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10-23-2002, 02:45 AM

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10-23-2002, 07:40 AM

Salve, 
 
On Ezboard tags eed to be enclosed in square brackets, [ and ]. 
 
For the rank structure of the Roman army try this page. In the index there is a section hierarchy where previous discussions on the matter are grouped together. 
 
Regards, 
 
Sander van Dorst

10-28-2002, 09:08 AM

Thx but i've been visited this page too. 
it seems it's not include all or a complete list of rankings. 
since i have visited other sites and see some other teams abt ranks. and i just messed up with them~

**Robert Vermaat** · 10-30-2002, 10:54 AM

Sander, 
Your list is very good and I enjoyed browsing through it. Only thing I would like to see more of is the later ranks (Comes, Dux expanded). 
Cheers, 
Robert

10-31-2002, 11:24 AM

Salve, 
 
Ranking systems varied in the late Roman army, just as unit strength and organisation apears to have been non standardised and reflecting ad hoc arrangements. A cavalry unit's hierarchy is given as tiro, eques, circitor, biarchus, centenarius, ducenarius, senator, primicerius, tribunus. These ranks are also attested in other sources, both literary as well as epigraphic, and do not correspond to earlier cavalry ranking systems. It appears that, with the exception of eques and circitor which were differently termed (miles and probably decanus) among foot soldiers, a similar structure was adopted for both nfantry and cavalry units. This hierarchy probably coexisted for some time alongside earlier the earlier ranking system and only gradually extended to the entire army. Older terms such as centurio were only slowly replaced by new designations like centenarius, even found together within the same text. 
 
In earlier times centuriones are found mainly in the legionary and praetorian cavalry and in guard cavalry (singulares) with decuriones commanding cavalry squadrons in auxiliary horse formations. From the fourth century on though centenarii, ordinarii or hekatontarchai are regularly attested for all kinds of cavalry as well as infantry. The earlier ranking structure of the legionary centurionate now appears to have become more widespread (though as pointed out in this earlier thread there are some tantalising hints that may indicate similar arrangements in auxiliary units), even if in an adapted form. Thus a ducenarius was the equivalent of a centurio prior and senatores and primicerii equalled the primi ordines. It should be noted that though the post of primipilus still exited in the late empire, it had become an official tasked with certain taxations. 
 
As before in late Roman times it is not always easy to distinguish ranks and functions and various terms may be equivalent to the positions listed above rather than representing additional ranks. Thus a campidoctor may usually have ranked among the centurionate. Unit commanders were variously praefecti or tribuni, the term praepositus merely meaning commander and not firmly tied to a particular rank. It is also possible that additional hierarchies existed for which less evidence has survived. Thus it is unclear where the exarchus is to be fitted into the above pattern. 
 
Command arrangements above unit level differed. There were both regular command structures as well as provisional ones, using officers drawn both from the forces involved as well as detached from other staffs. Duces commanded provincial forces of limitanei. Comites were put in charge of minor field armies with the magistri commanding larger ones. 
 
Regards, 
 
Sander van Dorst

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