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Senior commanders are known to have worn white cloaks and plumes. The centurions, who made up the officer ranks, had decorations on their chest plates corresponding to modern medals, and the long cudgels that they carried. Examples of items of Roman military personal armour included: Galea or soldier's helmet.
The vine staff, vine-staff, or centurion's staff [1] (Latin: vitis) [2] was a vinewood rod of about 1 m (3 ft) in length used in the ancient Roman army [3] [4] and navy. [5] It was the mark and tool of the centurion : [ 6 ] both as an implement in the direction of drill and maneuvers [ citation needed ] ; and to beat wayward or laggard soldiers ...
Like all Roman footwear, the caliga was flat-soled. It was laced up the center of the foot and onto the top of the ankle. The Spanish scholar Isidore of Seville believed that the name "caliga" derived from the Latin callus ("hard leather"), or else from the fact that the boot was laced or tied on (ligere). Strapwork styles varied from maker to ...
Re-enactor with Pompeii-type gladius The Mainz Gladius on display at the British Museum, London. Gladius is the general Latin word for 'sword'. In the Roman Republic, the term gladius Hispaniensis (Spanish sword) referred (and still refers) specifically to the short sword, 60 cm (24 inches) long, used by Roman legionaries from the 3rd century BC.
Over its lifetime, the lorica hamata remained in constant use by legionaries and it was the preferred armor of centurions, [7] who favored its greater coverage and lower maintenance. Constant friction kept the rings of the lorica hamata free of rust. [7] Only the richest soldiers could afford to wear it. [8]
The lorica segmentata (Latin pronunciation: [ɫoːˈriːka]), also called lorica lamminata, or banded armour is a type of personal armour that was used by soldiers of the Roman army, consisting of metal strips fashioned into circular bands, fastened to internal leather straps.
The best centurions were then promoted to the first cohort and known as the primi ordines, commanding one of the cohort's five centuries and taking on a staff role. The most senior centurion of the legion was the primus pilus who commanded the first century of the first cohort. All centurions, however senior, had their own allocated century.
During the Roman Republic, and the subsequent Principate, it was regarded as the second highest military decoration a citizen could aspire to (the Grass Crown being held in higher regard) and was rewarded for saving the lives of fellow Roman citizens (cives) or for standing one's ground in war.