Biographie d'un centurion - article ; n°1 ; vol.27, pg 53-68

Antiquités africaines - Année 1991 - Volume 27 - Numéro 1 - Pages 53-68
The inscription on the mausoleum of the Petronii (which Ch. Saumagne formerly revised) acquaints us with the centurion [M. Petronius] Fortunatus who served for a very long time with thirteen legions. He was probably serving either with the IIIrd Gallica or with the expeditionary forces sent to the East by the IIIrd Augusta in 195 A.D. when he was given the dona militaria. This point of reference, if accepted, induces to assume that he was born about 154-155 A.D. in Africa, where his tria nomina have nothing unusual. He was called up in Moesia about 172, for the bellum sarmaticum. In spite of his long time in the Service and many distinctions, he never succeeded in becoming a primipilus. He retired in Cillium which is probably the hometown of his wife Claudia Marcia Capitolina. Their only son, who bore his father's names, also served as a centurion, but he died young. The mausoleum that the veteran built reminds the one of the Flavii by its architecture, as well as by the poem engraved on it, of which only a few lines are still extant.
The inscription on the mausoleum of the Petronii (which Ch. Saumagne formerly revised) acquaints us with the centurion [M. Petronius] Fortunatus who served for a very long time with thirteen legions. He was probably serving either with the IIIrd Gallica or with the expeditionary forces sent to the East by the IIIrd Augusta in 195 A.D. when he was given the dona militaria. This point of reference, if accepted, induces to assume that he was born about 154-155 A.D. in Africa, where his tria nomina have nothing unusual. He was called up in Moesia about 172, for the bellum sarmaticum. In spite of his long time in the Service and many distinctions, he never succeeded in becoming a primipilus. He retired in Cillium which is probably the hometown of his wife Claudia Marcia Capitolina. Their only son, who bore his father's names, also served as a centurion, but he died young. The mausoleum that the veteran built reminds the one of the Flavii by its architecture, as well as by the poem engraved on it, of which only a few lines are still extant.
16 pages
Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.