Roman Army Structure | Vindolanda Museum

ISO DESIGN

26 Oct 201603:07

Summary

TLDRThe script delves into the structure of the Roman army, highlighting the distinction between Roman citizen legionaries and non-citizen auxiliaries. Legionaries, equipped with their own gear and loyalty to the Emperor, form the backbone of the army, organized in cohorts under the command of a Centurion and a Legatus. Auxiliaries, specialists recruited from across the empire, serve in smaller, more maneuverable units led by high-ranking commanders. After 25 years of service, auxiliaries are rewarded with land, a pension, and Roman citizenship for themselves and their descendants.

Takeaways

🏰 Roman soldiers were divided into two main types: the legionaries, who were Roman citizens, and the auxiliaries, who were not.
🛡 Legionaries were required to supply their own equipment and swear an oath of loyalty to the Emperor.
🔱 Legionaries joined infantry units in groups of eight men, known as a contubernium, and shared sleeping quarters.
👷 New soldiers performed menial tasks until they could secure a specialist post within the unit.
📊 A century was a group of 80 soldiers led by a centurion, with a standard bearer, watch commander, second-in-command, and a century leader.
🔄 Six centuries formed a cohort, and ten cohorts, along with a cavalry unit, made up a legion, the largest Roman army unit.
🏛 The Roman Eagle, or Aquila, was the symbol of the legion, carried aloft by the aquilifer.
📊 The first cohort in a legion was larger, with five double centuries, and its centurions held senior ranks.
🎖 The most senior centurion was the primus pilus, who could be promoted to the position of camp prefect, overseeing the daily operations of the legion.
🏛 The legatus, a member of the Senate, was the commander of the entire legion in the field, leading around 6,000 Roman citizen troops.
🌏 Auxiliary cohorts were composed of non-Roman citizens, recruited across the empire for their specialized skills, such as horsemanship.
🏇 Auxiliary units included cavalry regiments known as ala, double-strength cavalry regiments called alae, part-mounted cohorts, and regular infantry organized like legionary cohorts.
🎖 After 25 years of service, auxiliary soldiers were rewarded with a plot of land, a pension, and full Roman citizenship for themselves, their children, and future generations.

Q & A

What are the two main types of soldiers in the Roman army as described in the script?
-The two main types of soldiers are the legionary, who is a Roman citizen, and the auxiliary, who is not a Roman citizen.
What is the requirement for a legionary to join the Roman army?
-A legionary must supply his own equipment and swear an oath of loyalty to the Emperor.
How are legionaries organized in the Roman army?
-Legionaries join an infantry unit as part of a group of eight men, forming a contubernium, and work together under a century led by a Centurion.
What is a cohort and how many centuries does it consist of?
-A cohort is a military unit composed of six centuries, each led by its own standard bearer, commander, second-in-command, and a Centurion.
What is the largest Roman army unit and what does it consist of?
-The largest Roman army unit is the legion, which consists of ten cohorts, a small cavalry unit, and is symbolized by the Roman Eagle, the Aquila.
How are cohorts numbered within a legion and what is special about cohort one?
-Cohorts in a legion are numbered one to ten, with cohort one being extra-large, containing five double centuries and having the most senior Centurions, including the Primus Pilus or first file.
What is the role of the Primus Pilus and what position can he be promoted to?
-The Primus Pilus is the most senior Centurion in a legion and can be promoted to the position of prefect, specifically the camp prefect, who is in charge of the daily running of the legion.
Who is the commander of the entire Legion and what is his rank?
-The commander of the entire Legion is the Legatus, who is a member of the Senate and the Empire's ruling elite.
What are the roles of the auxiliaries in the Roman army?
-Auxiliaries are non-Roman citizens who serve as specialists in the Roman army, recruited across the empire for their talents and abilities, such as horsemanship.
How are auxiliary cohorts different from legionary cohorts in terms of organization and command structure?
-Auxiliary cohorts are more compact and maneuverable units that do not form part of a larger unit like a legion, and each cohort has its own high-ranking commander instead of a legate.
What reward does an auxiliary soldier receive after serving 25 years in the Roman army?
-After 25 years of service, an auxiliary soldier is rewarded with a plot of land, a pension, and all the rights of a Roman citizen for him, his children, and future generations.

Outlines

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🏺 Roman Military Structure and Hierarchy

This paragraph outlines the organization of the Roman army, distinguishing between citizen soldiers known as legionaries and non-citizen auxiliaries. Legionaries, who are Roman citizens, swear an oath to the Emperor and join infantry units, forming a hierarchy that includes a century with a standard bearer, commander, and a centurion. Six centuries make up a cohort, and ten cohorts form a legion, the largest Roman military unit, symbolized by the Roman Eagle. The legatus, a member of the Senate, commands the legion in the field. Auxiliaries, recruited from across the empire, serve as specialists in areas such as horsemanship, with cavalry units and mounted cohorts. After 25 years of service, an auxiliary soldier is rewarded with land, a pension, and Roman citizenship for himself and his descendants.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Legionary

A 'Legionary' refers to a Roman citizen soldier who was part of the Roman army. These soldiers were expected to supply their own equipment and swear an oath of loyalty to the Emperor. In the video's context, Legionaries are organized into infantry units and are part of the backbone of the Roman army. They join as part of a group of eight men, indicating the structured hierarchy within the military units.

💡Auxiliary

An 'Auxiliary' soldier in the Roman army was not a Roman citizen but was recruited from across the empire to serve in specialized roles. These soldiers were known for their unique talents and abilities, such as horsemanship, and were organized into auxiliary cohorts. The term 'Auxiliary' is significant in the video's theme as it highlights the diversity and specialization within the Roman military forces.

💡Infantry Unit

An 'Infantry Unit' is a military unit composed of soldiers who fight on foot. In the script, it is mentioned that Legionaries join an infantry unit as part of a group of eight men, which is indicative of the organized structure of the Roman army. The infantry unit is a key component of the Roman military strategy.

💡Century

A 'Century' in the Roman army was a unit of 80 soldiers, led by a Centurion. The script describes how six centuries together make up a cohort, and this formation is a fundamental part of the Roman military organization. The term is used to illustrate the hierarchical structure within the Legionary ranks.

💡Cohort

A 'Cohort' is a larger military unit within the Roman army, consisting of approximately 480 soldiers. The script specifies that ten cohorts, along with a small cavalry unit, make up the legion, which is the largest Roman army unit. Cohorts are essential to understanding the scale and organization of the Roman forces.

💡Aquila

The 'Aquila' is the Roman Eagle, a symbol of the Roman army and specifically the Legion. It was borne aloft and represented the pride and identity of the unit. In the script, it is mentioned that the Aquila is a symbol of the legion, emphasizing its importance in the Roman military tradition.

💡Centurion

A 'Centurion' was an officer in the Roman army, leading a century of soldiers. The script describes the Centurion as a leader of the soldiers, with the most senior Centurion being the Primus Pilus. The role of the Centurion is crucial in the command structure of the Roman army.

💡Legatus

The 'Legatus' was the commander of the entire Legion. As mentioned in the script, the Legatus was a member of the Senate and the Empire's ruling elite. In the field, the Legatus held a position of great authority, commanding a Legion of approximately 6,000 troops.

💡Auxiliary Cohorts

Unlike the Legionary cohorts, 'Auxiliary Cohorts' were smaller, more specialized units composed of non-Roman citizens. The script mentions that these cohorts could be cavalry, part-mounted, or regular infantry, but they were not part of a larger Legion. The term highlights the diversity and flexibility of the Roman military.

💡Cavalry

The 'Cavalry' refers to soldiers who fight mounted on horseback. In the context of the script, there were cavalry-only regiments called 'ala' and double-strength cavalry regiments, such as the 'Ala Quintana'. The cavalry played a significant role in the Roman army, especially in terms of mobility and specialized combat tactics.

💡Roman Citizen

A 'Roman Citizen' had certain rights and privileges within the Roman Empire. The script mentions that after serving 25 years in the Roman army, an auxiliary soldier would be granted a plot of land, a pension, and all the rights of a Roman citizen, including for his children and future generations. This term is important as it signifies the reward and recognition given to those who served the empire.

Highlights

There are two main types of soldiers in the Roman army: legionaries, who are Roman citizens, and auxiliaries, who are not.

Legionaries must supply their own equipment and swear an oath of loyalty to the Emperor.

Auxiliaries are recruited from non-Roman citizens and serve as specialists in various roles.

Legionaries join infantry units as part of a group of eight men, known as a contubernium.

New soldiers perform fatigue duties until they secure a specialist post.

A century is a military unit led by a Centurion, with its own standard bearer, commander, and second-in-command.

Six centuries form a cohort, which is a larger infantry unit in the Roman army.

A legion is composed of ten cohorts and a small cavalry unit, representing the largest Roman military unit.

The Roman Eagle, or Aquila, is the symbol of the legion and is borne aloft by the aquilifer.

Cohorts in a legion are numbered one to ten, with cohort one being the largest and most senior.

The most senior Centurion is the Primus Pilus, who can be promoted to camp prefect.

The camp prefect oversees the daily running of the legion and is outranked by seven staff officers.

The commander of the entire Legion is the Legatus, who is a member of the Senate and the Empire's ruling elite.

Auxiliary cohorts are composed of men with specific talents and abilities, such as horsemanship.

Auxiliary units include cavalry regiments known as ala and part-mounted cohorts.

Auxiliary cohorts are more compact and maneuverable, each with its own high-ranking commander.

After 25 years of service, an auxiliary soldier is rewarded with land, a pension, and Roman citizenship for themselves and their descendants.