Centurion - is the foundation of the army of Ancient Rome

The history of the victories of Ancient Rome is truly immense,due to which the state managed to dominate the region for a long time. And many may believe that the successes in wars in which the empire took part are the merit of an exclusively legate. As a confirmation, one can recall the conquests of Caesar in Gaul or Pompey in Spain. But it is the centurion - this is the chief smith of the military victories of the Roman Empire. Being the most experienced in the army and as close as possible to immediate executors of orders, he regulated the entire course of the battle on his site. More precisely, he is not alone, but a lot of centurions, middle-level military leaders who took part in the battles.

Who is the centurion?

Centurion is a commander who rulesone hundred soldiers of the legion, formed from among the citizens of the state. In literal translation, his title means "a hundredth head" and is read as a "centurion". Centurion is the immediate commander of the centurium, the military formation of the legion or auxilia, traditionally consisted of 10 contusions.

The latter had 8 military specialists,who lived in the camp under one roof. Therefore, the centurion is a commander over about 80 soldiers, who has a deputy, the commander of the guard and is marked by his own banner. Under the control of centurions of higher rank there were also larger formations: a cohort, a manipula, a veksylation.

Hierarchy of Centurion

In a legion of 10 cohorts, there were60 military specialists with the rank of centurion. As is known, the first cohort was the most numerous. It consisted of five doubled centurions, whose commander is the centurion of the first rank. In total, there were 5 such specialists. The other centurions are military men with a lower rank. Since they controlled fewer subordinates, they had less value in combat. That is why they grew slower than others in the rank.

The highest position, available to the centurion - is primitive. To achieve it, it was necessary to go through all the higher cohorts in order, achieving success in them as a centurion. However, this is unlikely. After all, the fighting efficiency of the army was undermined because of the frequent change of leaders in the centurions. And that from taking office after receiving an appointment from the legate to obtain the title of primipila, it was necessary to change the post 60 times. Because we have to admit that while the order of growth of the centurion on the career ladder of history is unknown.

The role of centurions in the wars of Rome

In the army of Rome, the centurion is a military man whoreceived a salary of 2-3 times more than a simple soldier-specialist. With his rise in office, his salary grew, but he had more responsibility to the legate and primitive. Centurion is a title that has been preserved in both the legion and the auxilia. The latter was a military formation, a structure reminiscent of the legion, but consisting of soldiers recruited not from among the citizens of the Roman Republic.

Assessing the course of battles at that time, one can clearly understand,who is a centurion in ancient Rome. The chief smith of the victory, thanks to which the commander got the laurels, the warrior who took part in the battle and commanded the mobile combat unit. He is the most experienced of the soldiers of his centurium. This meant that he gave orders to change positions and attack. Therefore in the army of Ancient Rome there were no strife and confusion on the battlefield, as their immediate leader was nearby and, having clear instructions, implemented them on the spot where his centurium was at the moment.