Find Spot record 1707 - The Malpas Diploma

<1> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p.287-291 (Book). SCH2878.

In a field on the Barhill (or Barrel) Farm, in Bickley, about two miles east-south-east. of Malpas, there was found in 1812 a military diploma of the emperor Trajan, dated 19th January, A.D. 104 contained on two bronze tablets. The Ordnance Surveyors have marked field no. 572 (in sheet LX., 12) as the location of the discovery, though no remembrance now exists among the old inhabitants of the neighbourhood. The diploma belonged to a decurion named Reburrus, of the first ala of the Pannonians, which bore the additional title of Tampiana. Full translation and illustrations.

<2> Thompson, F.H., 1964, A History of Cheshire. Volume Two: Roman Cheshire, p. 104-5, 106-8 (Book). SCH2862.

A bronze diploma or military discharge certificate found two miles east of Malpas in 1812 and now displayed in the British Museum.

Such certificates were issued to auxiliary soldiers of the Roman army on completion of twenty-five years' service and granted citizenship to them and their descendants. The diploma is a copy of an Imperial edict covering several regiments in a province published on a bronze tablet in Rome. The diploma additionally has the name and unit of the individual and comprised two bronze plates, nine by six inches, which would have been hinged by bronze rings. The outer face of one plate bears the full text of the edict with the addition of the individual's name, his unit, and the name of its commander. This text is repeated on the inner faces of both plates, and the outer face of the second plate carries the name of seven witnesses.

The diploma was issued on 19th January AD 103 to a man named Reburrus, a decurion (junior officer) in a cavalry unit known as the First Pannonian Regiment, also termed Tampian, which was serving in Britain.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p.213 & 233 (Book). SCH3556.

The Malpas diploma, an Auxiliary diploma found in 1812, came from Bickley four kilometres east of Malpas.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ54 NW 2 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ5247, 1874 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

The field is named Bickley Field and notes that Roman tablets found.

<6> Collingwood R G & Wright R P, 1990, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain Vol 2: Fascicule 1., 2401.1, p.2-5 (Monograph). SCH6717.

<6> British Museum, Various, British Museum Collection Online, 1813,1211.2 (Web Site). SCH9054.

A copper alloy military discharge diploma, comprising inscriptions on two joining bronze plates, issued by the emperor Trajan to Reburrus, a Spanish decurion (junior officer) in the 1st Pannonian cavalry regiment, granting him Roman citizenship and the right of legal marriage with a present or future wife.

These privileges were usually granted to the non-citizen auxiliary soldiers when they retired after completing the twenty-five year period of military service, but occasionally they were conferred earlier as a reward.