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58-60; Campbell 1996; Klein 1999]. The rule was broken only towards few
provinces or during the wars or periods of internal riots. In Moesia Secunda and
Scythia Minor one dux commanded the army forces of both provinces probably
only around 412 AD (I will discuss this problem very briefly later).
We can notice that the similaritiy of the texts of inscriptions from Sexaginta
Prista, Transmarisca, Durostorum, Seimeni, Halmyris and Donje Butorka is not
decisive to conclude that there was one dux responsible for the whole Lower
Danube area. Also T. Sarnowski admitted it. They are examples of official
inscriptions placed on the fortresses, which were constructed in the whole Danube
region during tetrarchy.7 As T. Sarnowski noticed, those works were probably
conducted by duces, because the building of fortresses was their duty [Sarnowski
1988, 127],8 According to my opinion, if the texts of discussed inscriptions had
been prepared by officium ducis, they should have mentioned the dux, who were
probably responsible for the works. The example of this practise is a similar
inscription from 285/286-292 AD founded in Tomis.9 On the contrary the
inscriptions from Sexaginta Prista, Transmarisca, Durostorum, Seimeni, Halmyris
and Donje Butorka say only about the tetrarchs. Therefore we can also suspect
that their texts were prepared in Diocletian’s chancelary, because Diocletian visited
personally the Danube region in the years 293, 294, 303 and 306 AD [see e.g.:
Patsch 1928, 8-9; Seston 1946, 130; EnBlin 1948, col. 2438-2440, 2447-2448;
Velkov 1962, 151-153; Jones 1964, 41 sq.; Velkov 1977, 24 sq., 208; Barnes
1981, 49-56]. It is only a theory not reflected directly in sources. On the other
hand for sure we can not deduce the existence of the post of dux from the texts
which do not mention it.
The division of the old province Moesia Inferioris into Dacia Ripensis, Moesia
Secunda and Scythia Minoris led to the foundation of their own military
organisation. Most probably it happened after the creation of provinces when
the Scythian legions I Iovia and II Herculia were formed [see e.g. Ritterling
1925, col. 1352-1353 and Kubitschek 1925]. T. Sarnowski approves this opinion
[Sarnowski 1988, 123].10 The first commander of Scythian army forces was
probably vir perfectissimus dux limitis Scythiae Caius Aurelius Firminianus, who
founded the pagan altar in Tomis between 293-305 AD.11 According to some
scholars it is not excluded that he is mentioned in two other inscriptions from
Tomis [Popescu: 1975, 177; 1976, 37-39; 1977b, 258; Zahariade 1988, 42; Bamea
1991, 195-196], The first inscription was mentioned already ( see note 9). It was
prepared between 285/286-292 AD and was devoted to the building of city tower
gate. It happened under Diocletian and Maximian and the text says about the
person who organized the works: C(aius) Aurel(ius) F[irminianus] v(ir)
p(erfectissimus). T. Sarnowski rejects the identity of the officer mentioned in
this inscription with C. Aur Firminianus, but his opinion is not fully convincing
[Sarnowski 1988, 127, no. 63; Sarnowski 1990, 857]. The second inscription is
anonymus and is dated for 4th century.12 Probably another dux Scythiae is