The Roman Army (Prescribed Resource Material 2024-2026)

Source 1

• After being sworn in, a new recruit must begin training.

• The training was physically tough.

• Learning to march at regulation pace was a key part of this training.

• Physical fitness was further developed by running, jumping and swimming.

Source 2

• This shows soldiers setting out on the march.

• They carry pots and pans, and wineskins on a stake.

• A helmet is slung from a legionary’s right shoulder.

• Each tent party had a mule to carry tents and other bulky items.

Source 3

• The normal marching speed was 20 miles in 5 hours.

• The legionary carried 3 days’ supply of corn, the staple diet.

• His weapons were a sword, a javelin (pilum) and a shield.

• He also carried equipment for making a temporary camp at the end of the day.

Source 4

• New recruits were given a heavy wooden sword to practice with.

• And a wicker shield which they had to learn to handle correctly.

• They were taught to thrust with the sword to kill or at least to disable their opponents.

• They learned to attack dummy targets as part of their weapon training.

Source 5

• The dagger is shown in its sheath.

• Both were made of iron.

• It was worn on the soldier’s belt, on the opposite side to his sword.

• It was used for stabbing the enemy at close quarters.

Source 6

• The legionaries wear helmets, breastplates with overlapping plates, military boots and carry spears.

• The officer (on the left) wears a breastplate and military cloak.

• The standard-bearer (on the right) with the bearskin carries the standard.

• The standard’s metal discs encircled by wreaths may show the campaigns he fought.

Source 7

• The cavalryman rides without stirrups or saddle.

• He is jabbing downwards with his spear.

• He wears a crested helmet, cloak, breastplate and dagger.

• He is shown triumphing over the enemy.

Source 8

• Legionaries are building a bridge across a river.

• There are camp walls (top right) made of turf blocks with the wooden walkway behind the turf ramparts.

• One legionary hands up a turf, one is hammering and another brings materials in a basket.

• Auxiliaries stand guard on the left.

Source 9

• Legionaries did not spend all their time on active service.

• The legions had engineers to supervise building forts and roads when they were not fighting.

• Other duties of the legionaries included quarrying stone for building.

• They also helped in the baths, stoking furnaces.

Source 10

• The camp prefect would have worked his way up through the ranks through the various grades of centurion.

• Finally, he would have held the post of senior centurion of the legion (primus pilus).

• He was responsible doe the management of the fortress, and building and engineering works.

• He took over the command if the commander (legatus) and senior tribune were away.

Source 12

• The optio was a deputy centurion.

• He helped the centurion with the discipline of the men in his century.

• The body of the optio had not been found when this tombstone was put up.

• There is a space for the letter H (his) in case the body lost in the shipwreck was found for burial here.

Source 13

• A centurion was an officer who had risen from the ranks because of his courage and ability.

• He commanded a century (a unit of about 80 men) assisted by an optio.

• He was responsible for the training and discipline of his century.

• His stick was a vine stick, his badge of office, used also to punish his men.

Source 14

• A legionary earned 225 denarii a year.

• The emperor Domitian increased this to 300 denarii a year.

• Deductions were made for food, clothing and equipment.

• Soldiers also put money into a military savings account.

Source 15

• A legionary served for 20 years on active service.

• He served a further 5 years in a cohort of veterans before retiring.

• On retirement, he was given 3000 denarii or an allocation of land.

• When auxiliaries retired, also after 25 years, they were given Roman citizenship.

Source 16

• The legionary fortress had a headquarters building (principal) where the standard of the legion and soldiers’ pay were kept.

• The commander (legates) worked here and administered justice.

• Also, in the fort wad the praetorium, a villa in Italian style for the legatus and his family, with central heating, a garden and a private suit of baths.

• The legionary fortress contained all the facilities needed to house and feed the soldiers.

Source 17

• The fortress was strongly fortified against enemy attack.

• It was surrounded by a ditch, rampart and battlements for defence.

• It had towers at the corners and at intervals along the sides.

• It had a fortified gateway on each side.

Source 18

• Each fort had several granaries, designed to keep the grain cool and dry.

• The roof had overhanging eaves to carry the rainwater away form the walls.

• The floor was supported but small stone pillars which allowed air to circulate underneath.

• Granaries held enough grain for the legion for one or even two years.

Source 19

• Roman lavatories were communal.

• Stone seats originally covered the deep channels.

• They were flushed with water from the baths flowing beneath the seats.

• The small channels were full of water for soldiers to wash the sponges they used to clean themselves.

Source 20

• The fortress held a legion of 5,000 - 6,000 men in barrack blocks.

• Each block accommodated a century (about 80 men).

• They were divided into pairs of rooms, the smaller front room for cooking and the back room for sleeping.

• At one end of the block was more spacious accommodation for the centurion and his deputy (optio).

Source 21

• Rufus Sita was an auxiliary cavalryman (EQUES).

• He came from Thrace in Northern Greece.

• He wears a sword and carries a spear.

• He is shown as victorious over the enemy.

Source 22

• Caius Mannius came from Pollentia in northwest Italy and died in Britain.

• He had either been seconded to the staff of the governor or was on the staff of the legionary commander (LEG PR).

• A beneficiarius did routine jobs such as act as messenger.

• He may have been used to collect information about the Britons in the area.

Source 23

• Caecilius Avitus was an optio or deputy centurion.

• He came from Emerita Augusta and died in Chester.

• He carries a vine stick which indicates his rank.

• He also carries writing tablets on which he may gave the soldiers’ duty rota.