How many people were in the Roman legion. Roman legion. Dinner and rest

Around 350 BC. The legion consisted of 3 parts:
1. The front line of heavy infantry (young warriors) of 15 maniples of approximately 60 people. One maniple is equal to 2 centuries. In total, it turns out 900 heavy infantrymen + commanders, standard bearers, buglers. In addition, each of the maniples of this front line was given 20 lightly armed warriors. That's another 300 people.
2. The middle line of heavy infantry (the cream of the army - warriors in their prime) of 15 maniples. Similar to the front line, only no light infantry.
3. The back line consists of 15 rows, each of which is divided into 3 parts:
a) ahead of the veterans
b) behind them young warriors
c) the least reliable soldiers
There are 186 people in each of the ranks (60 veterans + 60 young people + 60 others + 6 commanders). In total, there are approximately 2,800 people in the back line.
The total is 900 + 300 + 900 + 2800 + commanders, buglers, standard bearers = 5000 people. There were no cavalry in the legion.

Approximately 150g. BC. The legion consisted of 4200 foot soldiers:
1. 1200 light warriors (the youngest and poorest people)
2. 1200 first line heavy infantrymen (youth) - 10 maniples
3. 1200 heavy infantry of the second line (people in their prime) - 10 maniples
4. 600 heavy infantry of the third line (veterans) - 10 maniples
Light warriors of 40 were distributed among these 30 maniples of heavy infantry.
One maniple of heavy infantry of the first line + second line + third line could form a cohort (300 heavy and 120 light infantrymen). There are 10 cohorts in the legion in total. But the maniple was considered the main unit.
in different historical sources it says that:
a) in the event of a dangerous situation, the legion increased to 5000 people.
b) The legion consisted of 4,000 foot and 200 horsemen, and in case of a dangerous situation increased to 5,000 foot and 300 horsemen. 300 riders were divided into 10 tours of 30 people.

In addition, it must be said that it was a legion, consisting entirely of Roman citizens. And Rome fought usually with the support of the allies, who formed detachments of 4000-5000 infantry and 900 horsemen. One such detachment was assigned to each legion, so the word "legion" should also be understood as a combat unit of about 10,000 infantry and 1,200 horsemen.

In the period from 140g. BC. for 50g. AD the following changes took place: Maniples of heavy infantry veterans also increased in number to 120 people (from 60 people). Now in each maniple there are 120 heavy and 40 light infantrymen + commanders, buglers, standard bearers = approximately 500 people in a cohort. There are still 2 centuries in each maniple. In total, there are 30 maniples or 10 cohorts in the legion. But the cohort has already become the basic unit.

In the period from 50g. AD for 200g. AD the legion consisted of 10 cohorts. The first cohort had 5 centuries of approximately 160 people. The remaining 9 cohorts each had 6 centuries of approximately 80 people.
In addition, the legion had a cavalry detachment of 120 horsemen.
The total number of the legion is approximately 5500 people.

For many decades, the army of Rome knew no equal. The external enemies of the republic, and then the empire, collapsed one after another under the ramming of cohorts, overshadowed by the shadow of a golden eagle. The Romans thought through everything to the smallest detail and created an organizational masterpiece of their time, deservedly called the "war machine".

During the years of the empire, the army of Rome consisted of praetorian cohorts, legions, auxiliaries (auxiliary troops), numeri, and several other types of armed units.

To begin with, a few words about the Praetorians, in fact, the personal guard of the emperor. Their cohorts were called aquitatae and about 80% consisted of foot soldiers. Each consisted of 10 centuries, commanded by a tribune. The number of cohorts and their size could vary, but on average the Roman Empire had 9-10 cohorts of 500 people each. The general command of the Praetorians was carried out by two prefects-praetorians. The identification mark of the cohorts was the scorpion. Their main location was a military camp in the vicinity of Rome. Three cohorts urbanae were also located there. As the name implies, these units were responsible for the protection and order within Rome.

Praetorians. Column of Marcus Aurelius

The emperor's personal cavalry - eqiuites singulars Augusti (from 500 to 1000 people) and his personal bodyguards - the Germans from the Batav tribe, were also present in the capital of the empire. The latter were called corporis custodes and numbered up to 500 soldiers.

The most numerous and at the same time the most famous part of the Roman army is the legions (legio). During the reform period of the emperor Octavian Augustus (31 BC - 14 AD), there were 25 legions. Each had its own number and name, originating from the place of formation or on behalf of the one who formed the legion. The common emblem of the largest military formations of Rome was the golden eagles, which the soldiers treated as sacred relics.

Each legion consisted of approximately 5000 people (mostly infantry) and included 10 cohorts. The cohort was divided into six centuries, about 80 people each. The only exception was the first cohort. It consisted of five centuries twice the number, that is, approximately 800 people.

Centuria - cohort - legion

Each legion consisted of 120 horsemen. This has been the standard amount for a very long time. Only in the time of Emperor Gallienus (253-268 AD) did the legion's cavalry strength grow to 726 men.

Among the 59 centurions of the legion, the primipilus, who commanded the first centurion of the first cohort, was the highest in rank. The legion also included five tribunes angusticlavia from among the equestrian class of Rome and one or more six-month-old tribunes who commanded the cavalry. One man served as prefect of the camp. The Senate aristocracy, or even the emperor himself in the legion, was represented by one tribune of laticlavius. The commander of the legion until the time of Emperor Gallienus was the legate.

For about 200 years, from 28 BC. and until the end of the 2nd century AD, Rome lost eight legions for various reasons, but instead formed twice as many. This brought the total number of legions to 33.

List of destroyed or disbanded legions of the Roman Empire

List of newly formed legions of the Roman Empire

	Number and name	Year of creation of the legion
	Legio XV Primigenia
	Legio XXII Primigenia

	Legio I Adjutrix
	Legio VII Gemina
	Legio II Adiutrix	69-79 AD
	Legio IV Flavia Felix	69-79 AD
	Legio XVI Flavia Firma	69-79 AD
	Legio I Minervia
	Legio II Traiana Fortis
	Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix
	Legio II Italica
	Legio III Italica
	Legio I Parthica
	Legio II Parthica
	Legio III Parthica

The second component of the Roman army, comparable in number to the legions, were auxiliary troops - auxiliaries. As a rule, units of auxiliary troops, equal in number, marched with the legions in a military campaign. Each subdivision of the auxiliaries consisted of 500 to 1000 infantry or horsemen. The divisions into which the auxiliary troops were divided were in turn divided into cohorts, alas and numeri (units).

The most privileged among the auxiliaries were cavalry units - aly. Each of them consisted of 16–24 tours of 30–32 riders each. Aloy was commanded by a prefect or tribune. The unit could include both heavily armed horsemen like cataphracts, and light horsemen, unprotected and armed only with a shield and javelins. Among other things, there were exotic alas of dromedarii - camel riders for war in the deserts.

Ala auxiliaries. Trajan's Column

The infantry cohorts of the auxiliaries were divided into six or ten centuries, depending on whether they were five hundred or thousand. They, like the cavalry alas, were commanded by tribunes or prefects. The status of auxiliary cohorts depended on who they were staffed with. For example, part of the cohorts were recruited on a voluntary basis from the citizens of Rome and were equated in status with legionnaires. The cohorts, whose status was less honorable, were free inhabitants of the Roman Empire who did not have the title of citizen. Citizenship, together with the benefits due to him, was a reward for 25 years of service in the auxiliaries.

The infantry cohorts of the auxiliary troops varied greatly both in terms of armament and functional tasks. They could be heavy, as much as possible similar to legions. They could be "medium" in terms of the severity of weapons - as a rule, such units were recruited in different regions of the empire. The light infantry of the auxiliaries were armed with various throwing devices (Balearic slingers, Cretan and Syrian archers).

There could even be cohorts of mixed auxiliaries - they included both infantry and cavalry. If it was a cohort of five hundred, then it included six centurions on foot and three horse turms. If the thousandth, then 10 centuries of infantry and six turmes of horsemen.

Auxilarium with severed head in teeth. Trajan's Column

The detachments of the auxiliaries were called by the name of the people from which their original composition was recruited (cohorts Afrorum, Thracum, Dalmatorum, ala Hispanorum, Pannoniorum), or by the name of the unit commander (the most famous example is ala Siliana). Often the name of the emperor was added to the name, by whose will the cohort was created (cohorts Augusta, Flavia, Ulpia), honorary titles (Faithful, Pious, Victorious) and clarifications (sagittariorum - archers, veteran - veteran). Cohorts often moved around the Roman Empire, fighting, and could completely lose their original ethnic composition, as the losses were replenished right on the spot where the unit was at that moment.

A separate phenomenon in the Roman army were numeri. This unit name was used in two senses. The first is any unit that was not a legion, scarlet or cohort. An example is the legate's personal bodyguards. The second meaning referred to a detachment of warriors who were not Romans and retained their ethnic characteristics. This category appeared during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81–96 AD).

Horse ala and numeri. Trajan's Column

Numeri could be mounted, on foot, mixed and varied in number. Researchers explain the appearance of such units by the fact that in the 2nd century a stream of Roman citizens and stateless Romanized inhabitants of the empire poured into the ranks of the auxiliaries. It was considered undesirable to combine barbarians and Romans in one unit, so something new had to be created.

In fact, in the 2nd century, numeri became what auxiliaries used to be. These diverse divisions not only gave Roman tactics flexibility and variety. They performed a social function, contributing to the process of Romanization of the provinces.

If we estimate the total number of troops that the Roman Empire had in the 1st-2nd centuries AD, it will be seen that it was constantly growing. At the beginning of the reign of Octavian Augustus, the army consisted of about 125 thousand legionnaires, about the same number of auxiliaries, ten thousand Roman garrison and a fleet (most likely up to 40 thousand people). Total - about 300 thousand soldiers. By the end of the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus (193–211 AD), researchers estimate that the number of troops had grown to about 450,000.

Legion diagram. From P. Connolly's encyclopedia "Greece and Rome"

The legions were stationed in different provinces of the Roman Empire. Troops based in inland lands provided security in the region. And if the legion stood on the border, then the territory of the war invariably stretched around it, on which wars and skirmishes did not stop. When the peace of Pax Romana was once again disturbed, it was time for a new military campaign.

To be continued

Sources and literature:

Vegetius Flavius Renat. Summary military affairs / Per. from lat. S. P. Kondratiev.- VDI, 1940, No. 1.
Tacitus Cornelius. Annals. Small works. History/Edition prepared by A. S. Bobovich, Ya. M. Borovsky, G. S. Knabe et al. M., 2003.
Flavius Joseph. Jewish War / Per. from Greek Ya. L. Chertka. SPb., 1900.
Le Boek J. The Roman army of the era of the early empire / Per. from fr. M., 2001.
Makhlaiuk A.V. Army of the Roman Empire. Essays on traditions and mentality. N. Novgorod., 2000.
Makhlaiuk A. V. Roman legions in battle. Moscow., 2009.
Connolly P. Greece and Rome. The evolution of military art over 12 centuries: Encyclopedia of military history: Per. from English. M., 2001.
Boltinskaya L. V. To the question of the principles of manning the Roman army under Julius Claudius (according to military diplomas) / / Issues of General History. Issue. 3. Krasnoyarsk., 1973. p. 18–23.

This issue is made on the basis of the three-volume "Military History" by Razin and the book "On the Seven Hills" by M.Yu. German, B.P. Seletsky, Yu.P. Suzdalsky. The issue is not a special historical study and is intended to help those involved in the manufacture of military miniatures.

Brief historical background

Ancient Rome is a state that conquered the peoples of Europe, Africa, Asia, Britain. Roman soldiers were famous all over the world for their iron discipline (but not always it was iron), brilliant victories. The Roman generals went from victory to victory (there were also cruel defeats), until all the peoples of the Mediterranean were under the weight of a soldier's boot.

Roman army in different time had a different number, the number of legions, different construction. With the improvement of military art, weapons, tactics and strategy changed.

In Rome there was a universal conscription. Young men began to serve in the army from the age of 17 and up to 45 in field units, after 45 to 60 they served in fortresses. Persons who participated in 20 campaigns in the infantry and 10 in the cavalry were exempted from service. Service life also changed over time.

At one time, due to the fact that everyone wanted to serve in light infantry (weapons were cheap, they were purchased at their own expense), the citizens of Rome were divided into ranks. This was done under Servius Tullius. The 1st category included people who possessed property, which was estimated at no less than 100,000 copper asses, the 2nd - at least 75,000 asses, the 3rd - 50,000 asses, the 4th - 25,000 asses, the 5 -mu - 11.500 ass. All the poor were included in the 6th category - proletarians, whose wealth was only offspring ( proles). Each property category exhibited a certain number of military units - centuries (hundreds): 1st category - 80 centuries of heavy infantry, which were the main fighting force, and 18 centuries of horsemen; a total of 98 centuries; 2nd - 22; 3rd - 20; 4th - 22; 5th - 30 centuries of lightly armed and 6th category - 1 century, a total of 193 centuries. Lightly armed warriors were used as convoy servants. Thanks to the division into ranks, there was no shortage of heavily armed, lightly armed foot soldiers and horsemen. Proletarians and slaves did not serve because they were not trusted.

Over time, the state took over not only the maintenance of the warrior, but also withheld from him from the salary for food, weapons and equipment.

After a severe defeat near Cannes and in a number of other places, after Punic Wars the army was reorganized. Salaries were sharply increased, and proletarians were allowed to serve in the army.

Continuous wars required many soldiers, changes in weapons, formation, training. The army became mercenary. Such an army could be led anywhere and against anyone. This is what happened when Lucius Cornellius Sulla (1st century BC) came to power.

Organization of the Roman army

After the victorious wars of the IV-III centuries. BC. All the peoples of Italy fell under the rule of Rome. To keep them in obedience, the Romans gave some nations more rights, others less, sowing mutual distrust and hatred between them. It was the Romans who formulated the law “divide and rule”.

And for this, numerous troops were needed. Thus, the Roman army consisted of:

a) legions in which the Romans themselves served, consisting of heavy and light infantry and cavalry attached to them;

b) Italian allies and allied cavalry (after granting citizenship rights to Italians who joined the legion);

c) auxiliary troops recruited from the inhabitants of the provinces.

The main tactical unit was the legion. At the time of Servius Tullius, the legion numbered 4,200 men and 900 cavalry, not counting the 1,200 lightly armed soldiers who were not part of the legion's line-up.

Consul Mark Claudius changed the order of the legion and weapons. This happened in the 4th century BC.

The legion was divided into maniples (in Latin - a handful), centuriae (hundreds) and decuria (tens), which resembled modern companies, platoons, squads.

Light infantry - velites (literally - fast, mobile) went ahead of the legion in a loose storyu and started a fight. In case of failure, she retreated to the rear and to the flanks of the legion. In total there were 1200 people.

Hastati (from the Latin "hasta" - spear) - spearmen, 120 people in a maniple. They formed the first line of the legion. Principles (first) - 120 people in the maniple. Second line. Triaria (third) - 60 people in the maniple. Third line. The triarii were the most experienced and experienced fighters. When the ancients wanted to say that the decisive moment had come, they said: "It came to the triarii."

Each maniple had two centuries. There were 60 people in the centurion of hastati or principes, and there were 30 people in the centurion of triarii.

The legion was given 300 horsemen, which amounted to 10 tours. The cavalry covered the flanks of the legion.

At the very beginning of the application of the manipulative order, the legion went into battle in three lines, and if an obstacle was encountered that the legionnaires were forced to flow around, this resulted in a break in the battle line, the maniple from the second line hurried to close the gap, and the place of the maniple from the second line was occupied by the maniple from the third line . During the fight with the enemy, the legion represented a monolithic phalanx.

Over time, the third line of the legion began to be used as a reserve, deciding the fate of the battle. But if the commander incorrectly determined the decisive moment of the battle, the legion was waiting for death. Therefore, over time, the Romans switched to the cohort system of the legion. Each cohort numbered 500-600 people and, with an attached cavalry detachment, acting separately, was a legion in miniature.

Commanding staff of the Roman army

AT tsarist time the king was in command. In the days of the republic, the consuls commanded, dividing the troops in half, but when it was necessary to unite, they commanded in turn. If there was a serious threat, then a dictator was chosen, to whom the head of the cavalry was subordinate, in contrast to the consuls. The dictator had unlimited rights. Each commander had assistants who were entrusted with individual parts of the army.

Individual legions were commanded by tribunes. There were six of them per legion. Each pair commanded for two months, replacing each other every day, then giving up their place to the second pair, and so on. The centurions were subordinate to the tribunes. Each centuria was commanded by a centurion. The commander of the first hundred was the commander of the maniple. The centurions had the right of a soldier for misdemeanors. They carried with them a vine - a Roman rod, this tool was rarely left idle. The Roman writer Tacitus spoke of one centurion, whom the whole army knew under the nickname: “Pass another!” After the reform of Marius, an associate of Sulla, the centurions of the Triarii gained great influence. They were invited to the military council.

As in our time, the Roman army had banners, drums, timpani, pipes, horns. The banners were a spear with a crossbar, on which a banner made of a single-color material hung. The maniples, and after the reform of Maria the cohorts, had banners. Above the crossbar there was an image of an animal (a wolf, an elephant, a horse, a boar…). If the unit performed a feat, then it was awarded - the award was attached to the flagpole; this custom has been preserved to this day.

The badge of the legion under Mary was a silver eagle or a bronze one. Under the emperors, it was made of gold. The loss of the banner was considered the greatest shame. Each legionnaire had to defend the banner to the last drop of blood. In a difficult moment, the commander threw the banner into the midst of enemies to encourage the soldiers to return it back and scatter the enemies.

The first thing the soldiers were taught was to relentlessly follow the badge, the banner. The standard-bearers were selected from strong and experienced soldiers and enjoyed great honor and respect.

According to the description of Titus Livius, the banners were a square cloth, laced to a horizontal bar, mounted on a pole. The color of the cloth was different. They were all monochromatic - purple, red, white, blue.

Until the allied infantry merged with the Romans, it was commanded by three prefects, chosen from among Roman citizens.

Great importance was attached to the quartermaster service. The head of the commissary service is the quaestor, who was in charge of fodder and food for the army. He oversaw the delivery of everything needed. In addition, each centuria had its own foragers. A special official, like a captain in the modern army, distributed food to the soldiers. At the headquarters there was a staff of scribes, bookkeepers, cashiers who gave out salaries to soldiers, priests-fortunetellers, military police officials, spies, signal trumpeters.

All signals were given by a pipe. The sound of the trumpet was rehearsed with curved horns. At the changing of the guard, they blew a fucina trumpet. The cavalry used a special long pipe, curved at the end. The signal to assemble the troops for the general meeting was given by all the trumpeters gathered in front of the commander's tent.

Training in the Roman army

The training of the fighters of the Roman manipulative legion was primarily to learn the soldiers to go forward on the orders of the centurion, to fill gaps in the battle line at the moment of collision with the enemy, to hasten to merge into total mass. The execution of these maneuvers required more complex training than in the training of a warrior who fought in the phalanx.

The training also consisted in the fact that the Roman soldier was sure that he would not be left alone on the battlefield, that his comrades would rush to his aid.

The appearance of legions divided into cohorts, the complication of maneuver required more complex training. It is no coincidence that after the reform of Mary, one of his associates, Rutilius Rufus, introduced into the Roman army new system education, reminiscent of the system of training gladiators in gladiatorial schools. Only good trained soldiers(trained) could overcome fear and get close to the enemy, attack from the rear on a huge mass of the enemy, feeling only a cohort nearby. Only a disciplined soldier could fight like that. Under Mary, a cohort was introduced, which included three maniples. The legion had ten cohorts, not counting the light infantry, and between 300 and 900 cavalry.

Fig. 3 - Cohort battle order.

Discipline

The Roman army, famous for its discipline, unlike other armies of that time, was entirely in the power of the commander.

The slightest violation of discipline was punishable by death, as well as failure to comply with the order. So, in 340 BC. the son of the Roman consul Titus Manlius Torquata, during reconnaissance without the order of the commander-in-chief, entered into battle with the head of the enemy detachment and defeated him. He talked about this in the camp with enthusiasm. However, the consul condemned him to death. The sentence was carried out immediately, despite the pleas of the entire army for mercy.

Ten lictors always walked in front of the consul, carrying bundles of rods (fascia, fascines). In wartime, an ax was inserted into them. The symbol of the consul's authority over his subordinates. First, the offender was flogged with rods, then they cut off their heads with an ax. If part or all of the army showed cowardice in battle, then decimation was carried out. Decem translated into Russian means ten. This is what Crassus did after the defeat of several legions by Spartacus. Several hundred soldiers were flogged and then executed.

If a soldier fell asleep at his post, he was put on trial and then beaten to death with stones and sticks. For minor infractions, they could be flogged, demoted, transferred to hard work, reduced salaries, deprived of citizenship, sold into slavery.

But there were also awards. They could be promoted in rank, increase salaries, rewarded with land or money, freed from camp work, awarded with insignia: silver and gold chains, bracelets. The award was given by the commander himself.

The usual awards were medals (falers) depicting the face of a god or a commander. Wreaths (crowns) were the highest insignia. Oak was given to a soldier who saved a comrade - a Roman citizen in battle. A crown with a battlement - to the one who first climbed the wall or rampart of an enemy fortress. A crown with two golden prows of ships, to the soldier who was the first to step onto the deck of an enemy ship. The siege wreath was given to the commander who lifted the siege from the city or fortress or liberated them. But the most high reward- a triumph - was given to the commander for an outstanding victory, while at least 5,000 enemies had to be killed.

The victor rode in a gilded chariot, robed in purple and embroidered with palm leaves. The chariot was drawn by four white horses. War booty was carried in front of the chariot and prisoners were led. Relatives and friends, songwriters, soldiers followed the victor. There were triumphal songs. Every now and then the cries of “Io!” and "Triumph!" (“Io!” corresponds to our “Hurrah!”). The slave standing behind the victor on the chariot reminded him that he was a mere mortal and that he should not be arrogant.

For example, the soldiers of Julius Caesar, who were in love with him, followed him, joking and laughing at his baldness.

Roman camp

The Roman camp was well thought out and fortified. The Roman army was said to drag the fortress behind them. As soon as a halt was made, the construction of the camp immediately began. If it was necessary to move on, the camp was abandoned unfinished. Even broken for a short time, it differed from the one-day one by more powerful fortifications. Sometimes the army stayed in the camp for the winter. Such a camp was called a winter camp; houses and barracks were built instead of tents. By the way, on the site of some Roman tagers, cities such as Lancaster, Rochester and others arose. Cologne (the Roman colony of Agripinna), Vienna (Vindobona) grew out of the Roman camps… Cities, at the end of which there is “…chester” or “…kastr”, arose on the site of Roman camps. "Castrum" - camp.

The place for the camp was chosen on the southern dry slope of the hill. Nearby there should have been water and pasture for cart cattle, fuel.

The camp was a square, later a rectangle, the length of which was one third longer than the width. First of all, the place of the praetorium was planned. it square area, whose side is 50 meters. The commander's tents, altars, and a platform for addressing the commander's soldiers were set up here; it was here that the court and the gathering of troops took place. To the right was the quaestor's tent, to the left the legates' tent. On both sides were placed the tents of the tribunes. In front of the tents, a street 25 meters wide passed through the entire camp, the main street was crossed by another, 12 meters wide. There were gates and towers at the ends of the streets. They were equipped with ballistas and catapults. (the same throwing weapon, got its name from a projectile, a ballista, a metal core, a catapult - arrows). Legionnaires' tents stood in regular rows on either side. From the camp, the troops could set out on a campaign without hustle and disorder. Each centuria occupied ten tents, maniples twenty. The tents had a plank frame, a gable plank roof and were covered with leather or coarse linen. Tent area from 2.5 to 7 sq. m. The decuria lived in it - 6-10 people, two of whom were constantly on guard. The tents of the Praetorian Guard and the cavalry were large. The camp was surrounded by a palisade, a wide and deep ditch and a rampart 6 meters high. There was a distance of 50 meters between the ramparts and the tents of the legionnaires. This was done so that the enemy could not light the tents. An obstacle course was arranged in front of the camp from several countervailing lines and barriers from pointed stakes, wolf pits, trees with pointed branches and woven together, forming an almost impassable obstacle.

Greaves have been worn by Roman legionnaires since ancient times. Under the emperors they were abolished. But the centurions continued to wear them. Leggings had the color of the metal from which they were made, sometimes they were painted.

In the time of Marius the banners were silver, in the time of the empire they were gold. The cloths were multicolored: white, blue, red, purple.

Rice. 7 - Weapons.

The cavalry sword is one and a half times longer than the infantry. The swords are single-edged, the handles were made of bone, wood, metal.

A pilum is a heavy spear with a metal tip and shaft. Serrated tip. Wooden tree. The middle part of the spear is wrapped tightly coil to coil with a cord. One or two tassels were made at the end of the cord. The tip of the spear and the rod were made of soft forged iron, up to iron - of bronze. The pilum was thrown at the enemy's shields. The spear that stuck into the shield pulled it to the bottom, and the warrior was forced to drop the shield, as the spear weighed 4-5 kg and dragged along the ground, as the tip and rod were bent.

Rice. 8 - Scutums (shields).

Shields (scutums) acquired a semi-cylindrical shape after the war with the Gauls in the 4th century. BC e. Scutums were made from light, well-dried, aspen or poplar boards tightly fitted to each other, covered with linen, and on top with bull skin. Along the edge, the shields were bordered with a strip of metal (bronze or iron) and strips were placed in a cross through the center of the shield. In the center was placed a pointed plaque (umbon) - the pommel of the shield. Legionnaires kept in it (it was removable) a razor, money and other small things. On the inside there was a belt loop and a metal clip, the name of the owner and the number of the centurion or cohort were written. The skin could be dyed: red or black. The hand was pushed into the belt loop and taken by the bracket, thanks to which the shield hung tightly on the hand.

The helmet in the center is an earlier one, the one on the left is a later one. The helmet had three feathers 400 mm long; in ancient times, helmets were bronze, later iron. The helmet was sometimes decorated in the form of snakes on the sides, which at the top formed a place where feathers were inserted. In later times, the only decoration on the helmet was the crest. At the top of the Roman helmet was a ring through which a strap was threaded. The helmet was worn on the back or on the lower back, as a modern helmet is worn.

Roman velites were armed with javelins and shields. The shields were round, made of wood or metal. Velites were dressed in tunics, later (after the war with the Gauls) all legionnaires began to wear trousers. Some of the velites were armed with slings. The slingers had bags for stones on their right side, over the left shoulder. Some velites may have had swords. Shields (wooden) were covered with leather. The color of the clothes could be anything except purple and its shades. Velites could wear sandals or go barefoot. Archers in the Roman army appeared after the defeat of the Romans in the war with Parthia, where the consul Crassus and his son died. The same Crassus who defeated the troops of Spartacus under Brundisium.

Fig 12 - Centurion.

The centurions had silver-plated helmets, no shields, and the sword was worn on the right side. They had leggings and, as a distinctive sign on the armor, on the chest they had the image of a vine folded into a ring. During the manipulative and cohort construction of the legions, the centurions were on the right flank of the centuries, maniples, cohorts. The cloak is red, and all the legionnaires wore red cloaks. Only the dictator and high commanders were allowed to wear purple cloaks.

Animal skins served as saddles. The Romans did not know stirrups. The first stirrups were rope loops. The horses were not forged. Therefore, the horses were very taken care of.

References

1. Military history. Razin, 1-2 vols., Moscow, 1987

2. On the seven hills (Essays on the culture of ancient Rome). M.Yu. German, B.P. Seletsky, Yu.P. Suzdal; Leningrad, 1960.

3. Hannibal. Titus Livius; Moscow, 1947.

4. Spartacus. Raffaello Giovagnoli; Moscow, 1985.

5. Flags of the states of the world. K.I. Ivanov; Moscow, 1985.

6. History of ancient Rome, under general edition IN AND. Kuzishina; Moscow, 1981.

Publication:
Library of the Military History Commission - 44, 1989

LEGION (lat. legio, genus p. legionis), (lat. legio, genus case legionis, from lego I collect, recruit), the main organizational unit in the army ancient rome(see ANCIENT ROME). The number of the legion at different times was about 38 thousand people. ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

1) in ancient arithmetic, the score is from one hundred thousand to a million. 2) legion (Greek), the name of a detachment from 36 thousand foot and cavalry troops among the ancient Romans. 3) an indefinite set is called a legion, for example, troops. 4) in Russia two detachments were called so ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Legion Condor (de. Legion Condor) voluntary unit association military aviation Nazi Germany, a unit of the Luftwaffe (de. Luftwaffe), which was sent to support the Spanish civil war nationalists Francisco Franco. ... ... Wikipedia

The main unit in the army of Ancient Rome, the first name of the entire Roman army, which consisted of three thousand infantry and 300 horsemen. In 5-4 centuries. BC. the number of legions increased to 24 or more. From the beginning of the 4th c. the legion numbered 3 thousand ... ... Historical dictionary

Legion, or ignorant number, denoting numbers in the old Russian counting system: one hundred thousand, 105 in a small account; the darkness of those (million millions, 1012) in the great account. Old Russian numbers Darkness | Legion | Leodr | Vran | Deck ... Wikipedia

LEGION- the main military unit of Ancient Rome (5000 7000 people). L. consisted of 3,000 heavy infantry (principles, hastati, triarii), 1,200 light infantry (velites), and 300 cavalry. Heavy infantry was divided into 30 maniples of 60 120 ... ... Legal Encyclopedia

Roman legionnaires (modern reconstruction) Legion (lat. legio, genus legionis, from legio I collect, recruit) the main organizational unit in the army of Ancient Rome. The legion consisted of 5 6 thousand (in later periods up to 8 thousand) foot soldiers ... Wikipedia

Wiktionary has an entry for "legion" Contents ... Wikipedia

This term has other meanings, see Condor (meanings). Legion Condor ... Wikipedia

Books

Chemistry. 9-11 grades. Collection of Olympiad problems, Doronkin Vladimir Nikolaevich, Sazhneva Tatyana Vladimirovna, Berezhnaya Alexandra Grigorievna. The manual contains tasks various types, traditionally used in the creation of Olympiad tasks in chemistry. The book provides big number tasks (more than 220 calculated and 100 quality…

In the era of the late Republic and Empire, the legions began to play a serious political role. It is no coincidence that Augustus, after the most severe defeat of the Romans in the Teutoburg Forest (9 AD), exclaimed, clutching his head, “Quintilius Varus, give me back my legions.” They could ensure the capture and retention of power in Rome by the future emperor - or, conversely, deprive him of all hopes.

senior officers

Legatus Augusti Propraetor (Legatus Augusti pro praetore)

The official title of the governor of some provinces of the Roman Empire in the era of the principate.
Legates propraetors were appointed, as a rule, to the largest provinces, as well as to those where the legions were stationed. The provinces were divided into imperial provinces, whose governors were personally appointed by the emperor, and senatorial provinces, whose governors (the so-called proconsuls) were elected by the Roman Senate.
Senators of consular or praetor rank (that is, those who had previously held the office of consul or praetor) were appointed to the post of legate of the propraetor. However, the emperors appointed to rule Egypt only representatives of the equestrian estate - the prefect of Egypt, although there was an army in it. Some small imperial provinces where there were no legions (for example, Mauretania, Thrace, Raetia, Norik, and Judea) received a procurator as viceroy, who commanded only auxiliary units. The legate propraetor headed the provincial administration, was the chief judicial officer and commander-in-chief of all armed forces based in the province (both legions and auxiliary units). The only function that was outside the competence of the legate was finance (the collection and administration of taxes), which was entrusted to an independent procurator who was subordinate only to the emperor. The legate of Augustus, the propraetor, was also called "quinquefascalis", for he had the right to 5 lictors.
In the military hierarchy, the direct subordinates of the legate were the legion legates (commanders of the legions in the province), who in turn commanded the military tribunes (senior officers of the legion) and the prefects (commanders) of the auxiliary units attached to the legion.
In the year 68, 15 out of a total of 36 Roman provinces were ruled by the legate Augustus propraetor: Tarraconian Spain, Lusitania, Aquitania, Lugdunian Gaul, Belgica, Britannia, Germania Inferior, Germania Superior, Moesia, Dalmatia, Galatia, Cappadocia, Lycia and Pamphylia, Syria, Numidia.
The position of legate Augustus propraetor disappeared around the end of the 3rd century.

Legate Legion (Legatus Legionis)

Legion Commander. The emperor usually appointed the former tribune to this post for three or four years, but the legate could hold his post for much longer. In the provinces where the legion was stationed, the legate was also the governor. Where there were several legions, each of them had his own legate, and they were all under the general command of the governor of the province.

Tribunus Laticlavius (Tribunus Laticlavius)

This tribune to the legion was appointed by the emperor or the senate. He was usually young and less experienced than the five military tribunes (Tribuni Angusticlavii), yet his office was second in seniority in the legion, immediately after the legate. The name of the office comes from the word "laticlava", which means two wide purple stripes on the tunic laid down for officials of senatorial rank.
The tribune of laticlavius was always under twenty-five years old - that was the minimum age for the office of quaestor. He was appointed to the position of tribune by the governor of the province, who was either his relative, or did it at the request of friends or the patron of a young man - the Romans generally lived according to the principle “well, how not to please your own little man!”. The tribune laticlavius had no military experience and, after spending one or two (rarely more) years in the army, retired to start his career in the senate. In ten years he could return to the army, already with the rank of legate.

Camp Prefect (Praefectus Castrorum)

The third most senior officer of the Roman legion.
The position first appeared under the emperor Octavian Augustus. It was usually appointed from among the old, experienced centurions. The prefect of the camp took over the command of the legion if there was no legate or tribune laticlavius. He was mainly the administrative head of the legion and oversaw the correctness of camping, infirmaries and wagon trains, as well as camp discipline. However, in combat, he was deprived of command functions. In his submission he had custos armorum. The prefect of the camp was in the service of the legate also as a planner and on the march usually followed in the vanguard of the legion, and in the evening with his assistant looked for a suitable place to set up a marching camp. In addition, he was in charge of purchasing food from the population and other equipment for the soldiers.

Tribunes of Angusticlavia (Tribuni Angusticlavii)

Each legion had five military tribunes from the equestrian order. Most often, these were professional soldiers who occupied high administrative posts in the legion, and during the hostilities they could, if necessary, command the legion. They relied on tunics with narrow purple stripes (angusticlava), hence the name of the position.
By the middle of the II century. AD it became customary to appoint as angusticlavii people who had already served as prefects in parts of the auxiliary infantry. Often they also had time to hold a civil position in their hometown (the age limit is from 25 to 30 years). Thus, the Angustiklavians were usually more mature people with military experience. In the middle of the II century. there were only 131 positions for about 270 commanders of infantry and mixed auxiliaries, consisting of 500 soldiers, so that the governors had plenty to choose from, and they could not appoint people who showed incompetence as tribunes. The best of these two hundred and seventy, 30-40 people, the emperor appointed to command infantry and mixed cohorts, numbering a thousand soldiers.
The future career of the Angustiklavian tribunes was connected with the cavalry. In the legion, they were assigned administrative and economic duties. They had to take care of providing the troops with everything necessary and perform other daily duties of duty officers.

Middle officers

Primipil (Primus Pilus)

The highest-ranking centurion of the legion, heading the first double centuria. In the I-II centuries AD. e. when leaving from military service primipil was enrolled in the estate of horsemen and could reach a high equestrian position in the civil service. The name literally means "first line". Due to the similarity of the words pilus (rank) and pilum (pilum, throwing spear), the term is sometimes incorrectly translated as "centurion of the first spear."
The first cohort was divided into five double centuries, commanded by five senior centurions, who were considered superior to others and were called primi ordines (centurions of the first rank). Among the centurions of the first rank, there was the following hierarchy (in ascending order): hast 2nd, principle 2nd, hast, principle and primipil. Primipilus was the senior centurion in the legion.
Any legionnaire dreamed of rising to the rank of primeval, but for the majority the dream remained unattainable, because this required not only courage, but also education and the ability of an administrator. The centurion held the post of primipil for a year, after which he either retired or received a higher post. The post of primipil was usually received by people at least fifty years old. Some served for forty years - first as a simple soldier, then as a centurion - but could not reach these dizzying heights. When he retired, the primipil received a large allowance and the honorary title of primipilaris (that is, the former primipil), just as a person who was a consul bore the title of consularis until the end of his life. Primipils were the color of the army. The next position of the primipil could be the prefect of the camp, or the post of tribune in the cohorts stationed in Rome, where the most experienced and reliable soldiers served. Some were appointed governors of the provinces, where there were only auxiliary troops, or commanders in the fleet, and, finally, a few reached the top - the post of commander of the Praetorian Guard.

Centurion (Centurio)

The centurions were the basis and backbone of the professional Roman army. They were professional warriors who lived everyday life their subordinate soldiers, and during the battle they commanded them. Usually this post was received by veteran soldiers, however, one could also become a centurion by direct decree of the emperor or other high-ranking official.
The service life of a legionnaire was 25 years. During this time, he could rise to the rank of centurion. The centurions were the only officers who constantly commanded the legionnaires under the command of the legion commander. Higher ranks served at the headquarters. Since centurions were drawn from ordinary soldiers, they are often thought of as something like sergeants. But in fact, their duties roughly corresponded to those of a modern captain.
During the period of the republic, centurions were at first apparently appointed by tribunes, but each appointment was approved by the commander of the army. The centurions were the backbone of the army. These were the only officers whose term of service was not limited, and they often served beyond the prescribed 25 years. The post of centurion attracted not only legionnaires. The soldiers of the Praetorian Guard, having served their 16 years, could receive the post of centurion in the legion. In addition, quite a few young people from the equestrian class wanted to get this position. In the era of the empire, the posts of centurions were handed out by the governors of the provinces, although, undoubtedly, the commanders of the legions and the tribunes could nominate their own people. In addition, friends of people seeking appointment to this position could write a letter of recommendation to the emperor, who was able to intervene and assist them personally.

Each legion had 59 centuries. The centuries were still named after the old maniples, although the name "triarii" was now preferred to "pilus" (pilus). So, in cohorts from II to X there were hast 2nd, hast 1st, principle 2nd, principle 1st, drank 2nd and drank 1st. The name of the centuria was preceded by the number of the cohort, for example: “decimus hastatus posterior” (2nd hast of the tenth cohort), keeping in the traditional name the long-standing division of the legion into maniples. In general, such adherence to traditions is very characteristic of Rome. The number of the centurion commanded by each centurion directly reflected his position in the legion, that is, the most high position occupied by the centurion of the first century of the first cohort, and the lowest - by the centurion of the sixth century of the tenth cohort. The five centurions of the first cohort were called "Primi Ordines". In each cohort, the centurion of the first century was called "Pilus Prior".
A centurion could spend his entire service life in one legion, or he could move from one legion to another, for example, when transferring an entire unit to a new location. Such a transfer was carried out to make up for losses, as, for example, after the revolt of Boadicea in 61: then two thousand soldiers were transferred to the ninth legion.
The centurion was easily recognizable by his silver armor. In addition, the centurion wore greaves, which ordinary legionnaires no longer used; the crest on his helmet was turned across. The centurion wore a sword on his left side, and a dagger on his right, in contrast to ordinary legionnaires. This has led some researchers to suggest that the centurions did not carry the scutum, otherwise it would be difficult for them to draw the sword from the left. However, in the time of Caesar, this was not the case: at the siege of Dyrrachium, a centurion named Scaeva, defending a redoubt, received 120 holes in the shield (Caesar uses the word scutum) and was transferred from the eighth cohort to the Primipils for courage.
Centurions were often cruel people: quite a few legionaries wore scars on their backs from a centurion vine rod (vitis). This was due to the fact that the duties of the centurion included maintaining discipline. From the centurion required rigidity and severity. And therefore, during the mutinies, they usually became the first victims of soldiers' revenge. On the other hand, it should be noted that during the defeats, the losses among the centurions were especially great, because it was they who were appointed to cover the retreat.
The centurions did not disdain to accept bribes from legionnaires who wished to evade any duties. Bribes for vacations were so common that even the emperor hesitated to put an end to it, for fear of causing a riot among the centurions. As a result, in order to save the soldiers from exactions, the emperors had to pay the centurions directly in order to secure the loyalty of the army.

junior officers

Option (Optio)

Assistant to the centurion, replaced the centurion in battle in case of his injury. The centurion chose an option from experienced soldiers as his assistants. Like a regular legionnaire, the option wore a short tunic and caligae, but his belt was richer decorated than a soldier's. Option wore chain mail - the oldest Roman armor, which by the era of the Empire had become a symbol of officer status. To make the option visible in the thick of the battle, he wore a bright longitudinal crest on his helmet. The option always had a rod, with which he equalized the ranks and punished negligent soldiers.

Tesserarius (Tesserarius)

Assistant option. The tesserarius was the principal of a one-and-a-half salary and was responsible in the centuria for organizing guard duty and transmitting passwords, which at that time were issued in the form of tesserae. In service, the tesserarius was not directly subordinate to the centurion, but to the option, he enjoyed disciplinary rights in relation to the legionnaires and deans of his centurion. In the camp, the tesseraria were transferred to the operational subordination of the prefect of the camp, they, in turn, in the camp and on the campaign, were reassigned teams of preventers (sentinels), on the march the place of the tesseraria was near the signifer, in battle he had to help the option maintain discipline. In peacetime, the Tesserarii were also involved in organizing combat training and training of recruits, and were also responsible for recruiting and accepting replacements.
They tried to produce mainly quick-witted and competent soldiers in this rank, it was considered a preparatory step before the title of an option, the centurion used the right to produce it. A distinctive feature of the tesserarius was a staff with a metal pommel, which he wore instead of a spear, and in the performance of his duties of service, also a linen bag for tesserae, worn over the shoulder or attached to the belt.

Decurion (Decurio)

He commanded a detachment of cavalry from 10 to 30 horsemen in the legion. Initially, in the era of the militia army, the elected foremen of the horsemen became the commanders of their dozens in case of war, later this position became appointed, but retained its former name. Three decurias of riders (numbering at least 10 cavalry warriors, usually 30 horses each) made up a turma, the commander of which was the decurion of the first decuria. Gradually, a kind of “non-commissioned officers” and “chief officers” were introduced into the states of the turma - the deputy commander of the turma was an option, appointed from among the combatant cavalrymen and being a duplicator principal, who had the same status as a bill of turma, as well as two cavalrymen on double and one and a half salaries, who did not occupy command positions, but performed certain organizational and administrative functions in the turma, and were not part of specific decuries. At the same time, the candidate for the place of the first decurion was usually not the second decurion, and not an option, but a bill of exchange. In the future, turms in number from 10 to 16 (and later 24) began to be reduced to alas, commanded by temporarily appointed (for the period of the existence of these associations) cavalry prefects, usually from among the senior decurions.

Dean (Decanus)

(on the right in a gilded helmet)
The commander of 10 soldiers (contubernia), with whom he lived in the same tent. The dean enjoyed disciplinary rights in relation to the soldiers of his shellacry. Over time, the size of the Roman camps and tents (barracks) in them increased, as a result, the number of contuberant soldiers subordinate to the dean more than doubled. This led to the fact that uragos began to be appointed to help the dean, above which the title of dean became in status (before that it was almost the only “non-commissioned officer” rank in the Roman army). The rank of tesserarius was superior to the dean in the service, although the Kornizen was considered higher than any dean in the centuria, since he enjoyed disciplinary rights in relation to all the soldiers of the whole centuria, and not a separate contubernia.

Special Honorary Posts

Aquilifer (aquilifer - "carrying an eagle")

An honorary position in the army of Ancient Rome, a standard-bearer who carried a legionary eagle.
Until 104 BC. e. in the form of a “flag” (a symbol of the legion), they could use the image of a wolf, boar, bull, horse, etc., and after that a single standard was introduced (the reform of Gaius Maria) - aquila - in the form of a golden or silver eagle. Aquilifer was one for the entire legion, was considered one of the highest non-commissioned officers (rank below centurion) and received a double salary. Outside of battle, the aquilifer performed the functions of the legion's treasurer and accountant (he was in charge of the legionnaires' savings placed under the protection of the banner).
Most of the famous images of aquilifers (Trajan's column) show them with their heads uncovered (unlike signifers and other smaller standard-bearers who wore animal skins). However, judging by several surviving tombstones, in battle the aquilifers wore a lion skin over their helmet with paws tied around their necks. The armament consisted of a sword (gladius), a dagger (pugio) and a small round shield (parma), which was worn on the side or behind the back on a belt over the shoulder. As protective equipment, the aquilifers used chain mail or scaly armor. A leather “sleeveless jacket” with pterygiums (rectangular scallops with figured fringe at the ends) was worn under the armor on the shoulders and hips. This element of officer equipment, as well as the lion skin worn exclusively by Praetorian signifers, emphasized the special status of the aquilifer.
The eagle of the legion was supposed to be next to the centurion of the first century of the first maniple of the first cohort, that is, the aquilifer actually accompanied the centurion-primipil.

Signifer (signum - sign, ferre - to carry)

A junior officer in the ancient Roman army, who carried the emblem of the cohort, maniple and centuria - signum. Each centuria in the legion had its own signifer, so there were 59 of them in the legion. The signifer of the cohort was the signifer of its first century.
The signum was a long wooden pole topped with a gilded spear or a figure of an open human palm in a round wreath - manus, meaning the oath of allegiance taken by the soldiers. There is a version that the signums with a human palm as a pommel belonged to maniples, and those with a pommel in the form of a spear belonged to cohorts and centuries. Below was a plate with the name and number of the part, as well as the awards with which she was awarded - silver and gold discs (falers) and wreaths. On the signums of the Praetorian cohorts were placed portraits of the emperor and members of his family.
The Signifer of the Centuria was also treasurer, who was responsible for paying the soldiers' salaries, safeguarding their savings, and managing the unit's financial management.
The external difference of the signifer was a bear or wolf skin, worn over a helmet with paws tied around the neck. The praetorian signifers had the skin of a lion. The armament consisted of a sword (gladius), a dagger (pugio). As protective equipment, the signifers used chain mail or scaly armor and a small round shield (parma), which was worn on the side of the belt.

Imaginifer (Imaginifer)

The standard-bearer of the Roman legion, carried a standard with the image of the emperor, which served as a constant reminder of the loyalty of the troops to the emperor. The rank of imaginifer appeared in the legions after the cult of the emperor was founded during the reign of Octavian Augustus. "Imago" was a three-dimensional portrait made of metal, which was carried only in the first cohort.
Imaginifers, like all standard-bearers (signifers) of the Roman army, were distinguished by animal skins worn on a helmet, with paws tied on their chests. The legions wore bear and wolf skins. The weapons were a sword (gladius), a dagger (pugio). Protective equipment included a helmet, chain mail or scale armor and a small round shield (parma).

Vexillary (vexillarius, from vexillum - banner, standard)

The name of the standard-bearer in the Roman army. The vexillarius wore a standard in the form of a slit rectangle with the emblem and number of the military unit, attached to the crossbar on a long shaft. As a rule, vexillums were the standards of individual military units (foot and cavalry) operating outside the legion. The Wixilums also had Praetorian cohorts.
Vexillaria, like all the standard-bearers (signifers) of the Roman army, were distinguished by animal skins worn on a helmet, with paws tied on their chests. In the legions they wore bear and wolf skins, in the Praetorian guard they wore lion skins. The armament consisted of a sword (gladius), a dagger (pugio). Protective equipment included a helmet, chain mail or scale armor and a small round shield (parma).
During the late Empire (3rd - 5th centuries AD), the vexillum gradually supplanted the traditional standards of the Roman army (signums), becoming the main type of Roman banner (in the modern sense of the term). Cornicen (Cornicen) In the time of Trajan, there were 35 bucinators in the state of the Roman legion, on ships - usually one at a time. The ship’s bucinator was with the captain and gave the main commands to the crew: “alarm”, “to battle”, “give anchor”, etc.

Evocatus (evocatus, pl. evocati)

A soldier of the Roman army who served his term and retired, but returned to the service voluntarily at the invitation (evocatio) of the consul or other commander. Such volunteers enjoyed a particularly honorable position in the army, as experienced, seasoned soldiers. They were allocated to special detachments, most often consisting of the commander as his personal guards and especially trusted guards.
In position, the evocates approach the centurions. They receive high salaries. They are usually attracted to the ranks of the army, in addition to devotion to the leader, the promise of a special reward at the end of the work for which they are called. They were subjected, however, to the usual hardships of a soldier's laborer. With the advent of the regular army and with the consolidation as a principle of recruitment, mainly of those who wish in the era of the Empire, units of evocates become more and more rare, but a special corps of evocati Augusti appears, in contrast to which soldiers on extra service are usually called revocati. Evocati Augusti - Creation of Emperor Augustus. The imperial evocates make up a corps of ex-praetorians (ordinary legionnaires are relatively rare), distributed in Rome and in other garrisons; evocates are composed of both praetorian cohorts and legions. Here they occupy a comparatively high position: the Evocat may expect to become a centurion. They receive not the salary (stipendium) of the soldiers, but a special (greater) reward (sularium). Each tactical unit has at least more than one evocat.
Where the special functions of evocates are indicated in the inscriptions, these are not military, but military-civilian functions, related mainly to the economic life of the detachments: here is the agrimensor (surveyor) for the needs of legionary land ownership (territorium legionis), and the imperial architect (architectus armamentarii imperatoris ), and a prison registrar (acommentariis custodiarum), etc. The main business of the evocates was, judging by one inscription, the management of the provisions in the legions, with which, perhaps, it is necessary to compare the title maioriarius menensorum mensores frumentarii of military units). The evocates played an important role in the bread allowance of the Praetorians and urban soldiers (urbani) in Rome. Judging by the appearance of their names on the lead stamps of grain distributions, they were intermediaries between the soldiers and the officials in charge of grain distributions since, under Nero, the Praetorians were included in the plebs frumentaria, that is, urban population, enjoying the right to receive free state bread.

Duplicarius (Duplicarius)

The general name of junior commanders and chiefs in the armies of the Roman system (principals), who received double allowances, and, in addition, an independent military rank. It was worn by a kind of “senior soldiers”, who were not formally principals and did not occupy command or staff positions, but at the same time received a double salary like principals (in different eras and depending on the type of troops, this ranged from 200 to 400 denarii). In the cavalry, one duplicator was regularly relied on the turma, in the infantry their number could depend on specific circumstances: with a shortage of funds, it was reduced, with a shortage of principals, it increased. Duplicarii did not use disciplinary rights in relation to the soldiers of their unit. They were considered as candidates for filling the positions of principals in centuries, for command positions in turms and alas, the interpretation of this rank as an analogue of the modern sergeant is fundamentally erroneous. Also, a simple soldier could be produced in a duplicarium for any specific merit. During the period of the late empire, consolidated teams were formed from duplicarii in the infantry - a kind of "army special forces".