Roman Military/Political Ranks

Ok, simple question for someone who knows but I’ve done some web searching over the days and I can’t find a definitive answer.

I want to know the rank structure for the late period roman army. So far my main confusion is with who was in charge of a Legion – or rather who was the equivalent of a General in more modern terms.

Some sources state this was a post held by the Tribune whilst others mention it being the posting of Dex. I’m aware of some of the lower structure (i.e. Centurion and below) but have a shady idea of where the Legate fits in to the command structure.

I’m aware that it difficult to co-relate the roman titles with modern equivalents so a brief description of responsibilities would also be handy (i.e. Centurion – head of the Century = 30 – 200 men).

I’m also interested in the Political ranks available to either military or civilian members of the Roman Empire. We’re all aware who a Senator was but who was below them?

Hope you can help.

Legate: Boss of Legion
Tribune: Senatorial ranked young man. In charge of two cohorts in republican time.
Primus Pilus: Senior centurion of legion. In charge of first cohort and in general the advisor to the Legate. Often grizzled old veteran.
Various ranks of centurions down to the ones that only help their own century and was ranked the lowest among the centurions.
Optio: Centurion's aide. If centurion is lieutenant he is sergeant. If centurion is sergeant he is corporal.

Then there is a host of non-command positions within each century and cohort.

Oh... late period Roman legion... Don't know.

Thanks, that's a start and I don't mean BI era "late" I mean post-Marius "late" so I think you're pretty accurate.

Just could do with Political ranks as well

The late roman army had officers called "protector domesticus". They were staff officers attached to generals or more ussually the emperor himself. Ammianus Marcellinus was one if I remember correctly.

Ah, that is the late republican and early imperial period.

Out of idle curiostiy, does anyone happen to know when the district military commander rank of Dux was introduced ?

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Originally Posted by Watchman

Out of idle curiostiy, does anyone happen to know when the district military commander rank of Dux was introduced ?

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I believe it was introduced in the 3rd century by Diocletian.

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Originally Posted by Kraxis

Legate: Boss of Legion
Tribune: Senatorial ranked young man. In charge of two cohorts in republican time.
Primus Pilus: Senior centurion of legion. In charge of first cohort and in general the advisor to the Legate. Often grizzled old veteran.
Various ranks of centurions down to the ones that only help their own century and was ranked the lowest among the centurions.
Optio: Centurion's aide. If centurion is lieutenant he is sergeant. If centurion is sergeant he is corporal.

Then there is a host of non-command positions within each century and cohort.

Oh... late period Roman legion... Don't know.

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Your leaving out a goo deal of positions there Kraxis.

I'm going to copy and paste since I don't wanna write this. Found here, http://www.unrv.com/military/legion.php. Also is is for the late republican early imperial legion.

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Roman Legionary Ranks

The following list indicates ranks from highest command to lowest common soldier:
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 Centuria of each Cohort (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

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.

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Yep I would add the following. Centuries were organised into maniples which is why the Centurians have these titles:

Pilus Prior
Pilus Posterior

Princeps Prior
Princeps Posterior

Hastatus Prior
Hastatus Posterior

The last part of each name indicates whether the Centurian commanded the first or last century in the maniple.

The Commander of a multi-legion army was an ex-Consul or ex-Praetor, known as a Proconsul or Propraetor.

If you want to know about the ranks in the civil administration I'll get my notes.

Please, could now do with Civillian ranks - Magistrates, legal, Diplomatic etc - if possible.

You all be great help so far.

Well all officials came from the senate. But there were more than one usually. There were 2 Consols who were the heads of state, elected anually. They also recieved command of the 2 (IIRC) consular armies, which were 2 legions each. Also it was traditional for the consols to come from the patrician and plebian classes (1 of each). Gaius Marius was the plebian Consol for example. The Praetors were judges or some kind of court official. There were 6 of them, not sure on their term though. The two most important positions Pontificus maximus and Censor were longer terms, 6 years I think. Pontifs were in charge of the state religion. The censor conducted the census, and only sat for 1 census. I'm at work so can't go into the other 2 (Quaestor and adiele). Some titles were repeated for the provinces, pro-consol and pro-praetor for example. They were a provinces consol and praetor.

Umm, thats a little off.

Censor was the highest political position and conducted the census, I believe he was elected every five years but he definately only served one, or until the Cencus was completed. Sometimes the Census lapsed, for instance during the Civil Wars and then the next guy had a big mess to sort out.

There were two majistrates called Consuls elected annually and every Roman year was known by the name of its consuls. Traditionally the Consuls were Patricians, nobles. However after Marius one usually was Plebian but not always. If your father was Consul then you gained acces to the Senate automatically when you came of age, like a Patrician. Term one year

Preators were judges who presided over a court and could also lead armies in the field. Their number varried, up to about 10 I think. Term one year

Adieles were minor majistrates in charge of running sections of the city, out of their own pocket. They had to throw State games, finance public works, very costly. Term one year

Quaestors were basically provinical or military tax collectors and bankers, the rank allowed entry to the Senate. Term one year

The Pontifex Maximus was the head of State Religion, the title means the greatest bridge I believe. The Pope is the Pontifex Maximus and has been since Christianity became the Roman State Religion. The term was six years, and you got a special house, if I recall.

After serving their terms Consuls and Preators would become provinical governors and Pro would be added to the title. Governorships usually only lasted a year but Extraordinary Commands, as they were called, were sometimes granted. This was when a former Consul was granted the Proconsular power or Imperium for a special task, such as Pompey's command against the pirates, it was set to last five years and covered the entire eastern Med, as well as something like 100 miles inland. He finished the job in six months.

There were laws about minimum age requirements and gaps between offices introduced, as well as a "ladder" which meant if you wanted to be Consul you had to do all the other jobs first. This was introduced after Marius and his five successive Consulships.

There was also the office of Tribune of the Plebs, which could not be held by a Patrician. Tribunes were there to veto laws and provide assylum, as well as to arrest people. They generally caused a nucennce and that was why their bodies were inviolate.

There was also the office of Dictator, which was basically King for six months, no strings, no prosecution later. That was only for emergancies.

The "Emperor" was actually known as Princeps or First Citizen, his power was basically Proconsular Imperium over most of the Empire and Tribunician power in Rome. This meant he couldn't actually enact laws without the Senate or the assembly. The body of the Emperor was also inviolate but he wasn't a king, which is important, his power was conferred by the Senate, not the Gods.