THE CENTURION PETRONIUS FORTUNATUS... A POEM...

The Centurion Petronius Fortunatus

My name is Petronius Fortunatus, my rank? Centurion…

An old man now, an octogenarian…

One year for each Legionary under my command,

A Century, from which complete obedience I demand.

Thirteen legions I’ve served in my military career,

Decorated for valour, never harboured fear;

From Pannonia to Arabia, the Euphrates, Palestine,

To the Parthian Wars, York and the Rhine.

Yet during my formative army years,

I was promoted to Centurion by the votes of my peers;

From Librarius, I became the Watch N.C.O.,

Or Tesserarius, before my promotion to Optio.

I was Deputy Centurion in the 1st Legion Italica,

Then I was promoted to Centurion of the Sixth Legion Ferrata;

I followed Legate Adventus to the Parthian Wars,

Torques and phallerae for bravery were matters of course.

The neck-ring torques, to my cuirass were attached,

The small discs or phallerae to my strapped harness were lashed;

These visible signs of my valour ensured

That I gained the infantry’s respect and discipline was endured.

Marriage? Certainly! As a Centurion I was game!

Claudia Marcia Capitolina was my spouse’s name;

She bore our son, my name he was given

And to join the ranks, he was strongly driven.

However, his service caused me deep-seated pain,

For he was killed during the dangerous northern campaign;

He served with the 22nd Primigenia,

Then in Upper Germany with the 2nd Augusta…

I sit here with my memories, gnarled and alone,

My joints ache, my scars itch, I’m chilled to the bone;

Preparations for my burial have already been made,

In Algeria’s heat, beneath a cool, leafy glade.

My life has been long, varied and full,

My prayers usually answered by Mithras the Bull;

Tired, expiring, I lie back ‘neath a shield,

As my spirit drifts to the dead warriors’ field… 

Pete Ray

Centurion Petronius Fortunatus: a real person, who visited Britain on two occasions and a character I played the role of during my Museum teaching.