Roman army during the time of Emperor Vitellius 69 CE | Picture by Nicholas Subkov
Military service
Sacramentum – holy, military oath of loyalty in Roman legions, sometimes annually;
Sub aquila (under the eagle) – on active duty;
Sub cura – looked after;
Sub signis (in line with the standards) in military service;
Sub vexillo (under the flag) – the veteran was required to serve in lighter duty;
Subsignanus miles – soldier on active duty;
Constitutio (regulations of service) – several rules of the military Constitutiones that were formulated by the emperors, from Augustus to Hadrian;
Statio – secondment camp, camp;
Beneficiarius (beneficiary) – either (1) a soldier with special powers, or (2) military police;
Beneficiarius consularis – soldier attached to the provincial governor’s staff;
Beneficiarius legati legionis – the soldier assigned to the commander’s staff;
Beneficiarius praefecti praetorio – a soldier serving in the headquarters of the praetorian prefect;
Beneficiarius praefecti Urbis – a soldier serving in the headquarters of the city prefect;
Beneficiarius procuratoris – a soldier serving in the proxy’s staff;
Beneficiarius praefecti proconsulis – a soldier serving on the staff of a governor appointed by the senate;
Beneficiarius sexmestris – a soldier appointed for six months as beneficiarius;
Beneficiarius tribuni – a soldier attached to the staff of the military tribune;
Collatus – a soldier selected to serve in another unit.
Recruitment
Conquisitor – recruiting officer;
Tiro – recruit;
Contiro – colleague recruit;
Murcus – a potential recruit who cut off his thumb to escape from military service;
Probatoria – registration (recruitment) document;
Probatus – recruiter considered fit for service;
Signaculum – identification disc, worn by recruits;
Adcrescens (youth) – the legionary’s offspring, who followed in their father’s footsteps, and therefore received their rights before entering service (4th century CE);
Wiatyk (travelling money) – money spent on a recruit during the initial training period;
Tirocinium – first recruit campaign.
Roman soldiers
Legionary (soldier) – each soldier had two weapons: gladius (sword) and pilum (javelin);
Gaesatus – soldier with gaesum (iron spear);
Lanciarius – soldier with lancea (javelin);
Accensus (reservist) – light infantry soldier;
Akontistes (javelin thrower) – light infantry;
Auxiliaris – auxilia soldier;
Ballistarius – artilleryman responsible for the ballista;
Bellator (warrior) – soldier, warrior;
Burgarius – soldier assigned to burgus;
Cohortalis – soldier belonging to the cohort;
Collega – member of the same unit;
Comitatensis – a soldier belonging to the later Roman army;
Commanipularis – friend in arms, colleague;
Discens – recruit;
Ferentarius – either (1), Republican Light Armored Legionary, (2) Republican Legionary Repeller, (3) Republican Light Horseman, or (4) Military Servant;
Gregalis (Gregarius) (private) – regular soldier;
Hoplites – heavy-armed soldier;
Miles – regular soldier;
Miles cohortis – soldier belonging to the cohort;
Miles gloriosus (great soldier) – braggart soldier;
Miles Gregarius (Miles gregalis) – regular soldier;
Miles legionis – a soldier belonging to a legion, a legionary;
Milex – soldier;
Manipularis – Heavy infantry soldier serving in manipulation;
Pedatura – infantry;
Peditatus – infantry;
Pedés – infantry;
Scutatus – a soldier with a larger shield;
Simplaris – basic wage soldier;
Triarius (Tertiary) – heavy infantry soldier;
Velites – lightly armoured legionaries;
Volones (Volonum) – liberated slaves who enlisted in the army.
Ireneusz A. Łuć, Boni et mali milites Romani. Relacje między żołnierzami wojsk rzymskich w okresie Wczesnego Cesarstwa, Kraków 2010
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