For more detailed definitions see the reading list and the glossaries of books on the army and soldiers.
|
|||
|
Introduction | Simple explanations of terms used on the site.
For more detailed definitions see the reading list and the glossaries of books on the army and soldiers. |
|
|
Search | ||
|
Army | ||
|
History | ||
|
Home | ||
|
|
|||
|
A
|
Aelia: The family name of the Emperor Hadrian, indicates a unit raised or honoured by this Emperor | |
| Aestiva: A campaign base occupied for the summer, found in Britain during the early 1st century, some of the sites known in Britain as vexillation fortresses may have been aestiva, see also hiberna | ||
| Ala: Auxiliary cavalry regiment, from the Latin for wing, traditionally cavalry was placed at either side (the wings) of an army's main mass of infantry | ||
| Asturum: Indicates a unit raised from the Astures, inhabitants of north-west Spain | ||
|
B
|
Barcariorum: The name of a unit that indicates they used barcae, 3rd century lighters or barges, possibly used for military actions in inshore waters as well as for logistical support | |
| Batavorum: Indicates a unit raised from the inhabitants of present-day Netherlands, such units were renowned for their river crossing capabilities | ||
| Bracaraugustanorum: Indicates a unit raised from the Bracares, inhabitants of present-day north west Spain, the name comes from that of the tribal capital Bracara Augusta | ||
|
C
|
Canabae: A settlement that grew-up outside a legionary fortress, see also vicus | |
| Centurions: Commanded centuries in legions and cohorts, and were the senior professional officers in a unit; in legions the third in command of a legion (praefectus castrorum) was often an ex-centurion | ||
| Civium Romanorum: Auxiliary units could be granted block citizenship for achievements on the battle field, the title would remain even though the grant of citizenship was only to those troops serving at the time; the title was also used for a small number of auxiliary units raised originally from citizens | ||
| Classis: The fleet, the name was accompanied by a geographical name, thus Classis Britannica and Classis Germanica; the fleets had an important logistical role | ||
| Clavicula: Curved extension of camp defences to protect entrances usually only of temporary camps, see titulum | ||
| Contubernium: A tent for eight soldiers, later also the name for a room in barrack blocks also housing eight men | ||
| Cornicen: Musician who played the large round brass instrument the cornu. There were other military musical instruments used for signals to troops as well as for ceremonial purposes. | ||
| Cornicularius: Secretary to a senior officer | ||
 |
||
|
D
|
Dacorum: In a unit's name indicates it was raised in Dacia, present-day Romania | |
| Decurion: Commander of a turma | ||
| Decumana, via: The road running from the centre to the rear of a fort or camp | ||
| Delmatorum: In a unit's name indicates it was raised in Dalmatia | ||
| Dere Street: The post-Roman name for the road north from Corbridge to the Firth of Forth, the modern A68 | ||
| Duplicarius: The second in command of a turma. The title means' double pay', double that of a normal trooper. See also Sesquiplicarius | ||
|
E
|
Equestrian: The social group after the Senatorial class in seniority, the "landed gentry" of the Empire, in the early Empire eligible for the post of Praefect (commander) of auxiliary regiments; following Diocletian's separation of the military and civil careers and his banning of senators from military positions, equestrians became eligible for all army commands | |
| Exploratum: Units of scouts or reconnaissance troops in Britain primarily associated with the outpost forts on Hadrian's Wall | ||
|
F
|
Flavian: From the family name, Flavius, of the Emperors Vespasian, Titus and Domitian who reigned from 69 AD to 96 AD | |
| Flavia: The family name of the Flavian Emperors indicates a unit raised or honoured during this period | ||
| Fort: Base for an auxiliary unit, usually between 1 and 4 ha in size | ||
| Fortlet: Base for part of an auxiliary unit, usually less than 1 ha in size, distinguished from forts by lacking a principia | ||
| Fortress: Base for a legion, usually around 20 ha in size | ||
| Fosse Way: The post-Roman name for the road from Exeter to Lincoln | ||
| Frisiorum: Indicates a unit raised from the Frisii, inhabitants of present-day Netherlands | ||
|
G
|
Glen blocking forts: A group of forts in Scotland at the head of glens reaching into the Highland massif (for example Bochastle, Central Region) sometimes also known as Highland line forts | |
|
H
|
Hamiorum: Indicates a unit raised from the Hamii, inhabitants of present-day Syria, renowned for their archery skills and unlike other units may have continued to recruit from Syria | |
| Hiberna: A winter base for troops on campaign, found in Britain during the early 1st century, before permanent forts and fortresses were built, some of the sites known in Britain as vexillation fortresses may have been hiberna, see aestiva | ||
| Highland line forts: A group of forts in Scotland that are close to the edge of the Highland massif (for example Bochastle, Central Region) sometimes also known as Glen Blocking forts | ||
|
I
|
Imaginifer: A standard bearer who carried the image of the emperor | |
|
||
|
L
|
Legate: Commander of a legion, drawn from the senatorial class, eligible after successful completion of this and other posts in strict order, for selection as governor of a province. Cerialis and Agricola both commanded legions in Britain before becoming governors of the province. Vespasian, legate of Legio II Augusta during the conquest, made a successful bid to be Emperor in 69 AD. | |
| Lingonum: In a unit's name indicates it was raised in Upper Germany | ||
|
M
|
Milliaria: A cohort or ala of close to 1,000 men, exact numbers differ depending on the type of unit (see Quingenaria) | |
|
N
|
Names, Roman: From the end of the 1st century citizens had three parts to their names - praenomen, nomen and cognomen for example Marcus Ulpia Traianus, the Emperor more commonly known in English as Trajan | |
| Nervia: In a unit's name indicates it was raised by the Emperor Nerva | ||
| Nerviorum: Indicates a unit raised from the Nervii, inhabitants of present-day Belgium | ||
| Notitia Dignitatum: A record of official posts (civil and military) from the end of the 4th century or early 5th. | ||
|
O
|
Optio:The second in comand of a legionary century | |
|
P
|
Pannoniorum: Indicates a unit raised from Pannonia, present-day Hungary | |
| Praefectus (Prefect): The commander of an ala or cohort. Prefects were drawn from the equestrian class, by the first century this had no connections with horses, but was a status gained through ownership of property. Equestrians ranked immediately below senators. | ||
| Praetorian Guard: The Emperor's Household troops, abolished by Constantine; see also Urban Cohorts | ||
| Praetoria, via: The road running from the front to the centre of a fort, fortress or camp | ||
| Praetentura: the front part of the interior of a fort, fortress or camp (see Retentura) | ||
| Principalis, via: The road running from side to side across a fort, fortress or camp | ||
| Principia: The headquarters building in a fortress or fort | ||
|
Q
|
Quingenaria: A cohort or ala of close to 500 men in strength, exact numbers differed depending on the type of unit (see Milliaria) | |
|
R
|
Raetorum: Indicates a unit raised from Raetia including present-day Bavaria and the Tyrol | |
| Retentura: The rear of a the interior of fort, fortress or camp (see Praetentura) | ||
|
||
|
S
|
Sarmatarum: Indicates a unit raised from the Sarmartians captured during Marcus Aurelius's campaigns in the present-day Czech and Slovak Republics in the second half of the 2nd century | |
| Signifier: A standard bearer | ||
| Singulares: Guards, cavalry and infantry, for the Emperor and provincial governors | ||
| Senators: The foremost groups of Roman citizens, eligible to command legions (legate) and to govern provinces | ||
| Sesquiplicarius: The third in command of a turma. The name means they were paid one-and-a-half times that of a trooper. See also duplicarius | ||
| Staingate: The post-Roman name for the road across Britain from the Tyne to the Solway | ||
|
T
|
Tessarius: The third in command of a legionary century | |
| Thracum: Indicates a unit raised from Thrace mainly present-day Bulgaria | ||
| Tigrisensium: In a unit's name indicates previous service on the River Tigris | ||
| Titulum: A stretch of ditch some distance in front of a gateway to give protection to the gateway usually only of temporary camps, see clavicula | ||
| Torquata: A title awarded to units rather than individuals for achievements on the battle field, the torque would appear on the unit's standard | ||
| Tres militiae: The military career path of an equestrian - commander (praefect) of an auxiliary cohort; legionary tribune; praefect of an ala | ||
| Tribune: One of the six senior officers after the legate of a legion; one, the second in command, was the tribunus laticlavius from the senatorial classes starting his career, the other five from the equestrian classes and in mid career, see tres militiae | ||
| Turma: A sub unit of a cavalry unit, Ala or Cohors Equitata, 32 men | ||
| Tungrorum: Indicates a unit raised from the Tungri, inhabitants of present-day Belgium | ||
|
U
|
Urban Cohorts: Five cohorts based in and around Rome, from the Flavian period the number in Italy is reduced to four with one in Carthage and another at Lyons | |
| Ulpia: The family name of the Emperor Trajan, in a unit's name indicates it was raised or honoured by this Emperor | ||
|
V
|
Vardullorum: Indicates a unit raised from the Vardulli, inhabitants of present-day Spain | |
| Vasconum: Indicates a unit raised from the Vascones, inhabitants of present-day northern Spain | ||
| Vettonum: Indicates a unit raised from the Vettones, inhabitants of present-day central Spain |
|
|
| Vexillarius: The senior standard bearer in a unit. They carried the vexillum the unit's primary standard. | ||
| Vexillatio: A detachment of legionary or auxiliary troops operating away from their home commands; in the later Empire a name for an infantry regiment | ||
|
Vexillation fortress: Name given by British archaeologists (ie not a translation of a Roman term) to large forts of between 10 and 15 ha in size that may include aestiva and hiberna as well as longer-term bases for parts or whole legions in the less settled conditions of the early conquest of Britain, before the fortresses that were built under Nero and the Flavians | |
| Vicus: A settlement that grew-up outside auxiliary fort, see also canabae | ||
|
|
