Legionary Books, LLC

While much is known about the Roman Legions of the early Empire, there is still much that is left to conjecture. Here I hope to give the reader a better understanding of how the Legion was structured and how it relates to the modern army.

Legion Organization

Contubernium - Referred to as a 'section' in my books, this was the lowest unit of organization within the legion, and about the equivalent of a modern day infantry squad. It was made up of eight legionaries who shared a two-room section of a barracks, or a single tent while on campaign. The section was led by a Decanus.
                         
                                                 An eight-man tent

Century - Mistakenly thought to contain one hundred soldiers, the century actually consisted of ten contubernia (sections), for a total of eighty men. Similar to a modern-day company, it was commanded by a Centurion.
                           
                                      Elements of a Century in formation

Cohort - The smallest unit that would normally ever operate independantly, the cohort was made up of six centuries for a total of approximately four hundred and eighty legionaries. In battle, manuever and tactics would be dictated at the cohort level. There is some dispute as to who actually commanded the cohort, though the most common consensus is that it was led by the senior ranking Centurion. This is the theory that I have used in the Soldier of Rome books; therefore surmising that the cohort was commanded by the Centurion Pilus Prior.

Legion - At the highest level of organization was the legion, which consisted of ten cohorts. In addition to the infantry cohorts, the legion also had a small contingent of approximately three hundred cavalry. Their primary purpose was serving as messangers, rather than as a fighting force. The legion also had a massive administrative staff consisting of clerks, librarians, treasurers, armorers, groomsmen, cooks, logistics support, among other needed specialties. All told, the legion could have nearly six thousand men under its banner and was commanded by a senatorial Legate.

Military Rank Structure 

                                          
                                                                        Legionary

The Plebian Ranks

In order to join the legions, one had to first prove their citizenship; for only Roman citizens could become legionaries. Slaves, freedmen, and non-citizens were ineligable; though they could enlist as an auxiliary and be awarded their citizenship upon completion of service.

Legionary - Every citizen of the plebian class who enlisted in the legions started off as a legionary. Duration of service during the early empire was twenty years. Barring any promotions that would dictate otherwise, this normally consisted of sixteen years in the ranks, with another four either on lighter duties, or as part of the First Cohort. Legionaries served not only as the heart of the legion's fighting force, they were also used for many building and construction projects. Roman roads-many of which are still in existance today-are an example of legionary engineering.
                               
                                                           Legionaries

Legionary Immune - If a soldier possessed a special skill that the legion required, he was placed on immune status. This meant that he was excused from fatigue details and less than desirable duties. Instead, he would work with the other immunes within the legion, practicing his specialty. Though still required to fight, an immune also received special incentive pay. Examples of immunes would be clerks, pay specialists, cooks, armorers, leather workers, masons, engineers, artillery specialists, etc.

                                                 
                                                           Scorpion Artillery Crew

Decanus - Also referred to interchangably as a Sergeant in the series, Decanus was the first rank of authority that a legionary could be promoted to. Much like a modern-day Sergeant, the Decanus was the first-line leader of legionaries. He supervised training, as well as enforced personal hygeine and maintenance of equipment. On campaign he was in charge of getting the section's tent erected, along with the fortifications of the camp.

                              Don LaMott as Decanus Gaius Praxus

                                                             Photo Courtesy of Lisa LaMott

                 
                     Tesserarius                         Signifier                           Optio

The Principal Ranks

Within the century were three senior officers who were the primary assistants to the Centurion. Much like the senior Non-Commissioned Officers of a modern company, the Principals oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Century. Given their administrative responsibilities, it is generally agreed that a soldier wishing to progress into the Principal ranks would need to be able to read and write. It is not known for certain if Decanii and Principal officers wore crests or other devices on their helmets to denote their rank in the same manner that modern Non-Commissioned Officers wear stripes on their uniforms; however it can be reasonably speculated that they did.

Tesserarius - The first of the Principal ranks, the Tesserarius' primarily oversaw the fatigue and guard duties for the Century. He maintained the duty roster and was also keeper of the watch word. On a normal day he could be found supervising work details or checking on the guard posts.

                                                    Tesserarius

Signifier - The Signifier was a man much-loved on pay days. He was the treasurer for the Century and was in charge of all pay issues. On campaign he carried the Century's standard (signum) into battle. This was used not only as a rallying point, but also as a visual means of communication. Traditionally he wore a bear's hide over his helmet, draped around the shoulders of his armor. Because of his high level of responsibility, the Signifier is third-in-command of the Century.

                                                                              Signifier

Optio - Like the modern-day 1st Sergeant, the Optio was in many ways the one who could make or break a Century. The term Optio literally means 'chosen one,' for he was personally chosen by the Centurion to serve as his deputy. He would oversee all training within the Century, to include that of new recruits. In battle the Optio would either stand behind the formation and keep troops on line and in formation, or else he would stand on the extreme left, able to coordinate with adjacent units.

                                                                              Optio

                                              
                                                                           Centurion

The Centurionate

A Roman soldier who had proven himself in battle; was personally valiant, a selfless and effective leader, as well as a sound administrator might be considered for promotion into the Centurionate. The status and respect held by a Centurion was immense. No matter how tactically sound a general was, he was useless without his Centurions. Most good generals knew this; in fact Julius Caesar even mentions some of his Centurions by name in his Gallic Commentaries. Centurions Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo caught Caesar's attention on more than one occasion. Both men were featured in the HBO series "Rome," although Pullo is depicted as a legionary, rather than a Centurion. It is difficult to compare a Centurion to modern military ranks, because they really took on dual roles. On the one hand, a Centurion Pilus Prior in command of a cohort would hold a rank equivalent to that of a Lieutenant Colonel, since the number of soldiers under their command is similar. On the other hand, the vast majority of Centurions rose from the ranks and are often compared to a Sergeant Major. The best way to look at it is to think of a Centurion as both a field-grade officer and a senior Non-Commissioned Officer.

Centurion - In addition to being its commander, the Centurion was known to be the bravest and most tactically sound man within the Century. While a stern disciplinarian, and at times brutally harsh, it is borne out of a genuine compassion for his men. The Centurion knew that only through hard discipline and sound training could his men survive in battle. He was always on the extreme right of the front rank in battle; thereby placing himself in the most precarious position on the line. Mortality rates were high amongst Centurions because they would sacrifice their own safety for that of their men.
                               
       A Centurion with his campaign medals and awards for valor displayed

Centurion Pilus Prior - Commander of a cohort of six centuries, the Centurion Pilus Prior was a man of considerable influence and responsibility. He not only had to be able to command a century on a line of battle, but he had to be able to manuever his cohort as a single unit. Such men were often given independant commands over small garrisons or on low-level conflicts. A Centurion Pilus Prior could also be tasked with diplomatic duties, such was the respect foreign princes held for them. At this level, a soldier had to focus not just on his abilities as a leader of fighting men, but on his skills at diplomacy and politics.

Centurion Primus Ordo - The elite First Cohort's centuries were commanded by the Centurions Primus Ordo. Though the number of soldiers under their direct command was fewer, these men were senior in rank to the Centurions Pilus Prior. Men were often selected for these positions based on vast experience and for being the best tacticians in the legion. As such part of the duty of a Centurion Primus Ordo was acting as a strategic and tactical advisor to the commanding general. Generals such as Caesar, Marius, Tiberius, and Agrippa were successful in part because they had a strong circle of First Cohort Centurions advising them.

                             Edge Gibbons as a Centurion Primus Ordo

                                                                 Photo Courtesy of Lisa LaMott

Centurion Primus Pilus - Also referred to as the Chief or Master Centurion, this is the pinnacle of the career of a Roman soldier. Though socially subordinate to the Tribunes, the Centurion Primus Pilus possessed more power and influence than any, and was in fact third-in-command of the entire legion. He was also the commander of the elite First Cohort in battle. Upon retirement, a Centurion Primus Pilus (and possibly Centurions of lesser ranks as well) was elevated into the Patrician Class of society. He could then stand for public office, and his sons would be eligable for appointments as Tribunes. Even while still serving in the ranks, a Centurion Primus Pilus was allowed to wear the narrow purple stripe of a Patrician on his toga, such was the respect Roman society held for them.
                                   
                   Rusty Myers as Centurion Primus Pilus Justus Longinus
                                                                  Photo Courtesy of Lisa LaMott

                       
                                           Legate and Civilian Magistrate

                                                                       Photo Courtesy of Lisa LaMott

Patrician and Senatorial Appointments

Members of Rome's ruling society were expected to be soldiers first. All Tribunes and legion commanders came from the noble classes. The surest way for a senator to gain a governorship or the Consul's chair was to have proven himself on the battlefield.

Tribune - Tribunes came from the Patrician class, often serving only six month tours with the legions. Though there were exceptions, many Tribunes stayed on the line only long enough to get their "ticket punched" to a better assignment. Primarily serving as staff officers for the commanding Legate, a Tribune would sometimes be given command of auxiliary troops if he proved himself a capable leader. Most were looking for a career in politics, though they knew they had to get as much experience as they could out of their time in the legions. In Soldier of Rome, Pontius Pilate is an example of a Tribune who elects to stay with the legions for as long as he is able; preferring the hard life of a soldier to the soft comforts of a political magistrate.

Laticlavian Tribune - Most commonly referred to as the Chief Tribune, he was a young man of the Senatorial class starting off his career. Second-in-command of the legion, his responsibility was incredible, though he was often aided by the Master Centurion, who would act as a mentor. A soldier's performance as Chief Tribune would determine whether or not he would be fit to command a legion of his own someday. Given the importance of military success to the future senator's career, he would no doubt make every effort to prove himself competant and valiant in battle.

Legate - Equivalent to a modern Colonel or General, the Legate was a senator who had already spent time in the legions as a Laticlavian Tribune and had proven himself worthy of command. Of all the possible offices that a nobleman could hold, none was dearer to a Roman than command of Her armies.

                            
                                                 Legate Julius Lucullus

                                                                   Photo Courtesy of Lisa LaMott

*Note: The Roman army did not have a structure of organization higher than the Legion. While during times of war Consular Armies consisting of multiple legions would fall under the command of a single man (often one of the Consuls), there was no permanent "Division" structure. During the wars against Arminius, Germanicus Caesar commanded a total of eight legions, though he would often split these into two seperate forces, taking four legions under his command, and four under the command of his deputy, Caecina Severus.

Legion Infantry Strength (estimated)

In order to give the reader an idea as to how many soldiers there were at each rank within the legion, the following list is provided. Be advised that this is a very rough estimate, especially amongst the numbers of legionaries. These numbers are provided assuming the legion is at full strength, which is probably never. In reality, a century authorized eighty soldiers (possibly eighty-four if the Centurion and Principal officers are not included in this total) would in reality have anywhere from fifty to seventy legionaries on-hand at any one time.

Legionaries – 3,780

First Cohort Legionaries – 700

Decanii – 610

Tesserarii – 59

Signifiers – 59

Options – 59

Centurions – 45

Centurions Pilus Prior – 9

Centurions Primus Ordo – 4

Centurion Primus Pilus – 1

Tribunes – 6

Chief Tribune – 1

Legate – 1