Roman Army Structure | Vindolanda Museum

Summary

The 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.