Tombstone of Lucius Duccius Rufinus, Yorkshire Museum, York
71AD - 120AD
http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/themes/the-romans-arrive/tombstone-of-a-roman-soldier
http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/inc/img.php/tpl/uploads/1YORYM_1998_19.jpg/240/1/fill
This is the tombstone of a Roman soldier from the Ninth Legion, called Lucius Ducchius Rufinus. It was found in 1688 at Holy Trinity Church in Micklegate.
We know from the inscription that he actually came from Vienne in France rather than from Italy (if you click on the image you can see the inscription).
He was a standard-bearer, carrying the Legion’s emblem into battle, an important and dangerous job.
http://roman-britain.co.uk/places/eburacum.htm
“Lucius Duccius Volturius Rufinus, son of Lucius, from Vienne, Signifer of the Ninth Hispanic Legion, aged twenty-eight, he lies here.”
http://www.historyofyork.org.uk/themes/roman-empire-governed-from-york
The Roman world was governed from wherever the emperor was located. York was priviledged to be the heart of the Roman empire in two periods, about 100 years apart. Remarkably, both times the Emperor died in the city and both times a battle for succession began here.
This first time was when the emperor Septimius Severus lived in York between 208-11. Having restored stability to the empire after a period of civil war, he came to Eboracum (Roman York) to lead campaigns against the Caledonians who had been attacking Roman targets in the north of Britain.
Severus, known as the African Emperor because he was born in what is now Libya, was over 60 when he arrived in York.
(RIB 673; tombstone)