Centuria:
One centuria (80 men) and the three Standard Bearers in front
The centuria* was the next fighting unit in the Roman army and it consisted of ten contubernium or eighty men. The only centuria that consisted of 160 men was the centuriae* placed in the first cohort because the first chohort was made up of elite troops. The best and strongest troops. And the centuriae were controlled by a centurion*, or the leader of a centuria. If the centurion wasn't there, then the Optio* took control until the centurion returned. Although the job of the centuriae was to take up administrative or logistical purposes of the legion, their main goal was to protect the standard bearers*.
Also, each centuria had their own name so that when they were placed in battle as one cohort, they were in their correct positions. The six different names that were given to a centuria are: Pilus prior, pilus posterior, princeps prior, princeps posterior, hastatus prio and hastatus posterior.
Also, each centuria had their own name so that when they were placed in battle as one cohort, they were in their correct positions. The six different names that were given to a centuria are: Pilus prior, pilus posterior, princeps prior, princeps posterior, hastatus prio and hastatus posterior.
Positions of Centuria in Cohorts:
Placement of the six centuriae that make up one cohort
Imagine staring down at a cohort that is made up of six centuriae. What you would see are two columns with three rows, the Pilus prior centuria in the first column, upper left hand corner. Next to it, in the second column, you would find the Pilus posterior centuria. Now, in the second row, right beneath Pilus prior, Princeps prior would be occupying the space while Princeps posterior centuria was on it's right side, obviously beneath Pilus posterior. Finally, in the last row, Hastatus prior would be the one behind the other two prior centuriae while Hastatus posterior stood behind the other two posterior centuriae. However, the six names of the centuriae were given to the commander of that centuriae.
For example, Pilus prior would be the commander of the first centuria that is in the upper left hand corner when placed within the cohort lines. Pilus posterior would be the commander of the second centuria that stood next to Pilus prior in the lines. And so on.
For example, Pilus prior would be the commander of the first centuria that is in the upper left hand corner when placed within the cohort lines. Pilus posterior would be the commander of the second centuria that stood next to Pilus prior in the lines. And so on.
Standard Bearers
Standard Bearers. Far Left: The Badge, Middle: Being Brave, Far Right: The Spear
There are three standard bearers in each centuria: The Vexillum* (The Badge), The Imago* (Being Brave) and The Signum* (The Spear). Each of them had a special role and where carried on long poles in front of the centuriae.
The Vexillum as shown in the picture farthest left, was the standard that showed the centuriae in the cohorts of a legion what legion they belonged to. For example, if it was the Twelfth Legion, the banner would say LEG for legion and XII for twelve in roman numerals. And underneath it, an animal that represented the legion. However, in this picture, it's LEGXX with a wild boar. The Vexillum was carried by the Vexillarius*.
The Imago standard was the image of their emperor (hence where the word imago comes in) at the time made out of metal so that the soilders could feel fierce, strong and brave when fighting. This was of course carried by the Imaginifer*.
Last but not least, The Signum was the rallying point for the soilders. The long pole consists of several philarae* and other elements. And on top of the pole, a manus* sits. The person who carried this standard was called the signifer*.
Only one legion of course had a certain standard. It was called The Aquila* and it belonged to the First Legion. The reason this standard was so important was because it represented all legions. The bearer of The Aquila was called the Aquilifer*. If The Aquila was lost, then it was considered a major disgrace and the Romans would spend a great amount of time trying to recover it because it honored the legions of Rome.
Finally, as you can see in the picture, the bearers and the horn-player for battle signals are all topped with what looks like an animal's head. Each bearer had their own animal head like a lion (Leo), wolf (Lupus), bear (ursus). Typically, the lion was only worn by the Aquilifer, Signifer or Vexillarius while the bear or wolf was worn by the other standard bearers. Animal skins for the bearer were important because it supposedly stood for the strength and honor of the legion or cohort they were leading.
The Vexillum as shown in the picture farthest left, was the standard that showed the centuriae in the cohorts of a legion what legion they belonged to. For example, if it was the Twelfth Legion, the banner would say LEG for legion and XII for twelve in roman numerals. And underneath it, an animal that represented the legion. However, in this picture, it's LEGXX with a wild boar. The Vexillum was carried by the Vexillarius*.
The Imago standard was the image of their emperor (hence where the word imago comes in) at the time made out of metal so that the soilders could feel fierce, strong and brave when fighting. This was of course carried by the Imaginifer*.
Last but not least, The Signum was the rallying point for the soilders. The long pole consists of several philarae* and other elements. And on top of the pole, a manus* sits. The person who carried this standard was called the signifer*.
Only one legion of course had a certain standard. It was called The Aquila* and it belonged to the First Legion. The reason this standard was so important was because it represented all legions. The bearer of The Aquila was called the Aquilifer*. If The Aquila was lost, then it was considered a major disgrace and the Romans would spend a great amount of time trying to recover it because it honored the legions of Rome.
Finally, as you can see in the picture, the bearers and the horn-player for battle signals are all topped with what looks like an animal's head. Each bearer had their own animal head like a lion (Leo), wolf (Lupus), bear (ursus). Typically, the lion was only worn by the Aquilifer, Signifer or Vexillarius while the bear or wolf was worn by the other standard bearers. Animal skins for the bearer were important because it supposedly stood for the strength and honor of the legion or cohort they were leading.
Vocabulary:
Centuria: Next fighting unit. Made up of 80 men or ten contubernium
Centuriae: Plural for centuris (centuria)
Centurion: Leader of a centuria
Optio: Deputy centurion
Standard Bearers: Three men who carried the standards of the Roman legion
The Vexillum: The Badge
Vexillarius: The person who carried The Vexillum standard
The Imago: Being Brave
Imaginifer: The person who carried The Imago standard
The Signum: The Spear
Philarae: disks
Manus: hand
Signifer: The person who carried The Signum standard
The Aquila: The Eagle standard belonging to the First Legion
Aquilifer: Aquila-bearer and the person in the First Legion carrying The Eagle standard
Centuria: Next fighting unit. Made up of 80 men or ten contubernium
Centuriae: Plural for centuris (centuria)
Centurion: Leader of a centuria
Optio: Deputy centurion
Standard Bearers: Three men who carried the standards of the Roman legion
The Vexillum: The Badge
Vexillarius: The person who carried The Vexillum standard
The Imago: Being Brave
Imaginifer: The person who carried The Imago standard
The Signum: The Spear
Philarae: disks
Manus: hand
Signifer: The person who carried The Signum standard
The Aquila: The Eagle standard belonging to the First Legion
Aquilifer: Aquila-bearer and the person in the First Legion carrying The Eagle standard