08-17-2015, 03:58 PM
Dating back to the Republic, the Primipilus centurions and later all of the primus ordines were part of the general's staff, they attending his war councils and offered advice. Among other duties, a governor is also the commander of all Roman military forces in the province, so these centurions would still report to him. In addition, especially by the Principate era, besides the tribuni angusticlavii military tribunes, the centurions would have been the only true professional officers other, with the legionary and cohort legates and praefects being political appointees.
Centurions would have been subject matter experts when it came to conducting warfare, and since patronage and background meant as much as ability in terms of gaining higher positions, most of the senior centurions would have been educated and of good enough backgrounds not to embarrass the commander by their presence.
So it makes sense that the governor would want advice from a centurion. Or that a centurion would report to a governor, to attend his councils.
Centurions would have been subject matter experts when it came to conducting warfare, and since patronage and background meant as much as ability in terms of gaining higher positions, most of the senior centurions would have been educated and of good enough backgrounds not to embarrass the commander by their presence.
So it makes sense that the governor would want advice from a centurion. Or that a centurion would report to a governor, to attend his councils.
