Senior Officers of the Roman Legion
Legatus Legionis: The overall Legionary commander. This post was generally appointed by the emperor, was a former Tribune and held command for 3 or 4 years, although could serve for a much longer period. In a province with only one legion, the Legatus was also the provincial governor and in provinces with multiple legions, each legion has a Legatus and the provincial governor has overall command of them all.
Tribunus Laticlavius: Named for the broad striped toga worn by men of senatorial rank. This tribune was appointed by the Emperor or the Senate. Though generally quite young and less experienced than the Tribuni Angusticlavii, he served as second in command of the legion, behind the Legate.
Praefectus Castrorum: The camp Prefect. Generally he was a long serving veteran who had been promoted through the ranks of the centurions and was 3rd in overall command.
Tribuni Angusticlavii: Each legion had 5 military tribunes of equestrian (knight) class citizens. They were in many cases career officers and served many of the important administrative tasks of the Legion, but still served in a full tactical command function during engagements.
Primus Pilus: The "First File" was the commanding centurion of the first cohort and the senior centurion of the entire Legion. Service in this position also allowed entry into the equestrian social class upon retirement.
Mid-Level Officers in the Roman Legion
Centurions: Each Legion had 59 or 60 centurions, one to command each centuria of the 10 cohorts. They were the backbone of the professional army and were the career soldiers who ran the day to day life of the soldiers as well as issuing commands in the field. They were generally moved up from the ranks, but in some cases could be direct appointments from the Emperor or other higher ranking officials. The cohorts were ranked from the First to the Tenth and the Centuria within each cohort ranked from 1 to 6, with only 5 Centuria in the First Cohort (For a total of 59 Centuria and the Primus Pilus). The Centuria that each Centurion commanded was a direct reflection of his rank. (Command of the First Centuria of the First Cohort was the highest and the 6th Centuria of the 10th Cohort was the lowest). The 5 Centurions of the First Cohort were called the Primi Ordines, and included the Primus Pilus. Additional ranks are highlighted here:
Pilus Prior: The commander of the first cohort of each Centuria (except the first), with the following titles for the Centurions in sequence throughout each Centuria.
- Pilus Posterior
- Princeps Prior
- Princeps Posterior
- Hastatus Prior
- Hastatus Posterior
The following chart identifies the centurion command structure of each century, cohort and legion, including their typical battle arrangement with strongest from right to left. The bracketed name in each column signifies the actual title of that officer. For example: the Quintus Princeps Posterior was the commander of the 4th century of the 5th cohort.
Centuria
Cohort V
Cohort IIII
Cohort III
Cohort II
Cohort I
I
(Quintus) Pilus Prior (Quartus) Pilus Prior (Tertius) Pilus Prior (Secundus) Pilus Prior Primus Pilus
II
Pilus Posterior Pilus Posterior Pilus Posterior Pilus Posterior
III
Princeps Prior Princeps Prior Princeps Prior Princeps Prior (Primus) Princeps
IIII
Princeps Posterior Princeps Posterior Princeps Posterior Princeps Posterior Hastatus
V
Hastatus Prior Hastatus Prior Hastatus Prior Hastatus Prior Princeps Posterior
VI
Hastatus Posterior Hastatus Posterior Hastatus Posterior Hastatus Posterior Hastatus Posterior
Centuria
Cohort X
Cohort VIIII
Cohort VIII
Cohort VII
Cohort VI
I
(Decimus) Pilus Prior (Nonus) Pilus Prior (Octavus) Pilus Prior (Septimus) Pilus Prior (Sextus) Pilus Prior
II
Pilus Posterior Pilus Posterior Pilus Posterior Pilus Posterior Pilus Posterior
III
Princeps Prior Princeps Prior Princeps Prior Princeps Prior Princeps Prior
IIII
Princeps Posterior Princeps Posterior Princeps Posterior Princeps Posterior Princeps Posterior
V
Hastatus Prior Hastatus Prior Hastatus Prior Hastatus Prior Hastatus Prior
VI
Hastatus Posterior Hastatus Posterior Hastatus Posterior Hastatus Posterior Hastatus Posterior
Low-Level Officers in the Roman Legion
Princepales: The Princepales would be the equivalent of modern day non-commissioned officers and had the following rank structures from highest to lowest.
Aquilifer: A single position within the Legion. The Aquilifer was the Legion's Standard or Eagle bearer and was an enormously important and prestigious position. The next step up would be a post as a Centurion.
Signifer: Each Centuria had a Signifer (59). He was responsible for the men's pay and savings, and the standard bearer for the Centurial Signum, a spear shaft decorated with medallions and often topped with an open hand to signify the oath of loyalty taken by the soldiers. It was this banner that the men from each individual Centuria would rally around. A soldier could also gain the position of Discentes signiferorum, or standard bearer in training.
Optio:One for each Centurion (59), they were appointed by the Centurion from within the ranks to act as his second in command.
Tesserarius: (Guard Commander) Again there were 59 of these, or one for each Centuria. They acted in similar roles to the Optios.
Cornicen: (Horn blower) They worked hand in hand with the Signifer drawing the attention of the men to the Centurial Signum and issuing the audible commands of the officers.
Imaginifer: Carried the Standard bearing the image of the Emperor as a constant reminder of the troop's loyalty to him.
The Rank and File of the Roman Legion
Immunes: These were trained specialists, such as surgeons, engineers, surveyors, and architects, as well as craftsmen. They were exempt from camp and hard labor duties due to the nature of their work, and would generally earn slightly more pay than the Milites.
Discens: Milites in training for an immunes position.
Milites Gregarius: The basic private level foot soldier.
Tirones: The basic new recruit. A Tirones could take up to 6 months before becoming a full Milites.
