The Discerning Player's Guide to the Legion
Sept 26, 2014 21:49:25 GMT -5
Shadowfax2409, muricahooah, and 1 more like this
Post by HiddenDarkness34 on Sept 26, 2014 21:49:25 GMT -5
I have a bit of time so I'm using it to write an/the unofficial Legion Guide.
Senior Officers
Legati Augusti Pro-Praetore (Legatus Pro-praetor): The appointed governor of an Imperial province who also served as the commander of all military forces (Be they Auxilia or Legions) in the assigned province. Their duties varied from spearheading the administration of the province, to being in charge of all provincial judicial matters. The men of this rank were typically middle-aged and drawn from the ranks of the Senate and typically were ex-Consuls or ex-Praetors assigned to an Imperial Province by the emperor usually for a duration of around 3-5 years.
Legatus Legionis: Essentially a general in the Roman army; these men were the commanders of individual legions. They were also senators who had previously served as one of the Tribuni attached to a Roman legion (or in the less usual case, a provincial governor). They were usually appointed by the emperor and would also serve for a term of around 3 years, though this could be extended. In provinces with only one legion, the Legatus could also function as the region's acting (or full) governor.
Tribunus Laticlavius: The second-in-command of a legion; command was defaulted to them in the case of the Legatus' absence. During the late Republic and Principate system of emperors, each legion was assigned one of these Tribunes (They were one of six tribunes assigned to a legion). These were usually picked by the emperor or the Senate. These men would typically be quite young - in their early-mid 20's - and inexperienced, using this rank within the military as the basis from which to start their own political careers (this was the first step in rising up the Cursus Honorum) or eventually command legions of their own. They were typically men of senatorial rank belonging to a rich, influential family and/or were friends of legionary commanders. He would typically serve only a few years before returning to Rome to begin his political career (usually as a Quaestor).
Tribunus Angusticlavius: 5 Tribunes of this rank would be assigned to each legion. These men were instead of equestrian rank and were similarily, young men looking to start their careers. These men usually had military experience prior to receiving the rank and were career officers who held limited authority. Their roles during the Principate were primarily judicial and administrative. Some of their duties would include monitoring the performances of the Centurions and overseeing the administrative sector of the legions, including supervising the clerks under their command (i.e. Cornicularii), maintain updated lists of battle casualties and unit strengths, and overseeing the discharge of veterans. They typically served around 3-4 years and would usually go on to serve as commanders within the auxilia or as the commander of an ala of cavalry.
Praefectus Castrorum: The third-in-command of a legion and also of equestrian rank. The holder of this rank would usually be middle-aged, a veteran with decades of experience who had risen through the ranks of the Centurions (must have attained the rank of 1st Centurion - Primus Pilus). His tasks were akin to a that of a quartermaster, as his duties were to oversee the logistical elements of a legion. He was responsible for choosing camp sites, overseeing construction of forts and entrenchments, fort-inspection, overseeing the legion's baggage train, and the management of supplies and siege devices (ex. battering rams, siege towers, etc). He also was responsible for overseeing troop movement. His jurisdiction would also sometimes extend to the command of the medici (doctors), surveyors, and time-keeper.
The Centurionate and the Principales
Centurion: Each legion was composed of 10 units called cohorts and each of these cohorts were composed by approximately six centuriae. Each of these centuries (unit of 80 men) were led by men called Centurions. There were approximately 60 Centurions per legion. These career soldiers were arguably the most vital part of the legion, ensuring that the common footsoldier was well-trained, well-fed, rested, and ready to fight to his best ability. They were in charge of the daily lives of their men in most conceivable ways. They were typically soldiers who moved up the ranks, but could be appointed by the emperor or officials within the Senate. There were varying degrees of seniority within the Centurionate itself, with the command of the first century of the first cohort being the most sought after post (they were essentially the fourth-in-command of a legion and were sometimes invited to war councils - a fact noted in Caesar's Gallic Commentaries). This man was the Primus Pilus. Centurions had to be literate, have connections (letters of recommendation), have prior military experience, and be at least 30 years old (in his prime). He carried a vitis (swagger stick/riding crop) which was used to direct field operatons, drills, or administer physical punishment.
Aquilifer: The standard-bearer for the legion. This man was granted the immense honour and task of carrying and maintaining the aquila (Eagle standard - though in the Republic, there were other symbols including the ox and wolf). He was also responsible for the legion's pay and safeguarding of the paychest. He only had direct command of the Signiferii (standard-bearers). It was considered an immense dishonour and grevious blow to national prestige for the legion's standard to be lost and often times, they would be buried, melted down or evacuated rather than given to enemy hands.
Signifer: The standard bearer for each century. This man was granted the honour and task of carrying the century's signum, a spear shaft decorated with medallions and an open hand to signify/symbolize the soldiers' oath of loyalty. They were exempt from duties such as constructing fort entrenchments, fort construction, and cleaning to name a few. He was responsible primarily for the average soldier's pay and savings.
Optio: A Centurion-in-training picked by the Centurion to be his right hand man. His duties were similar to those of the Centurion, though emphasis was placed on ensuring discipline and order in the ranks during battle or training. His authority extended to what the Centurion dictated was acceptible and he would only take command during battle if the Centurion were incapacitated. He carried a hastile, a staff of office.
Tesserarius: The century's guard captain responsible for patrols, scouts, sentries, setting the daily watchword and sometimes training and instilling discipline among the ranks. He was not considered a full officer and only had jurisdiction over the common soldier in the above-mentioned places.
Cornicularius: They served as the mouths of the officers, playing tunes sometimes to fit the occasion, but mostly issuing orders via horns (these can be heard even in the din of battle) and sometimes orally. They were vital in ensuring the troops received orders, especially during the chaos of battle. He would also be the Centurion's adjutant, serving in an administrative capacity for the century as well.
The Footsoldiers
Evocati: Soldiers who had served their time within the legion, but re-enlisted, usually at the behest of former commanding officers. Being veterans, they were generally paid more than the common footsoldier and were exempt from duties such as constructing entrenchments, setting up forts, and the likes.
Immunes: Specialist soldiers in fields such as medicine, siege works, surveying, architecture, and smithing. They were required to fight as the rank and file soldier, but were generally exempt from duties such as cleaning, patrols, and such to perform their specialist roles. They would earn slightly more pay than the common footsoldier.
Discens: A soldier in training for one of the various fields listed above.
Miles: The common footsoldier. These men formed the backbone of any legion and initially were recruited mainly from Italia. However, as time went on, they would be more commonly recruited from the provinces. These soldiers served for a period of 20 years after taking the Sacramentum Militare (oath of loyalty to the emperor and country) and swearing in the name of Jupiter to uphold them (Jupiter was the enforcer of law and oaths). They were subjected to rigorous and frequent training regimes and were typically good-quality infantrymen. They were armed with a sub-rectangular shield called the scutum and a short-sword called the gladius. They wore an iron helmet (galea) and either the lorica segmentata (bands of segmented armour) or the lorica hamata (chainmail). The lorica hamata, however, was more commonly worn by legionaries at this time, though the lorica segmentata is certainly present during this time period. Roman milites also wore a mail skirt and caligae, military sandals that enabled the wearer great mobility and all-terrain grip. Most players should expect to stay in this rank. While being an officer is viewed as somewhat-very prestigious, SOLDIERS are the backbone of ANY army and are just as important!
Tiro: A levy; these soldiers were trainees/initiates and were not considered full soldiers (they were also not entitled to pay) until they proved themselves in battle and/or through exemplary performance in training.
Senior Officers
Legati Augusti Pro-Praetore (Legatus Pro-praetor): The appointed governor of an Imperial province who also served as the commander of all military forces (Be they Auxilia or Legions) in the assigned province. Their duties varied from spearheading the administration of the province, to being in charge of all provincial judicial matters. The men of this rank were typically middle-aged and drawn from the ranks of the Senate and typically were ex-Consuls or ex-Praetors assigned to an Imperial Province by the emperor usually for a duration of around 3-5 years.
Legatus Legionis: Essentially a general in the Roman army; these men were the commanders of individual legions. They were also senators who had previously served as one of the Tribuni attached to a Roman legion (or in the less usual case, a provincial governor). They were usually appointed by the emperor and would also serve for a term of around 3 years, though this could be extended. In provinces with only one legion, the Legatus could also function as the region's acting (or full) governor.
Tribunus Laticlavius: The second-in-command of a legion; command was defaulted to them in the case of the Legatus' absence. During the late Republic and Principate system of emperors, each legion was assigned one of these Tribunes (They were one of six tribunes assigned to a legion). These were usually picked by the emperor or the Senate. These men would typically be quite young - in their early-mid 20's - and inexperienced, using this rank within the military as the basis from which to start their own political careers (this was the first step in rising up the Cursus Honorum) or eventually command legions of their own. They were typically men of senatorial rank belonging to a rich, influential family and/or were friends of legionary commanders. He would typically serve only a few years before returning to Rome to begin his political career (usually as a Quaestor).
Tribunus Angusticlavius: 5 Tribunes of this rank would be assigned to each legion. These men were instead of equestrian rank and were similarily, young men looking to start their careers. These men usually had military experience prior to receiving the rank and were career officers who held limited authority. Their roles during the Principate were primarily judicial and administrative. Some of their duties would include monitoring the performances of the Centurions and overseeing the administrative sector of the legions, including supervising the clerks under their command (i.e. Cornicularii), maintain updated lists of battle casualties and unit strengths, and overseeing the discharge of veterans. They typically served around 3-4 years and would usually go on to serve as commanders within the auxilia or as the commander of an ala of cavalry.
Praefectus Castrorum: The third-in-command of a legion and also of equestrian rank. The holder of this rank would usually be middle-aged, a veteran with decades of experience who had risen through the ranks of the Centurions (must have attained the rank of 1st Centurion - Primus Pilus). His tasks were akin to a that of a quartermaster, as his duties were to oversee the logistical elements of a legion. He was responsible for choosing camp sites, overseeing construction of forts and entrenchments, fort-inspection, overseeing the legion's baggage train, and the management of supplies and siege devices (ex. battering rams, siege towers, etc). He also was responsible for overseeing troop movement. His jurisdiction would also sometimes extend to the command of the medici (doctors), surveyors, and time-keeper.
The Centurionate and the Principales
Centurion: Each legion was composed of 10 units called cohorts and each of these cohorts were composed by approximately six centuriae. Each of these centuries (unit of 80 men) were led by men called Centurions. There were approximately 60 Centurions per legion. These career soldiers were arguably the most vital part of the legion, ensuring that the common footsoldier was well-trained, well-fed, rested, and ready to fight to his best ability. They were in charge of the daily lives of their men in most conceivable ways. They were typically soldiers who moved up the ranks, but could be appointed by the emperor or officials within the Senate. There were varying degrees of seniority within the Centurionate itself, with the command of the first century of the first cohort being the most sought after post (they were essentially the fourth-in-command of a legion and were sometimes invited to war councils - a fact noted in Caesar's Gallic Commentaries). This man was the Primus Pilus. Centurions had to be literate, have connections (letters of recommendation), have prior military experience, and be at least 30 years old (in his prime). He carried a vitis (swagger stick/riding crop) which was used to direct field operatons, drills, or administer physical punishment.
Aquilifer: The standard-bearer for the legion. This man was granted the immense honour and task of carrying and maintaining the aquila (Eagle standard - though in the Republic, there were other symbols including the ox and wolf). He was also responsible for the legion's pay and safeguarding of the paychest. He only had direct command of the Signiferii (standard-bearers). It was considered an immense dishonour and grevious blow to national prestige for the legion's standard to be lost and often times, they would be buried, melted down or evacuated rather than given to enemy hands.
Signifer: The standard bearer for each century. This man was granted the honour and task of carrying the century's signum, a spear shaft decorated with medallions and an open hand to signify/symbolize the soldiers' oath of loyalty. They were exempt from duties such as constructing fort entrenchments, fort construction, and cleaning to name a few. He was responsible primarily for the average soldier's pay and savings.
Optio: A Centurion-in-training picked by the Centurion to be his right hand man. His duties were similar to those of the Centurion, though emphasis was placed on ensuring discipline and order in the ranks during battle or training. His authority extended to what the Centurion dictated was acceptible and he would only take command during battle if the Centurion were incapacitated. He carried a hastile, a staff of office.
Tesserarius: The century's guard captain responsible for patrols, scouts, sentries, setting the daily watchword and sometimes training and instilling discipline among the ranks. He was not considered a full officer and only had jurisdiction over the common soldier in the above-mentioned places.
Cornicularius: They served as the mouths of the officers, playing tunes sometimes to fit the occasion, but mostly issuing orders via horns (these can be heard even in the din of battle) and sometimes orally. They were vital in ensuring the troops received orders, especially during the chaos of battle. He would also be the Centurion's adjutant, serving in an administrative capacity for the century as well.
The Footsoldiers
Evocati: Soldiers who had served their time within the legion, but re-enlisted, usually at the behest of former commanding officers. Being veterans, they were generally paid more than the common footsoldier and were exempt from duties such as constructing entrenchments, setting up forts, and the likes.
Immunes: Specialist soldiers in fields such as medicine, siege works, surveying, architecture, and smithing. They were required to fight as the rank and file soldier, but were generally exempt from duties such as cleaning, patrols, and such to perform their specialist roles. They would earn slightly more pay than the common footsoldier.
Discens: A soldier in training for one of the various fields listed above.
Miles: The common footsoldier. These men formed the backbone of any legion and initially were recruited mainly from Italia. However, as time went on, they would be more commonly recruited from the provinces. These soldiers served for a period of 20 years after taking the Sacramentum Militare (oath of loyalty to the emperor and country) and swearing in the name of Jupiter to uphold them (Jupiter was the enforcer of law and oaths). They were subjected to rigorous and frequent training regimes and were typically good-quality infantrymen. They were armed with a sub-rectangular shield called the scutum and a short-sword called the gladius. They wore an iron helmet (galea) and either the lorica segmentata (bands of segmented armour) or the lorica hamata (chainmail). The lorica hamata, however, was more commonly worn by legionaries at this time, though the lorica segmentata is certainly present during this time period. Roman milites also wore a mail skirt and caligae, military sandals that enabled the wearer great mobility and all-terrain grip. Most players should expect to stay in this rank. While being an officer is viewed as somewhat-very prestigious, SOLDIERS are the backbone of ANY army and are just as important!
Tiro: A levy; these soldiers were trainees/initiates and were not considered full soldiers (they were also not entitled to pay) until they proved themselves in battle and/or through exemplary performance in training.
