Traianus Mucianus was a Roman soldier of Thracian origins of the second half of the Third Century AD who rose from the lowest ranks of the army to senior commands. He was almost certainly a remarkable soldier. However, the successive promotions he secured in the latter part of his career are thought to owe much also to the favour shown him by men highly placed in the Imperial entourage whose patronage secured him advantageous postings in the Imperial comitatus, the mobile field force under the direct command of the Emperor, that was undergoing massive expansion at this time. It seems likely that Mucianus's recorded career was passed entirely in military service. However, information relating to his later life is so fragmentary that it is not possible to be certain of this. The evidence can be construed as to read that, after achieving equestrian status, he was from time to time given gubernatorial postings in his home-province of Thracia and elsewhere.
Ancient sources
The Mucianus Inscription
There are no surviving references to Mucianus in contemporary literary sources in either the Latin or the Greek traditions. The only evidence for the details of his career – or, indeed, for his very existence – consists of a single epigraphic inscription in Greek on a monument set up in his honour discovered on the site of Augusta Traiana. This document is dated to the years 268-85 AD, perhaps towards the end of that period The inscription is badly damaged while the surviving text has many lacunae whose possible reconstruction is sometimes disputed by commentators. Furthermore, some sections of the text, particularly in the latter part, are so badly damaged as to make their reconstruction largely speculative Nevertheless, accepting these drawbacks, the Mucianus Inscription is considered by some to give an unusually complete record of the career of a senior officer at a time when the Roman Army was undergoing profound organisational changes. His elevation to the centurionate, and his rise through that body to equestrian status and, hence, the higher levels of command, is thought to be particularly informative of the experiences of officers fortunate enough to have made their careers in the expanded Imperial field army. However, other scholars query how much light the evidence of the inscription actually sheds on the structure of officers' careers in general terms as opposed to the specific instance of Mucianus.
The Aurelianic Inscriptions
The interpretation of the Mucianus Inscription is assisted by evidence of two other inscribed monuments honouring two high-ranking officers of Thracian origin thought to be brothers, Aurelius Heraclianus and Aurelius Apollinarius. Both of these memorials, like that to Mucianus himself, were discovered at the site of Augusta Traiana. It is generally accepted that Traianus Mucianus was the dedicator of both the Aurelianic monuments and that he set them up to express his gratitude to the brothers for the influence they had exercised - presumably with the Emperor - to the benefit of his career. The particular benefit referred to is discussed below - see item 5.
Origins
Mucianus’s date of birth is not known. Like his presumed patrons, the Brothers Aurelii he was probably born in Augusta Traiana. Nothing is known of his family or their social circumstances.
Career
The text of the Mucianus Inscription - so far as it survives – lists the appointments he held and, often, the rank at which he held them. The Greek gives the equivalents in that language of the Latin terms that would have been used by the Roman Army. These last are listed below insofar as they can be read or deduced from the inscription.
... In the ranks ...
... in the centurionate ...
... Equestrian appointments ...
From this point on the listing of Mucianus's postings is based on reconstructions of the damaged inscription text which are often disputed;
Finale
The surviving inscription ends at this point and there is no further information relating to Mucianus’s career. However, it is assumed that he was in Thracia when his memorial was erected. It is possible that he was then governor of the province, but a military command as a Dux is also possible. The inscription can be read either way, but the weight of modern commentary favours Dux It was at one time thought that Mucianus might be identified with the Aurelius Mucianus, who was Praeses of the province of Raetia under Diocletian. Recent commentators have either specifically rejected this notion or ignored it.
