Army Flashcards
Recruitment
On joining the Roman Army, a recruit would be interviewed to ensure they were definitely roman citizens.
A recruit would be given a medical examination to check that they were healthy and strong.
First Stage of Training
After being accepted and sworn in, a recruit was sent to his unit to continue training.
First the recruit would have to learn to march at a regulation pace for up to 24 roman miles at a time.
Also ran, jumped, swam and carried heavy packs (+ practice sword and shield) for health.
Learnt to handle weapons by attacking practice dummies.
Pilum
1.5m long wooden shaft, 0.6m long pointed iron head.
First 25cm of head tempered for penetrating power, but rest left soft + bendable. This meant that when the Javelin was thrown. It would stick and bend down, making it impossible for the enemy to fire it back.
Second Stage of Training
After weapons training a soldier would leave the barracks for training in the countryside, where they had to take part in long marches whilst carrying all of their equipment.
Pay
225-300 denarii per annum.
Soldiers had to pay for their own food, clothing and equipment.
Some of the pay would be stored in the Military Savings Bank.
A soldier may have ultimately received as little as ¼ of his pay.
Honourable discharge granted a soldier either 3000 denarii or an allocation of land.
Conditions
Little time spent in active service.
Mainly building and road making.
Usually stationed in large forts on the frontiers of the empire.
Ranks and Roles
Higher up soldiers were paid more, and were exempt from many of the ordinary jobs.
Most centurions were experienced, and had risen from the ranks due to their courage and virtue.
60 centurions in a legion (paid 1,500 denarii).
Optio
Centurion’s assistant
Signifer
Standard Bearer
Tesserarius
Organised guards and distributed passwords.
Primus Pilus
Senior centurion
>50 years old.
Held office for one year, then received a large payment and was allowed to retire, or could be promoted again to camp commander (praefectus castrorum).
The Roman Camp
Roughly 50-60 acres in size.
Each barrack block housed 5-6,000 men.
The Amphitheatre was large enough to seat the whole legion. It was used for displays, parades and training.
Legally soldiers were not allowed to marry, but the army would tolerate unofficial unions.
A father might sleep in the barracks while his family lived in the settlement just outside.
When his sons were old enough, they too might enlist.
Principia
Headquarters
Praetorium
Living quarters of the commanding officer.
Valetudinarium
Hospital
