![]() The greaves he wears to protect his shins are also a sign of his being a centurion. The horsehair crest across his helmet made him easily recognizable by everyone, even in the chaos of batte, as a officer of considerable rank. The rings (torques) and circular plaques (phalerae) on his torso are awards he has won in battle, comparable to medals in modern day armies. The centurion’s armour varied widely, perhaps it was even a matter of individual choice. However, if the step from legionary to optio to centurio provides the ideal, simple example, we must accept that the reality was not necessarily always quite as straightforward. Once this happened he would be awarded the centurionate. This marked him out by rank as ready for the centurionate, merely waiting for a position to become free. If this was not the case he might be made optio ad spem ordinis. However for this to happen, there would have to be a vacancy. Having proven himself worthy and earned promotion an optio would then be promoted to being a centurio, an officer in command of eighty legionaries. This was the assistant to the centurion who acted as a kind of corporal. The ordinary soldier’s promotion would most likely start with the rank of optio. Though this post brought with it, at the end of service, the rank of equestrian, including the status – and wealth ! – that this elevated position in Roman society brought with it. But in general the rank of primus pilus, the most senior centurion in a legion, was as high as a ordinary man could reach. Some of the late emperors of the empire prove very rare examples of ordinary soldiers who rose all the way through the ranks to become high-ranking commanders. ![]() Though there was a significant number of centurions from the equestrian rank. The main supply for the centurionate of the legions did indeed come from the ordinary men from the ranks of the legion. To become a centurion meant having become an officer. The most significant step in any successful army career of a Roman plebeian was the promotion to the centurionate. ![]() Officer cadet ( protectores – officer cadet corps)Ĭommander of the imperial infantry forces Low ranking officer equivalent to earlier Optio Officium – Governor’s Staff – in army provinces governors would be legates, so at times the officium could easily have been connected with a legion’s HQ, the principia. Note: a centurio princeps could also be the senior centurion of an auxiliary infantry force.Ĭenturio trecenarius is another name for a centurio hastatus of the first cohort. Temporary legion commander, or commander of a force ( vexillatio) of the numeri Senatorial tribune, second in command of a legion High ranking staff officer of a legion, usually of equestrian rankĬamp commander, usually ex primus pilus (called a primipilaris), third in the hierarchy of legion Term increasingly used for centurion from second century onwards. Standard bearer of the legion’s eagle standard ( aquila) Medical Orderly or Army doctor, the latter could also be called medicus ordinarius and would be deemed an officer Standard bearer of the maniple (two centuries), who kept the pay and savings accounts of the soldiersīearer of the standard depicting the emperor Low ranking officer in charge of hospitalĪn optio who has been marked out for promotion to Centurion once a vacancy becomes available Low ranking officer, equivalent to optio, in command of artillery Second in command to Centurio, Receives Double Pay ( Duplicarius). Keeper of the watchword, administrative assistant to HQ Staff, third in command to a centuria Over arching term for any low ranking officer (for example optio) receiving either one and a half times or double pay. ![]() Receives one and a half times regular pay. Longer serving soldier or army member holding special skills, who are excused from chores such as latrine duties, etc. Leader of an eight man tent or barracks partyīearer of the vexillum standard signifying a small unit detached from the legion. Groom or equerry (horse groom) to an officer The Senatorial Class Infantry Positions Miles, also Miles Gregarius, Gregalis
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