Hierarchy

The simple hierarchy of the Augustan era gradually developed into a very extensive hierarchy, known from epigraphy. However, despite a veritable plethora of different ranks named after specialty tasks, the actual difference in formal ranks remained limited. Only three different pay grades existed below the centurionate, all named after their recipients as simplex miles, sesquiplicarius and duplicarius. It cannot be denied however that a difference in status and seniority existed between many of these ranks. At the higher levels of command important changes were initiated by several emperors. Claudius first established an order in the equestrian tres militiae. Prior to these changes, appointments to auxiliary commands seem to have been made without any structure. The fleets may have been given to procuratores Augusti, but it cannot be excluded that there were normal praefecti classis as well. Vespasian set the final order within the equestrian career and incorporated the praefectus classis among them as well. Considerable rank difference between the commanders of various fleets was included. Most provincial fleets were under orders of sexagenary prefects, apart from the prefects of the Classis Germanica and the Classis Britannica who earned 100,000 sesterces per annum. The prefects of the Italic fleets rose high above the rest at ducenary (Ravenna) and trecenary (Misenum) rank. Finally attention needs to be paid to a development of the middle second century, as attested by a puzzling fragmentary inscription from Misenum, which reads:

] div[i] Ne[r]vae abnepotib(us) [3 nauarchi et trier]archi classis praetor(iae) Misen(ensis) [3 quod ad alteros ce]nturionatus quibus divus Pius [3 classem suam hono]raverat adiecto tertio ordine [3 optimum princi]pem aequaverint [

Both the reading and the interpretation of this inscription are controversial. For the current purpose it suffices to indicate that although what exactly happened is unclear, the effect is obvious from several later inscriptions: exchange of middle-cadre officers between army and fleet units became a possibility of which several examples are attested.