Traianus Mucianus

Traianus Mucianus was a Roman soldier of Thracian origins of the second half of the Third Century AD who rose from the lowest ranks of the army to senior commands. He was almost certainly a remarkable soldier. However, the successive promotions he secured in the latter part of his career are thought to owe much also to the favour shown him by men highly placed in the Imperial entourage whose patronage secured him advantageous postings in the Imperial ''Comitatenses, comitatus'', the mobile field force under the direct command of the Emperor, that was undergoing massive expansion at this time.

It seems likely that Mucianus's recorded career was passed entirely in military service. However, information relating to his later life is so fragmentary that it is not possible to be certain of this. The evidence can be construed as to read that, after achieving equestrian status (see Roman equestrian order), he was from time to time given gubernatorial postings in his home-province of ''Thracia'' and elsewhere.

Ancient sources

The Mucianus Inscription

There are no surviving references to Mucianus in contemporary literary sources in either the Latin or the Greek traditions. The only evidence for the details of his career – or, indeed, for his very existence – consists of a single epigraphic inscription in Greek on a monument set up in his honour discovered on the site of ''Augusta Traiana''. This document is dated to the years 268-85 AD, perhaps towards the end of that period

The inscription is badly damaged while the surviving text has many ''lacunae'' whose possible reconstruction is sometimes disputed by commentators. Furthermore, some sections of the text, particularly in the latter part, are so badly damaged as to make their reconstruction largely speculative

Nevertheless, accepting these drawbacks, the Mucianus Inscription is considered by some to give an unusually complete record of the career of a senior officer at a time when the Roman Army was undergoing profound organisational changes. His elevation to the centurionate, and his rise through that body to equestrian status and, hence, the higher levels of command, is thought to be particularly informative of the experiences of officers fortunate enough to have made their careers in the expanded Imperial field army. However, other scholars query how much light the evidence of the inscription actually sheds on the structure of officers' careers in general terms as opposed to the specific instance of Mucianus.

The Aurelianic Inscriptions

The interpretation of the Mucianus Inscription is assisted by evidence of two other inscribed monuments honouring two high-ranking officers of Thracian origin thought to be brothers, (Marcus) Aurelius Heraclianus and (Marcus) Aurelius Apollinarius. Both of these memorials, like that to Mucianus himself, were discovered at the site of ''Augusta Traiana''.

It is generally accepted that Traianus Mucianus was the dedicator of both the Aurelianic monuments and that he set them up to express his gratitude to the brothers for the influence they had exercised - presumably with the Emperor (Gallienus) - to the benefit of his career. The particular benefit referred to is discussed below - see item 5.

Origins

Mucianus's date of birth is not known. Like his presumed patrons, the Brothers Aurelii (see above) he was probably born in ''Augusta Traiana''. Nothing is known of his family or their social circumstances.

Career

The text of the Mucianus Inscription - so far as it survives – lists the appointments he held and, often, the rank at which he held them. The Greek gives the equivalents in that language of the Latin terms that would have been used by the Roman Army. These last are listed below insofar as they can be read or deduced from the inscription.

... In the ranks ...

:1. ''MILES, COH. I CONCORD...'' - i.e. served as an infantryman in a cohort of Auxiliaries (Roman military), auxiliary infantry, ''Cohors I Concord...'';

:2. ''LEGIONARIUS, LEGIO II PARTHICA'' - served as a legionary (infantryman) in ''Legio II Parthica'':

:3. ''EQUES, COH. VII PRAETORIAE'' - served as a cavalryman in ''Cohors VII'', Praetorian Guard;

:4. ''EVOCATUS'' - had served out his time in ''Coh. VII'' of the Praetorians and had made a sufficiently favourable impression to be then invited to re-enlist''.

... in the centurionate ...

:5. ''CENTURIO, LEGIO XIII GEMINA, PROTECTOR'' - promotion to the rank of Centurion in ''Legio XIII Gemina'', with the additional title of ''Protector (Augusti Nostri)'' (i.e. designating him a member of Gallienus's newly created Imperial Bodyguard)

:6.'' CENTURIO PROTECTOR VIGILUM; CENTURIO PROTECTOR URBANICIANUS, CENTURIO PROTECTOR COH. V PRAETORII'' - indicates three successive postings as a ''Centurio Protector'', in: (i) the ''Vigiles''; (ii) the ''Urbaniciani'' (i.e. the ''Cohortes Urbanae''); and (iii) ''Coh. V'', Praetorian Guard;

:7.'' PRINCEPS PROTECT(ORUM)'' - appointment as the Principal Officer of the ''Centuriones Protectores'';

... Equestrian appointments ...

''From this point on the listing of Mucianus's postings is based on reconstructions of the damaged inscription text which are often disputed'';

:8. ''PRIMIPILARIUS, PROTECTOR/E PROTECTORE(?)'' - becomes a ''Primipilarius''. During this time Mucianus was either still a member of the ''protectores'' or ''e protectore'' (i.e. 'formerly a ''Protector)

:9. ''PRAEFECTUS (CASTRORUM?), LEGIO IIII FLAVIA'' - appointment as ''Praefectus Castrorum''(?) in ''Legio IIII Flavia Felix'';

:10.'' DUX/PRAEFECTUS CASTRORUM(?), LEGIO IIII FLAVIA ET LEGIO VII CLAUDIA'' - he was appointed either Commander (''Dux'') or Camp Prefect of a composite force comprising ''Legio IIII Flavia Felix'' and ''Legio VII Claudia'' or detachments of these legions;

:11.'' TRIBUNUS(?) LIBURNARIORUM'' - appointment as a Commander, Fleet Marines, with a rank equivalent to that of a cohort tribune in the ''Vigiles'', the ''Urbaniciani'' or the Praetorians;

:12. Commands involving ''PEDITES ET EQUITES MAUROS ET OSROENOS'' and ''EXPLORATORES'' - the text is massively corrupted, but may have indicated that Mucianus served with a mixed infantry/cavalry formation attached to the Imperial entourage with scouting responsibilities The term ''Exploratores'' usually denoted 'spies' or 'scouts';

:13. ''DUCENARIUS, PRAEFECTUS'' … - Mucianus was in ''Mesopotamia'' for this posting almost certainly after the reimposition of Roman authority in that province following Aurelian's suppression of Zenobia of ''Palmyra''. The text describing his rank/function is irredeemably corrupt, but one authority suggests that the use of the terms ''Ducenarius'' and ''Praefectus'' may indicate that he was the Prefect of ''Mesopotamia'' with the rank of ''Ducenarius'' However, other commentators either evade the issue. or imply that Mucianus was exercising a purely military function – perhaps commanding an (unidentified) legion as a ''Praefectus Legionis agens vices legati''

:14. ''PRAEFECTUS (AGENS VICE LEGATI)(?), LEGIO XIII GEMINA'' - Equestrian commander of ''Leg. XIII Gemina''. ''Mesopotamia'' has been suggested as the location. A date as late as 280 AD has been suggested;

:15. ''DUX(?), EQUITES MAURI ET OSROENI'' - posting as a Commander (''Dux'') of a composite force of Moorish and Osroene Cavalry;

:16. ''PRAEFECTUS (AGENS VICE LEGATI?), LEGIO II TRAIANA'' - Equestrian commander of ''Legio II Traiana Fortis''. It is conjectured that Mucianus exercised this command in Egypt;

:17.'' DUX(?), LEGIO IIII FLAVIA ET LEGIO II ...'' - posting as the commander of a composite force comprising ''Legio IiII Flavia'' and one of the legions enumerated ''II'' or substantial detachments of these formationsWhere Mucianus exercised this command is unknown. However, it is possible that the legion was engaged in one of the wars with Persia undertaken at this time - again see ''Legio IIII Flavia Felix''. Alternatively, this command could have been exercised in ''Thracia'' - see below;

:18. Posting in ''Thracia'', possibly as governor

Finale

The surviving inscription ends at this point and there is no further information relating to Mucianus's career. However, it is assumed that he was in ''Thracia'' when his memorial was erected. It is possible that he was then governor of the province, but a military command as a ''Dux'' is also possible. The inscription can be read either way, but the weight of modern commentary favours ''Dux''

It was at one time thought that Mucianus might be identified with the Aurelius Mucianus, who was ''Praeses'' (i.e. governor of equestrian rank) of the province of ''Raetia'' (coincides roughly with Switzerland) under Diocletian. Recent commentators have either specifically rejected this notion or ignored it.

Notes

Secondary sources cited

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mucianus
Ancient Roman generals
3rd-century Romans
Year of birth unknown
Year of death unknown
Equestrian commanders of vexillationes