"National Roman Legion"

[jkaler48]

A common command set is another aspect of a "National Legion" question.
Here is what I have put together so far.
I am not making any judgements here on who is right or wrong just listing what is in use. I will be happy to add your unit's comand set also so just email it me or post it here.


ROMAN LEGION COMMAND SET CONSOLIDATED REFERENCE
Version 4

First you will see Command sets from a number of different units
1. Legio III Cyr
2. A few from Jeff in Belgium
3. LEGIO X GEM (Netherlands)
4. LEGIO VI Vic (California)
5. LEGIO XX
6. LEG VI Ferrata Fidelas Constans
7. Ermine Street Guard (UK)

At the end I am working to consolidate all command sets in the following format:
English Command Latin commands and alternatives Legions used by
Description of How to perform if needed/Available



Leg III Cyr added:

Ad Dextrum Rotata Rotate to the right Leg II Cyr
Ad Senestre Rotata Rotate to the left Leg II Cyr
Pila Parati Ready to throw Pila Leg II Cyr, Leg V

From Jef in Belgium:
"Pila deorsum": For grounding the pilum on the but spike.

To lay down the pila we use the following command sequence:

"Pila deponite!": this is the warning signal qo that the soldiers know they will have to lay down their pilum.

And then: "Deorsum...duo...tres": on this command the soldiers kneel down together. They all get down onto their right knee and the hand holding the pilum is on the ground.

Then the command: "Sursum...duo..tres": all soldiers rise up together.

LEGIO X GEM (Netherlands)
Drill Commands

Unfortunately the original commands from the 1st century A.D. have not been saved.

For this reason we choose for a logical mix between the drill commands of the Ermine Street Guard Armatura (weapon Drill) and that of legio XX VV.

The commands have been worked out in a way they are suitable for us.

The drill itself has been taken over from a combination of bits from Vegetius of Julius caesar, the 16th century Spanish pikemen drill and practical experience with the equipment.
Most of the commandos are given with a short pause before the last part of the word (usually "... te"), this is done to give the men some time to think.

The action which follows on the commando is carried out on the last piece of the word, therefore generally on "....te".

General rule is that most of the action and alignance moves onto the right side.

This means that at one row everyone holds the front and back position of the person to his right.

On the command of Duo Ordines, from 1 to 2 in a row, every even person steps to the right side of the person in front of him.

On the command of Quator Ordines, from 2 to 4 in a row, every even row splits up and both step up to the outer side of the person in front of him.
On the command of Liniam Formate all rows split up in the right order and form one line.

The Testudo Formate is made when the first row lifts up their shields and the rows behind them put their shields on top as a roof.

This formation is also known as the turtleformation.
A short list of the commands used by us:

AD SIGNA (Fall in)
STATE (Attention)
LAXATE (Stand at ease)
SCUTA SURSUM (Pick up shield)
SCUTA DEORSUM (Put down shield)
PILA SURSUM (Pick up spear)
PILA DEORSUM (Put down spear)
PILA SCUTA SURSUM (Pick up shield and spear)
AD DEXTRAM (Turn right, at place)
AD SINISTRAM (Turn left, at place)
IN LOCO CALCATE(At place march)
DEXTRORSUM VERTITE (Turn right)
SINISTRORSUM VERTITE(Turn left)
RETRORSUM VERTITE
(Turn around and march)
UNUM ORDINEM FACITE
(Form 1 in a row)
DUOS ORDINES FACITE
(Form 2 in a row)
QUATTUOR ORDINES FACITE
(Form 4 in a row)
OCTO ORDINES FACITE
(Form 8 in a row)
SALUTATE
(Salute)
AB SIGNIS DISCEDITE (Fall out)
PILA SUMITE (Take up spear)
PROCEDITE (March)
CONSISTITE (Halt)
INTER ACCELERATE (Faster march)
INTER TARDATE (Slower march)
GLADIOS STRINGITE (Draw sword)
GLADIOS RECONDITE(Stick sword back)
PILA VOLLITE (Take spear throwing positions)
PILA IACITE(Throw spear)
PRIMUS ORDO, UNUM PASSUM PROCEDITE(Row 1, 1 step forward)
NOVISSIMUS ORDO, DUOS PASSUS PROCEDITE (Last row, 2 steps forward)
UNUM PASSUM RECIDITE (1 step back)
NUMEROS CLAMATE (Numbering)
Numeros Latini (Latin numbers):
1 Unus
2 Duo
3 Tres
4 Quattor
5 Quinque
6 Sex
7 Septem
8 Octo
9 Novem
10 Decem
11 Undecim
12 Duodecim
13 Tredecim
14 Quattuordecim
15 Quindecim
16 Sedecim
17 Septendecim
18 Duodeviginti
19 Undeviginti
20 Veginti



LEGIO VI Vic (California)

Ad signa: Fall in. When you hear this command by the Centurio (or the CO for the day), stop whatever you’re doing, pick up you shield and pilum, and proceed to the vexillum and CO, forming a single shoulder-to-shoulder rank facing them.

Silentium: Silence. In other words, no chattering in the ranks.

Mandata captate: Literally, “observe the orders.â€Â