List of Roman army unit types
Encyclopedia
This is a list of unit types and ranks of the Roman army
from the Roman Republic
to the fall of the Roman Empire
. This includes a list of the sub-units of the Roman Legion
.
The list below covers mainly unit types of the Roman Empire, since the early Roman army was from surviving records more uniform. Likewise, there is a greater concentration on legionary ranks, since there are greater records extant than for auxiliary and other non-legionary units.
More than one term was often used to describe essentially the same rank or unit type and, additionally, several words could be strung together to more exactly describe a man's unit or rank - for instance a "discens immunis veterinarius" would be a trainee military veterinarian.
Comments added include period when such units existed, cause of disappearance (if relevant), and brief summary of role, as well as link to the main article (if existing).
The three main ranks are the Hastati, The Principes, and The Triari.
Roman army
The Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
from the Roman Republic
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
to the fall of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. This includes a list of the sub-units of the Roman Legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
.
The list below covers mainly unit types of the Roman Empire, since the early Roman army was from surviving records more uniform. Likewise, there is a greater concentration on legionary ranks, since there are greater records extant than for auxiliary and other non-legionary units.
More than one term was often used to describe essentially the same rank or unit type and, additionally, several words could be strung together to more exactly describe a man's unit or rank - for instance a "discens immunis veterinarius" would be a trainee military veterinarian.
Comments added include period when such units existed, cause of disappearance (if relevant), and brief summary of role, as well as link to the main article (if existing).
Unit types
- Accensus - either a public officer who attended on several of the Roman magistrates; or a kind of supernumerarySupernumeraryA Supernumerary is an additional member of an organization. A supernumerary is also a non-regular member of a staff, a member of the staff or an employee who works in a public office who is not part of the manpower complement...
soldier who served to fill the places of those who were killed or disabled by their wounds in the Roman Republic - Adscripticius - a supernumerarySupernumeraryA Supernumerary is an additional member of an organization. A supernumerary is also a non-regular member of a staff, a member of the staff or an employee who works in a public office who is not part of the manpower complement...
soldier of the Roman Republic who served to fill the places of those who were killed or disabled by their wounds. - Antesignani - Vanguard troops. Antesignani means "those before the standard" (Signus, Signum)
- auxiliaAuxiliaries (Roman military)Auxiliaries formed the standing non-citizen corps of the Roman army of the Principate , alongside the citizen legions...
- troops in the Roman army of the late Republican and Imperial periods who originally stayed in their home province but were formalised and later took on the role of providing specialist support to the legions. An example would be the Syrian archer. - Balearic slingers - Expert slingers from the Balearic IslandsBalearic IslandsThe Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
off the Mediterranean coast of modern Spain. - bucelariiBucellariiBucellarii is a term for a unit of soldiers in the late Roman and Byzantine empire, that were not supported by the state but rather by some individual such as a general or governor, in essence being his "household troops".These units were generally quite small, but, especially during the many...
- a unit of soldiers in the late Roman and Byzantine empire, that were not supported by the state but rather by some individual such as a general or governor. - cataphractarii - heavily armed and armoured cavalrymen, adopted from the Parthians and first deployed by the Romans in the 2nd Century AD during the reign of emperor Hadrian.
- Classiarii - naval infantry
- CeleresCeleresThe Celeres were a personal armed guard of 300-500 men maintained by Romulus, the mythical founder of ancient Rome. The Celeres were associated with Celer, the lieutenant of Romulus responsible for Remus' slaying in some stories. Livy mentions that they served in peacetime and in war, unlike the...
- a force of 300-500 probably cavalry that served as a bodyguard to the early Roman kings. Their name CelerCelerAccording to Ovid's description of the founding of Rome by Romulus , Celer was the name of an otherwise unknown foreman, appointed by Romulus to oversee the building of Rome's first walls...
is Latin for "swift". - ClibanariiClibanariiThe Clibanarii or Klibanophoroi were a Sassanid Persian, late Roman and Byzantine military unit of heavy armored horsemen. Similar to the cataphracti, the horsemen themselves and their horses were fully armoured...
- a military unit of heavy armoured horsemen similar to the Cataphracti - Cohortes urbanaeCohortes urbanaeThe cohortes urbanae of ancient Rome were created by Augustus to counterbalance the enormous power of the Praetorian Guard in the city of Rome and serve as a police force...
- a police unit of urban Rome and sometime counterbalance to the power of the praetorian guard. - ComitatensesComitatensesComitatenses is the Latin plural of comitatensis, originally the adjective derived from comitatus , itself rooting in Comes .However, historically it became the accepted name for...
- the standard legionary soldier after the reforms of Constantine - Comitatenses Palatini or Auxilia Palatini- a central field army of the late Roman Empire that was unique in that it was always under the direct command of the Roman Emperor
- Contarií - cavalry equipped with the contos (kontos), a very long lance
- dromedariiDromedariiDromedarii were camel riding auxiliary forces recruited in the desert provinces of the Late Roman Empire.They were developed to take the place of horses where horses were not common...
- camel riding auxiliary forces recruited in the desert provinces of the east Roman republic - DuplicariusDuplicariusA duplicary was a pay grade in the Roman Army receiving double the basic pay. The grade could also be awarded to ordinary legionary soldiers, regardless of rank, as a reward for outstanding bravery or service....
- officer in the army - Equites - Roman citizen horse troops drawn from the Roman equestrian class.
- FoederatiFoederatiFoederatus is a Latin term whose definition and usage drifted in the time between the early Roman Republic and the end of the Western Roman Empire...
- soldiers provided by barbarian tribes in return for subsidies - frumentariiFrumentariiFrumentarii acted as the secret service of the Roman Empire. There are two main sources of information about the frumentarii, inscriptions on gravestones and anecdotes where the actions of individual frumentarii are mentioned by historians. From what is known of the Frumentarii, they always worked...
- the secret service of the Roman Empire. - HastatiHastatiHastatii were a class of infantry in the armies of the early Roman Republic who originally fought as spearmen, and later as swordsmen. They were originally some of the poorest men in the legion, and could afford only modest equipment — light armour and a large shield, in their service as the...
- the first line of battle in the Roman Republican Army. - herculianiHerculiansThe Jovians and Herculians were the senior palatine imperial guard units of the Emperors of the late Roman Empire and the early Byzantine Empire from the 290s until the 7th century.-History:...
- the imperial guard of the Emperors of the Roman Empire from 284 until 988 - Ioviani (also called Jovians) - the imperial guard of the Emperors of the Roman Empire from 284 until 988
- Lancearii - Spear armed mail clad field troopers that supported the comitatensesComitatensesComitatenses is the Latin plural of comitatensis, originally the adjective derived from comitatus , itself rooting in Comes .However, historically it became the accepted name for...
- Latini - allied troops of the Republic provided by non-citizens living in allied Latin towns
- LimitaneiLimitaneiThe limitanei, meaning "the soldiers in frontier districts" The limitanei, meaning "the soldiers in frontier districts" The limitanei, meaning "the soldiers in frontier districts" (from the Latin phrase limes, denoting the military districts of the frontier provinces established in the late third...
- Lighter late legionaries similar to the auxilia of Caesar's day normally use in garrison. - Menapian spearmen - More few and at best auxiliary mercenaries.
- Nabataean archers - Auxiliary bowmen recruited from Nabataea, in what is now southern Jordan.
- NumeriiNumeriiThe Roman army used some auxiliaries who were not so well trained. These were called numeri . The numeri were small groups of half-savage tribesmen, using their own weapons and commanded by their own chiefs. Their orders would be given in their own language, not Latin. Numeri were used as border...
- A loose term for any soldier - pedites - the infantry of the early army of the Roman kingdom. The majority of the army in this period.
- Peditatus - a term referring to any infantryman in the Roman Empire
- praetoriansPraetorian GuardThe Praetorian Guard was a force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors. The title was already used during the Roman Republic for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio family around 275 BC...
- a special force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors - PrincipesPrincipesPrincipes were spearmen, and later swordsmen, in the armies of the early Roman Republic. They were men in the prime of their lives who were fairly wealthy, and could afford decent equipment. They were the heavier infantry of the legion who carried large shields and wore good quality armour. Their...
- the second line of battle in the Roman Republican Army. They were also chieftains in Briton like Dumnorix of the Regneses (he was killed by Gaius Salvius Liberalis' soldiers) - Rorarii - the final line, or reserve, in the ancient pre-Marius Roman army. These were removed even before the reforms as the Triarii provided a very sturdy anchor
- SagittariiSagittariiSagittarii Sagitarii is the latin term for archers. The term sagittariorum in the title of an infantry or cavalry unit indicated a specialized archer regiment. Regular auxiliary units of foot and horse archers appeared in the Roman army during the early empire...
- archers, including horse-riding auxiliary archers recruited mainly in the Eastern Empire and Africa - Scholae PalatinaeScholae PalatinaeThe Scholae Palatinae , were an elite military guard unit, usually ascribed to the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great as a replacement for the equites singulares Augusti, the cavalry arm of the Praetorian Guard...
- an elite troop of soldiers in the Roman army created by the Emperor Constantine the Great to provide personal protection of the Emperor and his immediate family - Socii - Conscripts
- speculatoresSpeculatoresSpeculatores and Exploratores were the scouts and reconnaissance element of the Roman army.In both the legions and in the praetorian camp, speculatores were initially scouts but became bodyguards, couriers, law-enforcers, and sometimes executioners. Exploratores were tasked to keep watch on enemy...
- the scouts and reconnaissance element of the Roman army - supernumerarii - a kind of supernumerary soldier who served to fill the places of those who were killed or disabled by their wounds
- TriariiTriariiTriarii were one of the elements of the early Roman military Manipular legions of the early Roman Republic . They were the oldest and among the wealthiest men in the army, and could afford good quality equipment. They wore heavy metal armour and carried large shields, their usual position being...
- the third standard line of infantry of the Roman Republic's army - VelitesVelitesVelites were a class of infantry in the Polybian legions of the early Roman republic. Velites were light infantry and skirmishers who were armed with a number of light javelins, or hastae velitares, to fling at the enemy, and also carried short thrusting swords, or gladii for use in melee...
- a class of light infantry in the army of the Roman Republic - VigilesVigilesThe Vigiles or more properly the Vigiles Urbani or Cohortes Vigilum were the firefighters and police of Ancient Rome.-History:...
- the firefighters and police of Ancient Rome
Military ranks
- Accensus - a reservist or light legionary infantry soldier.
- Acceptarius - a discharged soldier.
- Actarius - a military or camp clerk.
- Adiutor- a camp or headquarters adjutant or assistant.
- Aenator - military musician such as a bugler.
- Agrimensor - a surveyor (a type of immunesImmunesAncient Rome's military was highly advanced for its time, divided into multiple units to maximize efficiency and power. One such unit was the immune class. By definition, the immunes were legionary soldiers who possessed specialized skills, qualifying them to perform duties atypical of a Roman...
). - AquiliferAquiliferAn aquilifer was a senior signifer bearing the eagle standard of a Roman legion. The name derives from the type of standard, aquila meaning "eagle", which was the universal type used since 104 BC. Before that time, the wolf, boar, bull and horse were also used...
- carried the legionary eagle. - Alaris - a cavalryman serving in an alaAla (Roman military)An Ala was the term used during the mid- Roman Republic to denote a military formation composed of conscripts from the socii, Rome's Italian military allies. A normal consular army during this period consisted of 2 legions, composed of Roman citizens only, and 2 allied alae...
. - Architecti - an engineer or artillery constructor.
- Armicustos - a soldier tasked with the administration and supply of weapons and equipment. A quartermaster.
- Ballistarius - an artillery operator.
- Beneficiarius - a soldier performing an extraordinary task such as military policing or a special assignment.
- Bucinator - a trumpeteer or bugler.
- Cacula - an un-enlisted camp servant
- Capsarior - a medical orderly.
- Causarius - a soldier discharged for wounds or other medical reasons.
- CenturionCenturionA centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
- officer rank, generally one per century, in charge of century. - Clinicus - a medic.
- CornicenCornicenA cornicen was a junior officer in the Roman Army. The cornicen's job was to signal salutes to officers and sound orders to the legions. The cornicines played the cornu . Cornicines always marched at the head of the centuries, with the tesserary and the signifer...
- bugler - Doctor - a trainer, subdivisions for everything from weapons to hornblowing
- DraconariusDraconariusFor the spider genus in the family Amaurobiidae, see : Draconarius .The draconarius was a type of signiferi who bore a cavalry standard known as a draco in the Roman army.- Name :...
- Roman cavalry standard bearer - DecurionDecurion (military)A decurion was a Roman cavalry officer in command of a squadron of cavalrymen in the Roman army.- Republican army :...
- leads a troop of cavalry (14-30 men). Often confused with decanus. - DecanusDecanusDecanus means "chief of ten" in Late Latin. The term originated in the Roman army and became used thereafter for subaltern officials in the Byzantine Empire, as well as for various positions in the Church, whence derives the English title "dean"....
- leads a contubernium (a legionary tent group of 8 men) - DiscensDiscensA discens was a soldier of the military of ancient Rome who was in training to become an immunis, or specialist within the army.Immunes took up the trades and skills of engineers, field medics, carpenters, and craftsmen. However, they were also fully trained and would be expected to fight in the...
- Miles in training for an immunis position. - DuxDuxDux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
- a general in charge of two or more legions - EvocatusEvocatusEvocatus was the Latin term for a soldier in the Roman army who had served out his time and obtained a discharge but had voluntarily enlisted again at the invitation of the consul or other commander....
- soldiers in the Roman army, who had served out their time and obtained their discharge (missio), but had voluntarily enlisted again at the invitation of the consul or other commander - Hastatus Prior - a centurion commanding a manipulus of hastati. A high ranking officer within a manipuli
- Hastatus Posterior - a deputy to the hastatus prior
- Hastiliarius - a weapons instructor.
- ImaginiferImaginiferThe imaginifer was one of the signiferi in a legion in the times of the Roman Empire, who carried the imago - the image - of the emperor. The imaginifer was added to the ranks of the legions when the Imperial Cult was first established during the reign of Augustus. The imago was a three...
- A standard-bearer carrying the imago - the standard which bore a likeness of the emperor, and, at later dates, his family. - ImmunesImmunesAncient Rome's military was highly advanced for its time, divided into multiple units to maximize efficiency and power. One such unit was the immune class. By definition, the immunes were legionary soldiers who possessed specialized skills, qualifying them to perform duties atypical of a Roman...
- those soldiers of the military of ancient Rome who were "immune" from combat duty and fatigues through having a more specialist role within the army - LegatusLegatusA legatus was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer. Being of senatorial rank, his immediate superior was the dux, and he outranked all military tribunes...
- general in the Roman armyRoman armyThe Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
; literally the "deputy" of the emperor, who was the titular commander-in-chief - LegionaryLegionaryThe Roman legionary was a professional soldier of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC. Legionaries had to be Roman citizens under the age of 45. They enlisted in a legion for twenty-five years of service, a change from the early practice of enlisting only for a campaign...
- the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of the ancient Roman army in the period of the late Roman Republic and the Roman Empire - Medicus - physician or combat medic. Specializations included surgery (medicus vulnerarius), ophthalmology (medicus ocularius) and even veterinary (medicus veterinarius). At least some held rank equivalent to a centurion.
- milesMilitesMilites were the trained private footsoldiers of Rome. These men were the non-specialist regular soldiers that made up the bulk of a Legion's numbers. Alongside soldiering, they also performed guard duties, labour work, building and other non-combat roles...
or Miles Gregarius - The basic private level foot soldier - OptioOptioAn optio , sometimes anglicized option , was a soldier in the Roman army who held a position similar to that of an executive officer in modern armies...
- One per century as second-in-command to the centurion. Could also fill several other specialized roles on an ad hoc basis. - Pilus Prior - The commander of the first century of each cohort.
- Pilus Posterior - Deputy to the pilus prior
- Praefectus CastrorumPraefectus CastrorumThe praefectus castrorum was, in the Roman army of the early Empire, the third-most senior commander of the Roman legion, after the legate and the senior military tribune . His responsibility was looking after equipment and building works but could command the legion when his seniors were absent...
- camp prefect, third-in-command of the legion, also responsible for maintaining the camp, equipment and supplies. Usually a former primus pilus. - Primus PilusPrimus PilusThe Primus pilus was the senior centurion of a Roman legion.-Historical role:In the late Roman republic, the cohort , became the basic tactical unit of the legions. The cohort was composed of five to eight centuries each led by a centurion assisted by an optio, a soldier who could read and write...
- (literally 'first file', not spear) the commanding centurion of the first cohort and the senior centurion of the entire Legion - Princeps PriorPrinceps PriorPrinceps Prior was a high ranking Roman Centurion. Each of the ten cohorts, that made up a Legion, had at its head the rank of primus prior followed by the princeps prior.-History:...
- a centurion commanding a manipulus of principes - Princeps Posterior - a deputy to the princeps prior
- Principales - a group of ranks, including aquilifer, signifer, optio and tesserarius. Similar to modern NCOs.
- Protectores Augusti NostriProtectores Augusti NostriProtector Augusti Nostri was a title given to individual officers of the Roman Army. The term first appears in the joint-reign of Valerian and Gallienus. The term Protector Divini Lateris also appears around this time. L...
(aka Protectores Divini Lateris) honorific title for senior officers singled out for their loyalty to the Emperor and soldierly qualities. Constitute an Order of Honour rather than a military unit. First appears in mid-Third Century AD - Quaestionarius - an interrogator or torturer.
- Retentus - a soldier kept in service after serving required term
- Salararius - a soldier enjoying special service conditions or hired as a mercenary.
- Scorpionarius - an artilleryman operating a scorpio (dart-thrower)Scorpio (dart-thrower)The scorpio or scorpion was type of Roman artillery piece. Also known by the name of the triggerfish, it was described in detail by Vitruvius...
artillery piece - SigniferSigniferA signifer was a standard bearer of the Roman legions. He carried a signum for a cohort or century. Each century had a signifer and within each cohort the first century's signifer would be the senior....
- Standard bearer of the Roman Legion - Tablifer - A guard cavalry standard-bearer
- TesserariusTesserariusA tesserarius , was a watch commander in the Roman army. They organized and had command over the nightly guard assigned to keep watch over the fort when in garrison or on campaign and were responsible for getting the watchwords from the commander and seeing that it was kept safe. There was one...
- guard commander, one per century - Tribuni militum angusticlavii or military tribuneMilitary tribuneA military tribune was an officer of the Roman army who ranked below the legate and above the centurion...
- - Tribunus militum laticlaviusTribunus LaticlaviusIn the Roman army of the late Republic and the Principate, the tribunus laticlavius was one of the six military tribunes in a legion....
- military tribune of senatorial rank. Second in command of a legion. Appointments to this rank seem to have ceased during the sole reign of GallienusGallienusGallienus was Roman Emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and alone from 260 to 268. He took control of the Empire at a time when it was undergoing great crisis...
as part of a policy of excluding senators from military commands. - VenatorVenatorVenator is the Latin word for hunter. It may also refer to:* Venator , a type of Roman gladiator* Venator was the Latinized surname of Nicolaus Venator/Niccolo Cacciatore.* Venator Group, the corporate successor to F.W...
- a hunter (a type of immunesImmunesAncient Rome's military was highly advanced for its time, divided into multiple units to maximize efficiency and power. One such unit was the immune class. By definition, the immunes were legionary soldiers who possessed specialized skills, qualifying them to perform duties atypical of a Roman...
) - VexillariusVexillariusThe Vexillarius can mean one of three things:First, a Vexillarius or Vexillifer was one of the signiferi in a Roman legion. His duty was to carry the Vexillum, a military standard displaying the name and emblem of the legion. This standard consisted of a woven fabric banner, hung on a crossbar...
- a standard-bearer (carried the VexillumVexillumThe vexillum was a flag-like object used in the Classical Era of the Roman Empire. The word is itself a diminutive for the Latin word, velum, sail, which confirms the historical evidence that vexilla were literally "little sails" i.e. flag-like standards...
)
The three main ranks are the Hastati, The Principes, and The Triari.
Sub-Units of the Roman legion
In the years following the reforms of Gaius Marius in 107 BC the organisation of the legions became standardised as follows:- ContuberniumContuberniumThe contubernium was the smallest organized unit of soldiers in the Roman Army and was composed of eight legionaries. The men within the contubernium were known as contubernales. Ten contubernia were grouped into a centuria...
- The smallest organized unit of soldiers in the Roman Army. It was composed of eight legionaries led by a non-commissioned officer called a decanusDecanusDecanus means "chief of ten" in Late Latin. The term originated in the Roman army and became used thereafter for subaltern officials in the Byzantine Empire, as well as for various positions in the Church, whence derives the English title "dean"....
. Ten contubernia formed a centuria. - CenturiaCenturiaCenturia is a Latin substantive from the stem centum , denoting units consisting of 100 men. It also denotes a Roman unit of land area: 1 centuria = 100 heredia...
- A centuria consisted of 80 men under the command of a CenturionCenturionA centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
and his OptioOptioAn optio , sometimes anglicized option , was a soldier in the Roman army who held a position similar to that of an executive officer in modern armies...
. Six centuria formed a cohort. - CohortCohortCohort may refer to:* Cohort , a taxonomic term in biology* Cohort , a group of students working together through the same academic curriculum* Cohort , the basic tactical unit of a Roman legion...
- A cohort consisted of 480 men. The most senior ranking centurion of the six centuria commanded the entire cohort. - First Cohort - The first cohort was a double strength cohort (consisting of five double-strength centuria). The centurion of its first centuria, the Primus PilusPrimus PilusThe Primus pilus was the senior centurion of a Roman legion.-Historical role:In the late Roman republic, the cohort , became the basic tactical unit of the legions. The cohort was composed of five to eight centuries each led by a centurion assisted by an optio, a soldier who could read and write...
, commanded the first cohort and was also the most senior Centurion in the legion. - LegionRoman legionA Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
- A legion was composed of nine cohorts and one first cohort. The legions overall commander was the Legatus legionisLegatus legionisLegatus legionis was a title awarded to legion commanders in Ancient Rome.-History:By the time of the Roman Republic, the term legatus delegated authority...
, assisted by the Praefectus castrorumPraefectus CastrorumThe praefectus castrorum was, in the Roman army of the early Empire, the third-most senior commander of the Roman legion, after the legate and the senior military tribune . His responsibility was looking after equipment and building works but could command the legion when his seniors were absent...
and other senior officers. - Vexillation - These were temporary task forces composed of one or multiple centuria detached from the legion for a specific purpose. Vexillations were under the command of an officer appointed by the Legatus.