21.01.2013 Views

The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History - Karatunov.net

The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History - Karatunov.net

The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History - Karatunov.net

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

340<br />

G l o s s a ry<br />

primus pilus: the most senior centurion in a legion, comm<strong>and</strong>ing the first century of<br />

the first cohort<br />

principia: headquarters of a <strong>Roman</strong> fort where the st<strong>and</strong>ards were laid up <strong>and</strong> the<br />

administrative offices were situated<br />

probatio: preliminary examination of recruits <strong>and</strong> horses for the army<br />

protectores: a title used by Gallienus for his military entourage, not simply a<br />

bodyguard, but perhaps the foundation of a staff college formed from officers loyal<br />

to the emperor<br />

pseudo-comitatenses: late <strong>Roman</strong> troops taken from the limitanei or frontier<br />

armies to serve in the field army<br />

pteruges: leather straps attached to armor<br />

quaestor: originally the lowest ranking magistrates of the Republic appointed to assist<br />

the consuls in financial matters. <strong>The</strong> office was held by young men at the start of<br />

their career before they had entered the Senate. As the Empire exp<strong>and</strong>ed more<br />

quaestors were created to deal with provincial administration. Quaestors acted as<br />

deputies to consular governors <strong>and</strong> could hold comm<strong>and</strong>s in the army. Sometimes<br />

in modern versions of ancient works, quaestor is translated as quartermaster, which<br />

is not strictly accurate.<br />

ripenses: troops serving on river frontiers in the late <strong>Roman</strong> army<br />

sacellum: chapel of the st<strong>and</strong>ards in the headquarters of a <strong>Roman</strong> fort<br />

sacramentum: the military oath of obedience <strong>and</strong> loyalty to the emperor; during the<br />

Republic soldiers swore to obey their comm<strong>and</strong>ers, usually the consuls<br />

sagittarius: archer<br />

sagum: cloak worn by soldiers<br />

schola: late <strong>Roman</strong> cavalry guard unit; scholae palatinae were the emperor’s guard<br />

sesquiplicarius: soldier on one <strong>and</strong> a half times normal pay; third in comm<strong>and</strong> of a<br />

cavalry turma<br />

sestertius: <strong>Roman</strong> silver coin; four sestertii equalled one denarius<br />

signifer: st<strong>and</strong>ard bearer<br />

signum: military st<strong>and</strong>ard of an individual century, consisting of various metal<br />

emblems on a pole, frequently topped by a h<strong>and</strong> with the palm facing forward<br />

singulares: bodyguards of various <strong>Roman</strong> officers, chosen from their original units,<br />

either cavalry or infantry. Equites <strong>and</strong> pedites singulares consularis formed the guard<br />

of a provincial governor, chosen from the units in the province <strong>and</strong> equites<br />

singulares Augusti formed the bodyguard of the emperor, chosen from units all over<br />

the Empire.<br />

spatha: long sword, used by infantry <strong>and</strong> cavalry from the second century ad onward,<br />

<strong>and</strong> predominantly by the cavalry of the late <strong>Roman</strong> army<br />

stipendium: military pay, also applied to a period of service<br />

territorium: in the military context, l<strong>and</strong> belonging to the army marked by boundary<br />

stones <strong>and</strong> perhaps used to grow crops<br />

testudo: literally tortoise or turtle, a formation where soldiers raised their shields<br />

above their heads <strong>and</strong> overlapped them at the front <strong>and</strong> the sides to advance in<br />

almost complete protection.<br />

tiro (plural tirones): recruit

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!