09-25-2002, 11:52 PM
Thank you Sander for your very helpful and in-depth reply. The earlier thread you referred me to clarified alot of things for me regarding the role of the <i> optio</i>. I had forgotten that the military posts held by the legionaries were not static; a soldier's career would naturally include the possibility of promotion (demotion even?) through the various posts.<br>
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In light of that, the <i> optio</i> 'huddling' behind the front ranks may have already distinguished himself in combat early in his career (hence his promotion, I suppose, though Sander is right that promotion wasn't always due to personal merit/valour). Also, since the <i> optio</i> was the centurion's deputy I assume that he would have had to take a fallen centurion's place in the front ranks. Is this correct? If that was the case, was another soldier appointed to take over the <i> optio</i>'s role in the century during the battle, or was the role simply abandoned?<br>
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In light of that, the <i> optio</i> 'huddling' behind the front ranks may have already distinguished himself in combat early in his career (hence his promotion, I suppose, though Sander is right that promotion wasn't always due to personal merit/valour). Also, since the <i> optio</i> was the centurion's deputy I assume that he would have had to take a fallen centurion's place in the front ranks. Is this correct? If that was the case, was another soldier appointed to take over the <i> optio</i>'s role in the century during the battle, or was the role simply abandoned?<br>
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