Der Testator des stadtrömischen Testaments in CIL. VI 10229: ein Senator konsularen Ranges – kein libertus

Since a fragmentary inheritance document was published by Mommsen in CIL VI 10229 with a lengthy commentary, it has been clear to everyone that the testator had senatorial, probably even consular rank. Initially, it was assumed that his name was Dasumius Hadrianus, but today it is widely believed that he is identical with Domitius Tullus, mentioned by Pliny the Younger. However, in 2005, Joshua C. Tate claimed: "We must remain open to the possibility that the testator was not only an Ignotus, but an Ignotus libertus." This claim lacks any knowledge of Roman social reality. The author cannot explain why so many high-ranking persons appear as recipients of legacies in the will, including Emperor Trajan himself, Sosius Senecio, consul iterum, and Iulius Ursus Servianus, also consul iterum at the time, whom the testator addresses very familiarly as Servianus meus. In all its aspects, the entire will fits only a testator who belonged to the senatorial, consular elite of Rome.