Londinium Lite

COMMUNITY VOX POP – ROMAN LONDONERS HAVE THEIR SAY:

AD197 Should soldiers be allowed to marry?

Flavius Agricola recreated by a re-enactor
Legionary soldier, Flavius Agricola

Emperor Septimius Severus has declared that is it now legal for soldiers to marry. Londinium Lite has been canvassing opinions amongst the soldiers and their wives based in Londinium to see just how much difference it will make.

Flavius Agricola, soldier of the 6th legion supports the decision…

I don’t think that it will make much difference but at least I can make my union with Albia Faustuna legal, thanks to the decree of our emperor. High time – we have been together for some years and hope to be blessed with children. Now any child will be born a citizen of Rome!

No longer will my ‘wife’ have to put up with inferior accommodation outside the fort. A soldier’s life up on the northern wall is hard with fatigues, drill and skirmishes. Seconded here, I’m now a pen-pusher, not something I ever expected in my military career. Saying that, the governor certainly keeps us busy.

Although I’m based here only for my period of secondment, if Mars allows, I hope to retire and settle here in Londinium.
Albia Faustina recreated by a re-enactor
Soldier's wife, Albia Faustina

His partner, Albia Faustina, hopes for family accommodation...

I’m not sure what difference it’s going to make. Yes, it’s now legal to marry but I come from an old army family and I’m used to following the army around.

I prefer home base but it would be nice to have family accommodation here in Londinium – perhaps they’ll provide it now.
Vivius Marcianus recreated by a re-enactor
Centurion, Vivius Marcianus

Vivius Marcianus, centurion of the 6th legion thinks it will make little difference…

I’m pleased that Januaria Martina can now be my legal wife and be treated with the due regard as a centurion’s wife.

I recently received a letter from an old comrade who is sending one of his men to be a groom to the governor – he says that the lads up north don’t think it will make much difference as their families live just outside the fort anyway.

Some soldiers have wives wherever they’ve been stationed. I doubt the emperor will let each soldier marry them all!
Januaria Martina recreated by a re-enactor
Centurion's wife, Januaria Martina

His partner, Januaria Martina, looks forward to the benefits of marriage…

As the wife of a centurion, I’m looking forward to a legalised union. No more skulking around trying to make arrangements for a family that isn’t meant to exist.

I’m also a Roman citizen, so our marriage will give us full rights. Some soldiers have wives who aren’t citizens so their marriages won’t be legally recognised.

THE FACTS BEHIND THE STORY

  • In AD197 the emperor Septimius Severus brought in a law allowing soldiers to legally marry but it is not certain how much of a concession this was. Until that time, soldiers had unofficial unions with local women, some of whom followed their partners on their tours of duty. As such, these women had no legal standing but inscriptions bear witness to children being born to serving soldiers although legally they were regarded as illegitimate. The families had to make their own arrangements for accommodation.
  • Soldiers often waited until retirement to marry so that their children would be born legitimate with rights to citizenship.
  • Soldiers in London worked as clerks and as military policemen rather than having a fighting role.
  • The evidence for the soldiers and wives mentioned here come from the wording on tombstones and indicates that they date to a time after the change in law.

[Londinium Lite is a fictional newspaper with a factual base]

For further information, see Legionary pay, prospects and pensions in Military life.

    The Museum of London Group is funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Corporation of London. London Wall, LONDON EC2Y 5HN, United Kingdom. Copyright Museum of London. Disclaimer. This site is maintained by the Museum Systems Team.