Letter 11031: It is fitting that those who have completed their military oaths should receive the rewards of victory — for long...
Cassiodorus→Unknown|c. 522 AD|Cassiodorus
barbarian invasion
From: Senator [Cassiodorus], Praetorian Prefect
To: [Announcement]
Date: ~533-537 AD
Context: Retirement of a military unit commander with the honor of appearing before the king.
It is fitting that those who have completed their military oaths should receive the rewards of victory — for long service claims for itself what untested nobility can scarcely find. Therefore, since Urbicus is known to have completed the term of his office as primicerius, let him approach among the domestici and protectores [elite guard units] to pay reverence before the sacred purple — so that, glorified by the venerable royal presence, he may rejoice at being released from military duties.
XXXI.
DE PRIMICERIO SINGULARIORUM QUI EGREDITUR.
[1] Decet palmae praemia consequi, qui sacramentis militaribus videntur esse perfuncti, quia diutinus labor sibi vindicat quod inexperta vix potest invenire nobilitas. et ideo, quoniam Urbicus primiceriatus sui noscitur tempora peregisse, inter domesticos et protectores sacram purpuram adoraturus accedat, ut venerandis clarificatus aspectibus militaribus excubiis se gaudeat liberatum.
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From:Senator [Cassiodorus], Praetorian Prefect
To:[Announcement]
Date:~533-537 AD
Context:Retirement of a military unit commander with the honor of appearing before the king.
It is fitting that those who have completed their military oaths should receive the rewards of victory — for long service claims for itself what untested nobility can scarcely find. Therefore, since Urbicus is known to have completed the term of his office as primicerius, let him approach among the domestici and protectores [elite guard units] to pay reverence before the sacred purple — so that, glorified by the venerable royal presence, he may rejoice at being released from military duties.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.