3-037-337 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Military Diploma of Dassius, A.D. 88. Additional Info: A Roman military diploma was a certificate of discharge from the army as well as a record of Roman citizenship. This diploma was issued in AD 88 to Dassius, a soldier from the Roman province of Pannonia, who served in Syria as a member of an auxiliary cavalry regiment (ala). Roman auxiliary regiments (auxilia) were non-citizen troops. Following twenty-five years of service, however, retiring auxiliary soldiers and their families were awarded Roman citizenship, conferring significant rights and privileges.