Illustrated overview of the inner workings of the Roman legion's centuria, its men, officers, tactics, and administration
Core of the Legion - The Roman Imperial Centuria
Core of the legion: The Roman Imperial centuria • WHILE SOME MIGHT ASSERT THAT THE EIGHT-MAN CONTUBERNIUM WAS THE BASIC BUILDING-BLOCK OF THE EARLY IMPERIAL LEGION, IT WAS TOO SMALL TO BE A TACTICAL FIGHTING UNIT OF ANY PRACTICAL USE. INSTEAD IT WAS THE CENTURIA THAT PROVIDED THE SMALLEST TACTICAL UNIT, THE BRICKS THAT MADE UP THE FORMIDABLE ROMAN LEGION, THAT REMARKABLE INSTRUMENT WHICH CONSISTED OF PROFESSIONAL SOLDIERS WHO WERE ALSO PIONEERS, ENGINEERS AND SPECIALISTS, TO USE MODERN TERMS.
Hadrian and his soldiers • IT HAS BEEN CALLED “THE QUEEN OF AFRICAN INSCRIPTIONS” – WHICH IS EXAGGERATED – BUT NOT VERY MUCH. AS THE VERBATIM REPORT OF A ROMAN EMPEROR’S ADDRESSES TO HIS SOLDIERS, THE LAMBAESIS INSCRIPTION IS A REMARKABLE TEXT INDEED.
Backbone of the legions • THE LEGIONARY CENTURIONS WERE THE REPOSITORY OF MILITARY KNOWLEDGE IN THE LEGIONS. SUCCESSIVE EMPERORS RELIED ON THESE MEN TO UPHOLD THE TRADITIONS OFTHE ROMAN MILITARY AND SPREAD THEM THROUGHOUT THE ARMY. MOSTLY LONG-SERVICE OFFICERSWHO HAD RISENTHROUGH THE RANKS OR TRANSFERRED FROM THE PRAETORIAN GUARD, EVEN AFTER COMPLETING THEIR SERVICE AS CENTURIONS, THEY WERE OFTEN RETAINED AS MEMBERS OF A MILITARY ELITE.
The centurio from Colchester • SINCE ITS DISCOVERY IN 1868 THE SCULPTURE OF MARCUS FAVONIUS FACILIS, CENTURION OF THE 20TH LEGION HAS BECOME ONE OF THE ICONIC IMAGES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD. THERE IS HARDLY A BOOK ON ROMAN BRITAIN WHICH DOES NOT FEATURE A PHOTOGRAPH OF HIS TOMBSTONE. HE STANDS THERE FOR ALL ETERNITY CALMLY HOLDING HIS BADGE OF OFFICE, A SIMPLE VINE STICK IN ONE HAND, WHILE THE OTHER RESTS ALMOST CASUALLY ON HIS SWORD POMMEL. PROUD AND ALOOF AND VISUALLY EMBODYING THE POWER OF ROME, IT IS NO WONDER THEN THAT DURING THE REVOLT OF BOUDICA IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE MONUMENT WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND IN A SYMBOLIC GESTURE OF DEFIANCE. NEVERTHELESS, IT WAS A GESTURE WHICH IRONICALLY SAVED THIS RELIC FROM THE RAVAGES OF TIME AND HELPED PRESERVE IT.
Learning on the job and in camp • RATHER AS 20TH CENTURY DOCTORS CONSIDERED THE HUMAN APPENDIX, HISTORIANS OFTHE LATER ROMAN LEGIONS HAVE CONSIDEREDTHE CENTURY AS AN EVOLUTIONARY HANGOVER THAT RETAINED LITTLE PRACTICAL PURPOSE. AND INDEED, MANY BOOKS ON ROMAN ARMIES GIVE THE CENTURY BARELY A PASSING MENTION. HOWEVER, JUST AS THE APPENDIX IS NOW REVEALED TO BE A QUITE USEFUL ORGAN, IT MAY PROVE THAT THE CENTURY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ESSENTIAL PART TO THE BACKGROUND FUNCTIONS OF THE IMPERIAL LEGIONS. THE INTENTION OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO SHOW THAT THESE BACKGROUND FUNCTIONS INCLUDED A ROLE IN LEGIONARY TRAINING.
The centuria in battle • THE ANCIENT LITERARY SOURCES REFER PREDOMINANTLY TO LEGIONS AND THEIR COHORTS, BUT THE LEGIONARY COHORT LACKED A COMMANDING OFFICER AND IT IS THEREFORE DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT OPERATED IN BATTLE. HOWEVER, THE SIX CENTURIES FROM WHICH THE COHORT WAS COMPOSED DID POSSESS COMMANDERS AND ESSENTIAL UNDER OFFICERS THAT ALLOWED THEM TO FUNCTION AS TACTICAL UNITS. THE CENTURIAE WERE THE REAL BUILDING BLOCKS OF THE LEGIONS.
Records on bark, Sherds and papyrus • “BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY POSITIONS IN THE LEGIONS THAT REQUIRE LITERATE SOLDIERS, THOSE WHO INSPECT RECRUITS, THOUGH THEY OUGHT TO SEEK OUT HEIGHT, BODILY STRENGTH AND ALACRITY OF SPIRIT IN EVERYONE, SHOULD ALSO SELECT FOR SKILL AT WRITING AND THE ABILITY TO DO ARITHMETIC AND ACCOUNTING. FOR THE ACCOUNTS OF THE ENTIRE LEGION, WHETHER PERTAINING TO SERVICE, TO MILITARY DUTIES, OR TO PAY, ARE WRITTEN DOWN IN RECORDS WITH MORE DILIGENCE THAN THE GRAIN TAX OR COMPLICATED CIVIL-AFFAIRS ARE ANNOTATED.” (VEGETIUS 2.19)
Keeping the legionaries clothed and fed • A LOWLY ROMAN MILES GREGARIUS HAD A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF BEING PROPERLY FED AND...
