Spurius Ligustinus

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Spurius Ligustinus was a Roman of Sabine descent, from the Crustumeria tribe , who probably lived around the year 220 BC. Was born as the son of a small farmer. He was married to his cousin, had six sons and two daughters, and was around 50 years old at the time it was mentioned. The veteran had served in the military for 22 years.

Historical background

After the victory over Carthage in the second Punic War, it was around 200 BC. A power vacuum arose in the western Mediterranean region, which consequently led to the expansion of the Romans on the Iberian Peninsula . The eastern Mediterranean also moved into Rome's sphere of interest . As a result, the Roman Republic , which was rising to become a world power , was involved in armed conflicts with constant new campaigns for a long time. These military interventions caused a constant need for combatants capable of military service , which had to be provided by the Roman citizens and by the allies of Italy. In addition to compulsory military service for Roman citizens , which applied from the age of 17 to 46 - Rome's allies who had to provide auxiliary troops probably recruited similarly - there was no professional army at that time, but a militia army, which was mainly composed of conscripts and Volunteers composed. The legions were recruited if necessary and disbanded after the campaign. The majority of the soldiers returned to their farms in order to earn their actual living on them.

The continuous increase and the ever longer lasting campaigns made it more and more difficult for the citizen in the field to make a living with the estate at home. However, recent research has deviated from the thesis of a decline in smallholder farming.

An alternative, more lucrative employment was the voluntary participation in the military campaigns, since the soldier was involved in the booty in a successfully completed campaign. The amount of the share was based on the rank that the soldier had held. However, the function held in a previous, completed war was not subject to grandfathering. The coveted management and functional positions in a legion that were to be evacuated were available for the common citizen.

Career of Spurius Ligustinus

Because of the upcoming war in 171 BC BC against the Macedonian king Perseus a levy of two legions was made. In addition to the simple crew ranks, the more attractive subordinate and officer positions were vacant. Due to the expected booty, the number of applicants was higher than the available positions, so that resentment threatened to arise among the applicants.

In the popular assembly convened in front of the Senate in the Roman Forum , Spurius Ligustinus was given the floor at his request by the consul P. Licinius Crassus . Here the veteran vividly described, in addition to his social circumstances, his military career.

Dug up at the age of 20, he took 201 BC. In the course of his service as a simple legionnaire, he took part in the campaign in Macedonia . After only two years he was promoted to the rank of centurion . Immediately after the end of the war he served in 195 BC. Then voluntarily under the consulate of Marcus Porcius Cato on the theater of war in Spain, where he rose through bravery in the hierarchy of the centurions. He received his appointment as primus pilus under the consulate of Manius Acilius Glabrio in the Roman-Syrian War, where he fought in the so-called Second Battle of Thermopylae . This was followed by several months of use in Italy, around 182 BC. Two further campaigns in Spain followed. In the course of his service, Spurius Ligustinus was honored several times with military awards ( dona militaria ). With the praetor Quintus Fulvius Flaccus , he took part in a triumphal procession, among other distinguished ones , only to return to military service in Spain at the request of the praetor Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus .

At the end of his speech, the veteran emphasized that the renewed volunteer registration did not serve the personal thirst for fame and enrichment, but the unselfish fulfillment of duties towards the community. Therefore, he is ready to accept any rank assigned to him.

After this speech, Spurius Ligustinus was awarded the position of first centurion. The other competitors willingly accepted their demotion to the lower ranks.

Awards

Campaigns

reception

The soldier Spurius Ligustinus is only mentioned by the historian Livius . In recent research it is therefore believed possible that he could not have been a historical but a fictional person. It is considered that Livy wanted to personify the social and structural changes that accelerated in the Roman world after the Second Punic War with the figure of Spurius Ligustinus in a parable and in particular idealizing the Roman middle class.

literature

  • Klaus Bringmann : History of the Roman Republic. From the beginning to Augustus. The crisis of the army and agricultural constitution. CH Beck, Munich 2002, reviewed a. extended new edition 2017, ISBN 3-406-49292-4 , pp. 187–202.
  • Philip Matyszak, Joanne Berry: 22. Spurius Ligustinus. In: Who's Who in Ancient Rome. Emperors, citizens, gladiators. von Zabern, Mainz 2009, ISBN 978-3-8053-4078-6 , pp. 72-73.
  • Hans Georg Gundel : Ligustinus. In: The Little Pauly (KlP). Volume 3, Stuttgart 1969, Col. 649.

Remarks

  1. ↑ Michael Crawford : The Roman Republic. dtv, Munich 1983 (dtv history of antiquity), ISBN 3-423-04403-9 , pp. 84–125.
  2. ↑ Christian Mann : Military and warfare in antiquity. In Encyclopedia of Greco-Roman Antiquity. Volume 9. Oldenbourg, Munich 2013, ISBN 978-3-486-59682-3 , pp. 108-109.
  3. ^ Leonhard Burckhardt : Military history of antiquity. Verlag CH Beck, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-406-56247-1 , pp. 94-95 (The victorious legionnaire).
  4. ^ Adrian Goldsworthy : The Wars of the Romans. Brandenburgisches Verlags-Haus, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-89488-136-4 , p. 49.
  5. ↑ Livy 42, 34, 1--35, 2
  6. ↑ Philip Matyszak, Joanne Berry: 22 Spurius Ligustinus. In: Who's Who in Ancient Rome. Emperors, citizens, gladiators. von Zabern, Mainz 2009, ISBN 978-3-8053-4078-6 , p. 72; Leonhard Burckhardt: Military history of antiquity. Verlag CH Beck, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-406-56247-1 , p. 94 (The victorious legionnaire).
personal data
SURNAME Ligustinus, Spurius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman centurion
DATE OF BIRTH 3rd century BC Chr.
PLACE OF BIRTH uncertain: Crustumerium
DATE OF DEATH 2nd century BC Chr.