Evidence of a military diploma

In this post I present the discovery of a military diploma issued under Emperor Titus for the Province of Noricum (present-day central Austria, northern Slovenia, and part of the Italian Alpine arc). This document grants Roman citizenship to those who completed 16 years of military service in the Praetorian cohorts, the urban cohorts, or the corps of the vigiles. Such citizenship is also extended to one child born to the soldier during his period of military service. The status of lawful marriage is likewise conferred upon the women to whom the soldiers were married at the time citizenship was granted.

Below I provide images of the document and a literal translation.

The Emperor Caesar Vespasian Augustus,
supreme pontiff, vested with tribunician power for the ninth time,
acclaimed imperator for the fifteenth time, consul for the seventh time,
father of the fatherland,

and the Emperor Caesar Titus Vespasian Augustus,
son of the deified Vespasian,
pontiff, vested with tribunician power for the seventh time,
acclaimed imperator for the fifteenth time, consul for the seventh time,

grant Roman citizenship
to those who have performed military service
in the Praetorian cohorts,
in the urban cohorts,
and in the cohorts of the vigiles,
who have served for sixteen years,
or to those who were discharged before the completion of service
for legitimate reasons,

and also to their children,
whether born during service or after discharge,
provided that each soldier has no more than one child.

They also grant the right of lawful marriage
with the women whom they had when citizenship was conferred upon them,
or, if they had none,
with the woman whom they later married,
one only.

Authentication formula

This privilege is granted
to [name of the beneficiary],
son of [name of the father],
originating from [place of origin],
who served in the [military unit],
under the command of [name of the commander].

The diploma was issued
at Rome,
on the Ides of September,
under the consulship of
[names of the consuls in office].

The text conforms to that engraved
on the bronze tablet
placed on the Capitol,
in the Temple of Public Faith.

List of the names of the beneficiaries

M. Licini

Ti. Claudi

P. Ovati

C. Clodi

C. Hostili

A. Valeri

M. Aemili

Right column:

A. Aemili

Cerialis

Honorati

Restituti

Stellani

Veri

Fabi

Anniani