Hasta pura (military decoration)
Encyclopedia
The Hasta Pura or Hasta Donatica was a decoration for merit, awarded in Ancient Rome. The Roman sources do not concur about the precise character of the decoration. Some call it a decoration for valour, others mention that is has been awarded to civilians.
As opposed to the later pilum
, verutum
or lancea
, the hasta
was not thrown but used for thrusting. A Hasta Pura was a spear made without iron and was in the earliest times the reward of a soldier the first time that he conquered in battle . Later it came to be awarded to a soldier who had struck down an enemy in a sally or skirmish. .
Tacitus records a hasta pura being given as a decoration, bestowed upon a soldier for saving the life of a fellow-citizen:
A civil servant called Tiberius Claudius Balbilus
was awarded the hasta pura and perhaps also the corona aurea by Claudius during the Triumph
to celebrate the conquest of Britain in 44AD. As a friend and part of the Emperor’s retinue, it seems likely that his awards, as much as his military rank, were honorary.
The hasta pura was also recorded as being given to the Primus Pilus
when he had completed his period of service. Also, such a gift is sometimes recorded in funereal inscriptions.
The Hasta Pura is mentioned in the second part of the Claudius novels by Robert Graves
. Graves calls the decoration an "Arrow without a head", and refers to its award to Balbilus.
As opposed to the later pilum
Pilum
The pilum was a javelin commonly used by the Roman army in ancient times. It was generally about two metres long overall, consisting of an iron shank about 7 mm in diameter and 60 cm long with pyramidal head...
, verutum
Verutum
The verutum, or plural veruta was a short javelin used in the Roman army. This javelin was used by the velites for skirmishing unlike the heavier pilum used by the hastati and principes for softening the enemy before advancing into close combat. The verutum's shaft was about 1.1 meters long, much...
or lancea
Lancea
The lancea was the Roman auxiliaries' short javelin. According to the OED, the word originally came from the Iberian Language , also cf longche, the Greek term for lance. On Spike TV's show Deadliest Warrior, the lancea was the Celt's mid-range weapon....
, the hasta
Hasta (spear)
Hasta is a Latin word meaning spear. Hastae were carried by early Roman Legionaries, in particular they were carried by and gave their name to those Roman soldiers known as Hastati...
was not thrown but used for thrusting. A Hasta Pura was a spear made without iron and was in the earliest times the reward of a soldier the first time that he conquered in battle . Later it came to be awarded to a soldier who had struck down an enemy in a sally or skirmish. .
Tacitus records a hasta pura being given as a decoration, bestowed upon a soldier for saving the life of a fellow-citizen:
- In this engagement Rufus Helvius, a common soldier, won the honour of saving a citizen's life, and was rewarded by AproniusLucius AproniusLucius Apronius was a Roman military commander and a father-in-law of praetor Plautius Silvanus. Apronius shared in the achievements of Vibius Postumus and earned the ornaments of a triumph for his distinguished valor in Dalmatian revolt and Germanic Wars, along with Aulus Caecina Severus and Gaius...
with a torcTorcA torc, also spelled torq or torque, is a large, usually rigid, neck ring typically made from strands of metal twisted together. The great majority are open-ended at the front, although many seem designed for near-permanent wear and would have been difficult to remove. Smaller torcs worn around...
and a spear. To these the emperor added the civic crownCivic CrownThe Civic Crown was a chaplet of common oak leaves woven to form a crown. During the Roman Republic, and the subsequent Principate, it was regarded as the second highest military decoration to which a citizen could aspire...
, complaining, but without anger, that Apronius had not used his right as proconsul to bestow this further distinction.
A civil servant called Tiberius Claudius Balbilus
Tiberius Claudius Balbilus
Tiberius Claudius Balbillus or Balbilus, also known as ‘Balbillus the Wise‘, was an Egyptian Greek astrologer and a learned scholar. Balbillus was the son of astrologer Tiberius Claudius Thrasyllus, also known as Thrasyllus of Mendes and Princess Aka II of Commagene, who was either a granddaughter...
was awarded the hasta pura and perhaps also the corona aurea by Claudius during the Triumph
Roman triumph
The Roman triumph was a civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly celebrate and sanctify the military achievement of an army commander who had won great military successes, or originally and traditionally, one who had successfully completed a foreign war. In Republican...
to celebrate the conquest of Britain in 44AD. As a friend and part of the Emperor’s retinue, it seems likely that his awards, as much as his military rank, were honorary.
The hasta pura was also recorded as being given to the Primus Pilus
Primus Pilus
The Primus pilus was the senior centurion of a Roman legion.-Historical role:In the late Roman republic, the cohort , became the basic tactical unit of the legions. The cohort was composed of five to eight centuries each led by a centurion assisted by an optio, a soldier who could read and write...
when he had completed his period of service. Also, such a gift is sometimes recorded in funereal inscriptions.
The Hasta Pura is mentioned in the second part of the Claudius novels by Robert Graves
Robert Graves
Robert von Ranke Graves 24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985 was an English poet, translator and novelist. During his long life he produced more than 140 works...
. Graves calls the decoration an "Arrow without a head", and refers to its award to Balbilus.