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Rimski car
Hadrijan (117 - 138)
FIRST TIME
AS A CENTURION
Lucius Artorius Castus began his
military career as a regular soldier in the
legion III Gallica, which was stationed in Judea
during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. It was a part
of the powerful Roman army that broke the Second Revolt
of Judea in 135. As part of this legion, Artorius became a
centurion in his thirties, and one of his superiors was Statius
Priscus, under whose command Artorius will once again find
himself around 30 years later.
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SECOND REVOLT OF JUDEA
One of the causes for the Second Revolt of Judea under the leadership of Simon
bar Kokhba (132-135) was the intention of the Romans to build a temple of the
Capitoline Triad on a Jewish temple. After the Jews destroyed one Roman legion,
Hadrian sent Sextus Julius Severus, one of his best commanders, to Judea.
He had seven legions and auxiliary units with the strength of five legions at his
disposal. Severus was a Dalmatian originating from the colony of Aequum
(Čitluk near Sinj), around 30 kilometres north of Salona. The revolt was broken,
Hadrian continued to oppress the Jews and their religion, and Jerusalem
was renamed Aelia Capitolina.
Castle in Jerusalem, 1st century
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SECOND TIME
AS A CENTURION
Artorius realised his second centurionate
in the VI Ferrata legion stationed in the
town of Bostra (Buşrá ash Sham, Syria) in the
neighbouring Nabatea, most probably between
139 and 142, i.e. in the first years of the reign of
Emperor Antoninus Pius.
Rimski car
Hadrijan (117 - 138)
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ROMAN LEGION
During Hadrian’s reign, there were 30 legions in the Empire.
They represented the backbone of the Roman military forces
and each had 5 to 6 thousand infantry soldiers with a small
number of horsemen. One legion comprised 10 cohorts, each
of which was divided into six centuriae with the strength
of 80 soldiers. Centuriae were commanded by centurions,
with the help of petty officers.After 25 years of flawless
service, a legionnaire acquired the right to an honourable
discharge and veteran status.
A centurion and his legionnaires
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AQUINCUM
Aquincum je nastao pored termalnih izvora na mjestu gdje se lako moglo prijeći Dunav. Od vremena cara Tiberija (14-37) tu je bio logor rimske konjaničke postrojbe koji je u doba cara Domicijana (81-96) postao legijski logor. Od 106. godine Aquincum je glavni grad provincije Donje Panonije. Nakon teških ratova protiv Markomana sredinom 2. stoljeća grad je nastavio svoj rast i dobio amfiteatar, akvadukt i brojne druge javne građevine.
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THIRD TIME AS CENTURION
Artorius served his third centurionate in the
II Adiutrix legion, which entailed his transfer
to the camp of Aquincum (Budapest, Hungary)
in Lower Pannonia. He stayed there
between 143 and 146.
Legion camp in Aquincum, end of the 2nd century
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WAR AGAINST GERMANS
After the end of the Armenian-Parthian war in 166, the units returned to the West, but a new danger loomed on the horizon. The Quadi and the Marcomanni broke through the border on the Danube, robbed Aquileia in 169 and broke through to north Italy. More than half of the military manpower was involved in military operations against the Germans.
Legionnaires crossing over the Danube.
Relief on the pillar of Marcus Aurelius,
end of the 2nd century
Germanic warrior,
2nd century
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PRIMUS PILUS
He served his fourth centurionate up to 150 as part of the V
Macedonica legion, which was situated in Troesmis (Turcoaia,
Romania) in Lower Moesia. This is where Artorius became the
primus pilus – the oldest centurion in the legion and commander
of the First Centuria in the First Cohort. There was only one
primus pilus in a legion and he usually carried out this
service for a year, after which he met the requirements
for entry into the equestrian order.
Sarmatian horseman,
2nd century
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ROMAN WAR FLEETS
The emperor Augustus established
a permanent war fleet with two main
centres - in Ravenna (classis
Ravennate) on the north-west coast
of the Adriatic Sea and in Misenum
(classis Misenensis) next to Naples.
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PRAEPOSITUS OF THE WAR FLEET
Artorius’ next service was a sort of command
in the imperial war fleet in Misenum (praepositus
classis Misenatium). The exact nature of his position
remains unclear, but it can be assumed that he
had command over several ships or carried
out some kind of special task.
It is assumed that they counted
between 15 and 20 thousand members
and 75 to 100 vessels, most of which
were triremes. It seems that the fleet
situated in Misenum controlled the western
Mediterranean, along with the African
and Egyptian coast and parts
of the Atlantic.
Roman warship, 2nd century
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PRAEFECTUS OF THE CAMP
The most dynamic period of Artorius’
professional life began with the continuation
of his equestrian career in the VI Victrix legion
in Eburacum (York) in Britain. He carried out
the duty of a camp praefectus there, which means
that he conducted the administration of the legion
during military operations, including supply and
logistics.When the commander was not present,
Artorius was the first man of the unit.
The Roman Emperor
Antoninus Pius (138-161)
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COMMANDER IN THE
WAR AGAINST ARMENIAN
After the Armenian King Vologesus IV murdered the Roman
governor of Cappadocia and destroyed one legion, war broke
out on the East very quickly. Statius Priscus was transferred
there immediately in 162 and conquered the Armenian
capital of Artaxata one year later. There are indications
that Lucius Artorius Castus was most likely his subordinate
at the time as a commander (dux) of a part of the Roman military
forces (legionarum et auxiliorum Britannicorum adversus Armenios).
Many auxiliary units with Brittonum in their names were sent to this war, as well as some legion vexillations and the legions II Adiutrix and V Macedonica, in which Artorius had previously served.
Partski konjanik, 3. st.
Money of the Parthian
King Vologesus
IV (147-191)
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KNIGHTS
In the Roman Empire, anybody with an
estate assessed to 400 thousand Sestertius could
become a member of the equestrian order
(ordo equester). The knights were dressed in
white tunics with a narrow purple ribbon
and were allowed to wear a golden
ring on their hand.
Their importance in the Empire was increased
with the reign of Emperor Commodus
(180-192) and Septimius Severus (193-211),
who entrusted them with responsible
commanding and governing functions.
Artorius as roman knight
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GOVERNOR OF THE
PROVINCE OF LIBURNIA
In the new circumstances of the war against
the Germans, Artorius became the governor of
one province, most probably Liburnia, which was
separated from Dalmatia in 168. The province was
of great military importance and represented a part
of the defence system that was supposed to protect Italy
from new breakthroughs of the barbarians. As part of the
intense fortification of this part of the Empire, city walls were
also built in Salona. Artorius’s exceptional authority (ius gladii),
characteristic of the highest officials of the Senate, gave him the
right to trial and punishment and, most probably, command over the
army of at least three legions. The province of Liburnia was obviously
not long lasting. Around 174, after around 50 years of service,
Artorius withdrew to the solitude of his estate in Podstrana at the age of 70.
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PITUNTIUM - PODSTRANA
The area around the church of St. Martin was most probably the centre of the Roman
Pituntium, which is implied by the high density of archaeological findings, especially of
tombstone inscriptions from the 2nd and 3rd centuries. This was the location of a Roman
road, next to which there was a developed cemetery where the sarcophagus and a luxurious
tomb of the Roman commander and high official Lucius Artorius Castus from end of the 2nd
or beginning of the 3rd century were found. A monumental inscription listing his services
is kept in the church. The large stone blocks in the fence wall east from the church
are most probably architectural remains of the grave parcel in Artorius’ ownership.
The inscription of Lucius Artorius Castus with all the services he
carried out during his life, the end of the 2nd century.
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Here is found the inscription of Ausonius, a governor of Dalmatia from the 5th
century, which might indicate that this was the location of the governor’s residence, while
the existence of an old Christian cemetery basilica is also very probable. It is assumed that
this is where the Croatian Duke Mislav and the Venetian Doge Peter Tradonik concluded
a peace agreement. The church of St. Martin is mentioned in some medieval written source
and survived the Turkish conquers, but was demolished due to deterioration. In 1882, the
current single-nave church with a distaff-shaped bell tower, a simple rose window on the
façade and a statue of St. Martin in the presbytery was built.
Reconstruction of Artorius’s sarcophagus,
the end of the 2nd century.
Church of St. Martin
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There are strong similarities between the military career of Lucius Artorius Castus and the semi-mythical King Arthur from the 6th century. It can be sumed that Artorius was the oldest historically confirmed person
who influenced the subsequent formation of medieval legends in Britain.
The backbone of the story that puts him in the centre of the legend dates his service of the praefectus of the VI Victrix legion to the year 181. He is mentioned as a commander of the camp Bremetenacum (Ribchester), in which Sarmatian horsemen were situated in 175. Their transfer according to the order of Emperor Marcus Aurelius was perhaps organised by Artorius himself several years earlier, while he served as the praepositus of the Misenum war fleet. The sojourn of the Sarmatian horsemen was archaeologically confirmed in Bremetenacum, and they were also active next to Hadrian’s Wall, which is important for drawing parallels between Artorius and Arthur because the warfare style of the Sarmatians was very similar to that of the horsemen from later Arthurian legends. Other connections with the Sarmatians and other peoples from the south of Russia have been found, and there is also a story about a Sarmatian hero who had a magic ship and sword. One poem mentions a warrior named Arthur who commanded an army in the defence of the Great Wall, i.e. Hadrian’s Wall, where Artorius might have led Sarmatians in the battle against the conquerors from the north. Here are also Arthur’s 12 battles, his last battle at Camlann, Avalon as the place of his grave....
The legend says that King Lucius of Britain died next to the town of Chur in eastern Switzerland, where St. Luzius is still honoured. Artorius’ battles in Britain could have left a strong mark during this early period, and thus turned the life of this great British or Roman commander into a myth and legend.
Reconstruction of Artorius’s sarcophagus,
the end of the 2nd century.
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