The Roman Army

Question 1

Define ‘principia’

Answer 1

headquarters

Question 2

Define ‘praetorium’

Answer 2

living quarters of the commanding officer

Question 3

Define ‘valetudinarium’

Answer 3

hospital

Question 4

Define ‘horrea’

Answer 4

granaries

Question 5

Define ‘sacellum’

Answer 5

a chapel - the most sacred place in any Roman fort

Question 6

Define ‘aquila’

Answer 6

the standard of the legion
- housed in the sacellum

Question 7

Define ‘aquilifer’

Answer 7

‘eagle bearer’
- the soldier who looked after the aquila and carried it into battle

Question 8

How many men did the barrack blocks house?

Answer 8

5000-6000 men

Question 9

How many men per contubernium?

Answer 9

8 men

Question 10

How many men in a century?

Answer 10

80 men

Question 11

Why was a Bath House in a Roman Fort important?

Answer 11

hygiene
social centre

Question 12

What would happen near Roman Fortresses?

Answer 12

settlements (vici) were set up, gradually developing into towns
- allowed soldiers to meet local women & start families

Question 13

How long was a Roman soldier to serve in the army?

Answer 13

25 years

Question 14

How many men in a legion?

Answer 14

5000 foot soldiers

Question 15

What were the requirements to join the army?

Answer 15

must have proper legal status
have a medical examination

“alert eyes” , “broad-chested with powerful shoulders and brawny arms”

Question 16

What was the training like for a recruit?

Answer 16

1. learn to march at the regulation pace for distances up to 24 Roman miles
2. running, jumping, swimming & carrying heavy packs
3. practicing with a wooden sword and wicker shield (wooden sword was very heavy to make it ‘easier’ to wield a normal one)
4. learning to throw the javelin (pilum)

Question 17

What was day-to-day life like as a soldier?

Answer 17

a duty roster would split chores between soldiers, often multiple centuries.
- road making, building, tending to the bath-house, working in the armoury/quarries

WAS NOT ALWAYS FIGHTING!!

Question 18

What was the pay rate for a soldier?

Answer 18

in both war & peacetime
- 300 denarii per annum (Domitian improved)
- used to be 225 denarii per annum

• lots of this money was used to pay for food, clothing and equipment

Question 19

What would a soldier receive after 25 years of service?

Answer 19

honourable discharge
sum of 3,000 denarii or allocation of land

Question 20

Who commanded a Century?

Answer 20

A Centurion, assisted by an Optio.

Question 21

How many Centurions were there in an army?

Answer 21

60 Centurions each commanding their own Century

Question 22

What was a Legatus?

Answer 22

a commanding offer of a legion
- assisted by 6 tribunes
- member of the Senate in Rome
- usually in charge for short periods of time