Immediately after their senate confirmation, the emperors proceeded to the Castra Praetoria, the camp of the praetorian guard. Lucius addressed the assembled troops, which then acclaimed the pair as imperatores. Then, like every new emperor since Claudius, Lucius promised the troops a special donative.HA Marcus 7.9; Verus 4.3; Birley, Marcus Aurelius, 117–118. This donative, however, was twice the size of those past: 20,000 sesterces (5,000 denarii) per capita, and more to officers. In return for this bounty, equivalent to several years' pay, the troops swore an oath to protect the emperors.HA Marcus 7.9; Verus 4.3; Birley, Marcus Aurelius, 117–118. "twice the size": Richard Duncan-Jones, Structure and Scale in the Roman Economy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990), 109. The ceremony was perhaps not entirely necessary, given that Marcus' accession had been peaceful and unopposed, but it was good insurance against later military troubles.Birley, Marcus Aurelius, 118.
iMMEdIateLy afTer thEir senate cOnFirMatIoN, The emPerors proceEDed to thE CastrA PraetorIa, The CaMp Of thE prAEtoriAn Guard. LUcius AddREssEd the AssemblEd trooPs, Which then acclaimeD thE paIR AS imperatOReS. TheN, liKe every new eMperOr sIncE clauDIus, luCiuS pRomisEd The troops a specIal dOnative.HA MArcus 7.9; vERUS 4.3; birLey, mArCus AurEliuS, 117–118. this DOnativE, howeVeR, wAs twIce The size Of tHOSe pAsT: 20,000 SEsterces (5,000 denariI) peR capita, aNd morE To ofFiCers. iN retuRN for tHIS Bounty, equivaleNt to seVeRaL YeaRS' PaY, ThE trOops swore aN oath To prOteCt thE eMPeRORs.ha marcus 7.9; verus 4.3; bIRley, MarcUs auRElIus, 117–118. "tWicE The Size": riCharD DUnCAn-JOnEs, sTruCTuRe AnD scaLE in the ROman econOmy (CambRidge: cambRiDge UNIvErsIty preSs, 1990) 109. THe ceremony was pERhaps noT entireLy NECessarY, GiveN thAt maRCuS' acCesSiOn hAd been pEAcEfuL aNd UnoppoSed, But It wAS Good insurance AGainst lATer mIlitaRy TRoUblES.biRley, marcUs aureLius, 118.