Primus Pilus

[Matthew Amt]

I prefer "First Spear" because it sounds cooler.

It's kind of like saying that a "leader" is called that because of what his bullets are made out of. "Lead" and "lead" may look the same, but sound different a mean very different things. "Pilum" is a javelin (not a spear, even), while "pilus" is a completely different word meaning "file". The Romans wouldn't have confused the two, and we should, uh, follow their lead!

(Not trying to beat on you specifically, John!)

Not all centurions rose from the ranks. Many were directly appointed from the equestrian class by provincial governors. (At least one modern author believes that *most* centurions were direct appointments, but I don't recall how he comes to that conclusion.) The impression I got was that the ones who rose from the ranks spent years slowly climbing through the hierarchy, moving up through centuries and cohorts, but rarely reaching the top. It was the appointed centurions who were more likely to be "fast-tracked", skipping along the upper ranks of each cohort much more quickly, and being more likely to reach primus pilus. Then they'd retire after a lot less than 20 years. But again, I'm not sure what evidence there is to back this up.

Valete,

Matthew