Princeps Prior
Encyclopedia
Princeps 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.
tradition of arranging the Legion into three lines: the pilani, the principes
and the hastati
. During the Republic, the Princeps Prior was the Centurion in command of a manipulus (unit of two centuries) of principes (legionary heavy infantry).
Centurion
A 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...
. Each of the ten cohorts
Cohort (military unit)
A cohort was the basic tactical unit of a Roman legion following the reforms of Gaius Marius in 107 BC.-Legionary cohort:...
, that made up a 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"...
, had at its head the rank of primus prior followed by the princeps prior.
History
The position reflects the Roman RepublicRoman 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...
tradition of arranging the Legion into three lines: the pilani, the principes
Principes
Principes 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...
and the hastati
Hastati
Hastatii 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...
. During the Republic, the Princeps Prior was the Centurion in command of a manipulus (unit of two centuries) of principes (legionary heavy infantry).