11-19-2011, 11:50 PM
The prior centurion of a maniple stood on the far right leading the far right file. When the two centuries of a maniple were on line the posterior centurion stood on the far left of his century (and the far left of the maniple). This would place him next to prior centurion of the next century/maniple to his left. The account of Spartacus engaging two centurions at once in his final battle is a likey confirmation of this. Spartacus faced late republic legions organized by cohorts each of which retained three maniples of the same titles as those of the mid-republic legion as described by Livy: pilus (triarii), principes, and hastati with each century led by either the prior or posterior centurion. The Pilus Prior of the 1st Century/1st Cohort would stand at the far right of his legion. Centurions were rank and file soldiers who led their men unlike the Tribunes and Legate who commanded from the rear.
