Да, чегой-то я вроде бы "затупил", Секст... Здесь же скорее всего имеет место иной мотив... Ведь консулы имели равную власть... То-есть Сулла вполне мог действовать от имени Мария в Италии. Это нормально...
HANDBOOK
TO LIFE
IN ANCIENT ROME
Updated Edition
LESLEY ADKINS AND ROY A. ADKINS
By 311
BC the army was divided into four legions, the command
of which was usually divided equally between
the consuls, although sometimes a single legion
could act on its own under the command of a praetor
(a lesser magistrate). Each legion also had six military
tribunes (24 in total) elected by the comitia centuriata.
From c.190 BC, the army was still under the overall
control of a consul or praetor, but parts of the
army could now be commanded by legates (legati).
When a governor (magistrate) took control of a
province, he customarily took along one or more
legates, to whom he delegated some civil duties and
military forces. This was probably because one magistrate
could no longer control the armed forces.
Legates were senior senators appointed by the Senate
on advice from the governor.
Below the consuls or praetors, the consuls elected
24 tribunes (six per legion). Ten senior tribunes were
required to have served at least ten years with the
army, and the remainder at least five years. Tribunes
commanded any legions that had been raised extra to
the four consular legions. The position of tribune was
prestigious (even ex-consuls sometimes served as tribunes),
and tribunes had to be of the equestrian order.
The tribunes selected ten centurions (prior centurions)
from the troops, each of whom chose a partner
(posterior centurions). The most senior centurion in
a legion was the centurio primi pili (later called primus
pilus, first spear), and he participated in the military
council with the tribunes. Each maniple (composed
of two centuries) had two centurions, and the primus
pilus commanded the extreme right-hand maniple of
the triarii.
Toward the end of the republic, armies
ceased to be commanded by elected magistrates
(normally consuls) during their term of office, and
in 52 BC a law was passed requiring a five-year gap
between elected office at Rome and provincial military
command. Since Rome was still a republic,
there were several commanders in chief of the
army, not a single one.
At this time, each legion was still commanded by
six tribunes. Now, however, the post was held by
young men, some hoping to enter the Senate, rather
than by senior magistrates. Above them in command
were the prefects who could command cavalry (praefectus
equitum), naval fleets (praefectus classis) or be
aides on the commander’s personal staff (praefectus
fabrum). These prefects were given individual commands
(not in pairs like the tribunes) at the discretion
of the commander, and their positions were
often less permanent than that of tribune. Service as
tribune and prefect led on to the post of legatus.
Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire, Revised Edition
Copyright © 2002, 1994 by Matthew Bunson
Camillus
made the legions more efficient by introducing a precise
chain of command, with centurions of several grades and
officers (TRIBUNES) to command them.
Such was the basic system in place during Rome’s
expansion throughout the Punic Wars (264–146 B.C.E.).
TRIBUNI MILITUM
Originally key military personnel in the legions of the
Republic, the military tribunes had a reduced role in the
imperial legions. They were elected at first by the people,
later in conjunction with the CONSULS. Six were assigned
each year to each legion but, as most field or combat
duties were handled by the centurions, the tribunes held
posts of an administrative nature. This reality of legionary
life was probably a reflection of the pool from which the
tribunes were taken. Only very rarely was a centurion
appointed to the tribuneship. Rather, most candidates
came from the senatorial or Equestrian (EQUITES) rank,
were young and had already served as staff member or
aide-de-camp to a general or a commander-in-chief.
Eager to embark upon a political career, they viewed the
tribuneship as a necessary first step in their advancement
to higher office.
All tribunes wore a toga with a broad or narrow purple
stripe, depending upon their membership in the senatorial
or Equestrian class, but all bore an Equestrian ring.
From the time of Julius Caesar the tribunes ceased to
enjoy the senior positions in the legions because of the
rise of the legati or legates (see LEGATUS), who ran the
legions. During the imperial era this system was concretized;
the tribunes did lead the legion on march, however,
and still held commands of power in the auxilia.
See also EQUITES.
Кстати говоря, в результате военных реформ Гая Мария (произошедших не единовременно, и поэтому судить о том, что перемены статуса военных трибунов произошли в какой-то конкретный год трудно) статус военных трибунов поменялся. Их число не уменьшилось, но они вместо военной власти получили политическую роль при легионе.
Вполне может случиться, что Сулла в указанном отрывке из Плутарха имел роль уже не столько военную, сколько политическую. И отсюда он ведёт переговоры с марсами.
И ещё одно кстати. Луций Аврелий Орест умер в ходе своего консульства. Это тоже могло бы быть ключём к разгадке "ребуса"...
