Centurion

Centurion is the title of a professional officer in the Roman army. Most Centurions command a Centuria (Century) of eighty men, while senior centurions command full cohorts or take on senior staff roles in their legion. Each legion contains 60 centurions, one to command each Centuria of the ten cohorts that make up a full legion. They are the backbone of the professional army and are the career soldiers who run day to day life of their soldiers. Centurions are also responsible for maintaining order, and issueing commands on the field of battle. While some centurions slowly climb the ranks of the Roman Legions, in some cases they are directly appointed by the Dictator/Pro-Consul of Rome, or other high ranking officials.

The cohorts are ranked on a scale of 1-10, and the centuria within each cohort are ranked from 1-6. The centuria that each centurion commands is a direct reflection of his rank. For example, command of the First Centuria of the First Cohort is the highest, and the Sixth Centuria of the Tenth Cohort is the lowest. Five of the six centurions of the First Cohort are called Primi Ordines and the sixth is the Primus Pilus. Additional ranks among centurions are highlighted here:


 * Pilus Prior: Commander of the first cohort of each centuria (except the first). Each of the following titles run in sequence throughout each centuria.


 * Pilus Posterior
 * Princeps Prior
 * Princeps Posterior
 * Hastatus Prior
 * Hastatus Posterior

The chart below shows the command structure of each Century, Cohort, and Legion influding their typical battle arrangements with the strongest from left to right. The bracketed name in each column indicates the actual title of that officer. For example, Quintus Princeps Posterior is the commander of the First Century of the Fifth Cohort.