CHAPTER TWELVE

PANNONIA AND THE

Many scholars have discussed the Danubian wars of .1 Their history has been examined comprehensively from the archaeologi- cal (Böhme), numismatic (Szaivert, Schindler-Horstkotte, Scheidel), and epigraphic points of view (e.g., Domaszewski, Stehlik, Rosen). In addi- tion, the ancient sources have also been the focus of fi erce debates. Here I attempt to reconstruct the history of the wars based on the ancient sources, with special emphasis on Pannonia. I shall apply the results of earlier chapters, where I dealt with the history of the lightning and rain miracles, and the history of the praetentura Italiae et Alpium.

The names of the ‘Marcomannic’ wars

Even in antiquity uncertainty existed over what exactly to call Marcus Aurelius’ wars in the Danubian region. Modern scholarly literature has the same problem; usually they are called the Marcomannic wars, but they have also been referred to as the German, Northern or Danubian wars.2 Here I shall discuss the ancient names of the wars. The vagueness in the ancient authors is best displayed in a section of vita Marci (22.7): bello Germanico sive Marcomannico immo plurimarum gen- tium. The author-compiler of the vita was well aware of the problems of naming the wars; he included all the participants of the coalition against Rome in one list (22.1): gentes omnes ab Illyrici limite usque in Galliam conspiraverant, ut , Varistae, Hermunduri et , Suevi, Sarmate, Lacringes et Burei hi aliique cum Victualis, Sosibes, Sicobotes, Roxolani, Basternae, Halani, Peuini, Costoboci.

1 The most important works: Conrad 1889, Domaszewski 1895, Domaszewski 1896, Marcus-Säule, Schwendemann 1923, Zwikker 1941, Nagy 1962, 42–47, Mócsy 1962, 555–562, Kerler 1970, 56–81, Mócsy 1974, 183–195, Alföldy 1974a, 152–158, Böhme 1975, Klein 1979, Langmann 1981, Schindler-Horstkotte 1985, Birley 1987, 159–210, Régészeti kézikönyv, 37–41, Markomannenkriege. Ursache und Wirkungen. Brno 1994, Kerr 1995. 2 Conrad 1889, 9–10, L. Schmidt, Die Westgermanen I. München 19382, 162–163, Rosenberger 1992, 104–109. 202 chapter twelve

The Marcomanni were the most important next to the Quadi and ; however, many other German tribes also participated in the war, which is where the names of the German or Marcomannic wars come from, even though the author of the vita was also clear about the fact that many non-German people had also participated in the war. In written sources, therefore, just as in the vita Marci, various names were given to the war:

1st war (167–175): bellum Germanicum: vita Marci 12.14, 20.6, Vita Veri 9.7, Vita Commodi 2.5 = Cassius Dio LXXI.5.1. πολέμος τοῦ Μάρκου πρὸς τοὺς Γερμανούς. Bellum Marcomannicum: vita Marci 12.13, 13.1, 17.2, 17.5, Vita Avidii Cassii 3.6, Orosius 7.15.6, Eutrop. VIII.12–13. 2nd war (178–180): Vita Marci 27.9–10. triennio bellum postea cum Marco- mannis, Hermnduris, Sarmatis, Quadis etiam egit . . .

The situation is the same, moreover even more diffi cult and varied, if one also examines the pertinent inscriptions:

1st war (167–175): bellum Germanicum: CIL VI 1449+p. 4700 = ILS 1107, 1549 = ILS 1100, 31856 = 41271 = ILS 1327, VIII 9372, IX 2849, XI 6055 = ILS 2743, XI 7264 = ILS 9194. bellum Germanicum et Sarmaticum: CIL VI 31856 = ILS 1327. expeditio Germanica: CIL III 7505 = ILS 2311, VI 8635 = ILS 1681, AÉp 1893, 88 = ILS 8977, CIL VI 41119, AÉp 1934, 155, 1956, 124, 1957, 121. expeditio prima Germanica: CIL VI 1540 = 41145 = ILS 1112, AÉp 1998, 1087. prima expeditio Germanica felicissima: CIL VI 8541 = ILS 1573. expeditio Germanica et Sarmatica: AÉp 1920, 45. expeditio Naris(tica): CIL III 4310 = 10969 = AÉp 1962, 221 = RIU 509. proelia adversum Germanos et Iazyges: CIL VI 1377 = 41142 = ILS 1098. 2nd war (178–180): expeditio secunda Germanica: AÉp 1956, 124. expeditio Germanica secunda: RIT 130 = CIL II 4114 = ILS 1140. expeditio II felicissima Germanica: CIL V 2155 = ILS 1574. secunda expeditio Germanica felicissima: CIL VI 8541 = ILS 1573. expeditio Germanica Sarmatica: CIL VI 1540 = 41145 = ILS 1112. expeditio Sarmatica: CIL X 408 = ILS 1117. victoria Germanica et Sarmatic(a): CIL VI 1599 = 31828 = 41141 = ILS 1326.