Did you know that even the Roman Legions had Non-commissioned Officers (NCO)?

2014-05-20T18:55:26-04:00

The Non-commissioned Officer aka, Principales is deeply rooted in ancient history of the Roman Legion . Principales, depending on their status, receive double pay or pay and a half. Principales (2nd century AD and on) assisted officers and commanders on daily duties and tasks and were responsible for the training and care of soldiers.

The following is a rank structure of NCOs in the Roman Legion:

Sesquiplicarius (NCO on basic pay and a half). Junior NCO. Example: tesserarius (NCO in charge of watch words) and vexillarius or vexillifer (flag bearer).

Duplicarius (NCO on double basic pay). Senior NCO. Examples: optio centuriae (rearrank officer), signifer (standardbearer), cornicularius (administrator), aquilifer (eagle standard bearer). Epigraphic evidence for career structures does not allow to distinguish a coherent system of promotion between these first three different duplicarius functions, so perhaps there were either frequently changes in status between the three of them or all three were of identical seniority. Note that optio ('chosen man') could also be used for mere privates with special duties rather than real NCO's leading to some confusion in determining career patterns.

Triplicarius (NCO on triple basic pay). Senior NCO. Evidence for this rank is very rare and it may have existed for only a brief while.

Salararius or salaratus. Some soldiers with special skills served against non standard service conditions, either as mercenaries or reenlisted veterans, and received salaria instead of regular stipendia, a special rate of pay.

Duplicarii and sesquiplicarii combined became known as principales from the second century AD on. Cavalry NCO's received double the higher cavalryman's basic pay (stipendia equestria). Discharge benefits, praemia or commoda, and special bonuses, donativa, followed the same rates as basic pay.

I hope that some of you found this to be interesting. The Roman Legions use of Commissioned Officers is also very interesting as well but not as interesting as NCOs because as NCOs we will always lead the way and serve as the backbone of the Army.

REF: http://members.tripod.com/~S_van_Dorst/Ancient_Warfare/Rome/hierarchy.html

Roman army rank structure

The Roman ranking structure is such a frequently asked question that it merits a page of its own. Note that on this page only the Latin terms are used whereas much of the source material for the Roman army is actually in Greek. For the Greek equivalents of these words one can use the glossary page. The ranks are given in ascending order.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2014 7:44 PM

2014-05-20T19:44:16-04:00

Very interesting, I have always enjoyed learning about the roman empire, and the military history in general.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2014 11:56 PM

2014-05-20T23:56:36-04:00

Sgt O'Rourke?

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Sep 6 at 2014 2:54 PM

2014-09-06T14:54:28-04:00

The Romans were a very disciplined army. Reason why they stayed around for so long and conquered territory and other armies.

Response by MSgt Denise Smith made Mar 5 at 2015 1:54 PM

2015-03-05T13:54:52-05:00

Interesting and informative, the Roman army had their issues but as a military fighting force it was unparalleled for its time. If you enjoy reading fiction with a military bent checkout Jack Whyte's Camulod Chronicles (8 books) which covers the impact the fall of the Roman Empire on historical England under the aspects of the King Arthur Mythos. Additionally, two of John Ringo's books have references to the Roman legions "There will be Dragons" and "The Last Centurion".

Response by CPT Kevin Connolly made Oct 2 at 2018 9:40 PM

2018-10-02T21:40:00-04:00

Centurions, from the hastatus posterior of the tenth cohort through the primi pilus were all noncoms. Only the tribuni (6 per legion) and legatus legioni were commissioned officers. Prefect castrorum was like a w4-5. Didn't rate a salute but no Tribune would dare try to pull rank on him.
Optios were noncoms. The others, except for the signifer and aquilifer, ranked as privates or maybe spec4s. And the tesserarii who kept the watchwords were noncoms. Principales were privates. Immunes we're like gefreiters, ranked as privates but excused from fatigue details.

Response by CPT Kevin Connolly made Oct 2 at 2018 9:48 PM

2018-10-02T21:48:32-04:00

Cornicularius was the century's bugler. Optios were selected by the centurion and were file closers, equipped with a long stick to smite rankers who don't keep silent. Bear in mind that the primi ordines, the centuriones of the first five centuries, were sergeants major except the primi pilus, commander of the first century, took on some features of a field grade officer. Each maniple (two century unit) had a senior centurion (hastatus, principales or triarius prior), who functioned like a captain, and a junior centurion (hastatus etc. Posterior) who was like a first sergeant.