1	Centurion: The World of the Legion in Palestine during the First Century L.D. Alford Session 3: The Legions
2	Centurion
3	Introduction Centurion is a Historical Fiction Novel Published by Capstone Follows life of Centurion Abenadar Time 6 BC to AD 35 Location Levant (Palestine) The Legions
4	Class Syllabus 1. Centurion’s character, lineage, and life 2. Palestine in 6 BC to AD 35 3. The Legions 4. Training a Legionnaire 5. The making of a Centurion 6. Hebrew life and love 7. The events of the crucifixion and resurrection—a historical perspective 8. Conclusion
5	Characters Primary Abenadar ben Abenadar Iustus from Natzeret Ruth Secondary – in this session Nico Valerian Iulias Valens Amilius Regulus
6	Geography Jewish view Aramaic names
7	Roman Legions Syria: III Gallica Originally Gaul Gallatia (not Galil) Parthians Symbol--Bulls Judaea: VI Ferrata, X Fretensis Ferrata—Ironclad Symbol--Bull
8	III Gallica Shared by Syrian Governor with Herod to protect the Galil Not unusual Romans keeping an eye on their tetrarch Reduces need for Herod to keep an armed force Common to split Legions by Cohort 2 Cohorts per camp
9	III Gallica No one exactly sure in time and space where the III Gallica was and what it was doing during the time Know it was in or near Syria Fought the Parthians more than once About 50 bce About 50 ce Generally Romans keeping an eye on their tetrarch Reduces need for Herod to keep an armed force
10	Centurion Portius to Abenadar “Like our cohort, the other eight in our legion are billeted in their winter camps. Usually two cohorts share a camp, but I have been in a camp that held two whole legions. It makes no sense to do that here; there is too much territory to patrol and no organized resistance to Roman authority. The other cohorts of our legion, the III Gallica, are stationed in the cities of Capernaum, Caesarea-Philippi, Tiberius, and Julias.
11	VI Ferrata No one exactly sure in time and space where the VI Ferrata was and what it was doing during the time Know it was in or near Judea One of the 2 Legions at Pilate’s disposal Generally Jerusalem Caesarea M. Jericho
12	Centurion “During your training, you will learn how the legion is organized, but I guess I can start your education early. The Decimus Cohort is formed of six centuries. They are called the Pilus Prior, the Pilus Posterior, the Princeps Prior, the Princeps Posterior, the Hastatus Prior, and the Hastatus Posterior. We are part of the Hastatus Posterior, the Lion Century. Each century contains about 80 men. The men are organized into 10 columns of eight each. All the other cohorts from the second to the tenth are put together the same way, but the Primus Cohort is different.” “How is it different?” “I’ll tell you if you stop interrupting me,” growled Portius. “The Primus Cohort has only five centuries: the Primus Pilus, the Princeps, the Hastatus, the Princeps Posterior, and the Hastatus Posterior. But they are double centuries of 20 columns each. The centurions of the Primus Cohort make up the Primes Ordines that help the Primus Pilus command the entire legion.”
13	Organization Legion 10 Cohorts in a Legion 6 Centuries in a Cohort (except 1^st, Primes) 80 men in a Century (except Primes)
14	Centurion “I’ll tell you if you stop interrupting me,” growled Portius. “The Primus Cohort has only five centuries: the Primus Pilus, the Princeps, the Hastatus, the Princeps Posterior, and the Hastatus Posterior. But they are double centuries of 20 columns each. The centurions of the Primus Cohort make up the Primes Ordines that help the Primus Pilus command the entire legion.”
15	Organization Primes Cohort (1^st) 5 Centuries 160 men in a Century (double century)
16	Makeup of a Legion
17	Makeup of a Legion
18	Makeup of a Legion
19	Organization Cohorts 2-10 (6): Pilus prior Pilus posterior Princeps prior Princeps posterior Hastatus prior Hastatus posterior
20	Makeup of a Legion
21	Organization 1st cohort (primes ordines (Centurions))(5): Primus pilus Princeps Hastatus Princeps posterior Hastatus posterior
22	Makeup of a Legion
23	Legion Leadership Legatus Legionis – head of the Legion Senior Tribune – second in command Prefectus Castrorum – camp prefect in charge when the Legatus or Senior Tribune is away Six military tribunes – political heads Primus Pilus – C. head of 1^st c. of 1^st C. Princeps – C. head of HQ staff & training
24	Leaders of a Legion
25	Cohort Leadership Cohorts: 10 decimus (added to the name of the Century to delineate it) Pilus prior Centurion Other centurions are staff for the Cohort
26	Centurion “A centurion commands each century?” “Yes, and below each centurion are four principales: the optio, the signifer, the tesserarius, and the librarius.” “Then I am a principalis?” Abenadar said, amazed. Portius stopped in midstride. “Don’t try to push your rank around. A librarius is technically a principalis, but in your position, you have no authority and a lot of responsibility.”
27	Century Leadership Centurion – head officer Principalis (Principales) - NCOs Optio – each centurion nominated one (optio ad spem ordinis – optio promoted to centurion awaiting vacancy) Signifer – standard bearer kept savings of men carried the signum Tesserarius – officer of the watch Librarius – clerk
28	Leaders of a Century
29	Legion’s Staff HQ – officium, officia, centurions – head of centuries and honored in officium Princes praetorii – centurion head Praefectus Legionis – centurion, head of training Tribunus laticlavius Quaestionaris – centurion, head torturer
30	Legion’s Staff HQ – officium, officia, most Principalis (Principales), Immunes - NCOs Cerarius – recorder or scribe Cornicularius – senior nco in charge of the librarius (clerk) Beneficiarii – later officiales Cornicularii – 2 or 3, 1 in normal legions Commentarienses – lawyers (uncommon) Speculatores - scouts
31	Legion’s Staff HQ – officium, officia, most Principalis (Principales) - NCOs Beneficiarii – plain up to 60 Adiutores – assistants Stratores – equerries Quaestionaris (Quaestionarii) - torturers Frumentarii – police duties Agrimensores – surveyor Metatores – camp surveyor
32	Legion’s Staff HQ – officium, officia, most Principalis (Principales) - NCOs Haruspices – priest Medici ordinarii – medical doctors Cornicen – horn-blower Immunes (immunis) – next rank before Centurion – generally did not fight and could not be promoted to a fighting position Librarii – writing clerks Exacti – finance clerks
33	Legion’s Staff HQ – officium, officia, most Principalis (Principales) - NCOs Exceptores Aquilifer – Eagle bearer (aquila) – below centurion, usually veterans near end of service Imaginiferi – imagines (imago) bearers – the portraits of the deified and reigning emperors Signiferi – Signim bearers – the signim for the Legion – a Bull or bulls in this case Praefectus Castrorum – trainer of the recruits and Legionnaires
34	Centurion The Primus rolled up the scroll and nodded to Burthus. They followed the Primus Pilus out toward the gate side of the officium. Before the gate, the Decurion Valerian was already mounted with a full turmae, 30 mounted cavalry of the III Gallica’s auxiliary equitata. A fresh mount waited for the Primus.
35	Centurion The Decurion Valerian was a pensive and unambitious man of the equestrian rank. He was thin and slouched with an easy grace in his saddle. He was far too familiar and indecorous a leader to merit promotion to higher responsibility but known throughout the Roman Legions as a brave and intrepid commander. The proof of his leadership was evident in his authority in the III Gallica.
36	Centurion The III Gallica possessed two turmae of cavalry in its auxiliary equitata. By rights, the legion should have two Decurion, one commanding each turmae of 30 mounted legionnaires. Instead, with the help of two principales, Valerian commanded both. He was, effectively, the commander of the III Gallica’s entire auxiliary equitata.
37	Cavalry Cavalry – auxiliary equitata Scouts Dispatch riders 4 turmae of 30 mounted troops each Each lead by a Decurion Total 120 troops
38	Makeup of a Legion
39	Centurion The Cornicularius led Abenadar through the officium where the Primus had his quarters. Behind the officium lay the camp proper. The legion camp was a large, flat compound surrounded by a six-foot wall. A series of large buildings covered almost half the area. The officium that Abenadar and Fonteius had just left was a long, two-story building aligned parallel to the main gate. On the other side, and perpendicular to the officium, stood six long, low barracks and several smaller buildings. Fonteius led Abenadar to the last of the barracks.
40	Legion Camp Forum – market in camp Quaestorium – supply depot in camp Officium – headquarters Workshops Barracks Stables
41	Legion Camp
42	Summary Looked at the makeup of Legion Looked at the organization of Legion Looked at the leadership in Legion
43	Next Time Training up a Legionnaire