In the Roman army during classical antiquity , a centurion ( / s ɛ n ˈ tj ʊər i ə n / ; Latin : centurio [kɛn̪ˈt̪ʊrioː] , pl . centuriones ; Ancient Greek : κεντυρίων , romanized : kentyríōn , or Ancient Greek: ἑκατόνταρχος , romanized: hekatóntarkhos ), was a commander, nominally of a century ( Latin : centuria ), a military unit originally consisting of 100 legionaries . The size of the century changed over time; from the 1st century BC through most of the imperial era it was reduced to 80 men.
26-456: A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army. Centurion may also refer to: Centurion A centurion was promoted for being an exemplary soldier and was then expected to become a strict commander of his subordinates, to lead his troops by example, and coordinate his century's actions. They were also responsible for handling logistics and supplies, as well as any discipline that
52-599: A commander, a centurion had to be able to maintain his troops’ morale in peace and inspire his men in battle. Matthew's Gospel and Luke's Gospel relate an incident in which a servant of a centurion based in Capernaum was ill. In the Gospel of Luke, the centurion concerned had a good relationship with the elders of the local Jewish population and had funded the development of the synagogue in Capernaum, and when he heard that Jesus
78-460: A first cohort. Yet for centurions who showed, say, particularly conspicuous bravery during battle, there was the opportunity to be promoted several grades at once. For example, Julius Caesar's reward for a centurion who had greatly pleased him was to advance him eight grades. The precedence during the times of the Republican manipular legion had each centurio command a centuria of sixty men within
104-452: A manipulus (maniple) of two centuriae which was commanded by the senior centurio. Their order in decreasing seniority but opposite battle order; Of the centuriae of a manipulus of Triarii; Of the centuriae of a manipulus of Principes; Of the centuriae of a manipulus of Hastati; For the Imperial and late Republican legion (post 107 BC) the first centuria of every cohors was its senior, with
130-513: A symbol of a centurion's status. These monuments show a variety of forms. During the early Principate , it was usually straight with a rounded top; it later acquired a mushroom-shaped head, which was continued under the Byzantines . Less often, it appeared in knotted and sinuous forms. One centurion gave his vine staff to the Temple of Jupiter at Heliopolis (modern Baalbek ) as a votive offering. It
156-551: Is considered by many to be the first Christian. In Luke's Gospel, the centurion at the cross said that Jesus was "innocent". The Book of Acts tells of a centurion named Cornelius whose righteous and generous acts find favor with God. The apostle Simon Peter is told in a vision to visit Cornelius, a Gentile , with whom association was not permitted under Jewish law. The encounter leads Simon Peter to understand that God accepts non-Jews who believe in God and repent. After this revelation,
182-614: The Porcian laws . Centurions also served in the Roman navy . They were professional officers, analogous to modern non-commissioned officers in terms of pay-grade, prestige, and responsibilities. In late antiquity and the Middle Ages , the Byzantine army 's centurions were known by the name kentarch (Kentarches). In the Roman infantry , the centurions commanded a centuria or "century". During
208-514: The Senate , or promoted from the ranks for a variety of reasons. Julius Caesar is said to have promoted his centurions for displays of valour. Historians cite examples of them being the first over the enemy's wall or through the breach. The various centurion grades may be loosely compared to modern junior and middle officer grades. Below the centurions were the optiones , seconds-in-command of centuries. Centurions were held personally responsible for
234-570: The centurion : both as an implement in the direction of drill and maneuvers ; and to beat wayward or laggard soldiers or sailors under his command. It was also borne by evocati who held an equivalent rank. The vine staff may have derived from the Etruscan lituus and was certainly in use by the Punic Wars . Following the enactment of the Porcian Laws in the early 2nd century BC, it
260-503: The primus pilus : the legate ( legatus legionis ), commanding the legion; the senior tribune ( tribunus laticlavius ), second-in-command of the legion; the camp prefect ( praefectus castrorum ); and the five other tribunes ( tribuni angusticlavii ) who served as senior staff officers to the legate. Centurions received a much higher rate of pay than the average legionary . Veteran legionaries often worked as tenants of their former centurions. Centurions could be elected, appointed by
286-414: The pugio (dagger) on the right, as the sidearm. Centurions wore transverse crests on their helmets that would distinguish them from other legionaries. Centurions often had important social status and held powerful positions in society. They seem to have received their status according to their rank. On retirement, they could be eligible for employment as lictors . Each century had a precedence within
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#1732851002800312-430: The Imperial era, centurions gradually rose in seniority in their cohort, commanding centuries with higher precedence, until commanding the senior century and therefore the whole cohort. The best centurions were then promoted to the first cohort and known as the primi ordines , commanding one of the cohort's five centuries and taking on a staff role. The most senior centurion of the legion was the primus pilus who commanded
338-505: The Mid-Republic these centuries were grouped in pairs to make up a maniple , each century consisting of 30–60 men. After the so-called " Marian reforms ", a century was typically composed of around 80 men, with six such centuries forming a cohort . Later, generals and emperors further manipulated these numbers with double and half-strength units. Julius Caesar , for instance, made the first cohort of five double strength centuries. During
364-579: The Republic. In order of decreasing seniority; 1st Cohors, Centuriones known as the Primi Ordines 2nd Cohors and so on. Note that the Primi Ordines of the first cohors were senior to every centurio except for their Primus Pilus and the Pili Priori of the other first centuries. According to a 5th century text on the Roman military, a centurion was required to have numerous elite traits: The centurion in
390-409: The cohort. Centurions' seniority within the cohort and legion depended on the position within the legion of the century they were in charge of, which often took their name from their centurion. Centurions began by leading junior centuries before being promoted to leading a more senior one. Promotion usually came with experience, or at least length of service, but many still never made it as far as leading
416-403: The first century of the first cohort. All centurions, however senior, had their own allocated century. There was little difference between the ranks of centurions except for the primus pilus , who also participated in war councils. The primus pilus was so called because his own century was the first file of the first (rightmost) cohort. Only eight officers in a fully officered legion outranked
442-410: The first cohors following suit for the entire legion. There were five centuriae in the first cohors as opposed to the normal number of six, with each centuria having twice the number of legionaries of a normal centuria. The six centuriae of a normal cohors, were, in order of decreasing seniority; The titles of the centuriae and thus their respective centuriones are remnants from the manipular system of
468-647: The infantry is chosen for his size, strength and dexterity in throwing his missile weapons and for his skill in the use of his sword and shield; in short for his expertness in all the exercises. He is to be vigilant, temperate, active and readier to execute the orders he receives than to talk; Strict in exercising and keeping up proper discipline among his soldiers, in obliging them to appear clean and well-dressed and to have their weapons constantly rubbed and bright. Centurions had to be at least 30 years of age, literate (to read written orders), have letters of recommendation, and have at least several years of military service. As
494-510: The message of Jesus was evangelized to the Gentiles. Another centurion, Julius, is given custody of the apostle Paul for his journey from Caesarea to Rome in Acts 27 . Vine staff The vine staff , vine-staff , or centurion's staff ( Latin : vitis ) was a vinewood rod of about 1 m (3 ft) in length used in the ancient Roman army and navy . It was the mark and tool of
520-400: The nickname 'Cedo Alteram', because when he had broken one vine-stick across a soldier's back, he would call in a loud voice for another… and another...and another!" The vine-stick ( vitis ) was a symbol of the centurion's authority and the implement with which he meted out punishment. Unlike legionaries, centurions carried their swords on their left side as a sign of distinction and carried
546-533: The stigma of the whipping (by virgae ) suffered by criminals prior to execution or the cudgeling (by fustes ) endured for severe military offenses. Tacitus mentions Lucilius, a centurion known as "Gimme Another" ( Cedo Alterum or Alteram ) for his tendency to break his vine staffs during beatings; he was one of the first killed during the Pannonian Mutiny . Generally, however, soldiers were expected to endure their punishments; seizing
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#1732851002800572-508: The training and discipline of the legionaries under their command, and they had a reputation for dealing out harsh punishment. Tacitus tells a story in The Annals of a centurion known as "Cedo Alteram", which roughly translates to "Fetch Me Another". "The mutinous soldiers thrust out the tribunes and the camp-prefect; they plundered the baggage of the fugitives, and then killed a centurion, Lucilius, to whom, with soldier's humour, they had given
598-501: The vine staff was cause for demotion and breaking it or harming the centurion were offenses punishable by death. Some scholars state the vine staff was the instrument used to beat the Iceni queen Boadicca . St Marcellus the Centurion was martyred after he cast away his vine staff and repudiated his rank. The vine staff is often featured on Roman tombs of the 1st through 4th century as
624-557: Was in the locality, he asked the Jewish elders to request healing for his servant. In the Gospel of Matthew, the centurion makes direct contact with Jesus. The stories report that Jesus marveled at his faith and restored his servant to health . In both the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, the centurion who is present at the Crucifixion said that Jesus was "God's Son". Accordingly, this centurion
650-487: Was required. In a Roman legion , centuries were grouped into cohorts and commanded by a senior centurion. The prestigious first cohort (a formation of five double-strength centuries of 160 men each) was led by the primus pilus , who commanded the primi ordines who were the centurions of the first cohort. A centurion's symbol of office was the vine staff , with which they disciplined even Roman citizens , who were otherwise legally protected from corporal punishment by
676-463: Was the only manner by which Roman citizens could be beaten and is mentioned by various classical authors. A line in Ovid notes that "the good general commits the vitis to one to command one hundred." Pliny : "The centurion's vine staff is an excellent medicine for sluggish troops who don't want to advance..." "and when used to chastise offenses makes even the punishment respectable." It carried none of
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