Centurion

The Centurion commanded a Centuria of 80-100 men in the Roman Legion.
Centurions had different ranks and pay scales, starting with the most important, the Primus Pilus in the First Cohort, down to the humble Centurion of the sixth century in the tenth Cohort.

Every Legion had 59 Centurions.
There were 10 Cohorts in each Legion with each Cohort having 6 Centuries, except the Cohors I, which had 5 Centuries.
Each Centurion commanded one century of 80 men.

Each Centurion had a second in command called the Optio Centuris.
The Optio remained at the rear, passed on the Centurions orders to the junior officers, and, in the event that the Centurion became incapacitated or was away, took over his duties.
He received double the Legionary Pay.

The Primus Pilus was the Centurion of the First Century in the First Cohort, but was also the senior centurion of the whole Legion.
When Planning for Battle, the senior Commanding Officers included him in meetings, as he usually had the most experience.

Centuria I: Pilus Prior
- who also commanded the Cohort, except for the Cohors I, which was commanded by the Primus Pilus.
Centuria II: Pilus Posterior
Centuria III: Princeps Prior
Centuria IV: Princeps Posterior
Centuria V: Hastatus Prior
Centuria VI: Hastatus Posterior

It was the duty of the Centurion to lead his men from the front during Battle, and enforce discipline at all other times.
Each Centurion carried the Vine Stick (Vinis) as a both a symbol of their status and to punish the unruly legionaries.
It is uncertain as to whether the Centurion was mounted on a horse or not.
The Centurion’s helmet (Galea), carried the horsehair crest horizontally, whilst the Legionary crest was worn longitudinally, according to Vegetius.
The Centurion wore his medals on his chest.

According to Vegetius in his Dei Rei Militare, the Centurion had to be over 30 years of age, literate, and hold Letters of Recommendation.
He had to be of a certain size and strength, show considerable skill with weaponry, understand and execute orders promptly, and demonstrate that he could maintain discipline.
It often took 15 years for a Legionary to become a Centurion, after first becoming an Optio.

c. 5,000 Denarii per annum, about 20 times the Pay a Legionary received (200-300 Denarii p.a.).
The top 5 Centurions received 10,000 Denarii p.a. and the senior Centurion, the Primus Pilae, received 20,000 Denarii p.a.

Unlike the Legionaries, the Centurion was allowed to marry and live with their wives on the Legionary Base.

30 Primus Pilus centurions were promoted to the Equestrian order every year.
They had usually become very wealthy, as entry to the Equestrian class was a minimum of 100,000 Denarii.
After retirement, the Centurions often held important civic posts such as town councillors in the veteran colonias in each Province.