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Bronze military diploma

103/103

British Museum

British Museum
London, United Kingdom

This official certificate is inscribed on two joining bronze plates. It was issued by the Roman emperor Trajan (AD 98-117) to Reburrus, a Spanish decurion (junior officer) in the 1st Pannonian cavalry regiment. It granted him Roman citizenship and the right of legal marriage with a present or future wife. These privileges were usually granted to the non-citizen auxiliary soldiers when they retired after completing the twenty-five year period of miltary service, but occasionally they were conferred earlier as a reward, for example, for conspicuous bravery in battle. Such diplomas included information on many different military units and are of great importance today to historians of the Roman army.

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  • Title: Bronze military diploma
  • Date Created: 103/103
  • Physical Dimensions: Length: 15.60cm; Width: 12.70cm
  • External Link: British Museum collection online
  • Registration number: 1813,1211.1
  • Place: Found/Acquired Malpas
  • Period/culture: Romano-British
  • Material: copper alloy
  • Copyright: Photo: © Trustees of the British Museum
  • Acquisition: Donated by Kenyon, George
British Museum

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