Potentially Interesting Roman History

Episode XII

"Dedicated in gratitude to our patron, Lucius Funisulanus Vettonianus, son of Lucius, of the Aniensian tribe; military tribune of the Legion VI Victrix; quaestor of the province of Sicily; tribune of the plebs; praetor; legate of the Legion IV Scythica; prefect of the public treasury; commissioner of the Aemilian Way; consul; member of the board of seven for conducting religious banquets; legate with rank of praetor in the province of Dalmatia; likewise in the province of Pannonia, likewise in Moesia Superior....."

Already a glittering political and military career, you might say. But how did he stack up as an actual soldier? Did he simply absorb posts and political power as he ruthlessly rose through the ranks or did he actually do any fighting? How good was the commander in an actual fight? Well, let's continue the tribute;

"....decorated by the Emperor Domitian Augustus Germanicus in the Dacian War with the four crowns (the mural, the rampart storming, the naval and the golden), four parade spears and four detachment banners."

(CIL Vol III, 4013)

The four crowns are described in 'Attic Nights' by Aulus Gellius.

The mural crown is awarded to the first man to mount an enemy's walls and enter a hostile town and is ornamented with battlements.

The rampart storming crown is awarded to the first soldier to fight his way into an enemy's camp and is fringed with a palisade.

The naval crown is awarded to the first man to storm an enemy's ship during battle and are decorated with the prow of ships.

The golden is an amended version of each where the person who wins all three is, literally, given golden versions of the above.

Ceremonial parade spears, which were untipped and 'detachment banners' (or the company colors) are awarded with each.

This man, alongside his political career has won the equivalent of four Victoria Crosses. For my American friends that is like winning four Medals of Honor.

Vettonianus ended his career as the proconsul of Africa in 91–92AD.

Interestingly that big chunk of missing text is where the name of Domitian was struck out after he was declared 'of damned memory' by the Senate and they attempted to remove him from the historical record alongside, for example, Nero and Commodus.