Primus pilus

The Primus pilus or Primipilus was the senior centurion of the first cohort in a Roman legion.[1]

Historical role

Altar dedicated to Fortuna Conservatrix by Marcus Aurelius Cocceius Florianus, who was Primus Pilus of the Legio X Gemina at the time of Severus Alexander in Vindobona.

In the late Roman republic, the cohort was the basic tactical unit of the legions. The cohort was composed of five to eight centuries, each led by a centurion. The senior centurion of the legion and commander of the first cohort was called the primus pilus;[2] he was a career soldier and advisor to the legate. While every normal cohort was composed of five to eight centuries, the one that was led by the primus pilus had about ten centuries, 800 men. It also had around 200 non-combatant staff, such as cooks and clerks. In modern infantry terms, primus pilus would be considered a lieutenant colonel in relation to battalion-size units, though there is no direct equivalent. The Primus Pilus would remain in command for one year. They could continue to serve in the army after their term ended if there was a vacancy in command or if they wished to become an independent commander of an auxilia unit or the praefectus castrorum.[2][3]

During the Roman Empire, emperor Claudius created the office of primus pilus iterum. To become the primus pilus iterum an officer must have formerly served as a tribune in the vigiles, cohortes urbanae, or Praetorian Guard. The primus pilus iterum would hold the responsibility of a Praefectus castrorum but with higher pay.[2][4]

The primus pilus was a well paid position. They could accumulate enough wealth to become part of the Equestrian class.[2] Even if they failed to gather such wealth, they were promoted to the rank of Equestiran after retiring.[2]

Only eight officers in a fully officered legion outranked the primus pilus: The legate (lēgātus legiōnis), commanding the legion; the senior tribune (tribunus laticlavius); the Camp Prefect (praefectus castrorum); and the five junior tribunes (tribuni angusticlavii).

War councils role

The primus pilus centurion had a place in the war councils along with the military tribunes and the Legate.

References

"Structure of the Legion | Strategy & Tactics | the Roman Military".
Webster, Graham (1998). The Roman Imperial Army of the First and Second Centuries A.D. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-080-613-000-2.
Southern, Pat (2007). The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-019-532-878-3.
Adkins, Lesley (1998). Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome. OUP USA. ISBN 978-019-512-332-6.

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[1] "Structure of the Legion | Strategy & Tactics | the Roman Military".

[:0-2] Webster, Graham (1998). The Roman Imperial Army of the First and Second Centuries A.D. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-080-613-000-2.

[3] Southern, Pat (2007). The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-019-532-878-3.

[4] Adkins, Lesley (1998). Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome. OUP USA. ISBN 978-019-512-332-6.