02-09-2014, 02:30 PM
Just a minor throw in for interest...
Whilst my organisational research absolutely supports the 3 (Centurion, Optio, Signifer) 'command element' per centuria, it then suggests that there are 2 cornicens per (small) cohort; certainly from the manipular period and most probably thereafter.
A cornicen is not needed at the century-level as the troops are close enough to shout at, but is needed at the next level up to co-ordinate centuries (especially during the manipular period where lines must rotate/change).
2 is the minimum number needed to cope with losses/sickness; let alone being the exact number required to make a 6-century cohort sum to 500 men.
Whilst my organisational research absolutely supports the 3 (Centurion, Optio, Signifer) 'command element' per centuria, it then suggests that there are 2 cornicens per (small) cohort; certainly from the manipular period and most probably thereafter.
A cornicen is not needed at the century-level as the troops are close enough to shout at, but is needed at the next level up to co-ordinate centuries (especially during the manipular period where lines must rotate/change).
2 is the minimum number needed to cope with losses/sickness; let alone being the exact number required to make a 6-century cohort sum to 500 men.
