Centurion
See also: Centurion (homonymy)
The centurion one is graded of the Roman Armée ancient. In Latin, centurio .
It is about a Officier which can (but not inevitably) order a Centurie in the Roman Légion. There were 60 in each legion of them. That of the 1e centurie, which was the first after the powerful orators, was called the centurion primipile . The centurions had as a mark of their dignity a Vine stock.
Certain old texts “translate” centurio by centenier .
In the army of the Republic
During the first centuries of the Republic (of fifth century BC at third century BC, the legion organized by Cincinnatus into 40 centuries is divided, each one made up of one hundred men. There are thus approximately 40 centurions per legion.
At third century BC, the composition of the legions is modified: they are made up of 30 handle cash from 120 to 160 men, for a total of approximately 4200 men per legion in normal weather, and 5500 in situation of great danger. Each is divided into two centuries of equal importance (only 60 to 80 men) handles. Inside each handles, the drawn soldiers, citizens with the fate to take part in the annual countryside, elect a centurion who orders handles it: it is the centurion elected known as prior , which has the most authority. It names a second centurion to assist it, who orders to it second centurie handles and replaces it: it is the centurion named . There is thus an about sixty centurions by legion, a little more if one counts those of the Staff.
The reform of Marius, the legions take into account ten troops of three handle is six centuries.
Centurion primipile
The primipile is the centurion of the highest rank in a Roman Légion, he belongs to the first centurie of the first handles first troop of the legion. This name means first Pilum (Javelot) : it is him which launched the first its javelin at the time of the battles and thus gave the signal of launching for the other soldiers. It is generally tested the most and valorous of the centurions who occupies this important and honorary station at the same time. This title is maintained under the Empire. Two troops are ordered by a powerful orator. The first centurion of each troop the order.
In the legions of the Empire
Under the Empire, the centurion ordered a Centurie.
See too
- Armed Roman
Famous centurions
- Longinus : who wounds the Christ with the blank with the Sainte Lance during the Passion
- Lucius Vorenus: city in the War of Gaules by Jules César, friend and rival of Titus Pullo
- Titus Pullo: city in the War of Gaules by Jules César, friend and rival of Lucius Vorenus