During the Roman Republic a "Polybian" legion (c. 300–88 BC) of citizen-levies had a cavalry complement of 300 horse, divided into 10 turmae (squadrons) of 30 men each. Each turma was led by three decurions, who were elected by the squadron members themselves. Although decurio literally means "leader of ten men", it does not appear that a turma was sub-divided into three troops of ten men each. Instead, one decurion would act as squadron commander and the other two as his deputies.[1]
Imperial army
In the imperial Roman army of the Principate (30 BC – AD 284), a decurion also commanded a cavalry turma of c. 30 men, but now without colleagues. In common with all soldiers in the imperial army, decurions were long-service professionals, the majority volunteers.
A Roman imperial legion, which contained c. 5,600 men, contained a small cavalry arm of just 120 men (i.e., four turmae). Since the average number of legions deployed was c. 30, imperial legionary cavalry numbered only c. 3,600, out of a total of c. 80,000 cavalrymen deployed by the imperial army. There were thus c. 120 cavalry decurions in the legions at any given time.
The vast majority of the imperial cavalry was in the regiments of the auxilia, the non-citizen corps of the regular imperial army (whose recruits were mainly imperial subjects who did not hold Roman citizenship (known as peregrini). An ala (literally "wing"), which was an elite all-cavalry regiment, contained 480 horse (16 turmae, thus 16 decurions). A double-strength ala (ala milliaria) contained 720 horse (24 turmae). Circa 90 alae were deployed in the time of emperor Hadrian (ruled 117–138). In addition, the auxiliary corps included a type of regiment known as a cohors equitata, an infantry unit with a cavalry complement of 120 horse (4 turmae; 8 in a double-strength unit). Around 180 such regiments existed under Hadrian. There were thus c. 2,500 decurions serving in the auxilia at any given time.
In the imperial period, decurions were no longer conscripted Romans, commoners who were often promoted from the ranks, but could also be members of native tribal aristocracies. (Roman knights at this stage only provided the overall commanders (praefecti) of the auxiliary regiments.) Thus, decurions in the imperial army were of far lower social status than their predecessors in the Republican cavalry. The latter were not only Roman citizens, but also aristocrats, whereas auxiliary decurions were mostly commoners and non-citizens (until AD 212, when all imperial subjects were granted citizenship). Even if they belonged to a native aristocracy, they ranked lower than a commoner Roman citizen in the status-conscious Roman empire.
Dobson, B (2014). "Decurio". Decurio. The Encyclopedia of Ancient History. doi:10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah19058. ISBN9781444338386.
January 07, 2023
decurion, roman, cavalry, officer, decurion, latin, decurio, plural, decuriones, roman, cavalry, officer, command, squadron, turma, cavalrymen, roman, army, contents, republican, army, imperial, army, references, literaturerepublican, army, editduring, roman, . A decurion Latin decurio plural decuriones was a Roman cavalry officer in command of a squadron turma of cavalrymen in the Roman army Contents 1 Republican army 2 Imperial army 3 References 4 LiteratureRepublican army EditDuring the Roman Republic a Polybian legion c 300 88 BC of citizen levies had a cavalry complement of 300 horse divided into 10 turmae squadrons of 30 men each Each turma was led by three decurions who were elected by the squadron members themselves Although decurio literally means leader of ten men it does not appear that a turma was sub divided into three troops of ten men each Instead one decurion would act as squadron commander and the other two as his deputies 1 Imperial army EditIn the imperial Roman army of the Principate 30 BC AD 284 a decurion also commanded a cavalry turma of c 30 men but now without colleagues In common with all soldiers in the imperial army decurions were long service professionals the majority volunteers A Roman imperial legion which contained c 5 600 men contained a small cavalry arm of just 120 men i e four turmae Since the average number of legions deployed was c 30 imperial legionary cavalry numbered only c 3 600 out of a total of c 80 000 cavalrymen deployed by the imperial army There were thus c 120 cavalry decurions in the legions at any given time The vast majority of the imperial cavalry was in the regiments of the auxilia the non citizen corps of the regular imperial army whose recruits were mainly imperial subjects who did not hold Roman citizenship known as peregrini An ala literally wing which was an elite all cavalry regiment contained 480 horse 16 turmae thus 16 decurions A double strength ala ala milliaria contained 720 horse 24 turmae Circa 90 alae were deployed in the time of emperor Hadrian ruled 117 138 In addition the auxiliary corps included a type of regiment known as a cohors equitata an infantry unit with a cavalry complement of 120 horse 4 turmae 8 in a double strength unit Around 180 such regiments existed under Hadrian There were thus c 2 500 decurions serving in the auxilia at any given time In the imperial period decurions were no longer conscripted Romans commoners who were often promoted from the ranks but could also be members of native tribal aristocracies Roman knights at this stage only provided the overall commanders praefecti of the auxiliary regiments Thus decurions in the imperial army were of far lower social status than their predecessors in the Republican cavalry The latter were not only Roman citizens but also aristocrats whereas auxiliary decurions were mostly commoners and non citizens until AD 212 when all imperial subjects were granted citizenship Even if they belonged to a native aristocracy they ranked lower than a commoner Roman citizen in the status conscious Roman empire References Edit Ancient Rome portal War portal Polybius VI 25Literature EditDobson B 2014 Decurio Decurio The Encyclopedia of Ancient History doi 10 1002 9781444338386 wbeah19058 ISBN 9781444338386 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Decurion Roman cavalry officer amp oldid 1100730681, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
