I've recently run across an inscription whose reading lends support to the possibility that the ARM[...]S lacuna of the L. Artorius Castus memorial stone can be reconstructed ARM(ATAS) GENTES.
The inscription in question concerns one L. Valerius Valerianus. A fair amount of literature has been devoted to the career of this man. See
Transcription:
L(ucio) Valerio Valeriano p[roc(uratori) provin(ciae)] / Syr(iae) Palaest(inae) provin(ciae) [---] / praeposito summ(a)e [feliciss(imae) exped(itionis)] / Mesopotamenae adv[ersus Arabes] / praepos(ito) vexil(lationis) feliciss(imae) [expedit(ionis)] / urbic(ae) itemq(ue) Asianae [adversus] / hostes publicos pr[aep(osito) eq(uitum) gentium] / peregrinarum adver[sus ---] / proc(uratori) Cypri praef(ecto) a[lae I Hispan(orum)] / Campagonum in Dac[ia trib(uno) c(o)hort(is) I] / miliariae Hemese[norum c(ivium) R(omanorum) in] / Pannonia praef(ecto) c(o)ho[rt(is) --- in] / Pannonia / Mevius Romanus |(centurio) [leg(ionis) VI ferr(atae)] / f(idelis) c(onstantis) Antoninianae [strator] / eius viro i[ncompara]/bili // Imp(eratori) [Cae]s(ari) C(aio) Valerio / D[io]cletiano / [P(io) F(elici)] Invic(to) Aug(usto) / [---] Cleme(n)s v(ir) p(erfectissimus) / [p]roc(urator) d(evotus) n(umini) m(aiestati)q(ue) e(ius)
Majuscle:
L VALERIO VALERIANO P[ ]
SYR PALAEST PROVIN [ ]
PRAEPOSITO SVMME [ ]
MESOPOTAMENAE ADV[ ]
PRAEPOS VEXIL FELICISS [ ]
VRBIC ITEMQ ASIANAE [ ]
HOSTES PVBLICOS PR[ ]
PEREGRINARVM ADVER[ ]
PROC CYPRI PRAEF A[ ]
CAMPAGONVM IN DAC[ ]
MILIARIAE HEMESE[ ]
PANNONIA PRAEF CHO[ ]
PANNONIA
MEVIVS ROMANVS | [ ]
F C ANTONINIANAE [ ]
EIVS VIRO I[ ]
BILI
IMP [ ]S C VALERIO
D[ ]CLETIANO
[ ] INVIC AVG
[ ] CLEMES V P
[ ]ROC D N MQ E
Chronological Data:
212 AD – 220 AD
The most recent and best treatment is by the noted Roman military scholar Michael A. Speidel. He concluded as follows concerning an unusual passage in this inscription:
Other difficulties of Valerianus' inscription also vanish with our new reading.
Above all, the events appear now to be recorded in the correct chronological
order. Since Valerianus' function in the Mesopotamian campaign is already
described, he would have been praepositus equitum gentium peregrinarum in
another war, perhaps not too long before A.D. 193.
[Valerius Valerianus in Charge of Septimius Severus' Mesopotamian Campaign
M. P. Speidel
Classical Philology, Vol. 80, No. 4 (Oct., 1985), pp. 321-326]
It's this praepositus equitum gentium peregrinarum that we need to take a look at more closely. The phrase concludes with adver[sus ---], giving us "commander of cavalry against foreign nations."
"Peregrinorum" is the genitive plural form of the Latin adjective "peregrinus," meaning "foreign," "strange," or "alien". It is used to describe something "of the foreigners" or "of the strangers". We may liken this to the adjective + noun formation ARMATAS GENTES, 'armed nations/peoples/tribes.'
The phrase gentium peregrinarum is a vague designation. Not as vague, it is true, as the ARMATOS proposed by Dr. Linda A. Malcor for the ARM[...]S lacuna. After all, we do know he is fighting against foreign nations. Not just nations. I suppose if we were to amend ARMATOS by calling them foreign armed men/soldiers we might be able to get away with that. At least then we know that they aren't our soldiers.
But I do think that if we can have a commander of cavalry against foreign nations, then we can allow for a dux (also commander) of three British legions (or large legionary vexillations, or the entire Sixth Legion plus generous detachments from the other two) against armed tribes.
And, indeed, the context of the L. Valerius Valerianus praepositus is a great deal more ambiguous than that of the dux of a prefect of the Sixth in northern England who is utilizing purely British legionaries.
