribe, Lucius Minucius, son of Lucius, of the Velinian tribe| Tiberius Veturius, son of Titus, of the Velinian tribe, Cnaeus Bussenius, son of Cnaeus, of the Stellatinian tribe, Titus Petronius, son of Publius, of the Fabian tribe, Manius Otacilius, son of Manius, of the Pollian tribe, Lucius Pullienus, son of Lucius, of the Menenian tribe, Manius Aebutius, son of Manius, of the Pollian tribe, Publius Salvienus, son of Lucius, of the Maician tribe, Lucius Otacilius, son of Lucius, of the Pupinian tribe.

(B)
Col. 1
Turma Salluitana:
| Sanibelser Adingibas f.,|Illurtibas Bilustibas f., |Estopeles Ordennas f.,| T[o]rsinno Austinco f.| Bagarensis: | Cacususin Chadar f.|[-- licenses:  | [---] Sosimilus f. | [---] irsecel f., |[---]elgaun f., | [---] iespaiser f. ||

The Salluitan Squadron

Sanibalser, son of Adingibas
Illurtibas, son of Bilustibas
Estopeles, son of Ordennas
Torsinno, son of Austinco,
Bagarenses
Cacususin, son of Chadar,
Freedmen?
Fragmeted…

(C)
Cols.2-3
Ilerdenses: | [C., vel Q.,] Otacilius Suisetarten f., | Cn. Cornelius Nesille f., | P.[F]abius Enasagin f.|Begensis: | Turtumelis Atanscer f.| Segienses: | Sosinaden Sosinasae f., | Sosimilus Sosinasae f., | Urgidar Luspanar f.,| Gurtano Biurno f., | Elandus Enneges f., || Agirnes Bennabels f., | Nalbeaden Agerdo f., |Arranes Arbiscar f.,| Umargibas Luspangib. f.| Ennegens[e]s| Beles Umarbeles f.,| Turinnus Adimels f.,| Ordumeles Burdo f.|
 Libenses:|Bastugitas Adimeis f., | Umarillun Tabbantu f.|
Suconsenses:| Belennes Albennes f., |Atullo Tautindals f.|
Illuersensis: | Balciadin Balcibil f. ||

Ilerdans
Caius/Quintus Otacilius, son of Suisetarten
Cnaeus Cornelius, son of Nesille
Publius Fabius, son of Enasagin
Begenses
Turtumelis, son of Atanscer
Segienses
Sosinaden, son of Sosinasae
Sosimilus, son of Sosinasae
Urgidar, son of Luspanar,
Gurtano, son of Biurno,
—son of Arbiscar
Umargibas, son of Luspangib,
Ennegenses
Beles, son of Umarbeles
Turinnus, son of Adimels
Ordumeles, son of Burdo
Libenses
Bastugitas, son of Adimeis,
Umarillun, son of Tabbantu,
Subconsenses
Belennes, son of Albennes
Atullo, son of Tautindals,
Illuersenses
Balciadin, son of Balcibil

(D)
Col.4
Cn. Pompeius Sex.f. imperator| virtutis caussa turmam| Salluitanam donavit in| castreis apud Asculum| cornuculo et patella, torque, | armilla, palereis et frumen[t]um | duplex

Gnaeus Pompeius, son of Sextus, Commander-in-the-field, on behalf of valour presented the Salluitan Squadron in the camp at Asculum with the horn, plate, necklace,bracelet, decorative medals, and a double ration of corn.[2]

Analysis
We are presented with two decrees recorded in one inscription, the first being the conferral of citizenship upon thirty members of the Turma Salluitana, a Spanish cavalry squadron who presumably served under Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo during his siege of Asculum; the second decree records further material rewards bestowed upon these individuals. Particularly notable is the fact that for this first decree not only is the lex Iulia referenced but equally Strabo’s consilium, which would have consisted of all his military tribunes and the chief centurion (primuspilus) of each legion, amounting in this case to some 59 individuals[3]; for the second decree there is no further authority given other than Strabo’s own imperium.

When and Where?
We can date this securely to around the end of 90 to the beginning of 89BCE though there is some debate as to whether this inscription dates to before Strabo’s consulship (explaining the IMP) or during his consulship (raising the question of why he does not include COS) I would tend to favor the latter view given that Strabo’s second decree indicates that he did hold imperium, which could only mean he held a magisterial office, it is unlikely that this is from 90BCE when Strabo held only the junior position of military legate. Stevenson points to the example of Mummius who mentions both titles and at one point simply describes himself as Imperator as evidence that a general in the field, who had been hailed as Imperator, could use either his magisterial title or his military one. He perhaps overstates the case that this evidence is “significant of the beginning of that decline in the prestige of the city magistracies which is so characteristic of the revolutionary period”[4]; here it may only be the fact that Strabo is acting in the capacity of commander and records it as so, though the idea that this is also a victory monument that reflects upon Strabo’s own success should not be forgotten.

Turma Salluitana
This cavalry squadron probably takes its name from Salduba on the Ebro (later Caesaraugusta) Pliny understands this to have been a colonia immunis, with Ilerda being an oppidum civium Romanorum, he includes Ilursenses, Libienses and Segienses in a list of stipendariarii.[5] This unit was therefore a previously existing ally of Rome and not from Italy, some part-Romanized names such as those found in the list of Ilerdans may be indicative of a process of Romanization that had taken place in the Spanish Provinces however, Stevenson suggests that these individuals changed their names to those of members of Strabo’s consilium shortly before the record was published.[6] Whatever the case may be the fact that the names were Romanized is evidence that there was something culturally attractive about Roman names and presumably inclusion in the Roman state via citizenship. The numismatic evidence from this period further sheds light on imitative behavior taking place in ‘non-Roman’ societies, if nothing else it indicates the power of the idea of what it was to be Roman.  

Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo

Reference to the lex Iulia: 90BCE
The inscription grounds the authority for Pompeius’ extension of citizenship firmly under the auspices of the lex Iulia, passed the previous year as a concessionary measure to prevent further rebellion amongst the allies. This inscription, however, is our sole evidence for supposing that the lex Iulia authorized military commanders to enfranchise citizens as a reward (in this case causa virtutis) so we should be careful before taking this at face value.

Issues of Enfranchisement and the Social War

Previous individuals who are recorded as agitating for citizenship for the Italians

Marcus Fulvius Flaccus: 125BCE
Caius Sempronius Gracchus: 122BCE
Marcus Livius Drusus: 91BCE

These are Roman auxilii that are being granted citizenship not defeated allies or socii, this is an important distinction given the idea proposed by Pobjoy that the Social War was not fought on the issue of citizenship rights. If we consider some of the epigraphic evidence from sling-shots also found at Asculum we catch a glimpse of the strong feelings on both sides[7] and to somehow think that the allies were fighting with such vigor for inclusion into the Roman state does seem peculiar.[8] This inscription does not inform us of the cause of the Social War any more than it does about its conclusion other than we can see how citizenship was given out as a reward, which supports some of the literary evidence that holds to the view that the granting of Roman Citizenship effectively pulled the plug on the Social War.

“There is no reason why we should not accept that a great many of them [allies] would have been satisfied with being granted the rights and benefits of Roman citizenship”[9]

Pobjoy’s article reminds us that though this may have been the reason for the end of the war, it does not necessarily have to be the reason for the cause of the war.

As far as we can tell from this inscription enfranchisement is here used to incorporate individuals who have remained loyal to Rome and furthermore have displayed prowess in the military sphere, that the lex Iulia is included here suggests that this was included in the legislation but we do not know how liberally Strabo is interpreting the law so must remain wary.


Appendix A

Roman Tribe Names

Aemilia
Aniensis
Arniensis
Camilia
Claudia
Clustumina
Cornelia
Fabia
Falerna/Falerina
Galeria
Horatia
Lemonia
Maecia
Menenia
Oufentina/Oufetina
Papiria
Poblilia
Pollia
Pomptina/Pontina
Quirina
Romilia
Sabatia/Sabatina
Scaptia
Sergia
Stellatina
Teretina
Tromentina
Velina
Voltinia/Votinia
Voturi
(Succusana/Pupinia)

Appendix B

Sling-shots from Asculum
(ii) (a) Feri (b) Pomp
(iii) (a) Fer (b) sal. (c) Pom. (d) fer
(iv) Feri Picam
(v) Asclanis[d]on
(vi) Fugitivi peristis
(vii) Em tibe malum malo
(viii) (a) [T]aurum vor[e]s malo. (b) Ta[m]en evomes omnem.
(ix) agite Arabiam[10]

(ii) Strike Pompeius!
(iii) Bring safety for Pompeius!
(iv) Strike a Magpie/Woodpecker (either a play on Picentes (pica) or an allusion to Picenum (picus)
(v) A little something for the Asculans
(vi) Runaways, you’ll die!
(vii) Here’s grief for you, damn you!
(viii) (a) Swallow the bull and go to hell! (b) and yet you’ll bring it all back up.[11]
(ix) Rock the Casbah!

---

[1] This is almost certainly the Gnaeus Pompeius who at this time would be only 17 years old.

[2] Translation: Carless

[3] The total number would be more than 60 but unfortunately these additional names have been lost.

[4] Stevenson, 96

[5] Stevenson, 100

[6] Stevenson, 100

[7] Appendix B

[8] Pobjoy, passim

[9] Pobjoy, 193

[10] Spot the one I made up

[11] Warmington, 212-3