Letter 7004: Formula for the Duchy of Raetia [the Alpine frontier province].

IV. FORMULA FOR THE DUKEDOM OF THE RAETIAS. [1] Although the honor of the rank of Respectable [spectabilis, a senatorial grade] may seem to be a single one, and although in such offices nothing else is usually given precedence except seniority of tenure, nevertheless, when the nature of the duties is carefully weighed, much more seems to be entrusted to those men to whom peoples on the frontier are assigned, because it is not the same thing to administer justice in pacified regions as it is to keep watch over suspect nations, where not so much vices as wars are objects of suspicion, and where not only does the voice of the herald resound, but the blare of trumpets frequently breaks in. [2] For the Raetias are the bulwarks of Italy and the bars of the province: which we judge to have been so named not without reason, since they are set out against wild and most savage nations like certain obstacles of nets [a play on Raetia and rete, "net"]. For there the assault of the heathen is received, and by hurled javelins his frenzied presumption is wounded. Thus the heathen assault is your hunt, and you carry on as sport what you perceive yourselves to have done constantly and successfully. [3] And therefore, hearing that you are strong in talent and in strength, we grant to you, for the period of the present indiction, the dukedom of the Raetias, so that you may both govern the soldiers in peace and, together with them, patrol our borders with customary alacrity, since you see that no small thing has been committed to you, when the tranquility of our kingdom is believed to be guarded by your watchfulness. Yet in such a way that the soldiers committed to you live with the provincials under civil law, and that the spirit which feels itself armed does not grow insolent, because that shield of our army ought to furnish quiet to the Romans. They are evidently stationed for this reason, that within, a happier life may be enjoyed in untroubled liberty. [4] Wherefore answer to our judgment, intending to please us by good faith and diligence, so that you neither receive heathen without examination nor pass our own men over to the nations through carelessness. For one comes more rarely to the necessity of arms, where a surprise once taken in hand is felt to be capable of being guarded against. But the privileges of your dignity you shall claim for yourself by our commands.

IIII. FORMULA DUCATUS RAETIARUM. [1] Quamvis spectabilitatis honor unus esse videatur nec in his aliquid aliud nisi tempus soleat anteferri, tamen rerum qualitate perpensa multum his creditum videtur quibus confinales populi deputantur, quia non est tale pacatis regionibus ius dicere, quale suspectis gentibus assidere, ubi non tantum vitia quantum bella suspecta sunt nec solum vox praeconis insonat, sed tubarum crepitus frequenter insultat. [2] Raetiae namque munimina sunt Italiae et claustra provinciae: quae non immerito sic appellata esse iudicamus, quando contra feras et agrestissimas gentes velut quaedam plagarum obstacula disponuntur. ibi enim impetus gentilis excipitur et transmissis iaculis sauciatur furibunda praesumptio. sic gentilis impetus vestra venatio est et ludo geritis quod vos assidue feliciter egisse sentitis. [3] Ideoque validum te ingenio ac viribus audientes per illam indictionem ducatum tibi cedimus Raetiarum, ut milites et in pace regas et cum eis fines nostros sollemni alacritate circueas, quia non parvam rem tibi respicis fuisse commissam, quando tranquillitas regni nostri tua creditur sollicitudine custodiri. ita tamen, ut milites tibi commissi vivant cum provincialibus iure civili nec insolescat animus, qui se sentit armatum, quia clipeus ille exercitus nostri quietem debet praestare Romanis. quos ideo constat appositos, ut intus vita felicior secura libertate carpatur. [4] Quapropter responde nostro iudicio, fide nobis et industria placiturus, ut nec gentiles sine discussione suscipias nec nostros ad gentes sub incuriositate transmittas. ad necessitatem siquidem rarius venitur armorum, ubi suscepta surreptio custodiri posse sentitur. privilegia vero dignitatis tuae nostris tibi iussionibus vindicabis.