01-08-2013, 08:55 PM
Quote: :?: Would a safe, simple answer for a questioner at a public event be, "Usually, a tribune, but there were sometimes others put in charge for the short or long term, as deemed fitting to the generals and/or legatus legionis"?
My favourite simple answer is still, that the pilus prior was the cohort commander of a legion. He was the highest centurio in rank. But obviously there was not so much to lead for a cohort commander if not an auxilia cohort or ala. Also the tribuni angusticalvii played a role, but most propably for more than 1 cohort on the battlefield and for vexillationes.
For the 1st half of the first century, centurions often leaded auxilia cohorts, too. The equestrian career with praefectus cohortis and tribunus cohortis was not fully established until Claudius.
Ut desint vires, tamen est laudanda voluntas