Magistrati municipali uccisi da latrones: il caso di Drobeta (Dacia)

Two inscriptions from Drobeta in Dacia mentioning the killing of municipal magistrates by latrones offer the occasion for a historico-critical reflection on the institutional characteristics of that municipium, founded by Hadrian in 118-119 or 123-124 AD, and on the latrones who infested that province. The first of these inscriptions mentions a P(ublius) Aelius Ariortus IIIIvir an(nualis?) interfect(us) a latronibus. It was commissioned for the deceased by his wife, his son, and two grandchildren. The annual quattuorvir Publius Aelius Ariortus was a magistrate charged, probably along with others, to draw up a lex municipii for Drobeta suited to the local institutional reality. The second inscription was placed in memory of L(ucius) Iulius Bassus, decurio mun(icipii) Drobetae, quaestor, interfectus a latronib(us) by his children and brother. The latter avenged Bassus’ death himself (mortem eius exsecutus). As to the latrones mentioned in these inscriptions as responsible for the murder of the two magistrates, they were possibly disgruntled elements of the local population who had taken arms against the legal representatives of Rome.