1	Centurion: The World of the Legion in Palestine during the First Century L.D. Alford Session 3: The Legions, Training a Legionnaire, Making of a Centurion
2	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, Training a Legionnaire, The making of a Centurion
3	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
4	Characters Primary Abenadar ben Abenadar Iustus from Natzeret Ruth Secondary – in this session Nico Valerian Iulias Valens Amilius Regulus Capilolinus Turnus Rufus Piso Portius Eudous Nico
5	Geography Jewish view Aramaic names
6	Roman Legions Syria: III Gallica Originally Gaul Gallatia (not Galil) Parthians Symbol--Bulls Judaea: VI Ferrata, X Fretensis Ferrata—Ironclad Symbol--Bull
7	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
8	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
9	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
10	Organization Legion 10 Cohorts in a Legion 6 Centuries in a Cohort (except 1^st, Primes) 80 men in a Century (except Primes)
11	Organization Primes Cohort (1^st) 5 Centuries 160 men in a Century (double century)
12	Makeup of a Legion
13	Makeup of a Legion
14	Makeup of a Legion
15	Organization Cohorts 2-10 (6): Pilus prior Pilus posterior Princeps prior Princeps posterior Hastatus prior Hastatus posterior
16	Makeup of a Legion
17	Organization 1st cohort (primes ordines (Centurions))(5): Primus pilus Princeps Hastatus Princeps posterior Hastatus posterior
18	Makeup of a Legion
19	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
20	Makeup of a Legion
21	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
22	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
23	Makeup of a Legion
24	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
25	Legion’s Staff HQ – officium, officia, most Principalis (Principales), Immunes - NCOs Cerarius – recorder or scribe Cornicularius – senior nco in charge of the librarius (clerks) Beneficiarii – later officiales Cornicularii – 2 or 3, 1 in normal legions Commentarienses – lawyers (uncommon) Speculatores - scouts
26	Legion’s Staff HQ – officium, officia, most Principalis (Principales), Immunes - NCOs Adiutores – assistants Stratores – equerries Quaestionaris (Quaestionarii) - torturers Frumentarii – police duties Agrimensores – surveyor Metatores – camp surveyor
27	Legion’s Staff HQ – officium, officia, most Principalis (Principales), Immunes - NCOs Haruspices – priest Medici ordinarii – medical doctors Cornicen – horn-blower Immunes (immunis) – ranked just after Centurion – generally did not fight and could not be promoted to a fighting position Librarii – writing clerks Exacti – finance clerks
28	Legion’s Staff HQ – officium, officia, most Principalis (Principales), Immunes - 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
29	Legion’s Staff HQ – officium, officia, Immunes In most deployed Legions all positions are fighting positions Duel responsibility – officium and century Very few are honored with a fixed position in the officium In some cases – especially for a centurion, assignment into officium is an official demotion
30	Cavalry Cavalry – auxiliary equitata Scouts Dispatch riders 4 turmae of 30 mounted troops each Each lead by a Decurion Total 120 troops
31	Makeup of a Legion
32	Legion Camp Forum – market in camp Quaestorium – supply depot in camp Officium – headquarters Workshops Barracks Stables
33	Legion Camp
34	Summary Looked at the makeup of Legion Looked at the organization of Legion Looked at the leadership in Legion
35	Next Training up a Legionnaire
36	Requirements to Join Roman citizen Not too old Physically fit Mentally fit Needs of Legion Accepted by Primus Pilus Meet Probatio
37	The Probatio Probation prior to acceptance Up to a year Tests Physical Mental Needs of Legion In Adenadar’s case, extremely short Legion always needed librarii
38	The Sacramentum The Oath Sworn on the Aquila “I Abenadar from Natzeret, son of Abenadar Iustus, a citizen of Rome, swear to follow the consuls to the wars to which the Republic is called. I swear never to desert the aquila nor do anything against any law prescribed by the consuls and the Republic. I will follow all orders of the consuls and of any official placed over me by them. I promise to always act on the behalf of the Republic, and I will not leave my post or responsibilities until I have served my full term. I swear never to shrink from death on behalf of the Roman state. These things I do swear by all that I hold sacred and honorable and present my own life as my bond.”
39	The Emperor’s Viaticum The First Payment 3 Gold Aurie – 75 to 225 denarii Note who pays it Normal payment was from the coffers of the Republic Startup of a Legion was by the Emperor
40	Money As (asses) - copper Obol (obols) 2 obols = 5 asses (old rate of 10 asses = 1 d.) - bronze Denarius (denarii) 4 obols = 1 denarius, 16 asses = 1 denarius - silver Quadrigatus (ii) 15 asses = 1 Quadrigatus Aurie (gold) 25 d. = 1 a. Jewish coins Kodrant(es) - bronze Lepton – widow’s mite - copper
41	Pay Legionnaire 2 obols=3.5 asses per day, annually 120 denarii 225 d. annually paid stipendia of 75 d. (1a.) at beginning of Jan, May, and Sept Principales 1.5 times (HQ and signifer, optio, and tesserarius) Senior Principales 2.0 times Centurion per day 4 obols Cavalryman per day 1 drachma
42	The Issue lorica hamata and belt - mail hauberk Bronze helmet Grieves Gladius – short sword 2 pila – heavy and light spears caligae - military sandals scutum - rectangular shield basket, bucket, axe, leather strap, sickle, chain
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47	Needs Spit Bronze cooking pot Drinking vessel Clothing Never clear from history what was provided and what issued Since cost of a short sword is about 75 denarii, assume almost all armor and weapons issued
48	Training Terrain
49	Basic Training Praefectus Castrorum - trains Marching in quick and in time Military pace 20 miles in 5 hours Full pace 24 miles in 5 hours Running – the charge Physical training Running Jumping long and high Carrying heavy packs Swimming
50	Basic Training Weapon training Wickerwork shields wtx2 Wooden staves wtx2 Practice at the stakes morning and afternoon (stake 6 ft high recruits make themselves)
51	muli Marinani Field-service training 100 lb with arms armor and 17 days of rations Camp construction Wall 3’ and ditch ahead Stakes on the top Deeper ditch 12’ wide 9’ deep wall 4’
52	Battle training Battle training Single line Double line The square The wedge The circle Praefectus Legionis - Centurion tested and judged Moved to Armatura and Ambulatura
53	Armatura Practice with real weapons against adversaries Barley ration instead of wheat if failed Wooden sword wtx1 with a leather button Eventually against full legionnaires
54	Armatura Pilum training Pila wtx2 Hurled at the stakes Pila wooden haft of 3 cubits with a barbed iron head and shank also 3 cubits. 2 rivets fasten the iron to the wood. One rivet is wood the other is iron. The iron is tempered so the iron bends after impact and can’t be removed from the shield. Pila praepilata for practice with leather buttons on the tips and reinforced.
55	Armatura Bow and sling training Stone training 1 lb Vaulting on horseback using a wooden horse and buildup to arms Most is for familiarity Legions didn’t use Bow or slings Did not throw stones as a practice in war Did not use cavalry much until later
56	Ambulatura March out of camp 10 miles and back over all kinds of ground and practicing all the basic trainings Armatura and Ambulatura training also for full legionnaires Praefectus Legionis - Centurion tested and judged Graduated to full legionnaire Training about 1 year
57	Graduation Following full out training Praefectus Legionis – Centurion awards plumes Plumes of legionnaires who died in battle are awarded to new legionnaires Wear new plumes, keep plume of past legionnaire – built esprit and unit cohesion
58	Centurion Nico is trainer for Legion - Praefectus Castrorum Aemilius Regulus - Praefectus Legionis
59	Summary Requirements for Legion Process of joining Money and pay Training Graduation
60	Next The Making of a Centurion
61	Basics How to become a Centurion Acceptance into Legion Become a Legionnaire Develop skills – while surviving Military (Gladius) Reports (Literary) Leadership (Tactical and Strategic) Politics
62	Basics Use skills - while surviving Military - fighting Reports – make boss happy Leadership (Tactical and Strategic) Politics
63	Promotion Sequence Librarius Tesserarius Signifer Optio HQ Principales Centurion If space available If recognized (one method, awards)
64	Promotion and Positions
65	Awards Ranks lower than Centurion torques – necklace, followership armillae – armband, feats of arms phalerae – discs, bravery, killing opponant corona civica, leadership
66	Awards Centurion vitis – vine-staff – baton of office corona aurea – golden crown corona vallaris – first over ramparts corona muralis – first over wall corona civicae aurea – oak leaves saving a fellow citizen corona obsidionalis (or graminea) – wreath of grass, deliverer of a besieged army
67	Awards Ranks above Centurion (Primus pilus+) hasta pura – silver spearshaft vexillum – small standard mounted on silver
68	Adenadar’s Decorations 9 gold phalerae 3 silver phalerae 3 torques 2 armillae 1 corona civica 1 corona aurea 1 corona civicae aurea 1 vitis
69	Awards
70	Abenadar Promotion Sequence Librarius Hastatus Posterior Century (6^th), X Cohort, III Gallica Tesserarius Pilus Prior Century (1^st), X Cohort, III Gallica Hastatus Century (3^rd), I Cohort, III Gallica Signifer – <Nico argues to keep him out>
71	Makeup of a Legion
72	Abenadar Promotion Sequence Optio Primus Pilus Century (1st), I Cohort, III Gallica Principalis – as Optio of 1^st of 1^st Centurion Centurion of the Decimus Hastatus Posterior (6^th), X Cohort, VI Ferrata Legion Primus Hastatus (3^rd), I Cohort, VI Ferrata Legion
73	Makeup of a Legion
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75	Summary How to become a Centurion Awards Positions in Legion
76	Next Time Hebrew life and love