War and Game

Described as the backbone of the army and considered to be the best soldiers in the maniple. They were experienced and talented professional soldiers. They were promoted from the ranks on the basis not of their social standing or family relationships but (usually) of their bravery and ability. They were rewarded with a large tent and far more pay and plunder than the average soldier received. They enjoyed tremendous prestige with the common soldier because they had similar backgrounds and unlike many military tribunes, legates, and even commanders, the centurions had earned their positions. They had influence not just with those under them but also with their superiors. The typical legion had 60 centuries, 6 per cohort. There was a definite hierarchy among them; the six centurions of the cohort were ranked, with the highest running the first century and possibly the cohort itself. The competition to rise within the ranks of the centurionate was fierce, as demonstrated by the rivalry between T. Pullo and L. Vorenus in Caesar’s army. The top centurions from the legion’s 10 cohorts were called the primi ordines. The ranking centurion among the primi ordines was the primus pilus, who was the leading centurion of the entire legion.

It was the duty of the centurions to command the 80 men in their century. They were responsible for enforcing orders. When necessary, they informed the military tribunes of problems that required investigation or punishment. In short, they were responsible for discipline at the lowest level of the camp and were vital for the commander’s control of the men.

The importance of the centurion can readily be seen in the works of Caesar. He stated that the loyalty of the centurions, especially during the Civil War, was essential to his success. He knew not just the names of individual centurions but also their military history, and he knew how many centurions had died in particular battles, even in the army of his enemies.

Immediately below the centurions were the three principales: the optio, signifier, and tesserarius. Below that may have been another rank known as the immunes. Last but not least, the bulk of the army consisted of the miles (common soldiers). These men were usually of humble origins who were conscripted or who volunteered, mostly from the rural areas of Italy. Soldiers came from Cisalpina, Etruria, Picenum, Umbria, the Sabine country, Campania, Samnium, Lucania, Apulia, and Bruttium, from among the Marsi, Paeligni, and the Marrucini. Almost all of the regions of Roman Italy were represented in republican armies.

Each soldier was part of a century, which numbered 80 men. The century as a whole was a soldier’s first loyalty, the group with which he fought, marched, and lived. In fact, he had almost a religious connection to his century. The Roman soldier was also part of a smaller unit, the contubernium. The contubernium was a group of eight men who shared a tent and messed together.