The End of the Primus Pilus

[Robert Vermaat]

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 occurred at a somewhat later date...

I can clarify this possibility with a negative. Oddly enough, while the ranks in the 'new' units changed (e.g. ordinarius or biarchus), the old-style units continued with the ranks (centurio and decurio) that had existed for centuries. As far as we know, these systems continued next to each other until at least the 6th century: a papyrus describes an old-style cohort commanded by a tribunus, eight senior officers including the adiutor (regimental clerk), the primicerius, six ordinarii and six others, probably the centuriones.