Early Christianity

the circumstances of his appointment and arrival in Bithynia

and Pontus. Mandatawere the specific instructions given to a

governor on his appointment to a province (Millar 1992: 313–16).

In Pliny’s case, and bearing in mind the extraordinary nature of

his appointment, these mandatawere probably quite detailed:

indeed, several other letters refer to Trajan’s instructions

concerning troop allocations (10.22.1), banishment from the cities

(10.56.3), and financial donations (10.110–11). The edictumwas

issued by the new governor at the time he entered his province;

it set out the terms of his administration. Questions about

political clubs (hetaeriae) had obviously been of concern to

Trajan: the ban on them was included in his mandataand had

been confirmed in Pliny’s edictum. The seriousness of the situa-

tion is hinted at by an exchange between governor and emperor

concerning the establishment of a guild of firemen (collegium

fabrorum) in the city of Nicomedia. Pliny asked if such an organ-

ization might be established there, since recent fires had caused

substantial damage (10.33). In his response, however, Trajan was

adamant that no such course of action should be taken, and cited

the recent social disorders as reason for his decision:

We must remember that this province, and particularly the

cities, were troubled by political factions of this nature.

Whatever their name, and for whatever reason we establish

them, people who gather together for a common purpose

soon form themselves into political clubs (hetaeriae).

(10.34)

Another pair of letters throws further light on the issue. The city

of Amisus was permitted to run its own affairs independently of

the province, but when its citizens wished to establish burial clubs

(eranoi), Pliny wrote to Trajan for guidance about whether this

should be permitted or forbidden (10.92). It looks as if he had in

mind the emperor’s mandataabouthetaeriae. Trajan replied that

the club was permitted so long as it did not lead ‘to riotous and

illegal gatherings’ (ad turbas et ad inlicitos coetus); but he was

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