11-12-2011, 09:57 PM
At some point in the third century, it seems that the Primus Pilus lost his military role and turned into some kind of glorified tax collector. Ross Cowan (Imperial Roman Legionary AD161-284, p12-13) notes the first evidence of the tax in 213, and implies that the last known military Primus Pilus (Sattonius Iucundus) served in 253. By 286, Cowan claims, the role had become hereditary and non-military.
So what happened to the role the Primus Primus once played in the legions of the principiate? Quite an important one, after all, as both the senior centurion in the legion and the bridge between the centurionate and the equestrian tribunates and procuratorships.
I can think of a few suggestions, but I'm unsure which, if any, are most likely:
1. The 'new' legions were much smaller, and no longer supported the hierarchy of centurions that would require a Primus Pilus at their head. But - I believe these 'new' legions date to rather later than the disappearance of the role...
2. The role continued, but under a different name - princeps, perhaps? Or could the names of all the centurions have changed around this time, to those listed here on Fectio - centenarius, primicerius, and so on? But - again, this change seems to have occured at a somewhat later date...
3. The mid-third-century Corps of Protectores took over as the principal promotion mechanism for centurions. Deserving or well-connected men were taken into the protectores, served for a while, and were then promoted directly to equestrian status and command of a 'new' legion as Praefectus Legionis. Actually, if we assume these 'new' legions to be of only c1000 men, they wouldn't be much larger than the old double-strength first cohort commanded by the Primus Pilus...
:-?
- Nathan
So what happened to the role the Primus Primus once played in the legions of the principiate? Quite an important one, after all, as both the senior centurion in the legion and the bridge between the centurionate and the equestrian tribunates and procuratorships.
I can think of a few suggestions, but I'm unsure which, if any, are most likely:
1. The 'new' legions were much smaller, and no longer supported the hierarchy of centurions that would require a Primus Pilus at their head. But - I believe these 'new' legions date to rather later than the disappearance of the role...
2. The role continued, but under a different name - princeps, perhaps? Or could the names of all the centurions have changed around this time, to those listed here on Fectio - centenarius, primicerius, and so on? But - again, this change seems to have occured at a somewhat later date...
3. The mid-third-century Corps of Protectores took over as the principal promotion mechanism for centurions. Deserving or well-connected men were taken into the protectores, served for a while, and were then promoted directly to equestrian status and command of a 'new' legion as Praefectus Legionis. Actually, if we assume these 'new' legions to be of only c1000 men, they wouldn't be much larger than the old double-strength first cohort commanded by the Primus Pilus...
:-?
- Nathan
Nathan Ross
