a.d. V Kal. Feb.
January 28 in Ancient Rome
New patrol boats for the Danube
politicsAD 412
Julian date · ≈ Jan 29 on our calendar
A law in the names of Honorius and Theodosius II, sent to Constans, commander in Thrace, set the Danube patrol fleets: 90 new and 10 repaired boats (lusoriae) for the Moesian stretch, and 110 new and 15 restored for the Scythian stretch, with a set number renewed every year.
Theodosius II
Background
The lower Danube was one of the empire's most vulnerable frontiers. After the Goths crossed it in 376 and the Huns gathered beyond it, river patrols mattered as much as forts. Light warships called lusoriae carried soldiers up and down the river to watch crossings and intercept raiders.
This law of 412, issued in the names of Honorius and Theodosius II and addressed to Constans, commander in Thrace, fixed the fleets: 90 newly built boats plus 10 refitted old ones for the Moesian stretch (100 in all), and 110 new plus 15 restored for the longer Scythian stretch (125). Each year a set number of new boats, fully equipped, had to be built to replace old ones, so that the fleet would be fully renewed over seven years. The duke and his staff were made personally responsible.
Behind the numbers were shipwrights, timber-cutters and rowers, and frontier villagers who depended on the patrols to keep raiders away.
Ancient source: Theodosian Code 7.17.1 · Reference
Sources
☁ Rome today (1991–2020 avg): 11°/3°C (52°/37°F) · rain 31% of days
Rome in JanuaryThe Kalends of January opened the civil year, with new consuls, vows for the…
Columella
South wind or south-west wind; wintry weather; a rainy day. (De Re Rust. 11.2)
Fields & crops
Little field work: Columella says pious farmers rested before the Kalends and restarted every task on 1 January for luck; after the Ides, pruning and weeding of autumn-sown grain resumed per Columella 11.2.
Courts & law
Courts reopened after the Saturnalia. New magistrates took up their duties, and the praetor's edict, the rules for his year in office, was posted late Republic.
Senate & politics
From 153 BC the consuls took office on 1 January, sacrificing on the Capitol; the year was named after them. In the empire, officials and soldiers renewed vows for the emperor's safety on 3 January varies by era.
Military
Armies sat in winter quarters; campaigning in snow was rare and feared. Soldiers on the frontiers renewed their oath to the emperor at the start of the year imperial era.
Festivals & religion
Janus, god of doorways and beginnings, was honoured on the Kalends; the Agonalia (9 Jan.), the Carmentalia for the birth-goddess Carmenta (11 and 15 Jan.) and the movable Compitalia at crossroads shrines followed per Ovid, Fasti 1.
Daily life
The Kalends of January opened the civil year, with new consuls, vows for the emperor's safety and small gifts (strenae) of dates, figs and coins for good luck per Ovid, Fasti 1. The Kalends of every month was also when interest fell due, so for debtors the first of the month could be dreaded; the account book itself was called the kalendarium per Seneca and the Digest.
Winter was the hungry season for many. Rome's free monthly grain ration helped only registered male citizens (about 200,000 under Augustus) per Suetonius, Aug. 40, and Res Gestae 15; others bought at market prices. Columella says pious farmers did no field work in the days before the Kalends and restarted every kind of work on 1 January for good omen per Columella 11.2.
Sources: Ovid, Fasti 1 · Columella 11.2 · Suetonius, Augustus 40–42
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