CIL VIII 18065 AND THE RANKING OF CENTURIONS

• Main Author: Stefan Zehetner
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mega Publishing House 2016-07-01
• Series: Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology
• Subjects: roman military history, centurion, primus pilus, primi ordines,
• Online Access: http://jaha.org.ro/index.php/JAHA/article/view/185

Centurions in legions were advancing through ranks, which were indicated by the cohort and the maniple they were serving in. But how did they exactly move through these ranks? How were the primi ordines fitting into the ranking system? How did a centurion advance to the rank of primus pilus? All these questions seem to be clear, but have not yet been considered in an exact manner. Alfred von Domaszewski and Brian Dobson have already made first attempts to show the advancing through the ranks of the centurions. There were very good approaches, but there have arisen new findings, that enhance these considerations. Cohort and maniple still are important to reach the top levels of centurionship. But there is also the centuria, which is not unimportant, especially in relation to the prior and posterior rankings. It is these facts, that make us an exact statement about the primi ordines and the advancement to primus pilus.