05-31-2014, 10:57 PM
There is not that much known about te romans and police-function in the provinces. Police, was the duty of the cities. However the army supported against revolts or organized crime like pirates or bigger gangs.
In the 2nd century AD we know of the stationarii. Led by a beneficarius commanding perhaps just a few men. We also know about a function which was called centurio regionarius. That was a kind of bigger local police station. Plinius asked Trajan to establish such a centurio in Byzantium. Most probably more legionairs than the stationarii. But it is unsure, if this centurio commanded a full centuria. It perhaps depended on the situation.
The romans were pretty pragmatic. If there was some job to be done, they simply used the next available officer or civil clerk to deal with it. For example in Italy it could happen, that a curator viarum got the same task for Apulia as the local fleet commander for Calabria. Qualification was not that important. A roman of a certain social level had to be able to do everything.
So such a centurio regionarius most probably dealt with everything regarding roman military and civil affairs. So if there is anywhere a roman centurio in a fort or in whatever location with 80 men or more or less, and he gets an order to do whatever, or sees a need to act on behalf of Rome, he will act. Simple like that.
Regarding formation: We have no clue, how the romans fought outside of battlefields.
PS: But I doubt, the romans would send a centuria to deal with 100 bandits. I rather expect a cohors or two, plus cavalry. Well, but if your centurio is a brave idiot, which happens in novels ....
In the 2nd century AD we know of the stationarii. Led by a beneficarius commanding perhaps just a few men. We also know about a function which was called centurio regionarius. That was a kind of bigger local police station. Plinius asked Trajan to establish such a centurio in Byzantium. Most probably more legionairs than the stationarii. But it is unsure, if this centurio commanded a full centuria. It perhaps depended on the situation.
The romans were pretty pragmatic. If there was some job to be done, they simply used the next available officer or civil clerk to deal with it. For example in Italy it could happen, that a curator viarum got the same task for Apulia as the local fleet commander for Calabria. Qualification was not that important. A roman of a certain social level had to be able to do everything.
So such a centurio regionarius most probably dealt with everything regarding roman military and civil affairs. So if there is anywhere a roman centurio in a fort or in whatever location with 80 men or more or less, and he gets an order to do whatever, or sees a need to act on behalf of Rome, he will act. Simple like that.
Regarding formation: We have no clue, how the romans fought outside of battlefields.
PS: But I doubt, the romans would send a centuria to deal with 100 bandits. I rather expect a cohors or two, plus cavalry. Well, but if your centurio is a brave idiot, which happens in novels ....
Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas
