14 - Warfare and the Military

Summary

Aurelius Gaius, son of the same, I served in Legio I Italica of the Moesians, was selected for Legio VIII Augusta in Germany and the [Legio I] Iovia Scythica in the provinces of Scythia and Pannonia. As a recruit I served as an apprentice cavalryman, then as a lanciarius, optio triarius, optio ordinatus, optio princeps, and optio of the imperial comites [drawn from?] Legio I Iovia Scythica. I travelled around the empire, to Asia [?], Caria, [missing region], Lydia, Lycaonia, Cilicia, [missing region], Phoenicia, Syria, Arabia, Palestine, Egypt, Alexandria, India, [missing region], Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, [missing region], Galatia, Bithynia, Thrace, [missing region], Moesia, the Carpians' territory, [missing region], Sarmatia four times, Viminacium, [missing region], the Goths' territory twice, Germany, [missing region], Dardania, Dalmatia, Pannonia, [missing region], Gaul, Spain, Mauretania, and [missing region]. Then advancing and after much toil I came to my native land Pessinus where I was brought up, [and am now] dwelling in Cotyaeum…with [my daughter?] Macedonia. In tribute to Julia [Are]scusa my dearest [wife] I have erected this stele from the fruits of my own labours as a memorial till the Resurrection. Farewell all.

When Aurelius Gaius erected this now damaged memorial to his wife at Cotyaeum in central Asia Minor, he could be excused for thinking that he had been involved in every war fought in the age of Constantine. He certainly participated in foreign wars fought against Germans, Sarmatians, Persians, Moors, and Arabs to defend the imperial frontiers; nor did he even mention the many civil wars in which he may have fought for imperial power.