The ''hasta pura'' or ''hasta donatica'' was a decoration for merit, awarded in Ancient Rome. The Roman sources do not concur about the precise character of the decoration. Some call it a decoration for valour, others mention that it had been awarded to civilians. The '' hasta'' was a thrusting weapon that was not thrown as were the later '' pilum'', ''

verutum The ''verutum'', plural ''veruta'' ( la, spit), was a short javelin used in the Roman army. This javelin was used by the ''velites'' for skirmishing purposes, unlike the heavier ''pilum'', which was used by the ''hastati'' and ''principes'' for ...

'' and '' lancea''. A ''hasta pura'' was a spear made "without iron" and was in the earliest times the reward of a soldier the first time that he conquered in battle. Later it came to be awarded to a soldier who had struck down an enemy in a sally or skirmish. Tacitus records a ''hasta pura'' being given as a decoration, bestowed upon a soldier for saving the life of a fellow-citizen: A civil servant called

Tiberius Claudius Balbilus Tiberius Claudius Balbillus Modestus (AD 3-79), more commonly known as Tiberius Claudius Balbilus, was a distinguished Ancient Roman scholar, politician and a court astrologer to the Roman emperors Claudius, Nero, and Vespasian.Holden, ''A History ...

was awarded the ''hasta pura'' and perhaps also the ''

corona aurea Corona (from the Latin for 'crown') most commonly refers to: * Stellar corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun or another star * Corona (beer), a Mexican beer * Corona, informal term for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19 dis ...

'' by emperor Claudius during the

triumph The Roman triumph (Latin triumphus) was a celebration for a victorious military commander in ancient Rome. For later imitations, in life or in art, see Trionfo. Numerous later uses of the term, up to the present, are derived directly or indirectl ...

to celebrate the conquest of Britain in AD 44. As a friend and part of the Emperor’s retinue, it seems likely that his awards, as much as his military rank, were honorary. The ''hasta pura'' was also recorded as being given to the ''

primus pilus The ''primus pilus'' or ''primipilus'' was the senior centurion of the first cohort in a Roman legion, a formation of five double-strength centuries of 160 men, was called the ''primus pilus''; he was a career soldier and advisor to the le ...

'' when he had completed his period of service. Also, such a gift is sometimes recorded in funereal inscriptions. Some have taken "without iron" to mean that the ''hasta pura'' had no head at all. The main evidence in support of this conjecture is that representations on some coins show a blunt spear. However, other coins clearly show a sharp spearhead and those that do not may be explained by poorly made coins or poorly drawn representations of them in publications. The ''hasta pura'' is mentioned in the second part of the ''Claudius'' novels by Robert Graves. Graves calls the decoration an "arrow without a head", and refers to its award to Balbilus.See Claudius the God and his Wife Messalina. London: Arthur Barker, 1934; New York: Smith & Haas, 1935.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hasta Pura (Military Decoration) Military awards and decorations of ancient Rome